Connected seeds library

The Connected Seeds Library is a community seed library that lives at Spitalfields City Farm. It was established by researchers at Queen Mary University of London in collaboration with staff and volunteers at the farm, as part of a research project exploring how digital technology can support more sustainable food growing in the city.

The library is a resource for local communities who wish to grow their own food from locally-adapted, open-pollinated seed. You can become a member – or Seed Guardian – of the library and take some seed home to grow. You are encouraged to return some seeds to the library at the end of the season, to make sure that stocks are not depleted. Many of the varieties in the library have cultural meaning for guardians, as they connect them to their heritage or country of origin, which is particularly rich in this part of London, due to large scale immigration and ethnic diversity.