tending tomorrow’s transplants.

Stoneleigh potstickers volunteers

One seed at a time, these volunteers are growing plants to increase the biodiversity both at Stoneleigh and yards, gardens, and patio planters across the region.

It’s Wednesday and a group of five volunteers gather in Stoneleigh’s greenhouse around a table piled high: bags of potting soil, plastic plant pots of varying sizes, trowels and tweezers, seedlings in tiny pots, and glassine bags filled with seeds of various kinds. The conversation is lively as they work methodically, transferring the seedlings from their starter pots to larger containers—a process known as “up-potting”—and placing seeds in grow trays filled with soil.

These are the Stoneleigh Potstickers, a humorous name they gave themselves as most of their work is to stick seeds or small plants in pots. When the plants get bigger, they stick them in larger pots, repeating this process until the plants are large enough to install outdoors or be sold at the annual Stoneleigh Native Plant Sale.
Though the work might sound tedious and monotonous, the Potstickers look forward to their Wednesday gatherings, which occur year-round.

“In the colder months, we spend time cleaning seeds,” explains Lin Hall, who proudly notes she was the original Potsticker. Stoneleigh’s Director, Ethan Kauffman, wild-collects seed from Natural Lands’ preserves and other places. The volunteers take apart the dried seed heads, separating the seeds from the chaff, sometimes using tweezers and magnifying lenses.
Like the other Potstickers, Lin fell in love with Stoneleigh after a visit some years ago. Her first volunteer role was as a Stoneleigh Ambassador, greeting guests when they arrive and helping orient them to the garden.

“I’m big on education,” Lin shared. “As an Ambassador, I get to talk to people about the importance of native plants. But what better way to experience the beauty and benefit of natives than to grow some in your own yard? So many of the plants we pot up and care for are sold at the Plant Sale, which brings me great joy. I have some physical limitations, but as a Potsticker I can still get my hands in the dirt.”

Fellow volunteer Martha Van Artsdalen agreed. A former writer and garden columnist, Martha loves that she can brush up on her Latin species names as she works. “We get to keep learning—from each other and the Stoneleigh staff. It’s such a positive experience.”

Martha particularly enjoys opening the brown paper lunch bags that Ethan uses to collect the wild-collected seed heads. “Cleaning the seeds is hard work but opening those bags with all those different species… it’s like Christmas morning!”

This tightknit group of volunteers used the old Stoneleigh greenhouse as their workspace for several years, which was cramped quarters. “You get to know each other well when you work in such a small space together,” Lin shared. “We have such camaraderie and regularly get together socially outside of our volunteer work.”

Built in 1935, Stoneleigh’s estate greenhouse was originally designed for vegetables and houseplants. Though this building served the garden well, Stoneleigh’s ongoing evolution as a public garden requires new infrastructure.

In late 2024, the old greenhouse was demolished to make way for a new one that will improve energy efficiency, increase production capacity, and host new programs.

The greenhouse is slated to be completed later this summer, and the Potstickers can’t wait to ramp up their work. Thanks in part to the Potstickers, the Plant Sale offerings have really grown over the years; in 2025, there were more than 280 different varieties for sale.

Said Lin, “Stoneleigh has given so much to me and others who visit. Volunteering is my way of giving back. These little seedlings are my babies. It’s rewarding to see them grow. As a Stoneleigh volunteer, I’ve grown, too.”

While this volunteer opportunity is at capacity, Stoneleigh welcomes new volunteers every Tuesday and Thursday, beginning at 8:30 AM. Garden tasks include weeding, mulching, planting, and other seasonal projects. No experience necessary. Visit natlands.org/gardenhelp to learn more and register.