A Season for Growth: Seed Starting Workshops Bloom in Our Community

The sun shone bright through the greenhouse’s glass, and TTF community members diligently took notes from Master Gardener Marty Hudson on how to start vegetable seeds. On Saturday, March 22, interns Natasha and Sophia helped out with the vegetable seed-starting workshop. 

This Spring’s Workshops

The workshop we attended on March 22 was part of a series of free workshops put on by TTF this winter. The first Seed Starting Workshop happened on Saturday, February 15, at the Friends Hospital. Attendees, under the instruction of a Penn State Extension Philadelphia County Master Gardener, used Bennett Compost’s Eco-Friendly Soil to plant native perennial seeds. A similar workshop occurred on Saturday, February 22, at the Elkins Park Free Library. Delila, who attended the workshops on February 15 and March 22, shared photos of her recently germinated black-eyed susans and purple coneflowers from the February 15 workshop. 

 Why should you start your own plants rather than buy them?

Starting plants from seed is an incredibly rewarding and cost-effective way to grow both native plants and vegetables. Watching your plants grow from tiny seeds into thriving life builds a deep connection to your garden, your food, and the local environment.

In a region where natural habitats are shrinking, native plants also play a critical role in supporting biodiversity. Starting native plants from seed is not only budget-friendly, but a powerful way to help restore healthy, resilient ecosystems right at home.

For vegetable gardens, starting from seed gives you the freedom to choose from a wide variety of plants — selecting for size, texture, flavor, and even disease resistance. You control the timing and the growing conditions, and you can ensure your plants are free from unwanted chemical treatments. Growing your own vegetables from seed deepens your appreciation for where your food comes from and allows you to cultivate a garden tailored to your taste and your table.

Whether you’re growing native wildflowers or fresh produce, starting from seed is a simple way to support both biodiversity and sustainability — and the process is as rewarding as the harvest!

Why Native Plants Matter: Growing Biodiversity from the Ground Up

Native plants, such as milkweed, build interdependent relationships with other native species, promoting biodiversity in the area. Additionally, native shrubs and trees provide 35 times more caterpillars than non-native species which helps to support a more diverse bird population. Examples of native plants in this area include Northern Blue Flag, Sugar Maple, American Bittersweet, and Native Bush Honeysuckle. 

Native species are adapted to local climate and soil conditions, meaning they often require less maintenance than exotic or non-native landscape plants. They typically need less water, fertilizer, and chemical treatments like pesticides or fungicides.

If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of planting Native Plants, check out this additional TTF blog post: An Introduction to Native Plants

Real Connections, Real Growth: Reflections from Participants

Feedback from the workshops was very positive! When asked what they learned, responses from the March 22 workshop included that they learned to “water lightly + from the bottom”, “how to use grow lights”, and “what [plants] can grow together”. 

Ambrose, founder and director of Olney Culture Lab, attended the March 22 workshop. He was asked what he’d take from the talk by Master Gardener Marty Hudson back to his garden, he shared: 

“I just bought a grow light and she [the Master Gardener] was like you use a grow light after it’s seeded which, you know, I didn’t know that so now it’s like ok, I’ll be sure to use it now rather than sticking it in a dark closet and putting a light on it all day”

Dalia is an experienced gardener, but described how she is still learning new techniques that she will introduce in her home gardening practice. She had come to an earlier native seed starting workshop and enjoyed it, so she was looking forward to this past one. 

Joyce explained how she had been wanting to begin seed starting for a while, but was afraid. After the workshops, she is enthusiastic to get started and feels supported. She “can’t wait for another workshop!” 

Participants were asked what their level of knowledge was before and after the workshop. Prior to the workshop, attendees had an average self-reported knowledge of 2.47 out of 5. After the workshop, the average increased to 4.23 out of 5, emphasizing how community members felt more confident in their seed-starting skills after the workshop. 

When asked, most attendees said that they think they will go home and start their own seeds. We look forward to seeing more images of everyone’s growing seedlings and plants in the next couple of months!