Since 2019, the Public Lands Restoration Ecology Program has been working to improve the ecological health of our public lands. We manage the ongoing restoration of multiple sites within the Salt Lake City municipality including in the foothills, trailheads, parks, and natural areas. Our program employs both wetland and dryland native species to incorporate biodiversity and native plants into every compatible city project. These more diverse ecological systems support robust plant communities that strengthen pollinator activity, improve water quality, and contribute to the overall health of the environment and its visitors, both human and animal
In collaboration with the Utah Department of Corrections, the Native Plant/Restoration Ecology program has produced 30k – 50k plants per year for our restoration plantings. The seeds and cuttings we use for plant production are collected from wet and dry habitats across Utah, with emphasis on Salt Lake Valley plant species decimated by urban development. Over six years, the Program has collected seeds for nearly 650 species (312 genera and 78 families). 200 of which serve as our core most reliable species where effective propagation protocols have emerged and have proven resilience at restoration sites.
Our changing climate and the ongoing loss of native habitat have noticeably reduced the reliability of our seed collection in recent years. To safeguard biodiversity and create a dependable seed source for declining species, we are establishing a native seed farm on SLC‑PL property. It is our goal not only to support restoration across the city but also to serve as a public resource for native plants and the knowledge needed to grow them
Since 2019, the Public Lands Restoration Ecology Program has been working to improve the ecological health of our public lands. We manage the ongoing restoration of many sites within the in the Salt Lake City municipality. As well as our own production of native plants from locally... Read More →
Friday October 9, 2026 10:00am - 10:30am MDT Apache Plume
You don't need to register for the swap - just come at any point during the day and have fun!
What can I bring? Native seeds, bulbs, rhizomes, cuttings, divisions, or live plants. Gardening tools, gloves, pots, in good condition only please.
Can I participate, even if I don’t have any seeds to share? Yes! We want you to get, grow, and love Utah native plants! Maybe next year you can bring your own to share!
What counts as native? We want to focus on plants native to Utah, but we welcome any USA native plants. Any non-natives (like vegetable seeds) will be donated to local free seed libraries!
Is it really free? Yes! We want to lower the barriers to growing awesome native seeds. We are extremely thankful to our sponsors who make this possible. Give what you can, take what you’ll use.
Tips for Seed Collection
Never use plastic bags! These keep any remaining moisture trapped and can rot and mold your seeds into mush. Check for pests! Seeds are an important food source for many critters, but you don’t want to put them with your seeds!
Water Conservation Coordinator, Utah Division of Water Resources
Matthew works at the Utah Division of Water Resources, where he helps administer the Landscape Incentive Program throughout rural Utah, from San Juan County to Cache County. During his graduate studies at the University of Utah, he focused on reintroducing native flora to urban ecosystems... Read More →
I have over 75 species of Utah-native plants in my suburban yard and save 80,000 gallons of water annually by having gathering spaces and gardens instead of a lawn. I enjoy growing native plants for food and medicine and to provide habitat for wildlife.
In this presentation, attendees will learn about the amazing pollinator diversity in their backyards and how to support these populations. We will go over the basics of pollinator identification and classification, then discover all the different forms, behaviors, and benefits of these awesome critters. Lastly, we'll discuss simple ways to support pollinators in backyards and beyond.
