By BARBARA ROBERTS / Community Columnist

At the Pelham Public Library, we are excited about the coming of spring.

We’re looking forward to the promise of warm weather and longer, sunnier days.

We’re also eagerly anticipating some new programming that is tailor-made for spring! Beginning in April and running through the end of May, we will begin handing out free vegetable seeds to anyone in the community who wants them.

The program, called Plant a $eed, is part of the Smart Investing @ Your Library grant. Those interested in participating are invited to stop by the library to pick up a seed bag, which will include packets of lettuce, garden beans and tomatoes.

The idea came to Librarian Russ Mitchell after reading about seed exchange programs implemented by public libraries around the nation, and the purpose of Pelham Public Library’s seed distribution is to help people save money by producing their own vegetables and to enrich the community through the promotion of a healthy and enjoyable pastime.

In the exchange programs that inspired Plant a $eed, participants are expected to harvest the seeds and return them to the library at the end of the season.

Plant a $eed differs in that we don’t expect anything in return! Stop by, pick up your seeds, and get to gardening!

In no time at all we hope that you’ll be slicing through a gorgeous, homegrown tomato for your afternoon snack, all the while having fun and saving money.

Let us (pun intended) also point out that the free seeds may be picked up by attendees of the Organic Gardening Workshop scheduled for April 13 at 6 p.m.

The workshop will be presented at the library by Regional Extension Agent Nelson Wynn, who will cover general organic vegetable gardening, organic fertilization and pest managing. The Organic Gardening Workshop is a part of an ongoing mission of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and the Pelham Public Library to help people and communities improve their quality of life and economic well-being.

Seating is limited for the workshop, so please call soon to reserve a seat.

For more information, please call the Pelham Public Library at 620-6418.