C.H. Booth Library will host “Winter Sowing of Native Plants” on Monday, January 9, at 6 pm. The program will be in the lower meeting room of the library, 25 Main Street.

There is no charge, but registration is requested and can be done through chboothlibrary.org or 203-426-4533.

Winter sowing is a method of planting seeds outdoors in an enclosed container with drainage during winter months for germination in spring. It is a very inexpensive and environmentally friendly way to grow native plants.

The outdoor container method is perfect because it eliminates the need for “hardening off,” or the gradual introduction of seedlings to outdoor conditions. Also, many native seeds require the cold for stratification, which breaks down the seed shell, allowing germination to begin.

Growing plants can be very rewarding. For one thing, gardeners do not have to search for plants that are not always easy to find at local garden centers.

Chlöe Bowers, a member of Gardeners of Newtown, will be teaching the winter sowing method in cooperation with Lisa Shirk, a member of Protect Our Pollinators. Bowers has worked as a gardener and landscape designer for over 20 years with a focus on Northeastern native plants and vegetable gardening.

The focus of the presentation will be on growing native plants. Native plants are important for their ability to support wildlife, especially pollinators and plant-eating insects (herbivores) that in turn provide protein-rich food for a large percentage of wildlife species.

Insects are extremely important to the health of all ecosystems upon which humans depend. In addition to their role in supporting wildlife, native plants are adapted to local soils and climate so they require less water and care once established, without synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

Protect Our Pollinators (POP) is proud to be co-sponsoring the Winter Seed Sowing event. POP is a Newtown-based nonprofit organization in its seventh year, dedicating itself to providing public education for conservation of pollinators, birds, other wildlife species and their habitats.

Those planning to participate in the January 9 workshop will need to provide their own clean plastic gallon milk or water jug, and gardening gloves if they prefer to work with them.

Seeds, soil, and other materials will be provided. Each participant will take home a jug full of natives for spring germination.

For more information about the workshop, contact Lisa Shirk at 803-370-8535.