The SGI Native seed Program
Southeastern Grasslands Institute’s Seed Program staff and volunteers cleaning native seeds at SGI headquarters in Clarksville, TN.
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Kristin Hopkins, Gus Rasich, Ashton Crowe, and Jackie Chistolini are our SGI Native Seed Program staff. Kristin brings a knowledge of program development, environmental education, partnership building, and native plant enthusiasm to her role as the Native Seed Program Director. Gus’s background is in Environmental Education and Scientific Illustration, both of which he uses as our Native Seed Program Collections Manager. Ashton has a background in horticulture and brings a keen interest in biodiversity and environmental restoration to our seed team as our collection technician. Jackie is the newest member of our team, and her expertise in utilizing GIS (Geographic Information Systems) is aiding our Native Seed Program’s efforts to map our seed collection data.
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Every plant begins as a seed. The important ecological restoration work to save, reconstruct and restore grasslands of the southeast is not possible without a source of native seeds. SGI recognized the need to identify and ethically collect seeds for our restoration efforts, and thus the Native Seed Program was born.
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The Southeastern Grasslands Institute Native Seed Program is committed to creating native seed resources, scientific studies on seeds (i.e. germination studies, storage protocols, and horticultural production guidelines), and networks of seed saving organizations across our focal region. Like all SGI programs, the native seed program is grounded in a complement, not compete philosophy as fundamental to the success of grassland conservation.
Saving Seeds
The Native Seed Program collects & saves seeds for restoration, conservation, education, and research.
what we do
Locally Adapted plant materials for Southeastern Grassland Restoration
The Southeastern Grasslands Institute’s Seed Program is working to solve a major challenge in restoration across the Southeast: the lack of locally adapted native seed and plant materials. The program began through SGI’s leadership role in the federal Seeds of Success (SOS) initiative and has grown into a comprehensive effort supporting every stage of the native seed supply chain.
From ethical wild collection and banking to seed production, research, and on-the-ground use, SGI is building a stronger, more connected seed system across the region.
Please contact our Seed Program Director Kristin Hopkins with any questions.
Native seed program values
The SGI native seed program values complementing, not competing
“This seed program means a great deal to me. It is not just about collecting and storing seed. It is about restoring ecosystems, supporting the people who care for them, and investing in the future of our landscapes. Every part of this work, from collection to community engagement, carries purpose. I am proud to be part of something that brings so many partners together for a cause that truly matters.”
