Missouri Native Stewardship Services

06/03/2026

This morning started with garage doors opening before sunrise, equipment checks, reviewing plans, loading trucks, coordinating logistics, and preparing for the day ahead. Then came the drive to the project site and the arrival of 140 trees destined for a solar screening project.

Every tree has a purpose. Every location is planned. Every piece of equipment is maintained and ready for the work ahead.

Stewardship isn't just planting trees.

It's education. It's preparation. It's teamwork. It's understanding soils, species selection, logistics, safety, and long-term ecological outcomes.

Watching our crew work through the morning reminded me how much expertise goes into projects like these. There are no shortcuts. Just dedicated people who care about doing things the right way.

We're proud of the work our team does every day—often before most people have started their morning.

Over the next few weeks, we'll be introducing some of the people behind the work and sharing what they enjoy most about being part of MO-Native.

06/01/2026

It's always rewarding to hear our team share the science and purpose behind the work they do every day. 🌱

When we asked one of our crew members, "Why do we add cover crops?" she didn't miss a beat.

Cover crops help increase biodiversity, improve water infiltration, build soil health, and reduce runoff. Their root systems work below the surface to stabilize soil, improve water absorption, and create better conditions for the plants that follow.

While this project is at a solar site, cover crops can be used in many different settings—from converting turfgrass and establishing native plantings to improving degraded soils and reducing erosion.

Stewardship isn't just about what you see above ground. Some of the most important work happens beneath your feet.

05/31/2026

Most people see solar panels.

We see the land beneath them.

Our crew is establishing a cover crop to protect and improve the soil while native vegetation becomes established. These plants help reduce erosion, improve water infiltration, build soil health, and create habitat for pollinators and wildlife.

With proper stewardship, solar sites can be more than energy-producing landscapes. They can support biodiversity, improve soil conditions, and help keep the land healthy for future generations.

This is one example of agrivoltaics—where renewable energy and ecological land management work together.

☀️ Renewable Energy
🌱 Healthy Soil
🦋 Pollinator Habitat
💧 Improved Water Infiltration

The future of energy and the future of the land can grow together.

05/15/2026

We’re proud to be one of the sponsors of this community event celebrating sustainability, native plants, pollinators, and environmental stewardship!

Pick up our • MO-Native stickers and • Stewardship coloring books for kids

The event will feature:
🌼 Native plant sales
🐝 Pollinator and bird-friendly gardening information
🦋 Kids activities & biodiversity walks
🌳 Conservation organizations and local vendors
🎤 Educational speakers throughout the day

Topics include:
• Pollinators and beneficial insects
• Bird-friendly backyards
• Green roofs and urban ecology
• Invasive plants in Missouri and how to stop their spread

We’re grateful to support events that connect people with nature and encourage stewardship in our communities.

This Saturday from 10-3 MOGreenFuture is excited to be at the Plant America Garden Expo! Check out all the fun at the link below! Vendors, Speakers, Food Trucks, Giveaways, Awesome kids activities! Come join us!
https://www.mogreenfuture.com/garden-expo-info-2026.html

05/14/2026

Milkweed isn’t just a plant—it’s the host plant monarch butterflies depend on to survive.

Female monarchs lay their eggs on milkweed, and once the caterpillars hatch, the leaves become their only food source.

Without milkweed, there are no monarchs.

Planting native milkweed helps support one of North America’s most recognized pollinators through every stage of its life cycle—from caterpillar to butterfly.

Even a single patch can make a difference. 🌿🦋
Want to learn how to support monarchs at home?
Visit Monarch Joint Venture for planting guides, migration information, and conservation resources.https://monarchjointventure.org/

05/11/2026

Always glad to spend time Branneky True Value Hardware- talking plants, landscapes, and stewardship with the community.

Branneky has been serving St. Louis since 1857, with five generations of family ownership and a deep understanding of what grows well here—and what doesn’t.

That kind of local knowledge matters.

The more we understand our soils, ecosystems, native plants, and regional conditions, the better choices we can make for our landscapes and the people who depend on them.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by with plant photos, questions, and ideas for their yards. We’re grateful to help people reconnect with the landscapes around them.

05/05/2026

Meet Hana! 🌿
One of our MNSS crew members bringing curiosity and care to every landscape we steward.

Hana holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Missouri S&T.
She has hands-on experience in prairie, woodland, and greenway restoration, with a focus on invasive species management and supporting native plant communities.🌳

Hana is passionate about ecological restoration and excited to continue building her skills while helping create resilient, native landscapes across Missouri.

Fun fact: She grew up swimming competitively and still feels most at home near the water.
Favorite native: Missouri Primrose (Oenothera macrocarpa) or Witch’s Butter (Tremella mesenterica)
🌿 When she’s not in the field, she’s exploring local parks, greenways, and natural areas.🌿

05/01/2026

This week is National Apprenticeship Week — a time to recognize the value of building a skilled workforce through hands-on training.

We’re proud to recognize our apprentices, Jared and Zack, who are putting in the work every day—learning the craft, building real-world skills, and growing toward journeyman-level expertise in ecological landscaping and stewardship.

This path isn’t easy. It takes consistency, curiosity, and a willingness to learn in the field.

Grateful to be part of their journey—and to partners like ApprenticeshipUSA for supporting programs that make this work possible.

04/26/2026

If you’re standing in front of blue false indigo in a remnant prairie, you’re not just looking at a flower—you’re looking at a living archive of Missouri’s ecological past, still doing its work.
Once, native prairie covered nearly one-third of Missouri. Today, less than 1% remains—scattered in small, resilient patches that have somehow endured. According to the Missouri Dept. of Conservation, these remnant prairies are among the rarest habitats in the world.🌸🌱
Species like blue false indigo (Baptisia australis) don’t just add beauty—they tell a story. Deep-rooted, long-lived, and supportive of pollinators, they are part of a complex system that has taken generations to establish and cannot simply be recreated.
This photo was taken at Calvary Cemetery—a place where, unexpectedly, fragments of that original landscape still persist. Quiet, steady, and full of life.
These spaces matter. They hold biodiversity, history, and a model for what healthy land can look like—if we choose to protect it.
To find out more about Missouri Prairies - visit the Missouri Prairie Foundation website.https://moprairie.org