Seed swap in St. Charles offers gardeners a chance to think about spring
Meagan Parks of St. Charles knows that despite the recent plunge in temperatures and accumulation of snow, that spring is still right around the corner and that means gardening.
'I love to garden. This is our second year coming, and we learned you have to get here early,' Meagan said as she and her husband walked among a number of tables inside the St. Charles Public Library's annual Seed Swap and Seed Library Kickoff event on Saturday. 'People line up 45 minutes before the event. Last year, we took home a lot of native plants as we just bought our home a few years ago, but we also got vegetables and herbs.'
Visitors to the event were able to pick up 'more than 150 different heirloom seed varieties, free of charge, to grow and enjoy,' organizers said.
A press release from the library noted that 'all of the seeds available are heirloom or open-pollinated, meaning that once saved and planted again, they will grow into the same type of plant. The library is one of the first public libraries in Illinois to lend heirloom seeds.'
Brandon Buckley, reference librarian, said he has overseen the program since 2014 and that it is offered in conjunction with the Master Gardeners at the University of Illinois Extension, which has a location in St. Charles.
'I'm not an expert when it comes to gardening, and I want visitors to have good information and people that can give them the gardening know-how,' Buckley explained.
Seeds for the program are purchased by the library from companies, Buckley said, adding that they also 'get some from local gardeners – the master gardeners, especially, because they know what they're doing.'
'We get some also from library patrons, too,' he said. 'I think in every community there's a subset of just passionate gardeners. It's what they like to do and if you have hundreds of tomato seeds, what are you going to do? I like it because in the library world, it's about sharing and I like that aspect of it.'
Last year's Seed Swap and Seed Library Kickoff event drew about 150 people, and since the pandemic, Buckley has seen a rise in interest in the program.
'Since COVID, there's been more interest. The first 10 years I don't think we ever ran out of seeds but then during COVID and after it was the first time we ever ran out,' he said. 'I think we had over 10,000 packets of seeds last year which was by far the most we've ever given out. People got into the habit during the pandemic and things like groceries have gotten more expensive.'
The seed swap room was packed within minutes of opening Saturday with gardening fans moving among the tables.
Meagan Parks' husband Andrew said he 'was excited last year to grow native grasses and doing the landscaping.'
'As we said, we moved in a few years ago and we're still establishing that,' he said. 'We learned a lot since last year about composting which was a game changer and there is so much to learn in terms of the timing and when you can plant things.'
Kristina Fann of Campton Hills said while she has not been to the St. Charles event before, 'I have gone to a number of seed swaps.'
'I think the selection is great. I like cottage gardening. I like to do all the flowers and my husband likes to do the peppers – he likes hot peppers,' Fann said. 'My kids do cucumbers and I've been sent with a list.'
Kasia Zarow of St. Charles said she came the past two years to the seed giveaway and 'loves the selection.'
'The past two years, we've been planting our entire community garden just based on this seed swap and we also plant the seeds at home,' Zarow explained as her son Jake Jakubowski, 9, filled a bag with seeds. 'We must have taken 30 different seeds home last year as there is a lot of variety.'
Jake said he himself is also into gardening and likes raising 'pumpkins and also tomatoes.'
'I like gardening, but it's very hard work,' he said.
The ongoing seed library is available any time the library is open. For more information, stop by the Research and Reading Desk, or call 630-584-0076, Ext. 1.
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