Seed library

In the library at the Max-Ophüls-Platz location (building MOP 2). No seeds are issued or accepted at the other two library locations.

Seeds can only be lent from the start of the season (approx. mid/end of February) and until May of each year, while stocks last. It is quite possible that everything will be lent out in the first few weeks after the start of the season, in which case you will unfortunately not be able to get seeds from us again until the following year.

Only members of the Fachhochschule Dortmund are entitled to borrow seeds. First, select the seeds you would like to borrow. Each person can borrow a maximum of 3 seed bags per type of vegetable and a maximum of 5 seed bags in total. Only a limited number of seeds are available for each type of vegetable, so it is first come, first served. Lending is only possible on site during the opening hours of the library at the Max-Ophüls-Platz location.

To borrow items, please present your FHCard or service card at the service desk. You will receive a reminder email from us during the season. There is no loan period for seeds and of course there are no reminder fees. However, we would be pleased to hear from you if you have not been able to harvest any seeds for return. There can be many reasons for this (e.g. unfavorable weather conditions or slug damage), but we rely on everyone who can to bring back seeds for the next season so that the cycle works in the long term.

Please make sure you keep the exact names of the varieties you grow. These are written on the bags and are important for the return (see below).

When you borrowed the seeds, you also received an empty bag to fill with new seeds. Please use this preferably for the return. If you no longer have it or want to return more than one bag, please make sure that all bags are clearly labeled with the exact variety name (not just "yellow tomato" or similar) so that we can clearly assign the seeds.

Brief instructions for harvesting the seeds are attached to each bag. More detailed instructions can be found on the website of the Verein zur Erhaltung der Nutzpflanzenvielfalt e. V.(Opens in a new tab)  (under the tab for the species in question).

Please note: Bean and pea seeds should be frozen for at least 21 days before being returned.

If you have not succeeded in harvesting new seed for return during the season, please notify us by e-mail.

At the beginning of the season we have the following species to choose from:

• Tomato
• Lettuce
• Bean
• Pea
• Garden pea

These species are particularly suitable for seed libraries, as undesirable cross-pollination is very rare.

We offer several different varieties of each species. On each seed bag you will find a description of the respective variety so that you can choose exactly the right one (while stocks last). We have taken care to include many varieties that are particularly suitable for growing on balconies, so that even amateur gardeners without their own garden can achieve good harvests.

The seeds come from the gardens of various members of the Verein zur Erhaltung der Nutzpflanzenvielfalt e. V. (Association for the Conservation of Crop Diversity).

We only lend seeds for varieties without intellectual property rights. These may be propagated and passed on without restriction. They are seed-resistant and not restricted by hybrid technology. You can therefore propagate them yourself without hesitation.

Seeds for other species/varieties (e.g. wildflower seeds) are only given away by us - if available - as an accompanying gift.

We would like to recommend the website of the "Borrowing seeds - harvesting diversity" project. Here you will find information and tips for each type of vegetable under the respective tabs.

Of course, the FH library does not specialize in gardening/vegetable growing and its collection contains only a small amount of how-to literature. Nevertheless, it does provide some suitable titles, which you can find here:

Many other titles on this subject area can be found in the Dortmund City and State Library, for example.