California’s native ecosystems are facing a critical challenge: a shortage of native seeds needed for restoration projects. A five-year-old farm, Heritage Growers, is working to address this issue by growing its own supply of native grasses, shrubs and wildflowers. The farm currently produces between 30,000 and 40,000 pounds of seeds from up to 200 different varieties each year.
A Growing Require
Heritage Growers operates as a venture of River Partners, a nonprofit organization that has already restored tens of thousands of acres of riparian habitat throughout California. This model differs from commercial seed producers and other smaller nonprofit growers. According to Pat Reynolds, Heritage Growers’ General Manager, their “mission is to restore habitat for the benefit of people and the environment.”
The process of producing these seeds is complex. Specialists carefully propagate seeds to maintain genetic diversity, and harvesting must be timed precisely – sometimes within a 24-hour window – to ensure the seeds are viable. Some species even require hand harvesting.
California’s Biodiversity at Risk
The need for native seed restoration is particularly acute in California, which is recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot. However, according to California’s Biodiversity Initiative, an estimated 80–90 percent of the state’s biologically diverse landscapes have been altered or lost over the past 150 years due to development, agriculture, invasive species, climate change, and wildfires.
Heritage Growers’ ability to plan ahead – cultivating plants years in advance – addresses a past vulnerability where project timelines were jeopardized by seed availability and fluctuating costs. However, even with its current output, the farm acknowledges that production is “still far from enough” to meet the state’s needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Heritage Growers?
Heritage Growers is a nonprofit native seed farm created five years ago as a venture of River Partners to address a systemic shortage of native seeds in California.
How much seed does Heritage Growers produce?
Heritage Growers currently produces more than 30,000 to 40,000 pounds of seed across up to 200 different varieties each year.
Why is restoring native vegetation important in California?
California’s Biodiversity Initiative notes that its wetlands, riparian woodlands and forests have “suffered extensive losses,” with “an estimated 80–90 percent” of its biologically diverse landscapes altered or lost in the past 150 years, making reestablishment of native vegetation crucial.
As California continues to grapple with the impacts of environmental change, will innovative approaches like Heritage Growers be enough to meet the growing demand for native seeds and support the state’s vital ecosystems?
