Bluestem Goldenrod. Photo by Abbie Castriotta.
The Woodstock Union High School Agriculture Department will host our second annual Native Plant Sale this fall. The sale will run from 9am to 6pm Wednesday, September 24th and 9am-2pm Thursday, September 25th through Saturday, September 27th. If these dates do not work for you, please contact Abbie (abbie.castriotta@mtnviews.org) to set up an appointment to shop for your plants.
Native plants are the keystone species for our local food webs. By planting native plants, you are providing food and habitat for insects, birds, and other wildlife. They are adapted to live in our local ecosystems and, therefore, they require less maintenance, less water, and no fertilizer. And they are beautiful!
Students in the agriculture classes collected seeds for many of these plants last fall, planted them in pots to cold stratify over the winter, and cared for and divided them over the spring and summer. Now they are ready to be planted into your garden! Fall is a great time to plant native plants because the soil and temperature in the fall provides ideal conditions for new growth. Next spring, the plants will come back strong and ready to bloom.
We have 32 different species for sale this year! We are offering the native plants at a sliding scale cost ($0 – $15). We estimate that it costs us approximately $5 to grow each native plant; to buy the same plant through a nursery would likely cost $10-$20. All proceeds directly benefit the Woodstock Union Agriculture Department. Your support helps to ensure that our greenhouse and gardens are thriving spaces where we can continue to teach and learn about agriculture, stewardship, sustainability, and systems thinking through experiential learning.
We take cash or checks. The sale will take place behind the Woodstock Union High School (100 Amsden Way, Woodstock, VT). Enter from route 4 and drive around the right side of the school to park near the bus barn and the football field. Please bring a cardboard box or tray.
To learn more about our CRAFT (Community and Climate Resilience through Agriculture, Forestry, and Technology) program visit www.wuhsmscraft.org. You can find our plant list under the “Plant Sale Information” tab.