The National Extension Native Plant Initiative will be hosting a weekly webinar every Tuesday in April to kick off the spring season. Topics will be geared toward natural resource extension professionals and those in related fields with an interest in native plants in the landscape, seed collection and processing, and the role of seed banks for local ecotypes.
Details
Sign up for this FREE series. Recordings will be available on the Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals (ANREP) website 1-2 weeks after the live session. These webinars are open to both ANREP members and non-members.
Webinars
Native Plants: Teaching Tips and Tools for Adoption Date: Tuesday, April 7, 2026 Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM, EST Speaker: Cathryn Pugh, Penn State Extension
Designed as a professional development opportunity for natural resource extension professionals, this presentation will equip participants with techniques for understanding what motivates landscaping choices and how to start a conversation around native plants that supports conservation, aesthetic, and maintenance landscaping goals. Tools and resources that are applicable nationally will be shared to help guide species selection and connect to native plant sources at local levels.
Native Plants: Local Ecotypes and the Role of Seed Banks Date: Tusday, April 14, 2026 Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM, EST Speaker: Ed Toth, Mid-Atlantic Regional Seed Bank
This webinar is intended as a professional development opportunity for natural resource extension professionals to learn why local ecotype matters for native plants and seed collection. Topics will range from a broad perspective of the current availability of regional seed throughout the US to a case study of the successes and challenges of seed conservation from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Seed Bank.
Native Plants: Small Scale Seed Collection and Storage Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2026 Time: 12:00 - 1:00 PM, EST Speaker: Mark Fiely, Ernst Conservation Seeds
Intended as a professional development opportunity for natural resource extension professionals, this presentation will focus on the best practices in collecting and storing native seed from herbaceous and woody plants intended for further processing or out-planting. Learn how to assess seed ripeness and the strategies for harvesting, labeling, drying and processing seeds on a small scale. While the presentation will be from a Mid-Atlantic perspective, the techniques for seed handling are applicable nationally.
Native Plants: Community Collaboration for Seed Conservation Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2026 Time: 12:00 - 1:00 PM, EST Speaker: Francis Smith, MD DNR
Learn about how collaboration can strengthen efforts to support native seed conservation. This presentation will highlight how the MD Forest Service sources seed for its state nursery, and the statewide coordination among colleagues, communities, nonprofits, academia and youth groups to make it happen. The challenges of timely delivery and proper storage will also be examined. The techniques shared and statewide networks discussed are broadly applicable and accessible beyond the Mid-Atlantic.
