What is the Library Farm?
The Library Farm is an organic community garden located on the grounds of the Northern Onondaga Public Library at Cicero. The mission of the Library Farm is to provide a place for our community to grow, share, and learn about food literacy and sustainable gardening. At the Library Farm, half of the area is dedicated to the Community Garden; the other half is dedicated to the Library Farm Plotters – our individual gardeners.
How do I get involved?
Everyone is welcome at the Library Farm! Whether you’d like to attend our garden-related events, maintain your own plot, or help out with the community garden please let us know.
If you’re interested in “checking out” a plot for the season, please first read the Library Farm Rules and Responsibilities (PDF), within you’ll find an enrollment form. Forms are also available via curbside service if needed; please call ahead. Drop off your form at NOPL’s Cicero Branch to sign up!
Library Farm Links
INFOSPACE: LibraryFarm of Cicero, New York, 3/8/2019
americanlibrariesmagazine.org: Library to Farm to Table: Public libraries increasingly offer food production programs, Nov/Dec 2016 Issue
New York Library Association: Sustainability Spotlight: Check Out Sustainable Garden Practices at the LibraryFarm in Cicero, 9/27/2016
Smithsonian Magazine: The Future of Libraries, 7/27/2016
ProQuest: Libraries and Summer Fun, 7/6/2016
Mental_Floss: 8 Librarians Who Lend Out More Than Books, 3/21/2016
Central New York Community Foundation News: Northern Onondaga Public Library Grows a Greener Community with its LibraryFarm Program, 12/11/2015
The New York Times: These Public Libraries Are for Snowshoes and Ukuleles, 09/14/2015
Eagle Star Review: Little Green Thumbs, 07/21/2015
ALA.org: State of America’s Libraries 2014 Report: Libraries and Community Engagement, 04/2014
LibraryTrustees.org: Library Lends Garden Plots, 4/1/2014
TakePart.com: There’s No Shushing at This Library- and You’ll Want to Bring a Trowel,03/19/2014
New York Times: Breaking Out of the Library Mold, in Boston and Beyond, 03/07/2014
Public Libraries Online: Unconference on Spaces and Places, 3/25/2013
Association for Library Services to Children: Food Literacy – Connecting Good Eats and Good Reads, 8/30/2012
Time Magazine: How Libraries Are Reinventing Themselves for the Future, 06/22/2012
Christian Science Monitor: Libraries reinvent themselves as labs of creativity, 10/10/2012
Good.is: 50 Building Blocks of Citizenship: Check out a Garden Plot With Your Books
The Post-Standard: Free plots at Cicero’s organic LibraryFarm, Clay’s community garden, 04/24/2012
Information Space: Library Farm, 09/30/2010
FAQs
Of course! All skill levels are welcome at the Library Farm. We have gardeners of a variety of skill levels.
Yes, if there are extra plots available plotters can request an additional plot.
Certainly! We appreciate any and all donations, please contact the Library Farm Manager at 315-699-2032 for more information.