In December 2022, we wrapped up a two-year project to restore 1.5 acres of land at the Elk Root Conservation Educational Demonstration Farm with ‘local ecotype’ Native Plants for educational purposes. This restored area is called the Native Plant Educational Demonstration Garden (NPEDG).

In the NPEDG, there is a seed library, a plant nursery, and an upland pond system that will connect to the riparian zone at ERC. Throughout the garden, there is also a walking path where visitors will be able to view and connect with native plants along their stroll. The walking path will also give ERC’s visitors the opportunity to read educational signs about upland and riparian conservation, the native plants, and their traditional uses, and witness a highly active wildlife corridor throughout a sensitive riparian zone.

The NPEDG will be the site of future learning opportunities at ERC. It is a beautiful outdoor classroom setting and will be a wonderful place for community gathering and learning about protecting our natural environment including native plants.

What’s Next…

During the next phase of this project we will be collaborating with local Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers to learn more about the traditional culture of native plants and with permission, incorporating the ecological significance of select native plants to local Indigenous communities into the garden’s signage and our educational field guide.