On Saturday, April 19th, we held our fifth Plantstock at Hamlet Organic Garden. LINPI (Long Island Native Plant Initiative), ReWild Long Island, Tyska Natives, and Hamlet Organic Garden itself were out selling native plants to the approximately 100 people who came out to HOG, a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) in Brookhaven Hamlet.
All the attending growers offer only “ecotypal” native plants for sale, that is the seeds themselves come from Long Island. They are “hyperlocal.” Such things matter ecologically.
What an idyllic day! Given early spring weather and how fickle it can be, we were quite fortunate indeed! It was great meeting people from the different organizations, and getting to know some of the local native gardeners. We may be self conscious around our neighbors, but here we were among friends.
We came “armed” with a lot of swamp milkweed, the thought being that milkweed would not only be sought by monarchs and other pollinators, but that it would also help kill off some Spotted Lanternflies, as we have witnessed in the field. They don’t know it’s poisonous.
Our larger goal for Plantstock is to create a trusted market for local native plants so that gardeners and local civic groups can find what they need in native plants, both in volume and variety. At present, natives are hard to find, true natives even harder, and then choices are limited to just a few species, compromising biodiversity.
As a regular gathering of plant people, Plantstock helps to build the community necessary to the growth of native plantings and planters.
Mark your calendar for Plantstock VI: Saturday October 11th between 10-1. It’s a great time to stock up and plant your plants for spring then! It will be once more at Hamlet Organic Garden. A magical place!
