EcoSource Native Seed & Restoration

EcoSource Native Seed & Restoration EcoSource collects, cleans, tests, stores and propagates genetically diverse native seeds for Sage-Steppe restoration in the Northern Great Basin.

Join us in our mission. With only 2 full time employees and our work is often in the field there may be times the office is closed for several days with limited hours during the week. Please call 541-573-7333 and leave us a message. we'll schedule a time to meet with all our partners and individuals interested in entrepreneurship opportunities with EcoSource Native Seed and Restoration.

Did You Know? The 20/80 Rule 🌿When our crews collect native seed, there's a limit — no more than 20% of what's available...
09/01/2026

Did You Know? The 20/80 Rule 🌿

When our crews collect native seed, there's a limit — no more than 20% of what's available on a site gets taken. The other 80% stays behind to keep that wild population healthy and sustaining itself.

It's not just about grabbing enough seed for restoration — it's about making sure the places we collect from can keep thriving too. Big, healthy populations get split into sections so no one area gets over-picked, and every collection is done with an eye on what the land can actually spare.

Restoration only works long-term if the wild places we're pulling from stay wild and strong.

One seed at a time.

Save this one if you didn't know the 20/80 rule existed!

Why We Collect 🌾Every seed our crews gather starts the same way — out in the field, hand-picking from wild-growing plant...
08/31/2026

Why We Collect 🌾

Every seed our crews gather starts the same way — out in the field, hand-picking from wild-growing plants that are already thriving in this exact landscape. That's not a small detail. Seeds collected right here in Harney County carry the genetics to survive here, which means restoration projects have a far better shot at actually taking root.

It matters more than people realize. Millions of acres across the West have been disturbed by wildfire, drought, and invasive species like cheatgrass — and native seed is one of the best tools we have to bring those landscapes back into balance. When enough native species get re-established side by side, they crowd out invasives and rebuild the kind of ecosystem that can hold up long-term.

It starts small. One seed, one bag, one trip out into the field at a time.

One seed at a time.

Some days it's sagebrush, some days it's grasses, some days it's whatever's ready before the season moves on. Doesn't ma...
08/29/2026

Some days it's sagebrush, some days it's grasses, some days it's whatever's ready before the season moves on. Doesn't matter what's on the list — someone's out there hand-picking it, one plant at a time.

Nature's not optional.

One seed at a time.

Staff Pick: Bitterroot 🌸This one's tough in every sense of the word. Bitterroot doesn't wait for good soil or easy condi...
08/27/2026

Staff Pick: Bitterroot 🌸

This one's tough in every sense of the word. Bitterroot doesn't wait for good soil or easy conditions — it pushes up through rock, gravel, and some of the driest, harshest ground around, and still manages to bloom like this.

It's a good reminder that beautiful things don't need perfect conditions to take root. Sometimes the roughest spots grow the most resilient life.

Save this one for your next high desert walk — bitterroot blooms are easy to miss if you're not looking down.

When a sagebrush isn't just a sagebrush. 🌾Not all native plants play the same role after a fire. Different species do di...
08/25/2026

When a sagebrush isn't just a sagebrush. 🌾

Not all native plants play the same role after a fire. Different species do different jobs — some hold soil in place, some come back fast to crowd out invasives, some are exactly what local wildlife and pollinators need to come back too. Picking the right ones (and the right genetics) is a big part of what makes restoration actually work.

Want to see it up close? We'll be at the Harney County Fair, September 8-12 at the Harney Fairgrounds with hands-on, interactive stuff to check out. Come find us and ask us anything — we love talking sagebrush.

Fire conditions have calmed down a bit, but that doesn't mean it's time to let our guard down. Nearly 9 out of 10 wildfi...
08/24/2026

Fire conditions have calmed down a bit, but that doesn't mean it's time to let our guard down. Nearly 9 out of 10 wildfires in this region are still human-caused — which means a lot of it comes down to how careful we are.

A few reminders as we move through the rest of fire season:
🔥 Check for burn bans before doing any outdoor burning
🔥 Make sure trailer chains aren't dragging
🔥 Pull over safely — don't park on dry grass
🔥 Report smoke or fire immediately

Conditions may be easing up, but staying diligent is what keeps it that way.

A Strong El Niño Is Coming — What Could It Mean for Oregon?Climatologists are watching a very strong El Niño forming for...
08/22/2026

A Strong El Niño Is Coming — What Could It Mean for Oregon?

Climatologists are watching a very strong El Niño forming for this winter, potentially one of the strongest on record. Normally, El Niño winters mean drier conditions here in the Pacific Northwest — but very strong events don't always follow that rule.

This time, it could bring much-needed rain to drought-stricken parts of Oregon, after a stretch of record-low snowpack and depleted reservoirs led to a statewide drought emergency. More moisture could mean better conditions for restoration work and lower wildfire risk heading into next year.

We'll be keeping an eye on how this winter shapes up, and what it means for restoration here in Harney County. 🌧️

Know someone who'd find this interesting? Send it their way.

Nearly 9 out of 10 wildfires are human-caused — which means most of them are preventable.With local fires more under con...
08/21/2026

Nearly 9 out of 10 wildfires are human-caused — which means most of them are preventable.

With local fires more under control, it's tempting to feel like the danger has passed. But conditions can change fast, and this is exactly the time to stay diligent, not relax. A dropped cigarette, an unattended campfire, or a spark from equipment can undo a lot of hard-won progress.

Help protect Harney County. Stay aware, follow local fire restrictions, and report smoke quickly if you see it. 🌲

08/20/2026

Ever wonder what happens to seed after it's collected? 🌱

Bill walked us through a piece of it while out harvesting antelope bitterbrush — from spotting the right seed to collecting it by hand. But the work doesn't stop in the field. Every bag gets weighed, dried, and weighed again, so we know exactly how much usable seed we actually ended up with.

Bill's the guy behind a lot of that precision — he's spent serious time refining our seed cleaning process, and the quality of what we're putting out has climbed because of it. More on that soon.

One seed at a time.

What part of the process surprises you most?

🦎 Wildlife Spotlight: Sagebrush LizardMeet one of the smaller residents of our sagebrush steppe! Sagebrush lizards are b...
08/18/2026

🦎 Wildlife Spotlight: Sagebrush Lizard

Meet one of the smaller residents of our sagebrush steppe! Sagebrush lizards are built for life in sunny, dry places, often found soaking up warmth on rocks tucked among the sagebrush.

Print this one out, grab your crayons, and bring this little guy to life — then send us a photo or tag us so we can see your work! 🎨

Address

Burns, OR
97720

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+15415737333

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when EcoSource Native Seed & Restoration posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to EcoSource Native Seed & Restoration:

Shortcuts

Share

Category