Save the Date: Native Plant and Vegetable Share

Yards Alive!
Native Plant and Vegetable Share

May 7, 2022 from 9:00-1:00 during the Oakland Mills Annual Plant Sale

The Other Barn 5851 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia, MD

The Yards Alive! Native Plant and Vegetable Share is a wonderful way to add ecologically beneficial, beautiful and delicious plants to your gardens! The goal of this event is to bring neighbors together to share their resources and increase access to both native plants and healthy food. We hope this event will help people create more sustainable and nourishing spaces both in yards and on patios and balconies. (Note: A plant donation is NOT necessary to participate in the Plant Share)

What will be accepted?

Vegetable and fruit seeds and seedlings

Plants and seeds native to the Eastern US

Sturdy pots and containers for patio/balcony gardens

Before the Plant Share

Divided plants should be potted well in advance of the Share to allow time for healthy root growth
Rinse roots of plant divisions before repotting with clean potting soil to reduce the transfer of invasive jumping worms and other pests
Store potted plants on tarp or concrete away from garden beds to avoid recontamination
Bare root plants should be stored in a way to keep roots moist
Seeds should be labeled with name, date collected and sowing directions
Information for Vegetable Seedlings: Starting Seeds Indoors | University of Maryland Extension
Label all plants for easy identification (please provide the Latin name if you know it)
Consider sharing extra sturdy pots and containers for new gardeners

Getting your donations to the Plant Share:

[email protected]

During the Plant Share

Bring a box, box top or sturdy bag to transport your items to your car.

NOT

What does “native” mean?

“Native plants have formed symbiotic relationships with native wildlife over thousands of years, and therefore offer the most sustainable habitat. A plant is considered native if it has occurred naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, or habitat without human introduction.
Native plants help the environment the most when planted in places that match their growing requirement. They will thrive in the soils, moisture, and weather of your region. That means less supplemental watering which can be wasteful and pest problems that require toxic chemicals. Native plants also assist in managing rain water runoff and maintain healthy soil as their root systems are deep and keep soil from being compacted.” (National Wildlife Federation)

Native Plant Resources

University of Maryland Extension Native Plants - Home & Garden

Recommended Native Plants for our area birds https://www.audubon.org/native-plants

Check to see where a plant is native to http://www.bonap.org/

Database of Native Maryland Plants http://www.nativeplantcenter.net/plants/