Growing Roots for the Future

Be part of the restoration and lend a hand at one of our native species planting days

If you visit Glen Tana early in the morning, you’ll see rows of young plants—chokecherry, aspen, woods’ rose, and more, soaking up the first bit of sunlight. Their leaves shimmer in the breeze, a quiet reminder that something good is growing here in the Inland Northwest.

Just over a year ago, this nursery space was only an idea. The Conservancy needed a place to grow native plants for restoration projects across the region. Today, the Glen Tana nursery can hold up to 4,000 plants and is already helping bring new life to lands that have been degraded or overtaken by invasive species.

Getting here took teamwork. The nursery’s irrigation system—six sprinklers on a timed schedule—keeps thousands of seedlings watered and healthy. It was built with the help of Brian Walker, a biologist from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service who volunteered his time and expertise. He even brought in a mini excavator to dig the trenches himself.

Then came the challenge of replacing old equipment. With volunteer season approaching, the Conservancy needed to raise $10,000. Clearwater Paper stepped forward with an offer to match every dollar—up to $20,000. Once again, the community rallied. Supporters across the Inland Northwest answered the call, and together we finished the nursery just in time for spring.

Since then, volunteers have come out week after week to pot native plants—getting their hands dirty and their boots muddy in the process. Every pot holds more than a plant; it creates the opportunity to restore healthy soils and riverbeds. Native species like chokecherry and woods’ rose protect the soil, prevent erosion, and create food and shelter for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife. When planted along streams and wetlands, they also help crowd out invasive reed canary grass, giving native ecosystems a fighting chance to recover.

By the end of October, we hope to have planted more than 4,000 native plants across several sites. But we can’t do it alone. This October, we’re inviting volunteers to help finish what we started.

Here’s where you can join in:

Saturday, October 18 – Native Species Planting at Glen Tana

Event details → https://inlandnwland.org/event/october-18-native-species-planting-at-glen-tana-natural-area/

Saturday, October 25 – Slavin Conservation Area Native Species Planting

Event details → https://inlandnwland.org/event/slavin-conservation-native-species-planting/

Thursday, October 31 – Planting Along Hangman Creek

Event details → https://inlandnwland.org/event/october-31-native-species-planting-along-hangman-creek/

Bring gloves, water, and curiosity. You’ll meet good people, learn about the land, and leave knowing you helped it heal.