Mid-Atlantic Regional Seed Bank Online Marketplace, Amy Kousch, Outreach Liason

In this episode, we spotlight the Mid-Atlantic Regional Seed Bank (MARSB) and the critical role it plays in strengthening native plant supply chains, supporting regenerative land management, and protecting regional biodiversity. We explore how MARSB is working to better connect native plant material end users with commercial growers—and why this coordination is essential for successful restoration and conservation efforts.

Our guest, Amy Kousch, recently joined MARSB as Outreach Liaison and brings over a decade of experience in regenerative agriculture and native plant work. Her background spans hands-on fieldwork, laboratory research, nursery and farm management, teaching, grant writing, and collaboration with community partners. Amy holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Communications, a Master’s degree in Agricultural Extension Education, and is currently pursuing doctoral studies in plant and soil science. She is deeply committed to the health of the Northeast’s watersheds, plant communities, and broader ecology.

A major focus of this conversation is MARSB’s new Online Marketplace, an initiative designed to make native plant material needs more visible and accessible. Amy shares how MARSB is engaging end users through needs assessments and outreach, encouraging longer-term planning, and creating a platform where organizations, practitioners, and communities can post their native plant needs—helping growers plan ahead and increasing the availability of regionally appropriate native plants.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The mission and role of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Seed Bank
  
  
• Why native plant supply chains matter for restoration and regenerative projects
  
  
• The challenges end users face when sourcing native plant materials
  
  
• How needs assessments and long-term planning can strengthen regional resilience
  
  
• MARSB’s Online Marketplace and how it will connect end users with growers
• What this new system could mean for the future of native plant restoration in the Mid-Atlantic region
• Understanding how regenerative growing techniques can enhance how we care for our soil and our native plants

To learn more, check out Mid-Atlantic Regional Seed Bank's website:  https://www.marsb.org/

Read about the Six-Point Program to Develop a Native Plant Material Supply Chain Throughout the Mid-Atlantic:  https://www.marsb.org/marsb-six-point-program