The Friends of Ojibway Prairie Seed Keepers

Who are the Seed Keepers?

The Seed Keepers are members of Friends of Ojibway Prairie who help Ojibway Nature Centre staff educate the public about the park’s plant life and restore park lands through the propagation and planting of native species. The Seed Keepers meet weekly during the growing season. We volunteer our time to maintain a demonstration garden, collect native seeds within the park under the direction of staff (generally in the fall), prepare seeds for planting (over the winter), and provide seeds for restoration and educational purposes.

We make seeds from the native plants that grow in Ojibway available to the public whenever possible and sell plants grown from those seeds at the annual City of Windsor sale in early May. We do this to raise awareness of the diversity of plant life in the prairie and to inspire others to naturalize their properties by incorporating local native plants. We are also working on more initiatives to inform the community about the native plants that grow in Ojibway and the value of this ecosystem

What are native plants and why are they important?

Generally, native plants are ones that occur naturally in a specific region, ecosystem or habitat without human introduction. They are adapted to the local climate and soil, so require less maintenance to survive and thrive. They also provide food and habitat for insects (think pollinators), birds and mammals that have relied on them for centuries. Encouraging the growth of native plants in the Ojibway Prairie Complex and beyond helps make our region more biodiverse, resilient and beautiful. We can start by learning about these extraordinary plants and their roles in the ecosystem.

What is the Demonstration Garden?

Under the direction of the city naturalist, the Seed Keepers are responsible for a demonstration garden outside the Ojibway Nature Centre at 5200 Matchett Road in Windsor. The native plants in the garden are grown from seeds collected within the Ojibway Prairie Complex. They are grouped and labelled to make them easy to identify. The garden is a great place to learn about plants native to the Windsor-Essex region. During the growing season you may see Friends of Ojibway Prairie Seed Keepers maintaining the garden. We are always happy to chat and share our enthusiasm for supporting native flora and fauna

Can anyone gather seeds and plants of native species in the Ojibway Prairie Complex?

No. The City of Windsor Parks By-law (131-2019) prohibits collecting seed, collecting plant vegetation or adding mulch, except by permit. The Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act (2006) applies the same prohibitions to the Ojibway Prairie Provincial Nature Reserve. Seed Keepers work under the direction of the city naturalist, who ensures the proper permits have been obtained and that seed gathering is done in a responsible and sustainable way.

Who can be a Seed Keeper?

The Seed Keepers is a hands-on group that works collaboratively, supports Ojibway Nature Centre staff and values constructive input. To join us you must be a member of the Friends of Ojibway Prairie and be willing to commit time to assist with the demonstration garden, seed collecting and other activities related to educating the public about the native plants that grow in the park. Interested? Talk to a park staff member or a current member of the Seed Keepers. You can also email the Friends of Ojibway Prairie at friendsofojibway@gmail.com.