About the Gerstein Garden and Seed Library
The Gerstein Garden and Seed Library is an indoor garden and seed library. The Garden is made up of two Just Vertical Aeva vertical gardens, which are sustainable indoor gardens that grow fresh herbs, greens, and flowers. The Seed Library, with seeds donated by our partners, allows you to take the Gerstein Garden home and start your own. We have a wide variety of seeds including vegetables, herbs, and flowers.
Both the harvested plants from the garden and the seeds are free for U of T students, staff, and faculty to take home!
How it works:
- The garden herbs and plants grown in the Aeva units are on a cycle and are harvested by our staff when they are ready. Please DO NOT pick plants yourself or touch the garden units.
- The harvested plants in the basket are free for you to take home and enjoy.
- The seeds can be taken home at any time. Choose the seeds you would like from the drawers and enjoy.
- We also have a small collection of gardening books. These can be signed out at the front desk or by using the self-serve machine.
Location:
1st floor (Left of the Book Stop, across from the Centre for Research & Innovation Support)
Hours:
Available during Gerstein’s opening hours
Seeds and Gardening Resources
- Seed Starting – Seeds for Diversity: Resources to help you plan a garden, start your seeds, and maintain your plants
- How to Save Seeds: A handbook on how to grow, harvest and save a variety of seeds
- Seed Staring Webinar by Seed Savers Exchange Heritage Farm (YouTube Video)
- Gardening in small spaces (Blog post)
How to start a balcony garden in Toronto (Blog post)
(Credit: Resource list adapted from UTSC Seed Library)
University of Toronto – Urban Agriculture Initiatives
- Dig In! Campus Agriculture Network: exists to support, empower and grow small-scale, sustainable food production at the University of Toronto.
- SkyGarden: a volunteer-run rooftop vegetable garden on top of the Galbraith Building at U of T’s St. George Campus.
Our Partners:
The Gerstein Garden and Seed Library would not be possible without:
- University of Toronto Libraries Chief Librarian's Innovation Grant
- Just Vertical
- McKenzie Seeds
- Mumm's Sprouting Seeds
- Seeds of Diversity
- Stems Flower Farm
- The Secret Garden
- West Coast Seed Donation Program
The Garden & Seed Library Team:
- Glyneva Bradley-Ridout, Liaison and Education Librarian
- Mikaela Gray, Liaison and Education Librarian
- Heather Cunningham, Assistant Director, Research and Innovation Services
- Catherine Duff, Access Information Specialist
- Elena Springall, Liaison and Education Librarian
- Mary Ellen Brown, Reference Specialist
- Maggie Nevison, Graduate Student Library Assistant
- Emily Woehrle, Graduate Student Library Assistant
Have questions, feedback, or suggestions?
Tell us your thoughts via our feedback form
Email glyneva.bradley.ridout@utoronto.ca or mikaela.gray@utoronto.ca