Smart Farm of Barrington Set for Spring Vegetable Seedling Sale

As the calendar creeps towards spring, having braved a much longer, colder, and snowier winter than usual, it's time to start thinking about the 2014 vegetable growing season.

Smart Farm of Barrington will host its annual spring vegetable seedling sale on Saturday, May 17, from 9:00 am - 12:00 noon at their hoop house located on the Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital Campus, 450 W. Hwy. 22, Barrington.

Seedlings will include a wide variety of tomatoes including heirlooms and grapes, ten different kinds of peppers, various types of squash, lettuce, kale, eggplant, and cucumbers as well as many types of herbs including basil, thyme, oregano, mint and parsley. All seedlings are organic and locally grown from non-GMO seeds. Pre-orders will be accepted starting May 1 at www.smartfarms.org.

Smart Farm's head gardener will be at the sale to answer questions about planting and caring for your vegetable seedlings. Funds from the sale will assist Smart Farm in its mission to help educate our community about the benefits of sustainable gardening and healthy eating and to help support Smart Farm in its efforts to raise fresh produce for our neighbors in need. During the 2013 growing season, Smart Farm donated over 6,700 pounds of fresh produce to local food pantries.

Smart Farm will be holding a number of classes and workshops throughout the spring and summer. To see a complete list of workshop topics and dates, and to learn more about Smart Farm, its programs, and volunteer opportunities, please go to www.smartfarms.org.