By: Rachel Miller
Christian Maximilian Wilkerson, often referred to as Max, is a 17-year-old Eagle Scout with Boy Scout Troop 77. He enjoys reading, playing video games, and talking with his friends. Max often visits the East Shore Area Library to attend library programs, check out books, and more recently, visit the teen gaming section. This year, as a project for Boy Scouts, Max created a seed library at the East Shore Area Library that has been a big success with many community members who visit that library.
How did you get into Boy Scouts and how has your experience with that impacted you?
I got into Boy Scouts when I was in first grade, they were offering Cub Scouts. I went to the first meeting, and I enjoyed it a lot. I’ve made a lot of friends that I still have now. I think my life would have been very different without the Boy Scouts. It’s the code that Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts live by has really shaped the way I interact with people because it tells me that I need to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent, as well as doing my duty to God and my country.
What inspired you to make the seed library at your own library?
I got the idea for it in Florida because there’s a seed library at my grandparent’s library, and didn’t think we had many of those in PA. I thought it would be really cool if I could bring it to the East Shore Dauphin County Library and pay them back for all the books they’ve loaned me for the past 17 years.
What was your process for putting the seed bank together?
First, I had to research different containers to use. Originally, I was going to find one of those card catalogs that libraries used to use, but I found out they were $4,000 a pop. So, I scrapped that idea and went to Amazon to look at some cabinets that were a little smaller. I found the ones that are at the library today for about $75 each. Also, talking with Maria Lagasca (Public Services Director) about what size and what exactly the library wanted for this definitely helped a lot with the decision-making process.
Then I researched the different seeds and the types of seeds that would work best. Later in the project, we found out there are actually regulations on seeds that can be distributed. You can’t bring in your own seeds that you took from your garden, which forced me to adjust what you could do with the seed library. Stauffers of Kissel Hill made a very generous donation that allowed me to purchase a lot of seeds for the seed library’s original stock.
I also would like people to buy seeds and if they still have the packages, bring them to the seed library because it needs restocking. Last time I was there, I noticed there were a lot of people who actually took out seeds. It was amazing to see all the people that wrote their phone numbers and names down, but the seed library does end up needing to be restocked. I would be very appreciative if people got that going, so it didn’t fizzle out.
What advice would you give to any other young people who want to do a similar project to benefit their community?
Looking around and seeing the needs in the community definitely helps find a project. Do the research. Make sure you budget correctly. Keep working no matter what setbacks you have. Just keep moving forward, and don’t give up.