Edge of the Woods Native Plant Nursery was founded by Susan Tantsits and Louise Schaefer in August, 2003. The nursery has been certified as a Way Station for Monarchs by Monarchwatch.org, and also as a Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. Edge of the Woods is a certified Woman Owned business.
Founders
Louise Schaefer has a B.S. in biology from Lehigh University, is a PA Certified Horticulturist and has served on the Advisory Board for Penn State Cooperative Extension as well as on the board of Stonehedge Gardens, Tamaqua PA.
Susan Tantsits serves on the Floral Design and Greenhouse Management Occupational Advisory committee of Lehigh Career and Technical Institute and is an advisor to the Lehigh Gap Nature Center. She has a B.S. in Education from Bloomsburg University, and a B.S. in Horticulture from Temple University.
Memberships
- Hawk Mountain
- Lehigh Gap Nature Center
- Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Association
- Wild Ones
- Pennsylvania Native Plant Society
- Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture
Community Partnerships
The nursery is working with the Lehigh Gap Nature Center in replanting the Kittatinny Ridge with native plants. WIC is a non-profit conservation organization located in Slatington, PA, at the foot of the Kittatinny Ridge. Their mission is to preserve wildlife and habitat through conservation, education, and research for the benefit of the earth and all its inhabitants.
Our Invaluable and Indispensable Co-workers
Warren Birch
Warren is retired from the nursery industry, but just can’t stay home! Warren comes every week and pots our perennial plugs into containers, and also sows seed in flats for propagation.
Toni Casaceli
Toni joined us in 2005, helping with maintaining residential properties and in the nursery. She is able to answer any of your questions when you visit the nursery. Toni has B.S. in Horticulture from Temple University.
Plummer Dunkle
Plummer is retired from full time work, works part time at a local nursery as well as helping us one day a week. He and Warren are the dynamic duo who keep us on our toes. They pot plants so fast we can’t keep up with them!
Louise Freed
Louise has an Associates Degree in horticulture from Lehigh County Community College, and helps with our potting and growing operations. You’ll find her busy in the nursery when she is not helping customers.
Jeff Kline
Jeff is kept busy full time helping us with every aspect of the nursery. He assists with residential landscaping and is a true “Jack-of-all-trades”.
Lynn Altrichter
Lynn Altrichter is a lifelong gardening enthusiast with 20+ years of horticulture and landscaping experience. A Penn State Master Gardener, she loves nothing better than to help bring beautiful native gardens to life in your backyard.
Karen Byler
Karen received an Environmental Design Certification from Delaware Valley College and has
been working with native plants and environmental design since 2005. She likes to design with nature, elegance, seasons and the senses all incorporated, and especially enjoys designing with children in mind. You’ll see Karen most Saturdays in the nursery, and if you schedule an “In Nursery Consultation.”
Liz Stauffer
