By Mathilda Ramos-Williams and Sierra Chow
A new seed was planted on Saturday, January 18, at Hopewell Valley’s first-ever Native Seed Sowing Extravaganza! Held from 10am to 1pm in the community room of Hopewell Valley Central High School, the event was lead by organizers from Hopewell, NJ Native Plant Swap and the HVRSD EcoPTO, with Kari Lloyd at the helm. The Extravaganza also featured other participating organizations that helped to “sprout” this “unbe-LEAF-able” event including the HVCHS Youth Environmental Society, the HV Green Team, the HVRSD Climate Action Committee, and Hopewell Valley Community Wildlife Habitat Program.
The event saw extraordinary participation, with nearly 1,000 mini-greenhouses made from recycled plastic jugs filled with soil and native seeds in preparation for spring planting. The effort raised $2,152.76, which will be split between the Sourland Conservancy and the Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space (FoHVOS), both local environmental nonprofits.
The Extravaganza had two main objectives: introducing the community to native plants and their ease of incorporation into gardens while educating attendees about their benefits for biodiversity and local ecosystems.
Kari Lloyd, a Hopewell resident, science teacher, and event organizer, expressed her gratitude for the event’s success, stating, “I’m incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support from the native plant community in the Mercer County area. Together, we collected and prepared 1,000 milk jugs and packaged 2,000 native seed packets. We made it simple for community members to dive into native plant gardening and helped spread awareness in a way that was both fun and educational. When so many people come together with a shared passion, the possibilities truly are endless!”
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Hopewell resident and founder of the “Hopewell, NJ Native Plant Swap” Facebook group, Andrew Plunkett, offered his expertise on native plants throughout the event.
Andrew Plunkett echoed the “be-leaf” of the event’s long-term goals. “The seed sowing extravaganza will hopefully help more properties become certified under the National Wildlife Federation Community Habitat Program. This program aims to create more habitat for our native wildlife. Events like this are a great way to start creating habitats at home using native plants.” For more information on certifying your property, visit www.nwf.org/Native-Plant-Habitats/Create-and-Certify.
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Plunkett also encouraged residents to join the conversation and get involved in native planting initiatives through the “Hopewell, NJ Native Plant Swap” Facebook group.
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Julie Cesari, with the HVRSD ecoPTO and leading organizer of the event stated, “The ecoPTO was founded to support Youth and Earth wellbeing through deep and meaningful connection to nature and community. Co-hosting the NSS Extravaganza was our first big event and it embodied this mission beautifully. We are grateful for the opportunity to gather with friends and neighbors of all ages to nourish the valley’s ecosystem and raise funds for local organizations that provide nature based education in our schools. May the flowers and our hearts bloom in abundance.”
This event comes at a critical time, as ecosystems worldwide face increasing threats from invasive species. Invasive plants, which lack natural predators, tend to outcompete native species, disrupting ecosystems and reducing habitat and resources for native wildlife. By reintroducing native species, communities can restore ecological balance and support local biodiversity. This ecological balance, stability, and increased biodiversity promoted by native species better equip ecosystems to withstand the ever-so-prevalent disturbances relating to climate change and global warming.
The success of the Native Seed Sowing Extravaganza has planted the seeds for future events and inspired greater awareness and action toward restoring “plant-tastic” native habitats in the Hopewell Valley community!
Submitted by HVCHS students Mathilda Ramos-Williams and Sierra Chow, and their teacher Carolyn McGrath
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YES, Photography, Spectrum, and Art Clubs Advisor
District Green Team/Climate Action Committee Co-chair Carolyn McGrath and HVRSD Superintendent Dr. Rosetta Treece