The Native Seed Program is a small but active CSS program, which aims to:
🌱 Learn about native seed saving and growing of native plants which are local to the Canberra region, and;
🌱 Learn from work with traditional owners and respect their sovereignty of this land which was never ceded.
Although this Program focuses primarily on education and outreach, it also manages a small native seed bank as part of the larger CSS Seed Bank, from which the community can swap and/or buy seed. It also holds a licence for seed collection on public lands, which can be accessed by members.
How it Works
The Program runs 1-3 native events per year. Events focus on:
🌱 Sharing knowledge on growing native plants
🌱 Collecting and storing native seed (as a group or solo)
🌱 Hands on workshops
🌱 Walks and talks in local reserves and members properties
🌱 Using the CSS plant collection licence on public lands
🌱 Traditional owner connections
There is a primary focus on forbs, herbaceous species and also native grasses in activities, but also some focus on shrubs, and grasses. We tend to run workshops and talks seasonally – spring and summer for identification, late summer to collect seed, autumn for propagation
Events will strive to be inclusive, and at least one event per year will be accessible! Please email us for more details.
In 2023, we ran a survey to see what things the community was interested in. The results were interesting and useful – thank you to all that contributed! Our activities are now guided by your input, within the natural cycle of seasons and plants. Read the full Native Seed Survey Report here 🌱
Get Involved
We welcome new members, so please get in touch if you’d like to join either via email or by requesting to join our Facebook group. We are always open to suggestions from our members, both directly and in our native seed survey to set up and run native events – so get in touch if you are keen!
