5 Questions with … Mélanie Ouellette
Mélanie Ouellette, from Saint-Basile in New Brunswick, is the founder of the Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library. Many native plants have sprung to life thanks to this initiative, as well as a variety of events that have been organized in the national capital. Last year, over 1,300 individuals and community projects received seeds, resulting in the growth of at least 156,000 new plants from 177 different species!
Three years after the initial seed distribution, let’s check in with Mélanie about her accomplishments in her nature-helping initiative.
Q1 – So, you come from New Brunswick; tell us a bit about yourself and how you came to create a wildflower seed library in Ottawa!

Well, I studied international development at the University of New Brunswick. I majored in political science and then earned an MBA. I worked at Library and Archives Canada, and all the while, I was always seeking ways to make science more accessible. I’ve also worked in Indigenous communities. For years, I searched for volunteer opportunities that aligned with my values, but I couldn’t find anything that truly satisfied me. Then, at one point, I attended a presentation by Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer, the author of Braiding Sweetgrass, who was discussing climate change. Someone asked her, “The world is on fire, what can we do to help?” And she said, “Make a list of your talents, then find something that you’re passionate about.” So, that evening, I made a list of my talents and realized that I was passionate about addressing climate change, promoting Indigenous reconciliation, and empowering women. The only thing I could envision doing day after day, and that I was passionate enough about, was gardening. So, I thought, “Gardening with native plants, that’s something I could do that would contribute to these three things.” I then thought about why people weren’t immediately gardening with native plants in the Ottawa region. (…) The first obstacle was access to seeds because there was no one selling seeds in the area. The second obstacle was the lack of information on how to garden with native plants. I had spent the entire summer learning about winter sowing techniques, the native plant schedule, how to choose the right plants, the right places, where to buy them, ecosystems, and so on. These were the two main pillars. I had spent the whole summer understanding them. But for most people, not only did they lack access, but they also had to learn how to do it. So, I created a Facebook and Instagram group to share this knowledge. Since most of the information about the benefits came from scientists, I tried to make it more accessible by simplifying big messages into smaller key messages spread over time.
Q2 – Why should the average person garden with wildflowers/native plants?
There are many reasons for that. Personally, I believe that as humans, we all need to feel connected to nature. It’s a fundamental need. I think it’s important to provide this connection to our children. In urban environments, you mainly find lawns, but I grew up in Saint-Basile, next to a field and a forest, and I was struck by the fact that urban children didn’t have access to nature. For me, it’s our responsibility to leave a better world for those who come after us. We’re facing problems related to climate change and water. We can transform our cities into sponges with plants, which helps reduce runoff. Municipalities often focus on tree planting, but they often overlook bushes and flowers, which are integral to the urban ecosystem. So, this also fills a gap that isn’t immediately addressed by municipalities. In Ontario, we have a major problem with the supply of native seeds, whether it’s for trees or other plants. There isn’t enough supply to meet the demand. So, it’s also a way to manage the seed supply by encouraging people to get involved. Finally, there’s the overarching issue of climate change, and by gardening with native plants, people can make a concrete contribution to addressing this problem. They can see results in the first year, which helps channel their environmental anxiety.
Q3 – How does the seed library work day-to-day, and at what time of the year?
Day-to-day, the educational aspect doesn’t vary much. The workload remains relatively the same: finding interesting articles, and so on. We talk about the general ecosystem, how it depends on plants, to avoid being dogmatic about native plants. We discuss bees, important species, and so on. The busiest period is from September to February. From November to January, it’s several hours a day with the participation of several volunteers. It’s not just me who works on it.
Q4 – Does a seed library like this have its challenges?
Strategically, the main challenge is being taken seriously. Unfortunately, when it comes to climate change and environmental solutions, what gets a lot of visibility are the big things. Public transportation, trees, polar bears. Saving insects doesn’t get much political traction. Saving ladybugs, even flies, isn’t “hot,” and it’s difficult to sell it to politicians and the government. Operationally, it’s about matching the supply and demand for seeds. Not asking people to work more than necessary, but we want there to be sufficient demand for the people who show up at each event.
Q5 – Is it possible for every city to have its own seed library?
That would be really great. We don’t have a choice if we want to address all the problems we’re facing, as there aren’t enough seeds. In New Brunswick, I don’t even know if there’s a distributor of wildflower seeds. There’s a demand. There are plenty of invasive species, a decrease in biodiversity, it’s endless. If we want to reduce the area of our lawns, those seeds have to come from somewhere. I think it would be ideal to have one everywhere. But to my knowledge, we’re the only ones with this exact model.
In a world where it can be difficult to find wildflower seeds, initiatives like these can greatly help our supply of native plants. Visit them to learn more about their initiative at https://wildflowerseedlibrary.ca/!