ARCHIVED MARSB NEWSLETTER
Publish Date: October 21, 2026
In February of 2025, a bill sponsored by New York Senator Rachel May and Assembleymember Anna Kelles went into effect. The bill — S794 — or, “An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to establishing a native plant and seed supply, development and enhancement program,” is rooted in supply chain complexities that MARSB and our constellation of partners will find familiar—if not germane—to the mission of our work.
The S794 justification is stated below:
We, in the native plant community, recognize formidable obstacles. We strive to protect biodiversity. And we are iteratively trying to thread the needle and stitch together native plant material supply and demand — in ways that bolster rural economy, include community participation, provide viable market opportunities for small acreage land stewards, and bring resilience home. Bill S794 represents a step towards just that. Bringing resilience home.
On Monday, October 5th, just a few weeks ago, MARSB and Go Native! Perennials hosted an educational field day. This field day was attended by the two chief architects of S794, Senator Rachel May and Assemblymember Anna Kelles. This event afforded a hands-on opportunity to demonstrate to the two legislators — some of the complexities of the native plant material development process. It was a beautiful day. Members of the Finger Lakes Land Trust, the Limeledge Botanical Garden and Arboretum, and Corey Mosher, the Executive Director of the NYS Legislative Commission on Rural Resources, all joined us to learn more about the mechanisms behind seed collection and nursery operations. MARSB was thrilled to share our resources, field experience, and science based approach to seed collection with attending guests.
Just as significant as the science of native plant conservation — is the act of coming together for restoration, in community, as humans who care deeply about our natural and biodiverse world. This event also highlighted the importance of conservation practices on public lands and the ecological value of protected open spaces. It was a great opportunity to engage in dialogue with stakeholders.
Learn more about the educational field day below and as always, reach out if you would like to learn more or need support with your NPM endeavors.
— Your MARSB Team
October Educational Field Day
The MARSB educational field day kicked off with a seed collection instructional facilitated by MARSB’s John Price and Megan Homison.
At Roy H Park Preserve, attendees hiked along a short boardwalk trail through a wet meadow complex. This particular habitat is shaped in part by beaver activity, with periodic flooding. Both Assembleymember Kelles and Senator May joined the MARSB team in gathering seed for future banking.
Participants collected seed from Silverrod (Solidago bicolor) and joined MARSB in scouting viable populations of additional native, ecotype species including:
White flat-topped aster (Doellingeria umbellata)
New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
Hairy old field aster (S. pilosum)
Calico aster (S. lateriflorum)
Lanceleaf aster (S. lanceolatum)
Grass-leaved goldenrod (Euthamia graminifolia)
Wrinkle-leaf goldenrod (Solidago rugosa)
Pointed broom sedge (Carex scoparia)
Yellow-fruited fox sedge (Carex annectens)
The small range of species listed above illustrates the richness and abundance of biodiversity in our collective, natural, open spaces.
MARSB’s latest YouTube episode highlights some of the species above from our educational field day — located in Tompkins County, NY — in a tutorial designed to help practitioners utilize our Custom Taxa List building tool! This practical and easy-to-follow video is designed to support you in your restoration projects. Watch the tutorial HERE>>
Native Plant Material and Nursery Production
While attendees at the educational field day enjoyed a tour of Go Native! Perennials production greenhouses and fields, conversation took a natural turn toward the obvious challenge that native plant materials stakeholders face…a supply-chain which lacks assurance baked into its feedback cycles of supply and demand.
MARSB’s vision is to develop a centralized, comprehensive strategic framework within which a supply chain can be built.
We know what is at stake. Our water. Our meadows. Our forests. Our soil. Our communities. Our air.
This framework includes:
1) Prescriptive seed lists per ecoregion
2) Aggregated assessment of the demand
3) Effective communication links between the supply and demand sectors
4) Reliable and sufficient seed supplies
5) Adequate technical support for suppliers and end-users
The educational field day reminds us of the importance of dedicated native plant community members, businesses, and organizations — all working for what is at stake — as we continue to collaborate and strive for solutions.