Did you know that there are standalone seed sharing stations beyond the the network of Freestores around Oahu? (What are Freestores, you ask? Click here for enlightenment!)
All of the Freestores have seed sharing stations, most of them in the form of repurposed mailboxes.
Kaneohe Freestore
Waimanalo Freestore
Like the Freestores, the seed stations rely on a network of volunteers to collect seeds, package them, and distribute the packets around the island.
See the Google map below for the Freestores on Oahu (green pins) and the standalone seed stations on Oahu (purple pins) and Hawaii (blue pins). Note that the Hawaii seed library program is a collaboration between the participating libraries and the West Hawaii Master Gardener Program.
The Share Seeds program on Oahu is part of the Eating in Public project (also commonly known as Nomoola in reference to its website, nomoola.com), which was established in 2003 by Gaye Chan and Nandita Sharma.
According to the Share Seeds page, “SHARE SEEDS stations can encourage the saving and sharing of non-genetically modified seeds. Seeds that are free for everyone to grow and harvest. Seeds that will produce more seeds, to grow again year after year after year. In these seeds is the hope for life.”
On the page, you’ll find helpful links, including:
Following are notes about some of the standalone Share Seeds stations on Oahu:
Nohea Gallery, Kahala Mall
The Share Seeds box is located at the entrance of the gallery.
Kapiolani Community College Library, Diamond Head
The Share Seeds box is located against a column in the middle of Lama Library.
Kalihi-Palama Library
Seed station located in adult reading section, next to Large Print bookshelf
Roots Cafe, Kalihi
Roots Cafe and Food Hub are in the Kokua Kalihi Valley Clinic. The cafe is open Tuesday and Thursday 11:30 am-1:30 pm.
If you have questions about the station, ask for the Food Hub manager.
Aloha Agape Community Garden, Mililani
The garden is located at Christ Lutheran Church in Mililani.
The seed sharing station is a mailbox located at the entrance of the garden.
UH West Oahu Library, Kapolei
The Share Seeds box is located on the counter to the right of the foyer at the James & Abigail Campbell Library, UH West Oahu.
In general, one seed envelope per household, please. If you return after several days and there are a bunch of seeds still there, then you can take more. This gives everyone a chance at getting seeds.
Please save seeds and share them! The seed package don’t just magically appear in the Share Seeds stations - people take the time to collect seeds, package them, and distribute them. If you don’t have time to package or distribute, click here to email me.