Native plants play a critical role in supporting native bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. This hands-on workshop will introduce participants to winter sowing, also known as milk jug gardening, a simple and effective technique for growing native plant seedlings.
Volunteers will help plant native seed collected from Hoyt Park’s prairies and woodlands into mini greenhouse containers made from milk jugs. These containers will be stored outdoors over the winter and gradually warmed as spring approaches, mimicking natural processes while producing native plant seedlings for future planting in Hoyt Park.
This is a free, family-friendly event supporting Friends of Hoyt Park’s efforts to expand native plantings in Hoyt Park’s prairies and woodlands.
Responsibilities
Assist with preparing milk jug mini greenhouses
Plant native seeds collected from Hoyt Park prairies and woodlands
Help with basic setup and cleanup during the workshop
Participate in a group learning activity focused on native plant restoration
Qualifications
No prior experience required
All ages welcome; children should be accompanied by an adult
Interest in native plants, gardening, or environmental stewardship encouraged
Additional
Notes
Bring gardening gloves if you wish
Bring one or two clean milk jugs with caps if available; a limited supply will
be provided
All other supplies will be provided
Participants are encouraged to make two mini greenhouses, one for Hoyt Park and
one to overwinter at home to grow seedlings for their own yard.
