Recently, I had the incredible opportunity to tour Ernst Seeds — a name that comes up constantly in conversations about native plants, restoration, conservation, and ecological health in our local region. If you’re not familiar, Ernst is a family-run company based in Meadville, PA, that has grown into one of the largest native seed producers in the eastern United States. Visiting their fields and learning their process firsthand gave me a whole new appreciation for the work they do. And, honestly, it made me want to start buying all my native seeds for overwintering!
From Reclamation to Restoration: The Story of Ernst Seeds
Ernst Seeds began in the 1960s, stemming from research for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, a challenge Calvin Ernst indicated was “something PennDOT couldn’t get anyone else to do.”
But, as good businesses do, theirs evolved with time and vision. From their origins in crown vetch, to growing corn, this shifted in the 1980s to supplying seed mixes for surface mine reclamation in Pennsylvania – starting with native Panicum clandestinum (Deertongue) because of the low soil pH; in fact, Panicum clandestinum was Ernst Seeds first native seed crop.
In the 1990s, Ernst Seeds saw the diversity and resilience of native plants (and seeds), and shifted toward native seed offerings and building long-term ecological health.
Today, Ernst specializes in native and naturalized seeds for conservation, reclamation, restoration, and sustainable landscaping. Their mission is about more than seed — it’s about restoring ecosystems, protecting biodiversity, and giving communities the tools to heal the land.
Touring the Ernst Seeds Fields
It had rained the night before, so in my rain boots, we walked through the production and storage facilities at Ernst Seeds before taking a drive to see many of Ernst production fields. Walking through this process was nothing short of inspiring.
Picture acres upon acres of wildflowers and grasses swaying on a slightly cloudy Tuesday morning —
- Ironweed (Vernonia gigantea)
- Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium fistulosum)
- Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
- Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum)
These aren’t just fields of wildflowers, like I initially assumed as I drove by on my way to Ernst Seeds. And it would be a grave injustice to call them “crops;” these fields are living seed banks. The seeds from these plants carefully harvested to create the next generation, be that restoration projects across the region, or any of our backyards.
What makes it even more meaningful is that Ernst grows all over our region, with these production fields stretching from Mercer County (PA) to Erie County (PA), with a few just over the border in Ohio. That means when our Erie Drift Plains ecoregion plants Ernst seeds, we’re often planting genetics that are already adapted to our local soils, weather, and wildlife.
Native Plant Seed Saving
One of the most fascinating parts of the tour was learning how Ernst saves and processes seed. Unlike saving tomato or sunflower seeds from your backyard, native seed saving is a delicate and highly specialized process.
Every species has its own timing and method. Seeds must be harvested when they’re mature — but not a moment too late — to ensure viability. Once collected, they’re dried, cleaned, and separated. From there, they’re stored under carefully controlled conditions to preserve germination rates before being shipped out to customers as individual seeds, or as part of a native plant mix.
During the tour, I mused that seed collecting has to be really time dependent. I was thinking about trying to save our onion seeds a couple years ago. One day they weren’t ready…and by the next it had rained an we had lost a lot of the seeds before we were able to collect them.
Seeing this process up close made me realize just how much intention, patience, and expertise goes into every single seed that leaves Ernst’s facility. Greg Kedzierski, Ernst’s Plant Material Specialist, noted that some of their seeds like Skullcap (Scutellaria sp.) and smaller production areas are still harvested by hand.
How Ernst Seeds Helps Native Plants
Native plants aren’t just “nice to have” in our landscapes. They’re absolutely essential and hopefully becoming “trendy” according to Amanda Keller, Ernst Seeds Marketing and Communications Coordinator. These native plants provide food and habitat for pollinators, help manage stormwater, improve soil health, and strengthen entire ecosystems.
By producing and supplying these seeds at scale, Ernst makes it possible for local communities, restoration projects, and even backyard gardeners to make a difference. Whether it’s a large prairie restoration, a pollinator strip on a farm, a little square in your front yard, or a wildflower garden in a city park, Ernst is helping native plants return to the places they belong.
Bringing It Back to Wild Ones
As I walked the fields and listened to the Ernst team share their passion, I couldn’t help but think about the mission of our Erie Drift Plains Wild Ones chapter. We’re all working, in our own way, to bring native plants back to our yards, parks, and communities. Ernst is doing that on a larger scale, and their impact ripples into everything we’re trying to accomplish locally.
This tour left me feeling inspired and motivated to think bigger about how we can collaborate — from educational events to hands-on projects. I’m excited to share these ideas with our chapter and see where they take us.
A Native Seed of Inspiration
If you ever get the chance to see the work of Ernst Seeds up close, take it – whether through a tour, a purchase, or just using their seed finding tool to build the massive native garden you’ve been dreaming of. It’s a reminder that change starts small — sometimes with a single seed (or tackling a challenge in Calvin Ernst’s case) — but with care, persistence, and collaboration, it can grow into something much bigger. Just like a native seed.
For us, that means continuing to plant native, advocate for biodiversity, and partner with those who are making it possible. Consider joining us to grow this movement across our region!
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Thank you for reading—and for being part of a brighter, wilder future.