Borrow seeds from the Energy, Mines and Resources Seed Library. Grow them in your garden. Save seeds to return to the library for next year. When Yukon gardeners do this, we develop seeds suited to our northern growing conditions.
Our seed library is for Yukon gardeners who want to grow and save seeds. It’s a great way to:
- introduce some locally-hardy plants into your garden;
- grow for seed saving; or
- try something new in your garden.
Our seed library is not intended to be your sole source for seeds, so seed packets contain smaller amounts than what you would purchase. You can borrow seeds at any time of year.
- Browse the list of available seeds through the links above.
- Email emrlibrary@yukon.ca with a list of seeds you want. You can choose up to 10 packets of seeds per season.
- We will prepare them in advance for you.
- Visit the Energy, Mines and Resources Library. We are located at 335-300 Main Street in Whitehorse. The library is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
- Sign up for an EMR Library account (bring a piece of Yukon ID).
- Borrow seeds with your library account. You can borrow up to 10 packets of seeds each season.
- Start planting.
- When your plants go to seed, harvest the seeds and return those to the library.
Returning seeds helps replenish the collection for other gardeners. This helps the seed library become self-sufficient.
You can bring seeds to the Energy Mines and Resources Library at any time of year.
We'd like you to bring in seeds from the plants you grew from seeds from our library. But, we will accept any open-pollinated or heirloom seeds you want to donate.
How to donate your seeds
- Dry and clean your seeds.
- Place them in an envelope or a plastic bag.
- Bring the seeds to the Energy, Mines and Resources library. We are located at 335-300 Main Street in Whitehorse. The library is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- When you bring your seeds to the library we will ask you:
- the type of seed;
- the year you collected it;
- the source of the original seeds, if known; and
- your tips on successful growing conditions.
We pass this information on to gardeners who borrow your seeds.
Locally grown vegetable seeds
- Arugula
- Bok choi
- Mustard (Mizuna)
- Onion (Perennial bunching)
- Orach (Red orach)
- Peas, shelling (Strike, bolero)
- Swiss Chard
Other vegetable seeds
- Arugula (Astro)
- Beans, bush (Strike)
- Beans, pole (Purple peacock)
- Beets (Early wonder tall top)
- Bok choi (Micro-greens pac choi)
- Broccoli (Calabrese)
- Broccoli raab (Sorrento raab)
- Cabbage (Early Jersey Wakefield)
- Carrot (Scarlet Nantes, Royal Chantenay)
- Collards (Vates)
- Cucumber (Early Fortune, Marketmore)
- Kale (Improved Siberian)
- Kohlrabi (Purple Vienna)
- Leeks (Alto varna)
- Lettuce (Grand Rapids leaf, Parris Island Romaine)
- Peas, shelling (Little marvel)
- Peppers (California Wonder)
- Radish (French breakfast, Purple Plum, Rivoli)
- Spinach (Monstrueux de Viroflay)
- Squash (Gold Nugget)
- Swiss Chard (Magenta Sunset)
- Tomato (Early Tanana, Gold Nugget Cherry, Manitoba, Polar Beauty)
- Turnip (Purple top white globe)
- Zucchini (Black Beauty)
Locally grown flower, herb and grain seeds
- Barley (Himalayan)
- Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)
- Calendula
- Chives
- Columbine (Red/yellow)
- Cress
- Delphinium
- Dill (McKenzie heirloom, Regular dill)
- Geranium
- Lovage
- Maltese Cross
- Marigold
- Oats (cat grass)
- Phacelia
- Plantain
- Poppy (Black Swan, California, Icelandic, Opium, Orange/Yellow, Oriental, Pink, Purple, Red, White)
- Quinoa
- Roseroot
- Tobacco
- Yarrow
Other flower, herb and grain seeds
- Basil (Genovese basil, Sweet basil organic)
- Chamomile, German
- Corn (Yukon)
- Cress (Curly cress peppergrass)
- Dill (Ella organic)
- Parsley (Dark green Italian)
- Quinoa
If you have questions about using the seed library, visit, email or phone the Energy, Mines and Resources Library.