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East Palo Alto Encourages Green Thumbs With Launch Of Seed Library

EAST PALO ALTO (KCBS) - The gardening section of the East Palo Alto Library has been stocking more than just books.

For several months, a seed library has been offering aspiring gardeners everything from basil and strawberries to ornamental flowers.

"I am taking a leap of faith," said Larry Moody as he gathered up lettuce and tomato seeds for a backyard project he hopes will be life changing for his four children.

"We want to stop being viewers of the billboard and really just try to incorporate some of these life changes into our own home," he said.

KCBS' Mark Seelig Reports:

The packets of heirloom tomatoes Moody was thumbing through arrived in the filing cabinet that is the East Palo Alto Seed Library courtesy of Collective Roots, a non-profit that promotes locally grown food.

Executive director Kris Jensen said the organization would be offering classes and workshops at the East Palo Alto Library to encourage budding gardeners hoping to save a few bucks at the grocery store.

"It's very popular now, especially with the economy as it is," Jensen said.

And soon there will be gardening tools available for checkout too, said head librarian Patrick Sweeney, who was inspired over the winter by a similar initiative at the Richmond Public Library.

The library parking lot already hosted a farmers market. That's where Sweeney discovered Jensen and Collective Roots.

Right away, Sweeney said, he knew he was onto something.

"It's getting huge use," he said. Dozens checked out seeds months before the formal launch on Friday.

And Sweeney said he hasn't stopped looking for more grant money to grow the seed library.

In the meantime, Larry Moody is marveling over what will be on the dinner table this summer.

"It's kind of interesting to realize that these little small seeds actually create a healthy meal for us at home," he said.

(© 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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