Announcing Free Seeds for Pollination Preservation Gardens! 

The Southborough Open Space Preservation Commission (OSPC) is once again hosting a Winter Sow Program.

You can have beautiful flowers while helping our most at risk pollinators. Our native plants have co-evolved with New England weather patterns and most native plants require a period of repeated freezing and thawing for their seeds to break dormancy and germinate. The OSPC Winter Sow Program allows you to order free seeds, and we will show you how to plant in milk jugs to replicate needed weather conditions so that you will have wonderful plants next summer.

Using this simple method of planting in milk jugs that are placed outside over the winter, you will be amazed with the bounty of native plants even the most inexperienced gardener can grow for their gardens with extras to share with friends. No gardening experience necessary.

ROUND 2 SEED LIST & PICKUP FEBRUARY 15TH!

February 15th Seed List & Sign Up

• February 15th Seed List
  • Second Round of Seeds available for pickup on February 15th! 
• Seed Order Signup for February 15th Pickup
  • Use the link above to place your order for the second round of seeds! 
  • DEADLINE: FRIDAY FEBRUARY 14TH @ 3PM
  • Seed pick-up will be drive-through on February 15th from 12-1pm at Southborough’s Cordaville Hall (also called the Senior Center) at 9 Cordaville Road.

See information below regarding using jugs for Winter Sow and how to get started! 

Important Links:

• January 19th Seed List
• Preparing Jugs for Planting Can't join the Workshop? Watch this video for instructions on how to use jugs for winter sow! 

January 19th Seed List

We are offering over 60 varieties of seeds this year. If you participated last year, there are over a dozen new offerings, so check out the list. Go to the OSPC webpage and use the Seed List to select which seeds you want to plant. Click here for January 19th seed list (PDF) or check out the Native Plant Gardens of Southborough Facebook group (copy and paste this into your browser): https://www.facebook.com/share/g/15rUTGrCBC/

Winter Sow Workshop (January 19th - NOW CLOSED)

You may also register for a Free Winter Sow Workshop where we will make milk jugs into planters and pant the seeds. The Workshop will take place on Sunday January 19th from 1:30-3:30pm at Cordaville Hall. Please check off that you will be attending the workshop when placing your seed order on the signup page. If you are attending the workshop, you can choose to receive your seeds then instead of the drive-through pick up earlier in the day. 

You should start collecting milk jugs, 1 or 2 for each species you plan to order. Start prepping jugs now if you already know how to prepare them. Or get started now making jugs by watching this video: Preparing Jugs for Planting

Instructions

Join us for this fun, productive afternoon planting seeds for your garden next summer! Learn how to make milk jugs into planters, and then how to care for them. Expect to go home with at least 2 planted milk jugs.

Bring 2 or more translucent gallon jugs, jugs must be clean, clear (not solid white) water or milk jugs.

Bring tools to share: Sharp Scissors, X-Acto type knifes, portable drills or glue guns to make holes, watering cans (sprinkle type) old towels to wipe up excess water, clean large sized yogurt type plastic containers to cut into plant labels.

Other Information & Background

This is a Southborough focused event, but out-of-towners are welcome. 

This program is part of the OSPC Native Plant - Native Pollinator Initiative. Since 2015, the OSPC has been working with Dr. Robert Gegear, UMass Dartmouth Assistant Professor of Biology. Breakneck Hill Conservation Land was his first research site after he discovered one of Massachusetts’ most at risk species of bumblebees on a site visit. His research has resulted in a plant list for at-risk pollinators. All the seeds being offered were collected from plants on his list except a few that were approved by him for inclusion.

The OSPC is thankful to the many volunteers who are working hard to make this project happen. You can get updates on this project and other events on the OSPC webpage and on the Native Plant Gardens of Southborough FB group.