Sustain DuPage Seed Cache
Sustain DuPage Seed Cache is a collection of programs that supports learning about and growing a community collection of seed that can help sustain our communities.
Seed Cache Intro
Seed saving is the final, essential piece of a closed-loop local food production system. Our county has several seed lending programs (see seed saving resources below) that use the “Borrow-Grow-Return” model where people can get small amounts of seed to grow and then return. Sustain Dupage hopes to support gardeners to begin seed saving work, by offering the chance to try related tasks in our garden and engage in our seed-saving program. We have opportunities available for any experience level!
If you are new to growing food, we can help you! And if you have more experience, we would love to grow along with you. Whether you have room for a larger garden or just a few plants on a deck or windowsill, you can save seeds!
Our programs help us build our seed collection, which is available for use by Sustain DuPage Members.
WHY Save Seeds?
One of the best ways to promote sustainability is to shop locally and to create closed-loop systems for essential resources (food, energy, shelter). Learning basic seed saving skills can really magnify efforts towards sustainability on a home scale!
Saving seeds of what you’ve grown, eaten, and enjoyed makes it possible to continue doing that into the future, without as much reliance on outside resources. How much more sustainable can you get?!
Close loop- save on commercial seed costs, shipping, packaging materials, and energy
Always have AND IMPROVE the varieties you love. The more you grow your seed, the more success it will have in your space
Grow varieties for taste and nutrition
Seed Saving at the Garden!
One place you can start is in our communal garden! We save the seeds of many of the crops we grow together. Available seed-saving related tasks are often discussed during our Garden Work Days, and can be done by volunteers in their homes or at the communal garden, on their own time.
One Seed, One Community
This program recruits gardeners of all levels across the county to grow the same type of seed each year, together at the same time. We guide you in learning about growing and saving seed, and you can join us at the end of the season to celebrate the seed harvest at the Seed Savin' Social!
Grow Out Crew
Gardeners with a little more experience help us to trial and produce seed in their home gardens.
Seed Swap - February
Share what you have in abundance, receive what you need from your community:
Each February we facilitate a FREE seed swap at Wheaton Public Library.
Each May, we have a plant swap as well
Seed Cache Collection & Inventory Crew
In order to best steward and honor all of the seeds we save, we have to track some important information. A seed collection is like a library whose books expire, so volunteers help us to keep track of what we have available to offer to members, and for use in our garden and wider community programs.
Seed Related Events
Seed Swap: February
Have seeds to share? We host a FREE seed swap at Wheaton Public Library in late February.
Seedling Swap: May
If you start seeds and have extra plants, or need some FREE plants, we facilitate a plant swap at Wheaton Public Library in mid-May.
Tomato Taste Test: August
Every August, when tomatoes are plentiful, the Food Hub (Gardeners, Community Cooking & Seed Cache Projects) of Sustain DuPage hosts the Tomato Taste Test. Dozens of varieties from our main Garden and our larger community are shared, and we vote on our favorites. This helps us decide which tomato varieties we need more of, so join us this August to discover new favorites!
Seed Savin’ Social: September
When it is time to gather up all the new seeds we’ve grown, Sustain DuPage believes this is an event worth celebrating. Our Seed Savin’ Social is a fun, food-oriented gathering where we collect seeds from our many different seed efforts. One Seed One Community, our Grow Out Gardeners and other volunteers are welcome!
Inventory Day: November
Help update our spreadsheet after seeds have been turned in!
Seed Lingo
Some seed terms to know:
Hybrid:
Open Pollinated
Landrace
Heirloom
GMO
Pollination control
Isolation distance
Minimum population
Check out our Seed Resources section above to learn more about these concepts!