Enhance your yard by adding native plants, which not only benefit wildlife but also nurture and strengthen your local ecosystem. Native plants are a great alternative to plants sold at places like big box stores because they are plants that are adapted to the local growing conditions. Have you ever considered growing your own plants from seed?
Join Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and Bird Lab staff for an introduction to the outdoor seed-starting technique known as “winter sowing.” You’ll be walked through this low-effort, low-cost method that is easy enough for anyone to grow an abundance of their very own seedlings in just a few months! The program will be broken into 3 parts:
1. Intro to winter sowing – how does it work, why is it effective?
2. Learn about the species of native plant seeds that we have for you to choose from
3. Create your own winter sowing containers to take home with you!
All materials, soil, and seeds will be provided for the program. Participants can expect to take home 1-3 containers of planted seeds.
This program is best for adults or families with older children (ages 8+). It meets at the Frick Environmental Center and is an indoor event that mostly consists of sitting and standing.
Bird Lab is a local nonprofit founded by avian conservation biologist Nick Liadis. Dedicated to bird banding research and education, Bird Lab promotes bird-friendly conservation practices. Through a partnership funded by Duquesne Light Company, Bird Lab and the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy are working together on data-driven ecological restoration projects in Hays Woods Park, which is essential stopover habitat for migrating birds. A key focus of their work is propagating native plants using sustainable harvesting techniques and methods like winter sowing. Some of the bird-friendly plants that grow at Hays Woods will be offered for this event.
Click here to learn more about Bird Lab and donate to their efforts!
Programs at the Frick Environmental Center are supported by the taxpayers of Allegheny County through a public grant from the Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD) 
Note: These programs are popular and fill quickly. There are many people that would like to attend but cannot when the program fills. If you register we strongly hope you will either attend or cancel your registration at least two days in advance.
Please note, there may be a photographer on site at any of our public events. Please let the photographer know if you don’t wish to have your photo taken.
The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible event. If you need a reasonable accommodation, please contact 412-682-7275 or email info@pittsburghparks.org. All requests must be made by two business days prior to the date of the event. We will attempt to implement late requests but cannot guarantee they will be met.
Refund Policy: You may cancel your registration up to 48 hours before the program start time for a full refund, less a $10 cancellation fee. Cancellations less than 48 hours before the program start time are non-refundable. No refunds for transactions that are $10 or less. Refunds may take up to 10 days to process.