PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE CITIZEN The VegHeads, a 4-H youth club in Lehigh Acres, have started the first seed library in Lee County as a community service project.

As a community service project, a Lehigh Acres 4-H youth club called the VegHeads have started up the first seed library in Lee County.

The club strives to offer seeds that work well in the local climate and are “open-pollinated,” and to offer seeds only when they should be planted. In addition to offering seeds to the public, it hopes that the service will give low-income families access to seeds and the knowledge needed to grow food.

They got off to a great start with donations from Tomato Growers, Bobby’s Fruit Trees, 4-H Trail Blazers, the Harty, Heidenreich and Welles families, Sakata Seed, Lehigh Acres Edible Gardening Exchange and the Lee County Master Gardeners.

Commercial growers and local gardeners are encouraged to provide “open pollinated” seeds to the VegHeads for the library.

Some seeds in the library are “hybrids,” which is a deliberate pollination of one plant to another to create seed that makes a more desirable plant. Saving seeds from hybrids is not recommended.

As part of the community service project, the VegHeads are also developing a free seed saving class to offer early next year. Taught by the club members, the class will be open to the public.

To download a seed request form or make a donation, go to: vegheadseeds.blogspot.com.

The VegHeads range in age from 5 to 14 years old. For more information, contact 4-H leader Karen Harty at (610) 530-8883.