{"id":12036,"date":"2022-11-15T15:12:10","date_gmt":"2022-11-15T15:12:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.cwf-fcf.org\/?p=12036"},"modified":"2022-12-19T18:40:13","modified_gmt":"2022-12-19T18:40:13","slug":"spreading-the-love-broadcast-seeding-to-rehabilitate-habitats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.cwf-fcf.org\/index.php\/en\/spreading-the-love-broadcast-seeding-to-rehabilitate-habitats\/","title":{"rendered":"Restoration in Action: Broadcast Seeding to Restore Pollinator Meadow Habitat"},"content":{"rendered":"

In my last blog post<\/a>, I talked about how fall is the best time to seed pollinator meadow habitat projects<\/a>.\u00a0 In this blog post, I want to introduce you to one of the methods for fall or spring seeding. This is broadcast seeding<\/strong>, or in general terms, just a way to distribute the seed on bare prepped soil. Hand broadcasting or using an ATV mounted seed broadcaster can also be used.<\/p>\n

On October 27, 2022, one of our fabulous Eastern Ontario rights-of-way<\/a> (ROW) project members, South Nation Conservation Authority (CA) seeded their Mill Run Conservation Area project.<\/p>\n

Planning a Project<\/h3>\n

The planning for this project started last year when South Nation Conservation Authority reached out to us to submit a proposal for this site. We worked with their team to give advice, help them plan the steps, provide seed and ultimately be there to cheer them on during the seeding step.<\/p>\n

We will also be there to help as the project develops over the next three years. We will help in the monitoring stage and to discuss any management actions that are needed (mowing, weed control, etc.).<\/p>\n

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Mill Run Conservation Area<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Prepping a Project<\/h3>\n

This project was prepped over the summer by removing existing vegetation and tilling the site to prepare for fall seeding.<\/p>\n

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Brent Harbers (South Nation CA) spreading some extra milkweed seed on-site<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Grid Pattern Seeding<\/h3>\n

The final site was seeded through a hand broadcast method. This requires your seeding team to walk a grid pattern while spreading seed. Folks create a line and spread apart just enough so seed doesn\u2019t overlap. Every two feet or so, a person throws the seed in front and to the side.<\/p>\n

The group continues this pattern as they walk a line in one direction. When they reach the end of the line, they team moves to walk a perpendicular line across the site. This makes sure that seed is distributed more or less evenly across the site. It\u2019s a good idea to measure out the seed quantity for each block, to make sure you don\u2019t run out of seed.<\/p>\n

You can see this approach in the following video.<\/p>\n