Gardening



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Michigan eLibrary



Supporting Michigan Libraries - 03/19/2024

Bring a Garden to Life with Help From MeL

man using gardening tools

On March 1, 2024, Governor Whitmer declared March Food and Agriculture Month in Michigan [ [link removed] ]. The Michigan eLibrary (MeL) eResources [ [link removed] ] provide information to help Michiganders take advantage of the opportunities our state has to offer.

*Be Your Own Farmer*

Growing a garden is one of the best ways to take advantage of local food. The eBook Public Library Collection [ [link removed] ] offers tips and tricks to plan a food-producing garden this summer. For general knowledge, try "Gardening to Eat: Connecting People and Plants" [ [link removed] ]. Readers can learn when and how to plant and harvest a variety of foods and enjoy recipes created to utilize their nutritious bounty. "Vertical Gardening" [ [link removed] ] and "Micro Food Gardening: Project Plans and Plants for Growing Fruits and Veggies in Tiny Spaces" [ [link removed] ]" "both encourage gardening in the space you have. These eBooks describe how we can grow food in unusual places rather than focusing on limitations. With over 400 additional gardening eBooks [ [link removed] ] including topics such as composting, organic gardening, and gardening with kids, the eBook Public Library Collection [ [link removed] ] has something for everyone.

*Support a Community Garden*

Community gardens using empty land offer significant benefits. According to "The Proof is in the Kale [ [link removed] ]" in "BioCycle CONNECT" from Consumer Health Complete [ [link removed] ], urban areas often have enough open land to grow a large percentage of the produce needed to feed a whole city. Though it might not be possible to feed everyone, libraries can be involved in community garden efforts. During a recent visit to Pentwater Township Library, I saw raised garden beds that yielded produce that was given away to patrons at the library. A recent article in "American Libraries" from Library & Information Science Source [ [link removed] ], "Fresh Ideas: Libraries Install Fridges to Address Food Insecurity [ [link removed] ]," detailed efforts to provide fresh food to anyone in need.

*Seed Libraries and Programming*

Many libraries participate in initiatives to provide seeds to their patrons. "How We Built a Seed Library (and How You Can, Too) [ [link removed] ]" in "The Washington Library Association Journal" from Library & Information Science Source [ [link removed] ] and "Seed Libraries: And Other Means of Keeping Seeds in the Hands of People" [ [link removed] ] in the eBook Public Library Collection [ [link removed] ] can help libraries get started. Michigan also has a network of seed libraries [ [link removed] ] you can join. Along with hosting a seed library, consider planning programming from gardeners, farmers, chefs, and food preservationists. These experts can help boost knowledge and confidence in growing, cooking, and preserving one's own food.

Spring in Michigan is the perfect time to start planning a summer garden. Use content in the MeL eResources to get started on your journey today.

*If you have any MeL eResources questions or issues, contact **[email protected]* <[email protected]>* for help.*



Brought to you by Laura Warren-Gross from the MeL Team

Supporting Michigan Libraries by Putting You First. 

Want more information on MeL?  Stay tuned for the next MeL Minute available on many Michigan library listservs,  visit [link removed] [ [link removed] ], or sign up for the MeL Minute and other Library of Michigan e-mail lists via GovDelivery [ [link removed] ]. We encourage you to share MeL Minutes with your colleagues and networks. 

MeL eResources are available to Michigan residents or for Michigan library or school access only. 

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library of Michigan.

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