A visit to NYC Greenbelt Native Plant Nursery
February 6, 2020
The Ecotype Project visited the NYC Greenbelt Native Plant Nursery this week in Staten Island. This special nursery is also home to the Midatlantic Regional Seed Bank, an extraordinary collection of the seed of native plants growing from Virginia to New York. Nothing like this exists in the Northeast… yet…
These folks are the true heroes of the seed sovereignty movement – with dirt under their fingernails to prove it. Sefra Alexandra, CT NOFA’s Ecotype Project technical consultant, had a notebook full of questions answered and we left armed with knowledge and, perhaps most important, inspiration.
While currently we at The Ecotype Project are focused on developing a pipeline of plants that gird our agrarian ecosystem, our visit reminded us that the plants needed to restore habitat at scale on coastal ecosystems, for example, may prove equally vital. Seagrass to brace our coastal dunes for storm surges. The baby ferns (photo below) will provide erosion control to areas of damp shade damaged in forest. Farmers working to scale up local ecotype production for habitat restoration: a story we can all be proud of.
Recent Posts
2026 Seed Swap at CT NOFA Winter Conference
The Seed Swap Table is where conference attendees can exchange seeds and diversify their gardens and farms with unique and regionally adapted varieties. The swap is open to all conference participants, from home gardeners to experienced growers. Participants are invited to bring labeled seeds to share and take home new seeds to try. The swap operates on a trust-based, give-and-take system — bring what you can and take what sparks your interest.
Read More
National Leader of the Movement for Green Amendments Speaking at Public Town Halls Across Connecticut on the CT Environmental Rights Amendment
Maya van Rossum, founder and leader of the national movement for Green Amendments to state constitutions across the United States and Delaware Riverkeeper, will be speaking in a series of public town hall events across Connecticut. All of these events are free and open to the public. Light food and refreshments will be provided. Photo identification will be required to enter the Stamford Government Center. Key legislators from each part of the state are invited.
Read More