What’s Happening at Greenwich Land Trust: Shining Light on the Seed-to-Seed Effort

Among the many programs led by Greenwich Land Trust (GLT), Seed-to-Seed is one of the most impactful—yet often least known. Launched in 2018, this yearlong, community-based initiative is dedicated to restoring native plants to the local landscape through three key efforts: plant propagation, community outreach and education, and habitat restoration.

Each spring, Seed-to-Seed plants are showcased at GLT’s annual Native Plant Sale, held in May at the Mueller Preserve (370 Round Hill Road), making thousands of locally grown native plants available to the public.

At the heart of Seed-to-Seed is the careful propagation of native plants. Each year, GLT staff and volunteers collect seeds from more than 60 native species across the organization’s 82 preserves. Plants like Joe Pye Weed, Butterfly Milkweed, and Blue Vervain are then grown in GLT’s greenhouse over the winter, producing more than 6,000 plants annually. The goal: to establish a reliable, genetically diverse, local source of native plants right here in Greenwich.

Growing native plants from seed is detailed, hands-on work. After collection, seeds are cleaned and stored in the fall. Many species require a process called stratification—a period of cold exposure (typically 2–3 months below 40°F) that helps trigger germination at the right time. Once seedlings have grown into small plugs, they are transplanted into larger pots or planted directly back into GLT preserves. Many are also shared with local schools, community groups, and partner organizations.

This leads to the program’s second focus: community outreach and education. Seed-to-Seed thrives on collaboration, engaging volunteers and partners such as Abilis, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and local gardening groups. These partnerships not only support the propagation process but also help spread awareness about the importance of native plants and healthy ecosystems.

GLT also offers hands-on educational workshops throughout the year, including Native Meadow Planting, Wildflower Seed Sowing, and Native Plug Planting events—giving community members the chance to directly participate in restoration efforts.

The final component of Seed-to-Seed is habitat restoration and conservation. This is the most visible part of the program in action. If you’ve seen a “Native Habitat Restoration in Progress” sign on one of our preserves, you’ve already witnessed Seed-to-Seed at work. These restored areas support pollinators, improve biodiversity, and help rebuild resilient, healthy ecosystems throughout Greenwich.

To see the program come full circle, don’t miss this year’s Native Plant Sale. The sale will be open to the public at the Mueller Preserve on Friday, May 8 (9 a.m.–3 p.m.) and Saturday, May 9 (9 a.m.–1 p.m.), with a members-only presale on Thursday from 1–5 p.m. Plants are $10 each, or $8 each when purchasing 15 or more. All proceeds directly support the Seed-to-Seed program.

For more information, visit: https://gltrust.org/plant-sale/

To stay up to date on Seed-to-Seed and other GLT programs, follow Greenwich Land Trust on Facebook (@GLTRUST) and Instagram (@greenwichlandtrust).