Irvine Ranch Conservancy Staff Seeding Day at the Native Seed Farm

Irvine Ranch Conservancy is thrilled to share the success of this year’s Staff Seeding Day at the Native Seed Farm! Staff Seeding Day allows IRC staff from all departments to help with restoration work at the Native Seed Farm. It is important for all members of the staff to get involved with each other’s projects and learn more about all the different facets of IRC’s work. As the saying goes, many hands make light work, and the collective effort of the dedicated staff in furthering the mission of preserving and protecting the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks is greatly appreciated.

The primary goal of this event was to produce seed material for current and future restoration projects. During the event, the team planted nine species of annual native plants at the farm, including needle goldfields (Lasthenia gracilis), slender buckwheat (Eriogonum gracile), chia sage (Salvia columbariae), fasciculated tarweed (Deinandra fasciculata), white pincushion (Chaenactis artemisiifolia), purple owl’s clover (Castilleja exserta), dotseed plantain (Plantago erecta), California bluebells (Phacelia minor) and caterpillar phacelia (Phacelia cicutaria). These seeds are crucial for supporting habitat restoration efforts at the City of Irvine’s Bommer Canyon, OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space, and Chino Hills State Park. The IRC team will also use seed harvested from this year’s annuals to replace stored seed that may have lost viability over time.

At the Native Seed Farm, an agricultural technique known as seed bulking or seed amplification is utilized to produce large quantities of seed relative to the smaller amount first used to establish the crop. The process starts with wild-sourced plant material, which is collected at a rate of 10% (even less for rare species). The wild-sourced seed is then grown in an annual plot at the farm, where IRC can then potentially collect 100% of the seeds being produced. If necessary, the seed produced from this first generation can then be used to produce an even larger harvest; this process can be repeated for up to three generations at the farm. This process allows for a much greater return with a smaller disruption to the native wildlands. 

If you would like to join in on the efforts at the Native Seed Farm, IRC hosts multiple activities throughout the year. Supporters are encouraged to join, especially around April or May to witness the beautiful flowers blooming. It’s a wonderful opportunity to experience the work IRC does and connect with nature in a unique and meaningful way.

Upcoming activities at the Native Seed Farm include:

• February 14: Growing Together at the Native Seed Farm
• February 15: Growing Together at the Native Seed Farm
• February 21: Growing Together at the Native Seed Farm
• February 28: Growing Together at the Native Seed Farm

Thank you for the continued support of the Irvine Ranch Conservancy. Together, a lasting impact can be made on the preservation of the wildlands throughout the Landmarks.