“Green Growing January”

“Green Growing January” Series at the Camden Public Library Highlights Sustainability and Environmental Topics

 

The Camden Public Library will host a series of speakers and events in January, 2014, on environmental and sustainability issues, including an innovative “seed library” program. Speakers will include noted experts hosted by both the Camden Conference and Midcoast Audubon Society. The popular annual Winter Series of the Camden Garden Club will also begin in January at the Camden Public Library.

 

A “seed library” is an institution that lends or shares seed; the main purpose is not to store or hold seeds against possible destruction, but to disseminate them to the public, which preserves the shared plant varieties through propagation and further sharing of seed. Seed libraries usually maintain their collections through donations from members. The Camden Public is offering seeds to the public, in hopes they will be planted, harvested, and a sample of seeds returned to the library to loan out again. The library is also accepting donations, especially of heirloom vegetables, to share. The seeds are available now at the front desk at the library.

 

The list of speakers during “Green Growing January” at the library include: Florence Reed of Sustainable Harvest International of Ellsworth on January 7; Neil Lash of the Medomak Valley High School Heirloom Seed Project on January 9 (Neil will also help us  introduce the library’s “seed library” program); “A Brief History of Water” by Mark Van Baalen on January 14, hosted by the Camden Conference; Paul Kando on “Economics As If Natured Mattered” on January 16, hosted by the Midcoast Audubon Society; a discussion session on Genetically Modified Foods on January 21, hosted by the Camden Conference; a fabulous 3D show of extreme close-up nature photography by Roger Richmond on January 23; and a presentation on “Planting and Preparing Medicines from Plants” by Deb Soule on January 28.

 

The first program in the Camden Garden Club Winter Series will be on Tuesday morning, January 28, at 10:00 am, on “Creative Containers” with Lisa Colburn. All are welcome the Camden Garden Club Winter Series events.