Collecting native seeds can connect people with the places they care about, from a suburban creek line to a broad national park. Acorns, walnuts, gum nuts,…
Posts
The Ethics of Collecting Seeds from Public Lands Responsibly
How to Recognise a Willow Oak by Its Narrow Willow-Like Leaves
The willow oak, Quercus phellos, earns its common name from leaves that bear an uncanny resemblance to those of a true willow, even though the two trees belong…
How Early-Successional Seeds Give Young Forests a Strong Start
A new forest rarely begins with towering trees. It starts with plants that can tolerate exposed soil, changing temperatures, strong sunlight and irregular…
How to Organise a High School Service-Learning Seed Project
A school seed project can turn a biology lesson into practical conservation. Students investigate local ecosystems, collect suitable native seeds, document…
Storing Acorns And Walnuts For Healthy Future Forests
Acorns and walnuts look sturdy, yet they can be surprisingly difficult to keep viable. Their living embryos contain substantial moisture, and they begin to…
Pignut Hickory Identification Through Its Smooth Oval Nuts
Pignut hickory (Carya glabra) is a deciduous hardwood of eastern and central North America. Its nuts are useful identification clues because they are usually…
Why collecting seeds from urban trees supports city canopy resilience
A city’s trees do far more than soften concrete streets. They shade homes, cool pavements, filter rainwater, provide habitat and hold soil in place when heavy…
Build a Hands-Free Seed-Sorting Belt for Field Collection
Collecting native seeds is easier when every acorn, nut, capsule or berry does not have to be carried in one hand. A simple sorting belt keeps containers close…
Native Trees And Cleaner Drinking Water In Australian Catchments
Healthy native forests are part of the infrastructure that protects drinking water. Before water reaches a treatment plant, it may travel through wooded…
Sharing Seed Collection Locations Safely With a Mobile App
Mobile apps make it easier for volunteers to record where they find acorns, walnuts and other native seeds. A shared map can help a conservation team plan…