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Winter Sowing Native Seeds: Herbaceous Perennials

  • December 13, 2026 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
  • Cedar Circle Farm and Education Center

    225 Pavillion Road
    Thetford, Vermont 05043
Description

Tobi Schulman of Bird and Bee Native Plants will lead this hands-on workshop on winter sowing native herbaceous perennial plants. Participants will actively learn to propagate a variety of native species and, by the end of the workshop, will be equipped to germinate their own native plants at home, enhancing their own gardens’ biodiversity and resilience.

 

Topics covered will include:

  • How a native plant is defined and why this definition is important ecologically.

  • The big why — why we care and why we are doing this.

  • Cold stratification and how to achieve it

  • Other seed dormancy issues: light dependence, darkness dependence, and scarification.

  • Recommended resources for finding species-specific information about germination requirements and where to buy seeds of straight species native plants, both local ecotype and from further afield when local sources are not available.

Participants will learn how to plant, care for, and overwinter their seeds, plus basic seedling care, from germination to transplanting into pots or garden spaces. Everyone will get to take home herbaceous perennial seeds, ready to overwinter and grow.

This workshop is ideal for gardeners of all levels looking to deepen their understanding of native plant propagation. If you've attended this workshop in the past, the core content and techniques will be the same, so much of the material will be familiar. You're more than welcome to join again, though — it's a great opportunity to refresh your skills, build confidence, and practice ethical seed collection alongside others.

This workshop is made possible with the support of the One Hive Foundation.

Date & Time

Sun, Dec 13, 2026 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Venue Details

Cedar Circle Farm and Education Center

225 Pavillion Road
Thetford, Vermont 05043 Cedar Circle Farm and Education Center
Cedar Circle Farm & Education Center

Cedar Circle Farm and Education Center is a non-profit educational organic farm located on conserved land along the Connecticut River in East Thetford, VT. Our farm is a community hub with a bustling farmstand, coffee shop, commercial kitchen, native plant nursery, retail greenhouses, cut flower garden, and diverse education programs.

We are a working farm—growing certified organic vegetables, berries, greens, herbs, native plants (not yet certified), and cut flowers on about 25 acres—with a deep commitment to developing regenerative agriculture systems for our annual vegetable and flower production.

Cedar Circle operates as an organic farm with a social mission, and we prioritize involving members of our community as we develop and share practices that promote regenerative agriculture, good health, and a resource-rich environment. Our educational programming for learners of all ages aims to build connections between our food, ecosystems, and community.

For over 25 years since its inception, the Farm’s practices have evolved to incorporate regenerative organic principles, and the Farm’s purpose and activities have evolved to include a thriving education program and opportunities for community engagement.


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