Nursery Learning

We organize regular work parties at our nursery (AKA the Holding Beds) where we propagate and store salvaged plants for use in future revegetation and green stormwater projects.

These work parties provide a great backdrop to get connected with our board members, to catch up with friends and fellow volunteers, and make new friends as well — they always prove to be a good time for all!

We have tasks for all ability levels, including for those who want to contribute from home!

The agenda for each work party varies: we work to propagate native and water-wise plants, re-pot plants that have outgrown their pots into larger ones, transfer bare-root plant-stock and bulbs to pots, weed and organize already potted plants, keep the walkways clean and safe, and additional projects as needed. Occasionally we clean out the tool sheds, sharpen tools, and take inventory.

Staff time

Our organization is mostly run by volunteers, but the Senior Extension Coordinator & Educator as well as our Service Learning & Outreach Coordinator (AmeriCorps) are paid staff who are crucial to keeping NPSF a well oiled machine. The AmeriCorps position is our biggest expense and donations help us offset the cost of hosting a member each year.

Native Plant Nursery

While we salvage many of the plants in our nursery or grow them from seed, the cost of keeping them happy and healthy is a big one! We also purchase plants from other nurseries when necessary for restoration projects or when we need to supplement our own inventory. Soil, tools, carts, and general repairs are all made possible with your donations.

Communications

Our website, email blasts, and other modes of communication are all services we pay for in order to ensure our mission reaches far and wide! Are you signed up to our email list? You can do so by visiting our homepage and scrolling down below. We send you information on upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and more!

The little things!

We try to make our activities as accessible as possible by providing gear such as rain pants, jackets, gloves, tools, and more to volunteers; these things need upkeep or replacement every few seasons. Our work vehicles are reliable but old and often need little repairs here and there. There are also other expenses that many non-profits, including us, pay for to operate smoothly, such as metric tracking services for end of year reports. All of these add up into much bigger expenses that your donations help us manage!

© Copyright 2022, Native Plant Salvage Foundation