FOBW & Sparrowhawk Spring Native Plant Sale Partners with Green Leaders

No doubt climate change and habitat loss are the crisis of our age, but would it give you relief to know there is action you can take in your own backyard to remedy these trends?

You can create a native habitat in your garden. One that uses less water and chemicals, is ecologically sustainable and attracts native insects, birds and mammals. When you plant native plants in your garden, you are supporting native insects who have co-evolved with native plants over centuries. These native insects and pollinators in turn provide food for native birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals. In short, you would be creating a local healthy ecosystem pocket, in support and solidarity with the magnificent wild places remaining for wildlife to thrive across our state of Oregon.

The Friends of Baltimore Woods and Sparrowhawk Spring Native Plant Sale is a perfect opportunity to begin learning about native plants, get ideas for what to plant and where to plant them in your garden. Beginning February 5, you’ll find some of this information on the Sparrowhawk website as you browse the 115 species offered for sale this 2026 season. The natives are organized by the wet, dry, shady, or sunny conditions you might find in your yard. They will be available for on-line purchase via the Sparrowhawk website the entire month of March, from 9 am on Sunday March 1 to midnight on Sunday March 29, 2026. Pick up days this year are Friday April 24 and Saturday April 25 at the St Johns Farmers Market site on the corner of North Charleston and North Central in St Johns, the same location as last year.

Green Leader Partners

Additionally, for the first time, FOBW is teaming up with the Green Leaders of the Bird Alliance of Oregon for this spring sale. The High School members of the Green Leaders will be assisting with managing the sale and a portion of our FOBW profits will be donated to them.

The Green Leaders Program was created and established by the Bird Alliance of Oregon (Portland Audubon) in 2021. It was designed for BIPOC youth ages 15 to 20 from the Hacienda Community Development Corporation (CDC) to learn about environmental sciences, conservation careers, leadership and Pacific Northwest nature. The Hacienda CDC Program is a non-profit for the Latino community focused on advancing social and economic mobility, small business assistance and youth services support.  The Green Leader participants are paid $300 a week to participate in the after school sessions and can earn about $4,000 in summer months as outdoor education leaders for Bird Alliance of Oregon Summer Day Camps.

Sparrowhawk Native Plants is committed to partnering with community organizations that support racial equality, habitat conservation and environmental justice. The Green Leaders Program is a perfect fit for this mission, especially because the Friends of Baltimore Woods previously established a working partnership with the Green Leaders in 2021. The Green Leader students have participated in yearly planting parties in the Baltimore Woods landscapes ever since.

Volunteers

As always FOBW relies on many volunteers to help run the sale. If you’re a returning volunteer, or want to help for the first time this year, fill out this form on SignUp Genius. 30 volunteer shifts are available. Volunteers are needed for one shift during the three days of the sale; April 23, 24 and 25. On Thursday April 23, all the plants will be delivered from the nurseries. We will need volunteers to help unload and organize all the plants and collapsable wagons and set up canopies at the St Johns Farmers Market site that day. On Friday April 24, and Saturday April 25 volunteer jobs will include keeping plants watered, greeting and assisting customers, etc.  All job responsibilities will be explained in detail on the sign-up platform. Volunteers will be able to pick up their pre-ordered plants on the days they work.

Nature Art Booth

When you come to pick up your plant orders on April 24 and 25, the Nature Art Booth will also be on site after its successful debut at last year’s sale. Hand crafted wooden bowls, nature inspired postcards and a children’s book about peregrine falcons will be available for purchase. We hope to see you then and we sure appreciate your support for the habitat restoration mission of Baltimore Woods, Sparrowhawk Native Plants and the Green Leaders Program.