About the Plant Materials Center
The WACD Plant Materials Center, established in 1993, is owned and operated by the Washington Association of Conservation Districts. It is a 501 (c) 6 non-profit corporation. The mission of the WACD Plant Materials Center is to grow high quality conservation plants and provide customer service for the benefit of Natural Resources throughout the state of Washington, and beyond. Our 60-acre conservation-grade bareroot nursery, located in Skagit County, WA, produces more than 80 species of quality 1 and 2-year-old conservation grade seedlings and cuttings--over 1.5 million plants annually. Our plants are propagated from source-identified, wild-collected seeds and are utilized for conservation projects throughout the Northwest.
About the Conservation Districts
Conservation Districts are legal subdivisions of state government authorized by RCW 89.08 to develop and administer voluntary, non-regulatory programs for the wise use and conservation of natural resources in the state of Washington. Districts are governed by a board of locally elected and appointed supervisors who establish priorities and set policies working with their communities.
Conservation Districts are Washington’s only locally driven conservation delivery system that identifies natural resource problems, provides site specific technical and financial assistance, and builds success based on voluntary solutions.
Their locations in communities across the state allow each individual district to provide community support to private landowners and farmers, local governments, nongovernmental organizations and commercial businesses. The primary objective of alliances between WACD and these entity types is to support, guide and protect utilization of natural resources.
About the Washington Association of Conservation Districts
The Washington Association of Conservation Districts is a non-profit organization representing Washington’s 45 Conservation Districts. Their mission is to advance the purpose of Conservation Districts and their constituents by providing leadership, education, information and representation. Its roots go back to the 1940's. Specific goals of WACD are accomplished through legislative activities, capacity building and the work of numerous standing issue committees and task forces.
Meet Our PMC Staff
Jim Brown
Director of Nursery Operations
Jim has been with the PMC since 1997. He has a degree in Botany from the University of Idaho and previous work experience in horticulture and the US Forest Service as a Wilderness Ranger. Growing native plants for use in conservation projects has been a great opportunity. One of the be
Director of Nursery Operations
Jim has been with the PMC since 1997. He has a degree in Botany from the University of Idaho and previous work experience in horticulture and the US Forest Service as a Wilderness Ranger. Growing native plants for use in conservation projects has been a great opportunity. One of the best perks that comes with the job is working with a dedicated staff and a clientele devoted to conserving and restoring our great natural resources. He lives in Burlington with his wife Laurie, a black lab and 2 cats. They have a grown daughter that lives in Skagit Valley. Jim enjoys bicycling, hiking, cooking and photography. It is particularly rewarding for him to see plants from the PMC growing in conservation projects and he looks forward to helping others provide homes for more native plants.
John Knox
Nursery Manager
John Knox joined the team in 2018 as the Assistant Manager. His conservation background includes growing native grasses and forbs, monitoring vegetation in the sagesteppe, instructing veterans in organic agriculture, and serving in AmeriCorps positions with the US Fish & Wildlife service and St
Nursery Manager
John Knox joined the team in 2018 as the Assistant Manager. His conservation background includes growing native grasses and forbs, monitoring vegetation in the sagesteppe, instructing veterans in organic agriculture, and serving in AmeriCorps positions with the US Fish & Wildlife service and Student Conservation Association. He is a Marine Corps veteran, and he graduated from University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Outside of the PMC, he owns and operates Holy Basil Farm.
John is currently piloting a project with the Plant Materials Center involving a technique called the Missouri Gravel Bed (MGB). This has been found to extend the bare root plant planting season and would allow the Plant Materials Center to provide customers with plants year-round. More information can be found in our Publications page.
His photo was taken at La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
Lori McLaughlin
Financial, Accounting and Human Resources Administrator
Lori attended school at Eastern Washington University and received a degree in Business and Marketing. She and her husband have two sons. She enjoys hiking, traveling and photography. The best thing about her job is working with the people and the flexibility that allows her to spend time with her family.
Oscar Arias Garcia
Farm Operations Supervisor
Oscar started with the PMC November of 2022. He came here with a background in farming and has extensive knowledge of mechanics. His experience and skills are a perfect fit for the PMC. He maintains and repairs equipment that ranges from a 1950 Ferguson T 030 tractor to a later model Case 125 Maxxum. Oscar is
Farm Operations Supervisor
Oscar started with the PMC November of 2022. He came here with a background in farming and has extensive knowledge of mechanics. His experience and skills are a perfect fit for the PMC. He maintains and repairs equipment that ranges from a 1950 Ferguson T 030 tractor to a later model Case 125 Maxxum. Oscar is busy in spring, summer, and fall with many farm activities, such as, but not limited to, prepping the ground for seed beds, transplanting, and tractor work. Oscar runs the lifting crew during plant harvest in the winter and is responsible for bringing all the bareroot seedlings into our packing shed.
He and his wife Rosa have three grown children that reside in Skagit and Snohomish Counties. In his free time, he finds himself spending all his time working on his newly purchased house. He also enjoys spending time with his wife and cooking delicious meals. He’s excited to be with the Plant Materials Center.
Keegan Parish
Sales and Marketing Representative
Keegan graduated from Colorado State University with a B.A in Natural Resources Management and a concentration in environmental sustainability. While in school, she had course work and internship experience that sparked her interest in environmental conservation, sustainable agri
Sales and Marketing Representative
Keegan graduated from Colorado State University with a B.A in Natural Resources Management and a concentration in environmental sustainability. While in school, she had course work and internship experience that sparked her interest in environmental conservation, sustainable agriculture and renewable energies. She moved to Bellingham shortly after getting her degree where she became a Washington Conservation Corps crew member here in Skagit county. Field work included restoration and trail maintenance projects for local conservation agencies.
She enjoys exploring local hiking trails with her partner, reading her favorite novels, and doing yoga. On the side, she provides pet care services to families in Whatcom County.
Her background in natural resources has led her to land the perfect spot working for the Plant Materials Center. She is excited to be a part of a team who is passionate about helping the conservation community with their native plant needs!
Zinny Hansen
Assistant Nursery Manager
Zinny came to the PMC in 2025 as a Certified Professional Horticulturist with a passion for the environment. Growing up hiking in western Washington, the love for nature was instilled in her at a young age. After graduating from Western Washington University with an interdisciplinary d
Assistant Nursery Manager
Zinny came to the PMC in 2025 as a Certified Professional Horticulturist with a passion for the environment. Growing up hiking in western Washington, the love for nature was instilled in her at a young age. After graduating from Western Washington University with an interdisciplinary degree focusing on holistic healthcare, ethnobotany, and food systems, Zinny started working at local farms and nurseries and fell completely in love with plants. This led her to pursue an Environmental Horticulture degree from the Lake Washington Institute of Technology in 2022, and since then has been professionally growing ornamental, edible, and native plants. Working at the PMC is a dream come true for her.
When she’s not at the nursery you can find Zinny crafting or gardening at her house, hanging out with her cats, or backpacking in the mountains with her spouse.