Hear About the Akwesasne Native Plant Nursery: Addressing the Tree Stock Shortage

Enjoy the May episode of the “Restoration Roundup” podcast which addresses a topic first introduced in the October episode—the shortage of native stock available for restoration plantings in Vermont, the surrounding region, and beyond. In order to support future forest restoration projects along our waterways, more nurseries are essential to provide the necessary tree and shrub species for planting.

In the ninth episode of Restoration Roundup, Alison Adams and Liz Woodhull,  of the Watershed Forestry Partnership and Lake Champlain Sea Grant, speak with Jessica Raspitha and McKay Burley of the new Akwesasne Native Plant Nursery in St. Regis, New York. Jessica manages the Land Resources Program of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Environment Division and is a member of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe. McKay is the newest addition to St. Regis Mohawk Tribe's Land Resources Program as the plant nursery technician.

Learn about how they got the nursery up and running, their goals for the nursery, and how they maintain support from community members. Also, hear about the important role the nursery will play in preserving culturally-important species, like sweetgrass and black ash, a tree seriously threatened by the arrival of emerald ash borer in the region.

Listen to this podcast and many others on Lake Champlain Sea Grant's Watershed Forestry Partnership Restoration Roundup Podcast webpage or find the episode on most podcast streaming platforms.

The Restoration Roundup podcast, released on the last Wednesday of each month, is supported by NEIWPCC and the Lake Champlain Basin Program.