Gatherings
Come Forage-in
The Come Forage-in is a seasonal gathering hosted by a Mother Yard. It’s a work day where native plant gardeners are invited to “come forage” surplus native plants and seeds from a local mother yard and then transplant them to their own home gardens or to a new daughter yard. Come forage-ins can disperse native plants throughout our neighborhoods and the broader community. They can help initiate new daughter yards and provide an excellent opportunity to teach beginners how to work with native plants.
The Plant-In
The Plant-in is a community work day hosted by a new daughter yard. During the work day, established local gardeners gather surplus native plants and seeds from their mother yards and bring them to the home of a fledgling native plant gardener. The plants are then planted to found a new daughter yard in the community. The plant-in is another excellent way to disperse native plants through our neighborhoods. They are also a natural segue into a mentoring relationship with new native gardeners.
The Teach-In
The Teach-in gathers neighbors together to learn the skills required to build and maintain native plant gardens. The skills learned may include: how to remove lawns and other undesirable plants, how to prepare land for planting, how to honorably forage for plants and seeds, and how to properly plant and transplant. Teach-ins can be hosted by mother yards or new daughter yards.
The Assess-In
The Assess-in is a yard assessment that is hosted by a new daughter yard prior to a Plant-in. It gathers experienced mother yard gardeners together with the beginner daughter yard gardener to learn about the site they will be planting. The assessment can include: identification of existing plants, soil examination and testing, studying sun and shade patterns and other factors that will determine the Plant-In plan. The Assess-in can be an excellent teaching tool for training new native plant gardeners.