Earlier this week, a wagon full of assorted plants in a hodge-podge of containers sat in Marshall Square Park near the corner of N. Matlack and E. Biddle. Next to the wagon, a sign read, “Free plants.” The wagon and its contents are part of a new community initiative dreamed up by the West Chester Green Team. They are calling it the Green Wagon Project. Always a fan of pay-it-forward initiatives, I reached out to Green Wagon organizer Anna Sechrist to see what this new initiative is all about.

HWC: How does it work? Will the wagon be manned or is this a help-yourself situation?

Anna: It is currently a help-yourself-but-please-practice-courtesy situation. We would like people to grab a plant that interests them or fits into their landscaping plans. We hope to have the wagon pop up at some local events in the coming weeks with a Green Team member providing further education.

HWC: What kinds of plants will people find?

Anna: Mostly native perennials and grasses. We have Green Team volunteers checking on it daily to make sure everything stays watered and restocking with more plants when necessary.

HWC: Is it true, people can also donate clippings or other plants they no longer need?  

Anna: Yes! In fact, we highly encourage this aspect of the project. It is not sustainable if people do not make donations. Think of it as a Little Free Library but for plants instead of books.

HWC: If you want to donate, how do you do that?

Anna: Gardeners who are fortunate to have a surplus of native flowers should split, pot, and label them first. It’s easiest if they follow the schedule (see below) and drop them off directly to the wagon.

What are you hoping to accomplish with this project?

Anna: The wagon is inspired by the Homegrown National Park movement co-founded by local gardening legend Doug Tallamy. We are hoping to educate people to choose native plants when developing their landscapes. Collectively, our landscaping choices can either support native ecosystems or fail to provide caterpillars, birds, and pollinators with proper food and shelter. Our yards can really make a difference!  

Sounds good to me. Thanks, Anna!

Want to include more native plants in your yard? Anna recommends Nativeplantfinder.nwf.org. “It’s is a great website that uses your zip code to find plants that support local wildlife.”

Looking for the Green Wagon? It will be at:

• Marshall Square Park: until June 1;
• Veteran’s Park: June 2 through June 8;
• Everhart Park: June 9 through June 15;
• John O’Green: June 16 through June 22;
• Hoopes Park: from June 23 – June 29

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Originally published on May 31, 2024

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