Seeds of Restoration: Western WA Native Seed Collection and Propagation
About this Event
Join restoration practitioners, nursery professionals, conservation staff, and native plant enthusiasts for a full day of learning with Oxbow’s Native Plant Nursery team and guest presenters. Through a series of 10 focused sessions, you'll explore native seed harvesting, processing, storage, propagation, genetic diversity, climate adaptation, restoration partnerships, and production strategies that support resilient native plant communities across the Pacific Northwest.
This free event combines technical presentations, field-based demonstrations, case studies, roundtable discussions, and nursery tours, creating opportunities to deepen your knowledge, exchange ideas with peers, and learn directly from practitioners actively engaged in restoration and native plant production.
Explore all topics and times in the agenda section of this page.
This training is approved for 4 Continuing Education Credits through the Society for Ecological Restoration's Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner (CERP) program and 7.5 Category 1 Core Credits through the Society of American Foresters.
This event is held in collaboration with Northwest Natural Resource Group and other Puget Sound Seed Partnership collaborators.
If funding is a barrier to your participation, please contact [email protected] to inquire about travel stipends.
This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement PC-01J89501 through the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The contents of this event do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency or the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
All participants must register in advance—spaces are limited!
Agenda
🕑: 08:45 AM - 09:15 AM
Welcome
Host: Lea Dyga
Info: Meet at the Plant Stand for check-in, introductions, and an overview of Oxbow Farm & Conservation Center before we begin a day of learning and exchange.
🕑: 09:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Basics of Seed Processing + Pretreatment
Info: See how Oxbow’s Native Plant Nursery harvests, cleans, stores, and treats native seed for sowing, with an emphasis on the role seeds play in producing resilient plant populations.
🕑: 09:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Seed Storage + Longevity
Host: Ollie Maciel
Info: Explore the principles of seed storage and seed banking, including different storage behaviors (orthodox, recalcitrant, and intermediate) and practical approaches for maintaining seed viability in propagation, conservation, and restoration work. Leave with resources and decision-making tools to guide your seed storage practices.
🕑: 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Assisted Population Migration in Washington State and the Seeds Behind It
Host: Oliver Girouard
Info: Curious about how our native tree species might be preserved as the climate changes? We'll cover the basics of assisted population migration (APM), how many projects are currently underway in Washington, and what native plant nursery capacity for supplying APM stock looks like. Additionally, we'll share seed sourcing information, recommendations, and insights into the future of moving seeds with the warming climate.
🕑: 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Case Study: Snoqualmie Tribe Seed Harvesting
Host: Bethany Lang & Lea Dyga
Info: Explore real-world lessons learned through the ongoing restoration contract-grow partnership between Oxbow's Native Plant Nursery and the Snoqualmie Tribe. This case study examines how collaborative native plant procurement can support both restoration goals and sustainable production timelines, while strengthening relationships between growers and restoration partners. We'll share insights into the planning, communication, and production strategies needed to develop successful long-term grow agreements that benefit both the organizations and the native plants.
🕑: 11:15 AM - 12:00 PM
Wild-Collected vs Cultivated Seed: Genetics, Quality, and Production Decisions
Host: Lea Dyga & Jessica Speer
Info: Learn how seed source influences genetic diversity and long-term restoration success. We'll examines both intentional and unintentional selection that can occur during seed harvest and cultivation. We'll discuss how to determine when wild collection is essential, when local or on-site seed production is appropriate, and how to balance production efficiency with ecological integrity.
🕑: 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
Round Table Discussion
Host: Ollie Maciel
Info: Connect with restoration practitioners, nursery professionals, and fellow attendees through facilitated discussion, shared experiences, and collaborative problem-solving.
🕑: 12:30 PM - 01:00 PM
Lunch
Info: Bring your own lunch and enjoy time to connect with fellow participants and presenters.
🕑: 01:00 PM - 01:30 PM
TBD
🕑: 01:30 PM - 02:00 PM
Arctostaphylos columbiana Germination Trials
Host: Caitlin Savo
Info: Growing plants from native seed is important to maintain and promote genetic diversity for climate resilient plants. However, many native plants can be challenging to grow from seed. In this session, we'll focus on our trials to grow a particularly challenging plant, hairy manzanita (Arctostaphylos columbiana).We invite you to learn from the results and gain deeper knowledge of how to potentially better propagate hairy manzanita.
🕑: 02:00 PM - 02:30 PM
Growing Native Camas from Seed: Lessons in Production
Host: Lea Dyga, Oxbow Nursery Manager
Info: Native bulbs play a vital role in biocultural restoration, yet many are slow-growing and challenging to produce from seed. We'll share lessons learned from propagating native camas (Camassia spp.) across multiple production systems, including greenhouse, raised bed, and field settings. You'll gain practical strategies for successfully cultivating these culturally and ecologically important plants.
🕑: 02:30 PM - 03:30 PM
Beneficial Insectary Garden Tour
Host: Lea Dyga
Info: Visit Oxbow’s beneficial insectary garden and discover how habitat plantings, beneficial insects, and integrated pest management support healthy nursery production without chemical insecticides.
🕑: 02:30 PM - 03:00 PM
Native Plant Nursery Tour
Host: Caitlin Savo
Info: Step behind the scenes of Oxbow’s Native Plant Nursery and explore how we grow more than 160 Puget Sound native plant species with a focus on biodiversity, resilience, and ecological stewardship.
🕑: 02:30 PM - 03:30 PM
Native Plant Shopping Opportunity
Info: Browse pollinator-friendly flowers, shrubs, grasses, and perennials at Oxbow’s Plant Stand and bring biodiversity and habitat value into your own landscape.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00
