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 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 that promotes bird-friendly conservation practices, including showing people how native plants benefit birds. 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.
Photo Policy: Please note, there may be a photographer or staff member on site at any of our public events, capturing content. By attending our events, you are consenting to being photographed. Please let the photographer know if you don’t wish to have your photo taken.
Please note: Tickets are non-refundable. If you need to cancel, your purchase will be considered a tax-deductible donation to the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Let us know if you cancel so we can send you a tax letter and offer your spot to someone else. Contact us at ltran@pittsburghparks.org or 412-586-4576.
If the Conservancy cancels or postpones the event (due to weather or other reasons), you’ll receive a full refund—unless you choose to donate your ticket instead. We’ll contact you in that case.
For any questions regarding disability accommodations or accessibility, email Tress at tbelesi@pittsburghparks.org or call 412.586.4576 ext. 117