Northeast Seed Network
Fall Updates
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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!
| | Upcoming Events and Opportunities | | |
Nursery Incubation Grant – Pre-Proposals Due October 22
The Nature Conservancy New York Chapter is inviting proposals from nursery professionals to expand nursery capacity and support reforestation efforts across New York State. This program offers an exciting opportunity to grow local seed supply and advance habitat restoration. Learn more and submit your pre-proposal here: Nursery Incubation Program
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Fall Riparian Seed Collection Field Workshop | East Charleston, VT
October 25 | 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM ET
Practice seed scouting, collection, and processing techniques used for fall riparian woody plant species with NorthWoods Stewardship Center. This event is open to the public and is a great opportunity to get out in the field, no prior training necessary. Free, but limited attendee slots, so please register early! Register and learn more here.
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Seed Cleaning Workshop | Closter Nature Center, Closter, NJ
October 25 | 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET
Join Wild Woods Restoration Project to learn how to collect, clean, and store different types of seed. Space is limited! Sign up here.
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Native Seed Collection and Propagation Workshop | Clifton Institute, Warrenton, VA
November 1 | 1:00 - 3:00 PM ET
Join the Clifton Institute for a hands-on workshop all about native seeds. Learn how to identify when native seeds are ready to collect, the best methods for harvesting and storing them, and how to propagate them successfully. You’ll gain practical skills to help expand native plant populations and bring more native species into your garden. Register here.
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Fern Propagation Workshop | Hilltop Hanover Farm, Yorktown Heights, NY
November 1 | 1:00 - 3:00 PM ET
In this hands-on workshop, learn how to grow native ferns from spores with Linda Rohleder and Richard Pillar of the Wild Woods Restoration Project. Learn more here and register here.
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Public Seed Cleaning Days | Staten Island, NY
November 4, 5, 20, 21; December 4, 5
Join the NYC Parks Plant Ecology Center and Nursery (PECaN, formerly the Greenbelt Native Plant Center) for a hands-on seed cleaning workshop with the Seed Increase Program (SIP).
The SIP grows native seed for restoration projects across New York City’s five boroughs. During these sessions, participants will learn seed cleaning techniques and equipment use, and gain insight into seed collection, drying, testing, and storage. After the demonstrations, everyone will have the chance to roll up their sleeves and help clean both wild-collected and farmed seed lots. Register here.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Seth August, manager of the seed programs at PECaN and a new member of the Northeast Seed Network Steering Committee.
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Winter Sowing with Pollinate HV | Hudson Valley Seed Co, Accord, NY
November 8 | 10:30 AM ET
Join Pollinate HV (a project of Partners for Climate Action) for a presentation on supporting at-risk pollinators with local ecotype plants, followed by hands-on winter sowing with the Hudson Valley Seed Company. Register here.
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SE New England Native Seed Exchange | Tillinghast Place, Barrington, RI
November 9 | 12:00-3:00 PM ET
The Rhode Island Wild Plant Society will discuss their ReSeeding RI program and lead a planting demo. Farmers will be sharing local seed from their foundation plots, and everyone is welcome to bring seed from their own gardens. Please RSVP and review the rules of the swap here.
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Intro to the Northeast Seed Network (Virtual)
November 17 | 9:00–10:00 AM ET | Zoom
Join Eve Allen from the Ecological Health Network and Uli Lorimer from Native Plant Trust for a virtual introduction to the Northeast Seed Network. This webinar will provide an overview of who we are, who’s involved in our leadership and membership, what we’re currently working on, and how to get engaged. You’ll also hear about upcoming initiatives and ways to collaborate in the year ahead.
This session is perfect for anyone new to the network—or those looking for a refresher on the structure, functions, and goals of this growing regional partnership.
To register, click here.
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Northeast Seed Network Advisory Council Meeting (Virtual)
December 1 | 9:00–10:00 AM ET | Zoom
The Advisory Council offers a flexible way for any member of the Northeast Seed Network to contribute to the network’s strategic direction and core functions without the full commitment of a Steering Committee role. Council members help strengthen the regional alliance by bringing perspectives from across different hubs, partnerships, and sectors, ensuring that local and regional priorities are reflected in our broader strategies.
At this meeting, the Northeast Seed Network Steering Committee will share the newly developed charter and proposed strategic priorities for your review and input. All network members—new and returning—are welcome to join!
To register, click here.
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2026 National Native Seed Conference
The National Native Seed Conference, the premier national gathering on native seed research, policy, production, and restoration, will be held virtually from February 24–27, 2026.
This is a great opportunity to discover cutting-edge research, innovative projects, and emerging insights in native seed science and practice—while connecting with a national community of practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders. We look forward to seeing you there!
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Looking Ahead to 2026: Education and Training Opportunities
The Northeast Seed Network is gearing up to offer a range of educational events in 2026, made possible through the generous support of our partners. These offerings will provide opportunities to deepen knowledge, share skills, and strengthen connections across our growing community.
If you have ideas for trainings or educational events you’d like to see—or a topic you’d like to explore further with others in the network—we’d love to hear from you!
Email us at northeastseednetwork@gmail.com.
Stay tuned for upcoming save-the-dates and registration details in early 2026.
| | White snakeroot (Ageratina altissima) in a forest seed increase plot at The Hickories organic farm in Ridgefield, CT. Home to the farmer-led Northeast Seed Collective. Credit: Eve Allen. | | |
Updates from our regional partners
Members from the regional alliance of seed partnerships have been busy advancing a wide range of activities—from strategic planning and developing priority species lists, to building seed infrastructure, sending out collectors, conducting research, and strengthening trusted relationships with end users. These efforts ensure that diverse, source-identified native seed makes it back into the landscape to restore the health of our shared ecosystems. Here are a few highlights from our network partners that illustrate the great work happening on the ground.
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Seed Hub Tour at Native Plant Trust’s Nasami Farm
Earlier this month, Native Plant Trust’s Nasami Farm hosted a successful tour, giving Northeast Seed Network members a behind-the-scenes look at how standard agricultural practices can scale small amounts of wild-collected seed into the larger quantities needed for habitat restoration and horticulture.
Staff from Native Plant Trust led a walking tour of Nasami’s Restoration Accelerator™, including stops at the seed increase plots, the seed processing facility used to clean the harvest, and the climate-controlled storage facility where cleaned seed is stored.
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This project was supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, through the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under sub-award number PROJECT # FNE22-009.
| | Northeast Seed Network members learning about amplifying native seed for restoration and horticulture at Native Plant Trust’s Nasami Farm. Credit: Alexis Doshas. | | |
NYS and Northeast Region Tree Seed Collecting Webinar
The Nature Conservancy New York Chapter shared a 2-hour recorded webinar on tree seed collection for New York and the Northeast. Learn practical strategies for collecting seeds from large-seeded hardwoods (red and white oak, hickory), small-seeded hardwoods (maple, black cherry), and conifers (white pine, white spruce), drawing on resources like the Woody Plant Seed Manual. The NY State Department of Environmental Conservation also shares updates on statewide reforestation efforts. Watch the webinar here: Tree Seed Collection Workshop
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Catskills Native Seed and Plant Alliance is Launched
Our newest partnership recently held its inaugural convening to share an overview of ongoing and planned work in the Catskills region of New York. For more information or to get involved, please reach out to info@ecotypeproject.org.
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Northeast Seed Network Member Spotlight
Charlotte Lorick, Head of Biodiversity Conservation at the Oak Spring Garden Foundation and member of the Restorative Landscape Coalition planning committee, has just launched a new Substack called Forgotten Flora. Her latest post, “Native to Where, Exactly?”, offers a thoughtful exploration of nativity and in relation to conservation, restoration, and home gardening. Check it out and subscribe here: Forgotten Flora Substack
| | Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra). Credit: Uli Lorimer. | | Northeast Seed Network Map | | 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 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.
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