The McHenry County College (MCC) Center for Agrarian Learning (CAL) and University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners invite the community to attend the third annual Great Seed (and Soil!) Event on Saturday, February 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the MCC Commons (B182). This free, family-friendly event has grown far beyond a traditional seed swap, offering hands-on learning, expert speakers, and activities for gardeners of all ages and experience levels.
Attendees can pick up free seeds, connect with community partners and garden-related vendors, participate in kids’ activities, and enjoy demonstrations throughout the day. Three featured presentations will highlight backyard food forests, native plant gardening, and composting at both the home and commercial scale. Guests are encouraged to take only the seeds they will use so there is plenty for everyone. Early entry is not permitted.
Scheduled speakers include Will Akin, owner of Braided Roots, presenting “Why and How to Build a 10’ x 10’ Pocket Prairie” at 10:30 a.m.; Stephanie Tesmer, Environmental Scientist, presenting “Urban Agroforestry: A Food Forest at Home” at 11:30 a.m.; and Midwest Organics Recycling and the Illinois Food Scrap & Composting Coalition, presenting “Composting: Home, Commercial, and Beyond” at 12:30 p.m.
The event is open to the public and free to attend. Please enter through the door by the Luecht Auditorium (off Parking Lot B/the South Entrance of the College). Seeds are not required to participate. Registration is encouraged for reminders and event updates, but is not required. Register online at http://mcc-link.me/EyI850Y6yKS.
For more information, contact Emily Zack at ezack@mchenry.edu or (815) 479-7563, or Brenda Dahlfors at dahlfors@illinois.edu or (815) 338-3737.
