It’s more than a box to members of the Beta Iota Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. It’s seeds of love for their community.
The sorority donated a blue box filled with vegetable seeds and gardening books to start a free seed library in the community garden at the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Farm, 3020 McConnell Road.
The library, which looks similar to the little free libraries filled with books that populate some city neighborhoods, was dedicated at a June 14 event.
Simone Langley, Beta Iota Omega chapter president, said the idea is for people to “get some seeds and get some material to help them understand how to grow their own garden, so that we can improve our own nutrition in our homes.”
“This was something different for us to do, to provide a little free library here at the University Farm that can stay for years and years,” said Enyonam Williams, co‑chair of the Enhance Our Environment Committee for Beta Omega.
“We like teaching and providing education for persons to continue to have sustainable sources of food,” said Aja Lee, the committee’s other co‑chair.
Rhonda Watlington, left, chats with Morgan Malone, Extension Associate, Urban Ag and Community Gardens, during a tour of the community garden and installation of a seed library at the N.C.A&T farm, June 14, 2025.
Morgan Malone, urban agriculture and community gardens coordinator for Cooperative Extension at N.C. A&T, said the free seed library in the community garden is a natural fit.
“It’s a space to learn together, to share our knowledge and experience, together with each other,” Malone said. The timing of the installation was especially poignant for Malone, whose friend Josie Walker, co‑founder of the Black Seed Saving Collective, had died just days before.
“I lost one of my mentors who was really a pioneer in seed‑saving space and the seed‑sharing space,” Malone told the crowd of about 25 people. “Y’all being here and sharing that space is really meaningful.”
Malone gave the group a tour of the garden while farm technician Baker Zitawi and his intern, Widdi Zougouri, erected the seed library box at the site.
Zougouri, an A&T senior studying agriculture, sustainable land and food systems, told the crowd that gardens like this are important.
“As a Black man, I think that getting the passion for growing our own food is very important,” he said. “There’s a stigma around agriculture for us, and I think that reversing that is very important.”
Zitawi also has a special connection to the garden. “This space was a project that I helped establish as an undergraduate student,” he said. “They brought me onto the committee as a student representative for the concept of creating a student and community farm for North Carolina A&T.”
AKA member Rhonda Watlington asked Malone what the easiest plant is for a novice gardener.
“Start with what’s on your plate,” Malone said. “You don’t want to take care of a plant that you don’t like.” Herbs, leafy plants and some varieties of tomatoes also are good choices, she said.
“Set yourself up for success,” Malone said. “Start small, start with a couple of containers and then grow from there. If you take on too much, you might get overwhelmed and want to give up.”
