The Native Plant Program at Hilltop Hanover Farm is a farm-based initiative focused on strengthening and expanding local biodiversity by increasing the number of ecotype plants available in the community.
Westchester lands, including forests, wetlands, meadows on both public and private spaces, are under threat. Depleted soil, new plant diseases and invasive species are taking a tremendous toll—as are the combined pressures of climate change, pollution and development. Preserving and expanding areas where native plants are grown is a powerful way to combat these overarching environmental threats, while also supporting animal and insect populations that are essential to a healthy ecosystem. Highly biodiverse ecosystems are more resilient and adaptable; they improve the soil, prevent erosion, protect against flooding, lower temperatures at the ground, and clean the air. They are also beautiful.
At Hilltop, our native plant program seeks to deliver all these benefits by collecting seed native to our specific ecoregion, cleaning and propagating that seed in founders plots, and producing plants for land conservation and restoration. We make both seeds and plants available for sale and donation to municipalities, schools, garden clubs, nurseries and individuals to achieve the greatest impact possible. In addition to our expert staff, we welcome and depend on volunteers to grow this popular and sorely needed work. Please join us!
Hilltop Staff Emily Rauch and Lindsey Feinberg participated in the 2023 National Native Seed Conference!
Read more about Biodiversity at Hilltop Hanover Farm
