Ten years ago, when faced with the challenge of needing plant materials like seed and container plants for habitat restoration projects throughout the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, Irvine Ranch Conservancy (IRC) staff in partnership with OC Parks, City of Irvine, and the City of Newport Beach, made the decision to become farmers. Irvine Ranch Conservancy staff proposed the idea of collecting seeds from the wild and growing them on a farm. Once grown, the plants would be harvested for more seed that could be used in restoration projects; bringing the idea of the Native Seed Farm to life.
“The Native Seed Farm began as an innovative idea from IRC staff as a way to sustainably support restoration efforts on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks,” said Irvine Ranch Conservancy President and CEO, Michael O’Connell. “Since 2009, our team has learned so much, allowing us to expand the farm operation to support our growing restoration program.”
In Fall 2009, the Farm began by temporarily utilizing a 12-acre burned-out avocado orchard that was damaged in the 2007 Santiago Canyon Fire. With the help of Orange County Produce, IRC staff was educated on how to develop and maintain a farm that would include 12 native plant species. The site had no infrastructure and consisted of only a single nursery shade-house. In 2016, the Native Seed Farm relocated to its current site in the heart of Irvine. The site includes two shade-houses, a seed processing facility, two cold storage bins for seed, a dedicated seed drying area, an onsite office, and a shaded staging area. Over 50 species are currently being grown and nurtured on the Farm, producing approximately 1,000 pounds of seed per year.
Since the beginning, Irvine Ranch Conservancy has had two goals for the Native Seed Farm: provide a reliable source of quality plant material for restoration projects and create a place for the public to learn about our local wild lands and contribute to our restoration efforts.
“The Farm was started as a direct response to an issue, but it has evolved into a community outreach asset,” said O’Connell. “Thanks to our dedicated staff and volunteers, we’ve not only been able to produce the plant materials and seed needed for our restoration projects, but get the community involved and educate them along the way.”
In an effort to produce enough seed to support restoration efforts, Irvine Ranch Conservancy enlists a dedicated group of volunteers to assist with all the work being done at the Farm. In 2014, IRC created Farm Steward and Farm Docent volunteer programs that allowed Irvine Ranch Conservancy volunteers to become heavily involved in the day to day management of the Native Seed Farm. With more than 30 Farm Stewards and Docents, the Native Seed Farm is able to host a variety of stewardship activities that help educate the public on restoration and native ecology, and inspire them to take a more active role in caring for local wild lands.
Looking toward the future, Irvine Ranch Conservancy plans to continue improving their efforts with hopes the Native Seed Farm will one day be a self-contained, one-stop shop, with equipment and infrastructure to harvest and clean native seeds. IRC also plans to continue its efforts in educating the public by expanding Farm programs and activities for an enhanced visitor experience.
“We hope the Native Seed Farm can serve as a model for other organizations looking to create a native seed farm to support their own restoration efforts,” said O’Connell. “We are so pleased with how far the Native Seed Farm has come and can’t wait to see what the next 10 years will bring!”
For more information about Irvine Ranch Conservancy’s Native Seed Farm and volunteering opportunities visit LetsGoOutside.org/activities. For more information about the Native Seed Farm visit www.LetsGoOutside.org.
Irvine Ranch Conservancy
Irvine Ranch Conservancy is a non-profit, non-advocacy organization created in 2005 to help preserve and support the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, enhancing the public’s connection to the land while helping partners and landowners with all aspects of stewardship. The Conservancy offers a variety of free, guided outdoor programs for all nature enthusiasts including hiking, mountain biking, horse-back riding and much more. For more information, visit www.letsgooutside.org.
Laura Lanzi
PR & Marketing Coordinator
The ACE Agency
