The Great Seed and Soil Event

Saturday, February 7, 2026, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Location: MCC Café

Parking: Please park in the B lot and enter at the Leucht Auditorium door B12

The Great Seed and Soil Event is back for its third year brought to you by the Center for Agrarian Learning at MCC and the University of Illinois extension Master Gardeners! This popular annual event is designed for anyone interested in growing their own food and expanding home gardening skills.

We have amazing vendors and non-profits, kids' activities and demonstrations throughout the day, and lots of free seeds to give away! Come pick out veggies, herbs, natives, and flowers for free! 

Micro-Talks

Three informative talks will be happening throughout the day:

  • 10:30 a.m. – Why and How to Build a 10-by-10 Pocket Prairie with Will Akin of Braided Roots
  • 11:30 a.m. – Urban Agroforestry: A Food Forest at Home with Stephanie Tesmer
  • 12:30 p.m. – Composting: Home and Commercial with Midwest Organics Recycling and Illinois Food Scrap and Composting Coalition

Demonstrations

The Master Gardeners will be hosting gardening demos throughout the day, including:

  • Composting
  • Winter sowing
  • Indoor lighting
  • Kids' art projects
  • Explore these local vendors at the event
    • Barn Words
    • Blazing Star
    • Boone-Dutch Creeks Watershed Alliance
    • Braided Roots
    • Catalyst Campus/University Center
    • Center for Agrarian Learning
    • Conscious Cup Coffee
    • Russ Crow, seed collector of heirloom beans
    • Flying Friends
    • Golden Gills
    • High Mowing Seeds
    • Hongik ECO Farm
    • Illinois Food Scrap and Composting Coalition
    • Julie Ann Gardens
    • Little Ducky Flowers
    • Master Gardeners
    • McHenry County Conservation District
    • McHenry County Defenders
    • Midwest Organics Recycling
    • Natural Communities
    • Northern Illinois Worm Farm
    • Pizzo Habitat Restoration
    • Platt Hill Nursery
    • Small Waters Education
    • Snap-On Tools
    • Sucre Petite Bakery
    • Sun and Soil Botanicals
    • T Creative Designs
    • The Land Conservancy
    • Tikvah Farms
    • Tribe Country Farm
    • Wildflower Preservation and Propagation Committee
    • Wonderfarm
    • Woodstock Garden Club
    • Xerces Society

Thank you to our generous sponsors!