A CSC Project
SeedLA
A network looking to assess local demand for native seeds
Overview
SeedLA, a Los Angeles-based network, is dedicated to increasing the availability of native seeds through seed collecting, banking, and outreach. As California faces intensifying droughts and growing interest in resilient landscapes, the demand for native seeds continues to rise. To meet this demand, SeedLA aims to expand the local supply of native seeds, starting with a strong understanding of the current native seed supply.
Approach
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Survey and Dissemination: Evaluated Los Angeles’ seed bank and nursery capacity through a comprehensive survey that collected qualitative and quantitative data. This assessment provided critical information like current operations and barriers to expansion helping SeedLA and The Council for Watershed Health understand and better serve local businesses' needs, thus enhancing accessibility to native seeds and plants. The findings also provided valuable insights that can be referenced in future grant applications.
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Results Analysis: Created digestible content to publish on SeedLA’s website. By translating complex climate data into user-friendly formats, including infographics and summaries, the project seeks to enhance public understanding and engagement with the need for native seed. This initiative aligns with SeedLA's commitment to promoting environmental awareness and fostering community involvement in sustainable practices, ultimately contributing to the ecological resilience of Los Angeles.
Results
CSC provided a detailed report assessing survey outcomes and creating visualizations for SeedLA. Highlights include:
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~ ⅔ of nurseries collected cuttings or seeds locally at the time of the survey.
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The biggest challenges to seed collection and storage included staff, storage capacity, and permitting.
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Native plants were most commonly used for residential gardens/landscapes
Conclusion
CSC delivered a final comprehensive report on the current capacity of LA nurseries to supply native plants as demand increases. Our deliverables included creating and distributing the survey, analyzing the quantitative and qualitative results, and synthesizing the findings into clear and digestible visualizations.