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N° 88 — February 16th, 2022
Stay in touch as we celebrate Washington Youth Garden's 50th Anniversary. Enjoy our updates and insights from FONA, the U.S. National Arboretum, and WYG.
Black Legacies: Ira Wallace
"Heirloom seeds survive because of their flavor, [because] of their unique characteristics agronomically. But their stories are what carry them into the future."

Ira Wallace is one of the driving forces behind Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, a cooperatively-owned seed company and leader in heirloom and open-pollinated seeds.
Ira's approach to farming centers around community. In her youth, Ira traveled around the world, learning different farming methods and ways of living cooperatively. In the 1990s, she helped found Acorn Community Farm, a 72-acre farm and intentional community in Mineral, VA that is home to Southern Exposure.

Ira continues to search for new varieties to add to Southern Exposure's seed catalogue, particularly those from the African diaspora. Her work with The Heirloom Collard Project shines a light on the role enslaved Black people had in breeding collard greens.

Seed Starting Season
It's just about time to start seeds for spring. Here's a few Black-owned seed companies to help you start your growing season:

Specializes in heirloom and open-pollinated varieties that perform well in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast United States.

Cultivates and distributes culturally meaningful seeds, offering a wide variety of cultural seed garden collections.

Offers culturally important and open-pollinated seeds grown from a network of over 50 farmers.
Arboretum Activities
Attend the Arboretum's 35th Annual Lahr Native Plant Symposium on Saturday, March 26th from 9 AM to 3 PM. This virtual symposium brings together subject matter experts on ecological, botanical, and horticultural advancement. See the event flyer for full details and speaker line-up. Tickets are $75 (FONA members check your inbox for the discount code).

FONA Events
Join us Sunday, March 27th from 9 AM to 2 PM for our annual Native Plant Sale. The sale will take place along Meadow Road between the Arboretum's Visitor Center and National Herb Garden, and will feature native plant vendors. Please be prepared to wear a mask when browsing plants and interacting with vendors. Registration is preferred but not required.

Join us for a forest bathing experience at the Arboretum and discover something new on every twisting trail, curated collection, and changing season.

Tickets are now live for events from March through August. Join us on Mother's Day, the summer solstice, and many days in between!

Our suggested ticket price is $35, but please pay what you can to attend.

Arboretum Additions
The National Arboretum recently welcomed Max Fedeli as a permanent Agricultural Science Research Technician (ASRT) to the gardens team. Max has worked at the Arboretum since 2018 as an intern, ORISE fellow, and temporary ASRT. He has been critical in the Arboretum's Springhouse Run stream restoration project and in maintaining the Azalea Collections during the pandemic.
The Arboretum is open every day from 8 AM to 5 PM except December 25th. Some buildings and collections remain closed to ensure visitor and staff safety.
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