Little pantry, big goals. Philip Weltner Library has started its own seed pantry with hopes that it will grow into a larger university-wide initiative. An idea sparked from having leftover seeds from a library-led gardening event in April of 2026, the Philip Weltner Library seed pantry was created by Library Assistant Kristie Gadson and alumna Heidi聽Ullman聽鈥�26 as a means to encourage students to practice sustainable self-sufficiency and to address the聽food insecurity that as many as 35% of students face聽on campus.聽聽
Gadson and Ullman repurposed a little free library that聽hadn鈥檛聽seen any circulation in the past few years. While the structure didn鈥檛 see much use as a little exchange for books, like a revitalized bloom breaking through the soil,聽it鈥檚 found new life as numerous seed packets now line its shelves and a fresh coat of black paint brings much-needed color to its four small wooden聽walls. With a renewed purpose, the pantry sits at a corner of the聽Library聽main聽desk for visibility and access.聽
The motto of the聽Library鈥檚聽seed pantry reads 鈥淭ake a seed, grow a seed鈥� inside the black box. Based on the model of mutual aid, the pantry is open to anyone鈥攕tudents, faculty, and staff alike鈥攖o give,聽take and grow as they please. From tomatoes to cantaloupe to cosmos and pansies, Philip Weltner Library鈥檚 seed pantry debuts with a variety of fruits, veggies, and an assortment of edible flowers.聽聽
The hope with the pantry is that,聽come Fall 2026,聽there will be opportunities to partner with campus programs such as Petey鈥檚 Pantry to expand and better serve聽all聽of聽91影视聽University.聽Until then, the Philip Weltner Library seed pantry聽is聽now open with聽the聽vision of sustainable food sources for聽the聽91影视聽community.聽
