Library visitors can have a chance to win a Seed Starting Gift Basket by saving seeds for the Seed Library! Bring saved seeds to the Adult Desk from September 1–October 31 and fill out a slip to be entered into the drawing. Please donate only open-pollinated and heirloom seeds. Accepted seeds consist of vegetables, fruits, flowers, grasses, and other locally-grown plants. While we will accept store bought seeds, you must donate your own saved seeds in order to be entered into the drawing.
To be considered, please include the following:
- Envelope/container of saved seeds labeled with name of plant, variety, year, and where it was grown. Envelopes will be available at the Adult Desk. Example: Pea, sugar snap, harvested 2026 in Glen Ellyn
- One entry per type of seed donated (example: one packet of beans and one packet of tomato seeds two entries, two packets of beans of the same variety = one entry, two packets of beans of different variety = two entries, etc)
- For entry slips: name, phone, email, seed donated (can just put name and variety)
Don’t know how to save seeds?
Find information here or come to the library’s Seed Saving program on Sunday, September 27th with presenter University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener.
What will the winner receive?
A Seed Starting Gift Basket, which includes
- Starting and Saving Seeds by Julie Thompson-Adolf,
- one Burpee seed starting tray,
- one bag of seed starting soil mix,
- five packets of seeds,
- one pack of seed labels,
- two pairs of garden gloves,
- one spray bottle, and
- one clip-on grow light.
BONUS: Get two slips entered into the drawing for the following three native plants:
- Black Eyed Susans (rudbeckia hirta)
- Milkweed (any variety)
- Purple Coneflower (echinacea purpurea)
