Due to historic redlining and environmental racism, Los Angeles suffers from severe shade inequity and inconsistent access to green space, with lower-income communities and people of color having significantly less access to both shade and green space. Los Angeles has the least amount of accessible park space among major US metropolitan areas, with the worst access in communities of color. 41 of Los Angeles's 262 neighborhoods have less than 1 acre of park space per 1,000 people. A 2024 study found that 25% of households in Los Angeles County experienced food insecurity, and 41% of low-income households did.

Along with the human implications that come with lack of shade and green space (Asthma, cardiovascular disease, heat-related illness), there are myriad ecological consequences—habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, and biodiversity loss are occurring at alarming rates.

However, seed libraries offer a ray of hope—they can help connect people to their places, support local wildlife and pollinators through the distribution of native plants, and equip communities with the tools they need to cool their microclimates, increase access to green spaces, combat shade inequity, improve air quality, and save water. They act as community hubs, allowing neighbors to connect to one another, and when used at urban farms or community gardens, seed libraries help to solve food insecurity issues across LA. And because they are free resources, there are no financial or bureaucratic barriers to access.

Seed library installation is paired with educational programming to cultivate capacity for stewardship and awareness of our native plants and ecosystems.