Barrington Area Library (IL)

About Our Teaching Garden and Teaching Prairie

Begun in 2021 as a partnership between the Library, the Barrington Breakfast Rotary Club, and the University of Illinois Extension Cook County North Master Gardeners, our Teaching Garden is an outdoor classroom for hands-on, multi-generational learning, as well as a quiet place to relax and read. Located in the southeast corner of the Library’s upper parking lot, the Garden is fully accessible, and offers comfortable seating in a beautiful setting.

Teaching Garden Workshops
Tuesdays, 9:30-11 AM
Local gardeners provide hands-on instruction in seasonal gardening tasks. From 9:30-10 we’ll work on basic garden maintenance. From 10-11, we’ll discuss a specific gardening topic. Meets weekly, weather permitting. Registration suggested.

Tuesday, July 8: All ages craft inspired by the Garden

Tuesday, July 15: Deadheading

Tuesday, July 22: Gardening for birds

Tuesday, July 29: Heat safety and adaptive gardening

Tuesday, August 5: Growing vertically & all ages craft

Tuesday, August 12: Identifying and pulling weeds

Tuesday, August 19: Learning about tomatoes

Tuesday, August 26: Hot peppers and salsa

Tuesday, September 2: Skip

Tuesday, September 9: Managing pests and fungus

Tuesday, September 16: How to harvest and when

Tuesday, September 23: Cooks with Books: Harvesting for Tea

Tuesday, September 30: Garden share and all ages crafts

Tuesday, October 7: Chop and drop, putting the garden to bed

The 2025 Seed Library is Now Closed

Thank you for visiting our 2025 Seed Library! We hope you found something you love. Please visit the links below to learn about what we offered this year, and find more information about seeds you may have selected. Questions or comments? Please email lkirchhoff@balibrary.org. Happy growing!

Want to suggest that we add a seed for next year? Use our handy form.

Herbs

Vegetables

Flowers

Seed Library FAQ

Q. What’s in the Seed Library?
A. We stock a variety of native and common garden seeds. Produce seeds are non-GMO and organic, and we try to offer both very common seeds (like basil and cosmos) as well as seeds you may not commonly see in stores.

Q. What do the seeds cost?
A. Seeds are free!

Q. Do I need to have a library card to use the Seed Library?
A. Our Seed Library opens on Wednesday, January 29 at 10 AM; BALibrary cards are required for the first three hours. The Seed Library is available for all to use, with or without a library card, after 1 PM.

Q. I have questions about seeds that you’re offering. Who can I ask?
A. The Illinois Master Gardener Help Desk is an excellent resource if you have questions about your garden or particular plants. If you have questions about our program or particular seeds we’re offering, you can contact librarian Liz Kirchhoff at lkirchhoff@balibrary.org.

Q. Do you take seed donations?
A. Yes! You can drop seeds off at the Customer Service desk at the front of the Library. Please include the name of the seed and a way for us to contact you in case we have questions.

Q. How long is the Seed Library available?
A. The Seed Library is now closed. Our season generally runs from February through the end of April.