Seed Swaps Across Chicagoland Help Growers Prep for New Season

Bob Benenson
3 days ago
2 min read

University of Illinois Extension Shares a Map of Upcoming Events

It's a fair guess that most readers of Local Food Forum strongly believe in sustainability. But there is sustainability, and then there is seed-swap sustainability.

And it appears — from a map of seed-swap events created by University of Illinois Extension Cook County — that there is a lot of interest across Chicago and its suburbs.

In case seed swaps are news to you, they are community-focused events where gardeners and small farmers trade seeds they have saved, which can include hard-to-find heirloom varieties. Seed swaps help build community among local growers, provide education about plant varieties, seed saving and growing techniques, and encourage biodiversity.

According to Extension's map, there are two seed swap events coming up this weekend.

Saturday (January 24)

Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Envision Unlimited Frick Center, 2124 W. 82nd Place, Chicago: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m

Sunday (January 25)

Kane County Extension Office, 535 S. Randall Rd., St. Charles: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Oak Park Conservancy, 615 Garfield, Oak Park: 10 a.m.

To illuminate how seed swaps work, here's the description from the organizers of the Kane County event.

Get free seeds while learning

Do you want to expand your gardens, or are you new to gardening? Get a jump on the growing season with the 2nd Kane County Master Gardener Community Seed Swap on Sunday, Jan. 25. Choose from a variety of vegetable, herb, flower, and native plant seeds to take home.

If gardeners would like to bring seeds to share, they should be fresh and labeled, and not from F1 hybrids, so they grow true to type.
All seeds collected pre-event will be labeled and come with care instructions.

Demonstrations

In addition to free seeds, learn different seed starting techniques, tips, and tools with our demonstrations:

Soil Blocking : Create compact soil blocks that reduce plastic use, encourage strong roots, and minimize transplant shock.
Tray Types: Compare standard cell trays, deep-root trays, and other options to find the best fit for your crops.
Seed Snail System: A spiral design for efficient germination and space-saving seed starting—ideal for small spaces.
Winter Sowing: Learn how to start seeds outdoors in winter using recycled containers, harnessing natural cold stratification for hardy plants.

Plus, learn from Master Gardeners and expert presenters about: