About Us
Plants for places, wildlife, and people.
What We Do
Origin Native Plants is your source for high-quality native plants. Our plants are grown using seed collected ethically from sites throughout southern Ontario and Manitoulin Island.
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Founded in 2019, Origin Native Plants is a small nursery nestled within the agricultural lands of the Ignatius Jesuit Centre, a thriving community committed to organic agriculture, ecological restoration, and environmental education.
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Origin Native Plants was inspired by Grand Moraine Growers, a plant nursery in Alma, Ontario with 25 years of experience in exceeding the needs of their clients. Under the guidance of owners Paul Sheppard and Jim Dougan, we will continue to offer the same high-quality plants.
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At ONP, we collect our own seed and use solar power to run our water and light system.
Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris)
Wild Blue Flag (Iris versicolor)
Who We Are
Zack Harris
Alexzander Smith
Zack is a botanist, ecologist, and consulting arborist with 12 years of experience in ecological consulting around Canada. Zack's passion and knowledge as well as personal interest in growing native plants sparked his desire to start a nursery. He is dedicated to putting plants in the right place, whether it be a backyard pollinator garden or large-scale restoration project. Zack's vision is to apply his knowledge of Canadian native plants to bring to market lesser-known and under-appreciated species to every day people.
Alex has 20 years of experience in green building, design, and management, with a specialization in ecological restoration for the past 10 years. A Certified Ecosystem Restoration Practitioner, Alex's expertise includes fluvial geomorphology, glacial geology, ecosystem disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR), coastal processes, shoreline stabilization, and green engineering solutions. Their work spans watershed stabilization, fish and aquatic habitat creation, and the design and implementation of rainwater management systems.Raised as a carpenter and woodworker, Alex possesses a strong hands-on approach. This skillset proved invaluable in creating Origin Native Plants, transforming a bare field into a resilient nursery with solar-powered and semi-automated systems for water and energy use.
Driven by a concern for ecological diversity, Alex founded Origin Native Plants to restore local ecosystems. Origin focuses on climate-resilient species and fosters biodiversity through innovative green approaches, hands-on craftsmanship, and a commitment to ecological restoration.
Alex deeply values native plants, from identification to germination. With a hands-on approach, they ensure each species thrives. A lifelong learner, Alex constantly expands their knowledge to improve restoration practices and solve the intricate challenges this work presents. This dynamic and deeply rewarding process drives Alex's commitment to ecological restoration.
