Elmhurst church’s Green Fair combines plant sale with environmental learning

The First Congregational Church in Elmhurst is hosting its 12th annual Green Garden Fair on Saturday, May 9, featuring organic vegetable and herb seedlings from Baas Greenhouses and flower seedlings from We Grow Dreams Greenhouse.

Plants make a great gift for Mother’s Day. The fair will be 9 a.m. to noon at the church, 235 S. Kenilworth Ave.

If you preordered from their organic seedlings sale you will be able to pick up your purchases at the fair. And if you didn’t, or wished you’d ordered more, the church will have plenty of additional plants for sale.

Locally grown certified organic vegetable and herb seedlings, provided by Baas Greenhouses in Mokena, Illinois, will be available. Annual flower seedlings also will be available for purchase, including red, white and blue ones to celebrate our country’s 250th anniversary.

Some of the flowers, while not organic, are grown by We Grow Dreams Greenhouse and Garden Center in West Chicago which provides job training and employment for the developmentally disabled. Your purchase will support their mission. To help your seedlings grow into strong healthy plants, bags of organic compost and potting mix will also be available.

In addition, numerous exhibitors will be on hand.

Bring your garden tools, scissors and knives and Custom Edge Sharpening will sharpen them for you. Drop them at their booth and enjoy the fair. They will be ready for you when you are done. For more information and a price list, go to customedgesharpening.com.

Prairie Wind Native Plants, a local native plant nursery, will be bringing a selection of seedlings suitable for home gardeners. Purchase local raw honey from City Bee Savers or a beautiful stepping stone for your garden from Jan.

Fun products made by repurposing items that might otherwise go in landfills will also be for sale. And Sustain DuPage will be sharing Hidatsa Red Bean seeds with those interested in learning about their mission.

Learn how to be kind to birds, butterflies, bats and other wildlife from groups like the DuPage Birding Club, Butterflies Everywhere, Illinois Bat Conservation Project, Wild Ones, and the Xerces Society.

Learn how to live more sustainably from a number of eco organizations. The church is especially excited to have members of the York High School Eco Club at the fair this year. You’ll also be able to speak to members of the Citizen’s Climate Lobby, Climate Reality Project, the Sierra Club, and many more.

Attendees will have a fun, educational morning and be able to go home with seedlings that will allow them to grow healthy produce to feed their families this summer. For more information, visit the church website, elmhurstucc.org.

All proceeds benefit church ministries.