On March 30, “Esther Bonney and Samantha Rutherford, founders of Nurture Natives, and Marlene Smith, founder and president of Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay Chapter, had the opportunity to volunteer at Bona Terra LLC, an all-native nursery in Friendship, MD, to support another native seedling giveaway! 
They learned about a variety of local ecotype species, explored the nursery’s beautiful hoop house, and picked up seedlings for Nurture Native’s seeding giveaway at Maryland Day on Saturday, April 27! 
” ~ Esther Bonney, Nurture Natives Founder and Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay Member (Photo credits – Esther Bonney)
As part of their Plant Grant initiative, Bona Terra supports community-led Satellite Giveaway Events. “Nurture Natives, who were the inaugural recipients in 2023, couldn’t be a better fit for our program! By volunteering at two of our giveaway events, they received all the knowledge and training necessary to pick up the mantle and host their own giveaway. In addition to training, they have also been granted plants and access to forms, information and other necessary materials.” ~ Jeremy Tidd, Bonna Terra LLC
(Left to Right) Esther Bonney, Samantha Rutherford, and Marlene Smith, with their seedlings for Nurture Native’s Maryland Day Seedling Giveaway on April 27. Join us at UMD, College Park from 10 AM-4 PM!
Nurture Natives is a youth-led non-profit organization dedicated to empowering youth through environmental initiatives that enhance native biodiversity. Nurture Natives has won three national grants, given away 550 native trees and 47,380 native seedlings through various giveaways, reached thousands across Maryland, and is distributing hundreds of self-published Nurture Natives Guides to nurseries across the East Coast. Nurture Natives is based in Southern Maryland and led by Esther Bonney, Samantha Rutherford, and Marlene Smith.
