GERMINATION- The History of Project Native
Project Native began in the fall of 2000, when Raina Weber recognized the need for a native plant nursery in the Berkshires of Massachusetts. In an effort to protect and promote the region’s natural resources, Raina began working with The Railroad Street Youth Project and several young people to build a greenhouse on a half-acre of land. It was on this half acre that Project Native began growing 25 varieties of native perennials.

Ten years later, thanks to generous financial support from individuals, The Berkshire Natural Resources Council, The Nature Conservancy, and the Massachusetts Environmental Trust, Project Native now owns the former Maple Shade Farm (also known as "Sunways Farm") on Route 41 in Housatonic, Massachusetts. Today there are more than 170 varieties of native plants growing in the nursery, including wildflowers, ferns, wetland species, blooming shrubs, grasses and small trees. A small, dedicated staff custom mixes soils and manages the plants organically.

From the onset, Project Native has been a grassroots community initiative that has been nurtured and guided by environmental professionals and foundations. Young people have been empowered to take the lead in being responsible stewards of local natural habitats. Project Native has become a region-wide environmental effort, incorporating energy and interest from all quarters, and providing indigenous plants to landscapers and landowners who are interested not only in beautifying their own backyards but also in helping to restore the wild habitat of the region. This interest helps protect the region's water resources, wetland habitats, and watershed areas by making native plants more available for use in and along wetlands, as well as for river bank and lakefront restoration projects.

What do we mean by "Growing Nature’s Garden"?
We are always striving to maintain a harmonious balance with the earth and all its creatures. With this in mind, our greenhouse staff puts a lot of effort into educating themselves and practicing organic growing. We believe in a collaboration between people and wildlife. This year we successfully managed some of our most difficult garden pests with simple products such as aspirin, cedar oil, baking soda and dish soap. Just a few inexpensive and earth-friendly ways to cope with garden pests without the use of harmful chemicals.

WHY NATIVES?
Native plants are species that grew in this region prior to European settlement. Invasive plants are species that were introduced to the region either intentionally or accidentally. A single invasive specie can crowd out a community of native plants, destroying natural habitat and diversity.

The Nature Conservancy has identified the Berkshire-Taconic Landscape as “One of the Last Great Places” in the United States. The region is one of the largest, healthiest, and most diverse remaining blocks of forest in southern New England. The landscape is home to more than 150 rare or endangered species, one of the highest concentrations in New England. Berkshire County also sustains some of the most significant wetlands in Massachusetts.

Unfortunately, these wetlands and forests are under constant threat of invasion from non-native species. Controlling these plants is crucial, but that is only a first step. Restoring and replanting with natives can significantly reduce the threat of future invasions, as well as provide a beautiful landscape.

Project Native has played an increasingly important role in protecting and restoring these critical and threatened ecological resources.

CULTIVATING COMMUNITY
URBAN COMMUNITY GARDEN PROGRAM
An important part of the mission of Project Native is education. One way we fulfill that goal is through our Urban Community Garden Program. For the past five years we have worked to create edible organic community gardens at group homes in Pittsfield. These gardens build upon our mission to reconnect residents to the land by fostering a greater sense of stewardship and providing education about sustainable agricultural practices. At Redfield House, a home for teenage mothers and their children, mothers and their kids work side by side in the garden. With the help of Project Native staff they learn to plant and maintain an organic vegetable garden. Through gardening the participants learn skills that can contribute to improved dietary health and employment opportunities in renewable agriculture.

“I think it’s always great to get close to nature...the Garden Project at Redfield House certainly helped all the young participants to do that. Also, one of the true advantages of teaching something to young mothers is that it has a double impact (or more) since they, in turn, teach their little children ." -Susan Guerrer, staff member at Redfield

NATIVE BIRD GARDENS
Several bird gardens were created on our farm with financial support from the Hollis Declan Leverett Memorial Fund. Mr. Leverett was an avid young birder and the foundation was established by his parents following his untimely death in a car accident. These gardens quickly attracted a number of different birds and butterflies.

MEMBERS
Become a Member of Project Native and Reap the Rewards.
Members receive 10% off all plant purchases everyday!
Your membership will help Project Native:
• create an awareness of the value of natural habitat
• provide access to native plants
• restore critical and threatened ecological resources
Donations of $50 or more include an annual memberships. To become a member click the donate button on our homepage. No donation is too small and all are greatly appreciated!

SEED BANK
With support from Massachusetts Environmental Trust, Project Native has spent the last several years cultivating a Berkshire native seed bank. The plants growing in the seed bank were started from locally harvested seed. This means the plants that our seed come from are genetically native. The plants in the seed bank will provide the seed necessary for future wetland restoration projects in the tri-state area. Native seed mixes are available at our garden shop.

Great care is taken in growing and preparing these seed for sale. The seed harvested last fall was dried, meticulously cleaned by hand and then packaged as native wildflower mixes. This rather painstaking process has been a labor of love and out of it has come three elegantly packaged native seed mixes. Below is more information about the mixes.

Full Sun to Part Sun – at least six hours direct sun a day
Average to moist soils, well drained to clay

May contain all or some of the following: Black-eyed Susan, Blue Vervain, Boneset, Cardinal Flower, Common Milkweed, Culver’s Root, Dog-tooth Daisy, Foxglove Beardtongue, Golden Alexanders, Great Blue Lobelia, Green-Eyed Coneflower, Meadow Sweet, New England Aster, New York Aster, New York Ironweed, Obedient Plant, Ox-Eye Sunflower, Purple Butterflyweed, Purple Joe-Pye, Purple-Stemmed Aster, Showy Goldenrod, Steeplebush, Wild Bee Balm

Native Neighbors: Blazing Star, Blue False Indigo, Purple Coneflower, Scarlet Bee Balm

Grasses: Big Bluestem, Indian Grass, Little Blue Stem, Purple Love Grass, Wild Rye

Part Sun – four hours direct light or strong dappled light
Average soils, well drained to clay

May contain all or some of the following: Big Leaf Aster, Blue Wood Aster, Calico Aster, Creeping Red Fescue, Foxglove Beardtongue, Golden Alexanders, Grass Leaved Goldenrod, Heath Aster, New England Aster, New York Aster, Smooth Blue Aster, Snakeroot, White Wood Aster, Wild Clematis, Wild Columbine, Wood Anemone, Wreath Goldenrod Native Neighbors: Nodding Onion

Sun to Part Shade
Damp to moist soil

May contain all or some of the following: Blue Flag Iris, Blue Vervain, Boneset, Canadian Burnet, Cardinal Flower, Dog-tooth Daisy, Golden Alexanders, Great Blue Lobelia, Green-eyed Coneflower, Monkey Flower, Purple Angelica, Purple-stemmed Aster, Purple Butterflyweed, Purple Joe-Pye, Turtlehead, Wild Rye, Wool Grass.

Small .25 oz. (coverage: 35 - 50 sq. ft.) Price: $6.95

Medium 1 oz. (coverage: 140 - 200 sq. ft.) Price: $24.95

Large 1 pound (coverage: 2,400 – 3,100 sq. ft.) Price: $280.00

We also carry a Native Lawn Seed Mix for those individuals interested in creating a non-suburban lawn.  Native Lawn Seed Mix contains Little Bluestem and Creeping Red Fescue.

Imagine a beautiful lawn that:
-only needs to be mowed twice a year, saving time & resources.
-attracts diverse species of butterflies and birds.
-tolerates drier conditions and requires less watering.
-requires no fertilizer or herbicides.
-thrives in full to part sun.

For a list of available native seed and seed mixes call 413-274-3433.

RESTORATIONS
Berkshire County sustains some of the most significant wetlands in Massachusetts. Due to the increase in human development wetlands are being disrupted and destroyed at an alarming rate. Project Native is working to minimize the impact of development on wetlands by providing plants and educational materials to assist indivduals and conservation organizations with wetland restorations projects. Several years ago Project Native planted the first large-scale native seed bank in western Massachusetts. This seed bank now provides over 50 different species of native seed many of which can be used in restoration projects.

Project Native's Restoration Team installed several gardens, including a woodland restoration at Porches Inn in North Adams and several wetland restorations at area homes.

This year, Project Native was awarded a Natural Resource Damages Grant to help restore and enhance the integrity of thirty acres of critically important Sheffield floodplain forest along the Housatonic River. This is a long-term collaborative project involving The Nature Conservancy, Sheffield Land Trust, Kampoosa Bog Committee, Southern Berkshire Regional School District and local farmers. Project Native will collect native seed from the are and propogate the plants for the restoration. Project Native will also help coordinate educational programs for local schools and the public.

LANDSCAPING- Creating Sustainable Native Landscapes
Design, Consultation & Installation Available
Serving The Berkshires, Eastern New York & Northwest Connecticut

Scope of Services

For more information call 413-274-3433.