Toronto Seed Strategy – Pilot Orchard Documentation

In the spring and summer of 2022, the Toronto Seed Strategy Working Group (TSSWG – a group of landscaping business owners, commercial plant growers, and plant researchers, convened by Jonas Spring of Ecoman Landscaping and Gardening) is initiating a Pilot Seed Orchard where locally-sourced, native plants will be grown to produce seeds for native plant production. This Seed Orchard (hosted by NVK Connon Nurseries in Dundas, ON) addresses a surging demand for locally-sourced, native plants in the Greater Toronto Area, which currently lacks sufficient supply. Landscaping companies are seeing a demand for locally-sourced native plant gardens, but they can’t find appropriate or sufficient quantities of plants. Within Canada’s commitment to mitigate climate change, urban greening projects, ecological restoration, and gardening with native plants are important strategies to reduce water and fuel consumption, increase biodiversity, and provide ecosystem services – and they require significant quantities of locally-sourced native plants. As a pilot project, the TSSWG Seed Orchard will be an important model for similar organizations as cities and regions mobilize to rapidly address ecological restoration needs in the face of climate change. The Intern’s research position will focus on the 1) documentation and description of the Seed Orchard operations, through diagramming and writing, 2) documentation of seedling growth and harvest activities, using photography, and 3) compiling of all documentation into a brief report and presentation that can be easily used by all members of TSSWG, and shared with other regions working on similar native plant seed strategies.

Faculty Supervisor:

Jane Hutton

Student:

Partner:

Ecoman Landscaping and Gardening

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services

University:

University of Waterloo

Program: