Protect, Restore, Connect! Stearns Native Nursery is a sustainable urban nursery located on 16 acres in the heart of Parma, Ohio and focuses on the propagation of native wildflowers, shrubs, and trees. Our vision took a significant leap forward in 2022 with the addition of a 1.5 acre growing enclosure, a large hoop house, and a staging enclosure. With the necessary infrastructure in place to protect nursery stock from wildlife pressure, the exciting part began—propagation! Currently there are over 800 native trees installed in the growing exclosure, with more to come. Keystone species, such as oak, willow, and cherry, are strongly represented and other valuable native species are in the queue to diversify inventory. Stearns Native Nursery is also place of study, education, and engagement. It is part of a larger conservationrestoration initiative poised to facilitate growing awareness around the importance of restoring and conserving our planet for future generations. Given time and proper care, our trees will mature before being planted in local communities to restore the urban tree canopy, resulting in cleaner air, stormwater control, and cooler summer temperatures. While the saplings mature in the growing enclosure, native wildflower propagation is ramping up in the new hoop house. Our hoop house is filled with plants that support native bird and pollinator populations. People have begun to appreciate the importance of rebuilding native ecosystems and realize that yards can
be a source of this environmental change. Not only are native gardens appealing from a time, resource, and energy use standpoint, they also support a healthy and diverse ecosystem better able to withstand the effects of a changing climate. Stearns Native Nursery is managed by West Creek Conservancy in partnership with the City of Parma and supported by Cuyahoga County and the Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District. We are working with Parma’s 4-H club, the Homestead Hoofers, on the removal of the invasive phragmites from the property which in turn will increase biodiversity and habitat for native species. Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District is studying the effects of mycorrhizal fungi on soil structure and root health in urban soils in our growing enclosure. We are also supporting The Holden Arboretum as they create a local ecotype seed bank intended to reforest the lower Great Lakes region. For more information visit www.westcreek.org/support-us/tree-nursery.
5629 State Road Parma, Ohio 44134 (440) 884-9300 Learn More at: www.JesuitRetreatCenter.org
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