Sign-ups now open for Mar 28–April 27!

April brings an explosion of tiny native seedlings growing in, and out of, our gardens! Many of these little plants have escaped from their planned location and are just waiting to be identified and potted by our volunteers to take home. We have already potted up 50 Purple Poppy Mallow (Callirhoe involucrata) and over 100 Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea), most of which have found a new “forever home” in the gardens of our volunteers. We will continue identifying these plants as well as the “weeds” that need to be removed. We will also continue using our newly potted plants to practice identification and best practices for dividing and repotting crowded plants.

Our program currently meets Tuesdays and Thursdays (and occasionally, Saturdays) from 9-11am and 4-6pm. Join us just once or as often as you’d like! Be sure to register as space is limited. Check the sign-up form below for available dates.

About the program

We’re here to share our love and knowledge of local native plants with our community. By spending time raising plants and caring for them in gardens, we all learn to recognize both the native and non-native plants in our environment.

Learn with us

We want you — and anyone in our community — to come learn with us at the Farm. Whether you’ve got a few hours to spare on a random Saturday or a few months to devote to a season of intensive learning, our native plant program is for you. At Botanical Belonging, you’ll gain hands-on experience from starting seeds, to transplanting seedings, to managing weeds, and more.

When you arrive

Please wear sturdy shoes and bring a water bottle — you’re going to be put to work! We also recommend long pants, sunscreen, a sun hat, snacks, rain gear, and any other provisions you’d want for a long day outdoors.

The day’s specific activities will depend on the day and season. You might take a tour through our demonstration gardens to learn about common weeds and invasive species, then test your ID and eradication skills by pulling them out. You might take a spin through the hoop house to learn about seedling care and maintenance, then put your new skills to use by thinning a newly-sprouted tray.

If you’re interested in learning something specific, just let us know. Every day is different at the Farm, and there’s always something new to be learned from our native plant experts!

What it costs

The Botanical Belonging hands-on learning program is totally free. We hope to keep it this way! Botanical Belonging is funded by our native plant sales as well as generous donations from plant fans like you.

What you get

In addition to your new sense of Botanical Belonging, any time you participate in our hands-on learning program we’ll often send you home with a plant as a thank you for your labor!

Ready to sign up?

We can’t wait to meet you. Sign up today!