New World Survival · Community Capacity Field Manual
Community Seed Library Operations Workbook
Build a legally verified, clearly labeled seed-sharing collection that teaches seed saving without making returns mandatory or depending on mystery seed.
Legal stop rule: Verify the actual state seed-law and seed-control requirements before public distribution. AASCO's RUSSL is a model law, not a substitute for the state's statute.
1. Host / ownership
Inventory / record location 2. Mission / collection scope
☐ Vegetables / herbs
☐ Flowers
☐ Native plants
☐ Other bounded collection
What this seed library will carry 3. State seed-law gate
| Item | Answer / requirement | Source / contact | Date verified |
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| State seed-control agency | | | |
| Noncommercial sharing provision? | | | |
| Label requirements | | | |
| Packet quantity limits | | | |
| Sign / educational notice | | | |
| Testing / germination claims | | | |
| License / permit / records | | | |
4. Federal / interstate / variety-rights gate
☐ Program is local/in-state only
☐ Interstate mailing/shipping separately reviewed
☐ Federal Seed Act implications reviewed if applicable
☐ PVP/patent/contract policy written
☐ Treated-seed policy written
5. Seed source tiers
| Tier | Definition | Accept / investigate / decline |
|---|
| A | Intact reputable commercial seed with original label | |
| B | Home-saved open-pollinated, healthy, identified crop/variety/year | |
| C | Advanced cross-pollinated / isolation-dependent saved seed | |
| D | Unknown, damp, diseased-source, unlabeled treated, restricted or invasive-risk seed | |
6. Donor acceptance policy
☐ Crop / kind required
☐ Variety required when known
☐ Donor/source required
☐ Harvest/package year required
☐ OP / hybrid / unknown recorded
☐ Treatment status recorded
☐ Healthy source plant confirmation
☐ Seed must be clean/dry/free of foreign material
☐ Advanced cross-pollination notes where applicable
7. Donation intake record
| Lot ID | Crop / variety | Source / year | OP / hybrid | Health / treatment | Disposition |
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8. Public label template
Harvest / package / donation year Required state notice / uncertainty statement 9. Inventory register
| Lot | Crop / variety | Year | Packets / quantity | Storage location | Status |
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10. Storage audit
☐ Dry seed only
☐ Cool/stable location
☐ Dark / light protected
☐ Pest protected
☐ Lots separated and labeled
☐ Moisture / mold check
☐ Refrigerator/freezer only for appropriately dried/sealed seed if used
Storage map / environmental notes 11. Public taking policy
Library card / residency rule if any NWS default: receiving seed does not create a debt to return seed. Future donations are voluntary and must pass intake.
12. Optional return / sharing policy
☐ Future donations described as optional
☐ Return is not required in exchange for seed
☐ Donated seed passes the same intake gate as any other donation
☐ Donor can decline to share personal details beyond required program/legal fields
13. Beginner seed-saving curriculum
| Skill | Taught? | Source / instructor | Practice / proof |
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| Open-pollinated vs hybrid | ☐ | | |
| Same-species cross-pollination | ☐ | | |
| Healthy mother plants | ☐ | | |
| Maturity / collection | ☐ | | |
| Dry vs wet processing | ☐ | | |
| Drying / storage | ☐ | | |
| Labeling / year/source | ☐ | | |
14. Advanced-return gate
| Crop | Pollination / species issue | Isolation / population / selection notes | Accept? |
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15. Disease / weed / invasive / treatment screen
☐ Seed saved only from healthy plants
☐ Unknown wildflower / seed mixes declined unless components verified
☐ State noxious-weed seed requirements checked
☐ State/local invasive-plant list checked where relevant
☐ Treated seed is original-labeled or declined under policy
☐ Protected/patented/restricted variety issue cleared
16. Viability / internal test log
| Lot | Reason to test | Method / source | Date | Internal result | Keep / review / retire |
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An internal sprout check is a collection-management tool. Verify state rules before publishing a formal germination percentage on a public seed label.
17. Annual collection audit
| Lot / category | Keep | Test / review | Retire | Reason / action |
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18. Education / Extension partnership calendar
| Date / season | Workshop / topic | Partner / instructor | Collection need supported |
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| Seed starting / local planting | | |
| Beginner seed saving | | |
| Cross-pollination / isolation | | |
| Seed processing / drying | | |
| Annual seed swap / donation intake | | |
19. Program dashboard
| Measure | Current result | Interpretation / next action |
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| Seed lots / varieties available | | |
| Packets / seed distributed | | |
| Unique / repeat users if tracked appropriately | | |
| Community donations accepted | | |
| Donations declined / reason | | |
| Lots retired for age / quality / identity | | |
| Workshops / participants | | |
| High-demand / missing categories | | |
20. Succession / proof
☐ State seed-control correspondence is stored
☐ Collection scope and acceptance policy are current
☐ Label template matches verified requirements
☐ Every public lot is traceable to inventory
☐ Storage map and annual audit are current
☐ Seed return is optional and donations are screened
☐ Seed-saving curriculum has a qualified partner/source
☐ Disease/weed/treatment/protected-variety stops are understood
☐ Backup can run intake and annual review
☐ Expansion waits until current collection is controlled
Three corrections before expanding the seed library