Discover the best practices for wild seed saving of native plants. While many seeds are available from commercial suppliers, preserving seeds of the plants around you helps promote wild, local ecotype varieties over cultivated hybrids, which often have lower-quality nectar and pollen content. We’ll dive into why the practice of seed saving, which dates back 1,000 years in human history, is so important. Learn how planting locally collected seeds can enhance native plant communities in your backyard and the wildlife these habitats support.
Saving and cultivating your own seeds is easy to do, but knowing what kinds of seeds to save, what they look like, when to harvest them, how to process and prepare them for storage is crucial to ensure successful germination. You’ll leave this class with the resources and knowledge to save seeds next growing season.
Presenters:
Donna Miller, UNH Extension Advanced Master Gardener
Stacey Scaccia, UNH Extension Master Gardener
Logistics:
This in-person workshop will take place both indoors and outdoors. The lecture portion will take place in the main conference room at the Massabesic Center. After the presentation, we’ll head outdoors to get hands-on collecting seeds in the gardens.
Dress for the weather for the short, easy walk from the dirt parking lot to the building, and for outdoor exploration of the gardens. The garden trail is a short distance walk over flat-packed gravel suitable for most mobility devices including walkers and wheelchairs. An email will be sent out the day before the program with weather expectations and other details. This program will take place rain or shine.
This program is intended for adults. Children are welcome, however in the event of disruptions, we ask that children are accompanied by a guardian to enjoy the Nature Lab or gardens until the presentation concludes. Accommodations for persons with limited mobility, sensory concerns, or other accessibility needs can be provided if you contact Massabesic Center Director Kimmie Whiteman in advance.
This program is brought to you through an on-going partnership between the University of New Hampshire Extension’s Master Gardener Program and New Hampshire Audubon. The Demonstration Gardens at NH Audubon’s Massabesic Center provide a place for sharing best practices in eco-friendly home and community gardening, which enhance human health and well-being and wildlife habitat.
Cost:
$10 for NH Audubon members and UNH Ext. Master Gardeners
$15 for non-members
Support our programs and join or renew your membership today! Not sure of your membership status? Email our member services department or call (603) 224-9909 x310.
Registration required by October 15th. If you miss the registration deadline, please email Kimmie Whiteman to inquire about availability. Walk-ins will be accepted if space allows, but late registrants may miss pre-workshop or cancellation communications. Limit 30 attendees.
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