Lead: Diane Davis, Mary Starbuck
Location: Mustill Store Museum, 57 W. North Street Akron, OH
Grand Opening: July 13th, 2024
Partners: Cascade Locks Parks Association, Sierra Club Ohio’s Portage Trail Group, Summit Metro Parks, Brian Donelan (construction)
Description:
The Wild Ones Greater Cleveland Native Seed Library was the idea of members Mary Starbuck and Diane Davis (also a board member) in 2024. Prior to the Native Seed Library creation, they had collected seeds from the waystation, packaged them and gave them to visitors of the Mustill Store Museum. Native seed giveaways were top of mind for them, so they decided to grow the offering in a new and creative way. They created the plan based on images they had seen of other seed libraries and the Little Free Library programs.
Both women are volunteer gardeners for the Cascade Locks Parks Association, so they knew they wanted to locate it somewhere on the grounds. The park is accessible and home to many historical Akron sites which draw a lot of visitors. This includes: the Ohio and Erie Canalway Towpath Trail, Lock 15, Mustill Store Museum, and a representation of the old Schumacher Water Wheel. With the high traffic area, Mary and Diane thought it was a great place to house the intended seed library. Plus, the women are present often in the park already to tend a large Monarch Waystation behind the Schumacher Water Wheel.
After the plan was made and location picked out, they collaborated with Cascade Locks Parks Association, Summit Metro Parks, Sierra Club, Robert Davis, and Dr. Brian Donelan, to create and implement the plan.
The Native Seed Library was officially launched on July 13, 2024 and included walking tours and
speeches by Jessica Ausnehmer (then WOGC President), Mary Starbuck, Sam DeShazior (Ward 1 Council Representative), and Casey Shevlin (Director of Sustainability for the City of Akron). The Native Seed Library is open from Spring to Fall and is restocked weekly. It is located at the Mustill Store Museum parking lot at 57 W. North Street in Akron.
