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Seeds for Education - Grants for School Gardens and Community Nature Areas
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Photo by Mark Charles
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The Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Grant Program
The Lorrie Otto
Seeds for Education Grant Program gives small monetary grants to schools, nature centers, or other non-profit educational organizations for the purpose of establishing outdoor learning centers within the United States and Canada. The grant recipient learning centers are those which most successfully reflect the Wild Ones mission to educate and share information about the benefits of using native plants in our landscape and to promote biodiversity and environmentally sound environmentally sound practices. Only through this knowledge, can we appreciate humankind's proper place in the web of life.
Established by Wild Ones in 1996, the Seeds for Education (SFE) Program honors our "philosophical compass," Lorrie Otto. Money for the Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Fund grant program comes almost entirely from donations from Wild Ones members and other benefactors.
The grant program provides cash awards within the United States and Canada primarily for child-centered projects that create native plant landscapes or develop outdoor classrooms, but over the years we have also awarded grants to nature centers, parks and universities.
Applications for SFE Awards
To be considered for the annual award, non-profit groups such as schools, nature centers, houses of worship, or similar organizations must have applied by November 15th of the previous year. Please see our SFE information page to download an application form and/or a copy of the final report form.
Recipients for the yearly awards will be chosen by the Seeds for Education judges, a volunteer panel of educators and naturalists. The Seeds for Education Nursery Partners, a select group of native nurseries and propagators, also donates seeds and plants to successful grant recipients. A listing of successful grant recipients from our SFE program in the past is available here along with a listing of their respective nursery partners.
SFE Nursery partners
Each year, nursery partners supply seeds, plants, discounts and, of course, advice to grant recipients in their areas.
By participating in the Wild Ones SFE program, our nursery partners demonstrate their commitment to natural landscaping. Many also advertise in the Journal.
We thank them for their support!
Grant recipients are encouraged to contact the nursery partners for seeds and plant materials. Using native grass and forb plants and seeds that originated as
close as possible to the project site will go a long way toward ensuring a project's success. To see the Wild Ones Guidelines for selecting native plants go to
.
To see what local ecoregion is closest to you go to
map.
In addition to the seeds, plants and discounts from nursery partners, each grant recipient also received a copy of the Wild Ones video A Tapestry of Learning:
Creating School Natural Areas to use in future development efforts. To purchase a copy of this video for your own use go to
store.
When the grant requirements are met, which includes a yearend report, each recipient will receive a Wild Ones yard sign to show the project truly is in harmony with nature. To see what this sign looks like and to purchase one for yourself go to
store.
We encourage Wild Ones members and others interested in environmental education to learn more about the SFE projects in their communities and to support them in any way possible.
To donate or become a nursery partner
If you wish to support the Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Grant Program with a contribution, send it to the Wild Ones SFE, PO Box 1274, Appleton, Wisconsin 54912. Please mark donations clearly with "Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Grant Program" or just "SFE".
Every year in September National Wild Ones challenges the chapters to make donations to the Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Fund in honor of Lorrie's Birthday. If you would like to be part of this you can go to Lorrie's Birthday.
If you are a native plant nursery or propagator and wish to become a Nursery Partner, please contact the program coordinator through the Wild Ones office:
SFEDirector@for-wild.org.
The criteria to become a Nursery Partner is pretty simple really. You must sell native plants and/or seeds. You must be as local as possible to the SFE grant project. You
must understand and have staff who understand the difference between native plants and seeds, and hopefully the benefits of using native plants. You must offer a discount of your choice to our grant recipients and be willing to offer them available "consulting" in an attempt to keep them true to their presented design.
Past nursery partners and their specialties include:
CALIFORNIA
Menzies Natives Nursery, Weed, (530) 938-4858, Ferns, herbs, Trees & Shrubs
FLORIDA
Plant Creations, Homestead, Prairie Plants
Veber's Jungle Garden Inc, Homestead, (305) 212-9500, Prairie Plant, Prairie Seeds, Trees & Shrubs
GEORGIA
Eco-Gardens, Savannah, (404) 294-6468, Trees & Shrubs
Four Seasons Nursery, Savannah, (912) 925-8258,
Trees & Shrubs
Wise Nursery Inc, Pembroke, (912) 823-3983, Prairie Plants, Shrubs
ILLINOIS
Aquatic Ecosystems Mgt Inc, Golf, (847) 724-823-0646, Wetland Plants
Blazing Star Inc, Woodstock, (815) 338-4716, cwenzel@blazing-star.com, Prairie Plants, Shade Plants
Enders Greenhouse LLC, Cherry Valley, (815) 332-5255, www.endersgreenhouse.com, Prairie Plants, Shade Plants, Wet Mesic Plants, Wetland Plants
Genesis Nursery , Inc, Tampico, (815) 438-2220 , Prairie Plants & Seeds, Shade Plants, Wet Mesic Plants, Wetland Plants, Trees & Shrubs
Marshland Transplant Aquatic Nursery, Libertyville, (920) 376-0699, Prairie Plants, Shade Plants, Wet Mesic Plants, Wetland Plants
Pizzo & Associates, Ltd., Leland, (815) 495-2300, jack@pizzo.info, Prairie Plants, Prairie Seeds, Wet Mesic Plants, Wetland Plants
Possibility Place Nursery, Monee, (708) 534-3988, www.possibilityplace.com, Prairie Plants & Seeds, Shade Plants, Wet Mesic Plants, Wetland Plants, Trees & Shrubs
Red Buffalo Nursery, Hebron, (815) 648-4838, kaskel@mc.net, Prairie Plants, Prairie Seeds, Wet Mesic Plants, Wetland Plants
The Natural Garden Inc, St Charles, (630) 584-0150 ext 225, aragland@thenaturalgardeninc.com, Prairie Plants, Wet Mesic Plants, Wetland Plants
INDIANA
JFNew Native Plant Nursery, (574)
586-2414, jfritz@jfnew.com,
Prairie Forbs and Grass Seeds, Grass, and Wet Mesic
Plants
Munchkin Nursery & Gardens LLC, Depauw, (812) 633-4858, www.munchkinnursery.com,
Shade Plants
IOWA
Ion Exchange, Harpers Ferry, (319) 535-7231, hbright@acegroup.cc, Grass Seeds, Prairie Plants, Wet Mesic Plants
KANSAS
Kokpelli Nursery, Lenexa, (913) 397-0020, Prairie Plants, Trees & Shrubs
KENTUCKY
Shooting Star Nursery, Georgetown, (502) 223-1679, www.shootingstarnursery.com, Prairie Plants, Shade Plants, Wet Mesic Plants, Wetland Plants, Trees & Shrubs
Tree Farm Ltd, Louisville, (502) 778-6155, Shade Plants, Trees & Shrubs
MANITOBA , Canada
Prairie Habitats Inc, Argyle, (204) 467-9371, www.prairiehabitats.com, Prairie Plants & Seeds, Wetland Plants, Seed harvesters
MASSACHUSETTS
Tripple Brook Farm Inc., Southampton, (413) 527-4626, info@tripplebrookfarm.com, Ferns, Grasses, Prairie Plants, Shade Plants, Web Mesic Plants
MICHIGAN
Designs By Nature LLC, Laingsburg, (517) 651-6502, designsbynature@hotmail.com, Prairie Grass Plants and Seeds, Prairie Plants and Seeds
Greystone Gardens, Honor, (231) 326-5855, www.greystonegarden.com, Prairie Plants
Michigan Wildflower Farm, Portland, (517) 647-6010, wildflowers@voyager.net, Prairie Forbs and Grass Seeds
Native Connections, Constantine, (269) 580-4765, jerry@nativeconnections.net, Prairie Plants and Seed, Shade Plants, Wet Mesic Plants and Seeds, Wetland Plants and Seeds
Nesta Prairie Perennials, G Van Bochove & Bro Greenhouse Direct, Kalamazoo, (616) 343-1659, Prairie Plants & Seeds, Wetland Plants & Seeds – WHOLESALE ONLY
Sandhill Farm, Rockford, (616) 691-8214, cherylt@iserv.net, Grasses, Prairie Plants, Shade Plants, Wet Mesic Plants, Wetland Plants
The Native Plant Nursery LLC, Ann Arbor, (734) 677-3260, www.nativeplant.com, Prairie Plants & Seeds, Trees & Shrubs
Wetlands Nursery, Saginaw, (989) 752-3492, Wetland Plants & Wetland Seeds
Wildtype Native Plant Nursery, Mason, (517) 244-1140, wildtype@msu.edu, Grasses, Prairie Plants, Trees and Shrubs
MINNESOTA
Booming Native Plants, Barnum, Prairie Plants – WHOLESALE ONLY
Carlson's Prairie Seed Farm Inc, Newfolden, (877) 733-3087, Prairie Seeds
Hyla Brook Farm, Louisa, (540) 967-6160, nativplants@hylabrookfarm.com, Ferns, Grasses, Prairie Plants, Wet Mesic Plants, Wetland Plants, Shade Plants
Kaste Inc, Fertile, (218) 945-6738, Prairie Seeds – WHOLESALE ONLY
Out Back Nursery, (800)
651-3626, tom@outbacknursery.com,
Prairie Forbs, Grass and Wet Mesic Plants, Trees
& Shrubs
Prairie Moon Nursery, Winona, (866) 417-8156, info@prairiemoon.com, Prairie Plants and Seeds, Ferns, Shade Plants, Trees and Shrubs, Wet Mesic Plants and Seeds, Wetland and Seeds
Prairie Restorations Inc/Bluestem Farm, Hawley, (218) 498-0260, Prairie Plants & Seeds
Prairie Restorations, Inc./Boreal Natives, (218)
729-7001, prairie@cpinternet.com,
All Seed
Princeton Restorations Inc, Princeton, Prairie Plants & Seeds
Spangle Creek Nurseries, Bovey, www.uslink.com/~scl, Orchids, Shade Plants
MISSOURI
Flick Seed Co, Kingsville, www.seedguys.com, Prairie Seeds
Hamilton Seeds And Wildflowers, Elk Creek, (417) 967-2190, Prairie Plants & Seeds, Wet Mesic Plants, Wetland Plants
James Whitley, Columbia, (573) 442-6929, Wetland Plants
Missouri Wildflowers Nursery, Jefferson City, (573) 496-3492, www.mowildflowers.net, Prairie Plants & Seeds, Shade Plants, Wet Mesic Plants, Trees & Shrubs
Shadow Valley Greenhouse, St Joseph, (816) 475-2442, Prairie Plants
Wet Spot Aquatics, Ash Grove, (417) 491-4739, Wetland Plants
MONTANA
Blake Nursery, Big Timber, (406) 932-4195, Prairie Plants, Shade Plants, Vines, Trees & Shrubs
Westland Seed Inc, Ronan, (406) 676-4100, www.westland.com, Prairie Seeds
WestScape Wholesale Nursery, Bozeman, (406) 539-4738, Prairie Plants, Shade Plants, Trees & Shrubs
Wildwood Landscaping, Big Sky, (406) 995-4829, Prairie Plants & Seeds, Shade Plants, Wet Mesic Plants, Wetland Plants, Trees & Shrubs
NEVADA
Comstock Seed, (775) 265-0090, ed@comstockseed.com, Prairie Forbs & Grass Seeds
NEW YORK
Southern Tier Consulting and Nursery, Inc, (800) 848-7614, froghome@southerntierconsulting.com, Wetland Plants & Seeds, Wet Mesic Plants & Seeds
Amanda's Garden, (585) 669-2275, amandasgarden@bluefrog.com,
Shade Plants
Maple Hill Nursery &: Landscaping, (315) 682-8835,
maplehill8@msn.com, Trees & Shrubs, Prairie and
Wet Mesic Plants
NORTH CAROLINA
Dearness Gardens, (704) 875-8234, dearness@charlotte.twcbc.com,
Trees & Shrubs, Azaleas and Rhododendron, Perennial Plants
OHIO
Envirotech Consultants Inc, Somerset, www.envirotechcon.com, Prairie Plants, Wetland Plants, Shrubs
Land Reformers, Rutland, (740) 742-3478, Prairie Plants & Seeds
Naturally Native Nursery, Luckey, (419) 833-2020, www.naturallynative.net, Prairie Plants
Ohio Prairie Nursery, Hiram, (330) 569-3380, www.ohioprairienursery.com, Prairie Plants & Seeds
OREGON
Bosky Dell Natives, West Linn, (603) 638-5945, Alpine Plants, Prairie Plants, Shade Plants, Wet Mesic Plants, Wetland Plants
Forestfarm, Williams, (541) 846-7269, www.forestfarm.com, Shade Plants, Trees & Shrubs
SOUTH CAROLINA
Lichtenfelt Nurseries, (864) 458-9864, Perennial Plants, Tree & Shrubs
TEXAS
Barton Springs Nursery, Austin, (512) 328-6655, Prairie Plants
Dodds Family Tree Nursery, (830) 997-9571, Vines, Prairie Forbs & Grass Plants
Medina Garden Nursery, (830) 589-2771, Prairie Plants
Natives of Texas, (830) 896-2169 dwinningham@mac.com, Trees & Shrubs, Perennial Plants
Natural Gardener, Austin, (512) 288-6113, Prairie Plants
UTAH
Great Basin Native Plants, (435) 795-2303, gbn@greatbasinnatives.com,
Cactus & Succulents, Seed, Prairie Forbs & Grasses,
Shade Plants, Trees & Shrubs
VERMONT
Cobble Creek Nursery, Bristo, Prairie Plants, Shade Plant, Trees & Shrubs
Gardener's Supply, Burlington, (888) 833-1412, www.gardeners.com, Prairie Plants, Shade Plants, Wet Mesic Plants, Wetland Plants, Trees & Shrubs
Intervale Foundation, Burlington, www.intervale.org, Trees & Shrubs
VIRGINIA
Nature by Design, Vienna, (703) 938-2290, carla@nature-by-design.com, Trees and Shrubs, Prairie Plants, Wet Mesic Plants, Shade Plants
Sassafras Farm, Hayes, (804) 642-0293, sassafrasfarm@verizon.net, Prairie Plants, Wet Mesic Plants, Wetland Plants
WEST VIRGINIA
Sunshine Farm & Gardens, barry@sunfarm.com,
Prairie Forbs & Grass Plants, Shade Plants, Wet Mesic
Plants & Seeds
Enchanter's garden, (304) 466-3154, Trees & Shrubs, Shade Plants, Vines, Prairie Forbs & Grass Plants, Trees & Shrubs
WISCONSIN
Agrecol Corp, Madison, (608) 226-2544, www.agrecol.com, Prairie Plants & Prairie Seeds, Shade Plants – WHOLESALE ONLY
Applied Ecological Services/Taylor Creek Nurseries, Brodhead, (608) 897-8641, Prairie Plants & Seeds, Shade Plants, Wet Mesic Seeds, Wetland Seeds
CRM/Prairie Ridge Nursery, Mt Horeb, (608) 437-5245, Prairie Plants & Seeds, Shade Plants, Wetland Plants, Wetland Seeds
Dragonfly Gardens, Amery, (715) 268-7660, www.dragonflygardens.net, Prairie Plants
Great Lakes Nursery Company, Wausau, (888) 733-3564, www.greatlakesnursery.com, Wet Mesic Plants, Trees & Shrubs
Hanson's Nursery, Rhinelander, (715) 365-2929, Prairie Plants, Shade Plants, Wet Mesic Plants, Wetland Plants
Hild & Assoc, River Falls, (800) 790-9495, www.hildnatives.com, Prairie Seeds
Johnson's Nursery, (262) 252-4988, bill@johnsonsnursery.com, Trees & Shrubs
Kesters Wild Game Food Nursery, Omro, (920) 685-2929, Prairie Plants, Wet Mesic Plants, Wetland Plants
Kettle Moraine Natural Landscaping, Campbellsport, Prairie Plants & Seeds
Leaning Pine Native Landscapes, South Range, (715) 398-5453, www.restoreshore.com, Shorelands Wetland Plants
Marshland Transplant Aquatic Nursery, Berlin, (920) 361-4200, Prairie Plants & Seeds, Shade Plants, Wet Mesic Plants, Wetland Plants, Wetlands
Midwest Prairies LLC, ((608) 863-3169, ron@midwestprairies.com,
Prairie Forbs & Grass Seeds
Monches Farm, Colgate, (262) 966-2787, www.monchesfarm.com, Ferns, Prairie Plants
Northern Sunset Perennials, Germantown, (262) 253-1412, Prairie Plants, Shade Plants – WHOLESALE ONLY
Oak Prairie Farm, Pardeeville, (800) 894-3884, www.oakprairiefarm.com, Prairie Plants
Prairie Future Seed Co, (262) 820-0221, prsco@wi.rr.com,
Prairie Forbs & Grass Seeds
Prairie Nursery, Inc., (800) 476-9453, kirks@prairienursery.com,
Prairie Forbs & Grass Seeds, Prairie Forbs & Grass
Plants, Shade Plants, Wet Mesic Plants & Seeds
Prairie Seed Source, North Lake, (262) 673-7166, www.ameritech.net/users/rasillon/seed.html, Prairie Seeds
Reeseville Ridge Nursery, Reeseville, (920) 927-3291,
rrn@charter.net, Shade Plants, Trees & ShrubsStone Silo Prairie Gardens LLP, (920) 336-1662, info@stonesiloprairiegardens.com, Prairie Forbs & Grass Plants, Ferns, Shade Plants
Every school needs a nature trail and every person -- adult or young -- needs a bit
of wilderness if wonder, reverence and awe are to be cultivated.
William O. Douglas,
former Justice of the Supreme Court
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