Digging Deeper Into Seed Saving
This is a continuation of our primer on seed saving. If you did not read it, or need a refresher of the overview, please read part 1.
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Seeds
5th Annual Seed Swap: Free Seeds to Start Your Garden
Seed Swap & Giveaway
Thanks to all who attended Edible Evanston’s 5th-annual seed swap and giveaway.
Now you want to know how to start seed indoors? Find our seed-starting slide show here.
Presentation: Plan Your Garden to Maximize Yield with Gwenne Godwin
Saturday, March 10, 2018
4:45 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Evanston Ecology Center
2024 McCormick Blvd, Evanston, IL 60201
Speaker: Gwenne Godwin
Free. ($5 donation requested.) Space is limited.
4th Annual Seed Swap: Free Seeds to Start Your Garden
Seed Swap & Giveaway
Edible Evanston is proud to host our 4th-annual seed swaps and giveaway.
Dozens of vegetable and flower types and hundreds of varieties, including unique heirlooms and locally saved seeds are available for free to encourage people in Evanston to grow their own food and plant for pollinators. (A limit as to the number of seed packets per person will be posted at the event.)
Free Presentation: Growing your own vegetable seedlings
Saturday, February 25, 2017
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Evanston Civic Center
2100 Ridge Ave. • Room 2402 • Evanston
Speaker: Tim Sonder
Free. Space is limited.
Free Workshop: Grow Your Own Seedlings
Saturday, January 23, 2016
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Ridgeville Park District
908 Seward St. • Evanston
Speakers: Tim Sonder and Amy Dale
Free. Space is limited.
Winter is Time for Seed Selection and Review
If you’re planning on starting your garden from seeds this season, now is the time to organize your seed collection. Check the packages of the seeds you have stored. Did anything get wet over the winter? A good way to check the viability of a packet of seeds is to soak 10 seeds overnight, then fold them into a damp (not dripping) paper towel and slide the packet into a ziplock bag. Check how long the germination period is on the seed pack. After the germination period is over, open the package and count how many seeds have sprouted.
Seed Saving
If you received seeds from Edible Evanston’s seed swap in the spring, you can save seeds from the vegetables you grew! Choose to save the seeds from your healthiest, best producing plants. Before you go to the effort of saving seeds from your annuals, here are some questions to ask:
Seed Suppliers
Our member’s favorite seed suppliers:
Winter Activity: Seed Starting
For a gardener on a budget, starting plants from seeds can be a great way to invest in a little equipment to save money in the long run. By starting heirloom seeds (not hybrid or GMO seeds), you will be able to save the seeds from your plants this year to get the same results next year. Imagine a gardening season that does not include going to the store to buy seeds or seedlings! But we will discuss seed saving later.