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If you’re heading down Meadow Country Road in southern Suffolk, you may notice a new addition to the area. Carrie Matsko, her husband, Eric, and their four children have created Suffolk’s first seed library.

She was inspired by the neighborhood book libraries she visited growing up and wanted to create the same kind of community using her love for gardening.

Carrie grew up in Danville, Iowa, and moved to the area in 2011 after graduating from Regent University, where she completed a master’s in cinema television production.

“I’ve always loved gardening. I may not have always been good at it, but I’ve always enjoyed it,” she said. “My dad was always a gardener and we spent a lot of time at his parents’ farm, so I guess it’s in my DNA.”

The seed library, located at 2025 Meadow Country Road, got started in early April about a month after Carrie came across someone selling a “little library” on Facebook Marketplace.

“It was brand new, someone had commissioned it but never installed it because they were moving,” she explained.

The idea behind the seed library was to build a community of local gardeners who can use the library to expand their own gardens while helping others do the same.

“Our mission is to cultivate community and expand local gardens,” Carrie said.

So far, the library has seen a few people deposit seeds and has received recognition in the form of a seed shipment from Bakers Creek Heirloom Seeds in Missouri.

“It’s just growing and I love it,” Carrie said. “It’s just the start of my little dream.”

In addition to the library, Carrie also runs a Facebook page where she shares advice on when, where and how to plant and care for different seeds.

“I read recently that scientists discovered that stirring up soil releases microbes that stimulate serotonin production. This basically means that gardening can reduce anxiety and promote happy feelings. Just another benefit to digging in,” she said.

For anyone who loves gardening or anyone who may be trying it for the first time, the seed library is a great way to get your hands on some seeds and be part of a community that shares your interest.

To learn more about the seed library or to donate seeds, visit the Meadow Country Farmette Facebook page.