July 2025

The Northeast Seed Network: An Alliance of Regional Seed Partnerships

Our mission is to foster connection and knowledge sharing among those working to improve access to diverse source-identified seeds and plants in the Northeast. In doing this, we see a future in which a robust seed and plant supply chain formed through collaboration, coordination, and resource sharing supports resilient and healthy landscapes. 

Thank you for your partnership and participation in this critical work!

Whorled milkweed (Asclepias quadrifolia).  Credit: Uli Lorimer. 

Tuesday, July 15, 2025 | 12-1 pm ET | Virtual via Zoom

Genetic Considerations in Seed Production



Join Matthew Garrambone of Beechwood Environmental, consultant for the Native Plant Trust, for an informative discussion on the management of genetic diversity throughout the seed production process. Matthew draws on a wealth of experience, including work with the Irvine Ranch Conservancy and the Orange County Native Seed Partnership in Southern California. He will draw from this experience to guide participants through an overview of best practices for maintaining genetic diversity during seed sourcing, collection, and increase.

Farm Walks at The Hickories Farm | Ridgefield, CT

Join Dina Brewster for a series of farm “Twilight Talks” at The Hickories to learn more about the Northeast Seed Collective’s operations and see firsthand examples of seed increase plots, harvesting techniques, and seed cleaning practices.

Upcoming Dates:



●      Wednesday, July 16 | 4-5:30 pm ET

●      Wednesday, September 17 | 4-5:30 pm ET

●      Wednesday, October 16 | 4-5:30 pm ET

Come connect with fellow growers and seed enthusiasts, and gain practical insights into the work that sustains our regional native seed supply. For more information, email: info@northeastseedcollective.com

The Northeast Seed Network is excited to offer a range of educational opportunities this summer and fall, made possible by the generous support of our partners. If you have an idea for a training or educational event you'd like to share with the network, or if there’s a topic you’d like to explore further as part of this growing community, please reach out – we’d love to hear from you.

Stay posted for upcoming events this fall! 

Great laurel (Rhododendron maximum). Credit: Uli Lorimer.

Clifton Institute is Hiring a Seed Coordinator

The Clifton Institute, located in Fauquier County, Virginia, is seeking a Native Seed Project Coordinator. This is a 13-month position, with a target start date of August 1st. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the closing date for applications will be July 15th. Learn more here. 

New Northeast Seed Network Summer Intern 

Please join us in welcoming Cailey Mingolla, an Environmental Science and Management student at the University of Rhode Island, who is passionate about resource conservation, sustainability, and environmental management. Cailey will be working with the Scientific Research Committee to support two important efforts: creating a Directory of Experiments to gather information on emerging, ongoing, and completed experiments—both published and unpublished—focused on key questions for the Northeast, such as trials testing southern species or seed sources for reforestation in the region; and developing an Emerging Literature Tracker to identify and log new scientific literature, including conference presentations and posters, relevant to native seed science regardless of where the research originates. 

If you have any projects or literature that Cailey should know about, please email us at northeastseednetwork@gmail.com.

Graduate Research on Nyssa sylvatica – Site Needed!

Northeast Seed Network member Ethan Skuches, formerly with Vassar College and now at the University of Virginia, is seeking a field site in Delaware, New Jersey, or southern New York for his graduate research on Nyssa sylvatica (black gum).

Ethan is investigating population differentiation across the species’ native range, particularly between upland and lowland populations. His goal is to better understand the adaptive significance of N. sylvatica to drought, flooding, and other climate extremes—and identify genotypes most resilient to these abiotic stressors.

He is looking for a site that includes at least five mature (fruiting) N. sylvatica trees in both upland and lowland (floodplain/vernal) forest types, ideally within a mile of each other (totaling 10 trees). This fall, Ethan plans to collect seeds, cuttings, and leaf tissue for propagation and experimentation at the Virginia State Arboretum. These will be used in flood/drought trials and planted in common gardens in Virginia and New York.

If you know of a suitable site or have questions, please contact Ethan at: aba4yv@virginia.edu.

Black gum tree (Nyssa sylvatica). Credit: HMI Advantage. 

Native Plant Trust launches the Restoration Accelerator™

The Restoration Accelerator™ program provides seed-processing services and climate-controlled storage space for native plant growers who need to clean and store large quantities of seed. Based at Nasami Farm nursery in western Massachusetts, our facilities include a seed-processing building and a spacious storage unit containing a cold-dry room and a long-term storage freezer.

The team at Native Plant Trust is ready to serve both seed producers and seed users, and they welcome requests from individuals or organizations via the contact form on their website or by email at RA@NativePlantTrust.org.

Mid-Atlantic Regional Seed Bank (MARSB) launches new tools and newsletter 

MARSB launched a new interactive tool which allows you to view and search a map of ecoregions and counties in each state of the mid-Atlantic, filter our native species lists by location and habitat characteristics, and then view and download the species lists that meet the criteria that you define! Currently, lists are available for New York State. Lists for other states in the region are in development and coming soon! Learn more about the tool here.

Those interested in staying informed about MARS-B’s work in the Mid-Atlantic region are encouraged to sign up for their newly launched bimonthly newsletter here. 

The National Native Seed Network launches a new website 

The Institute for Applied Ecologys new Native Seed Network website is here! This resource contains essential tools and information for people working to add native plants back into the landscape, including:

• A Resource Center with seed selection tools, guides, sample strategic plans, and more
• A Community Forum for sharing ideas, asking questions, and getting to know your neighbors
• A Seed Partnership Hub, including resources for emerging seed partnerships, a partnership directory, and access to our Coffee Break meeting series
• A Vendor Match Tool, developed by Conservation Biology Institute with funding from USDA-CRP, which helps you find native seed vendors in your state.

Our goal with the National Native Seed Network is to make networking for native seed-based restoration easier. Please reach out to lizolson@appliedeco.org with any feedback or questions.

Ragged Robbin (Lychnis flos-cuculi). Credit: Uli Lorimer. 

If you want to be listed on the Ecotype Project’s Network Map please fill out our Network Intake Survey. You can also update your listing with a photo or a species list.  We will do our best to keep this map updated quarterly.

We want to hear from you!

Do you have exciting updates, news, or images you'd like to share with the Northeast Seed Network community? We're always looking to feature stories about seed collection, propagation efforts, restoration projects, and events in our newsletter. Feel free to reach out to us northeastseednetwork@gmail.com with your contributions or to discuss how we can highlight your work in upcoming editions.

Thank You!

Thank you for being a crucial part of the Northeast Seed Network's success. Together, we are sowing the seeds for more biodiverse, climate-resilient, and healthy landscapes across our shared ecoregions. If you haven’t yet done so, please fill out our Network Intake Survey as a first step in joining the Northeast Seed Network.

For more information, please contact us at northeastseednetwork@gmail.com. 

For updates about the Northeast Seed Network, follow us at @ecohealthglobal and @nativeplanttrust on Instagram, @EcoHealthNet on X, @Nativeplanttrust and @EcoHealthNet on Facebook, and Ecological Health Network and Native Plant Trust on LinkedIn for updates.

Connect with us!