It is Time to Collect Acorns and Tree Seeds: Help Save the Planet!

A lovely, crisp, sunny, cool fall day is a wonderful time to spend a few hours working to save the planet. All it takes is a solid pair of sneakers or hiking boots and some comfy clothes and the will to get outside and collect acorns and tree seeds.

Each acorn collected will be planted by wildlife organizations to grow trees that will work to help to keep the earth near rivers from being lost to runoff water. New trees also help keep old forests move into the future with the growth of new seedlings.

There are many different reasons to collect acorns and tree seeds. Trees will help the environment in many different ways.

Food For Wildlife

Trees provide fruit, flowers, and nuts for birds and animals to feed on. Each new tree planted helps ensure that the creatures of the wild will be able to find food. America has lost much open land to over building. Thus some species of nature are gradually becoming extinct.

Growing new trees helps reforest America. The birds and the creatures who live in woodlands need our help. Plant a tree to nurture the wildlife in the area.

Trees Clean the Air

Each new tree planted helps to clean the air. As pollution increase it is crucial to get new trees planted to try to balance out the toxins in the air.

How to Find Tree Seeds and Acorns

An easy way to find tree seeds is to collect cones from pine trees. Just shake the cone and the seeds will fall out. Choose cones from area where there are a lot of pine trees, this ensures that the seeds will be fertile.

Acorns are usually seen all over the grassy areas in front of any area where trees are growing. They can be collected in the fall and then again in the spring.

How to Donate Seeds

Most states have a state nursery dedicated to growing new trees. Contact the state website for more information.

Give Out Seeds & Acorns on Your Own

Also, there are plenty of ways to donate seeds or acorns on your own. At any wedding, funeral, or other event like a birthday party put seeds or acorns in individual envelopes. Then put the envelopes in a big basket. Put a note on it that says "Take Seeds or Acorns and Plant Trees." Growing a tree is a wonderful way to memorialize someone or to celebrate a marriage or a birthday.

Also, in the spring months you could bring a basket of seeds or acorns to a school and ask a teacher to give them out to students to plant trees over the summer vacation.

Donate Seeds to Religious Groups, Organizations, or Thrift Stores

Churches, Synagogues, Mosques or other places of religion also might like to receive a donation of a basket of packets of seeds and acorns for their members to have to plant. Any group such as the Girl Scouts or sport teams might enjoy a donation of seeds and acorns so they can hold a tree planting day. Also, places like the stores of Habitat for Humanity or the Salvation Army may allow you to put a basket of seed packets on the counter for shoppers to take home to grow a tree.

Grow Trees to Honor Memory of Lives Lost on 9/11

Since we just had the sad anniversary of 9/11, now would be a good time to plant trees to honor those who lost their lives in the attack on America. Plant an acorn or a tree seed to let their spirit live on in nature.

Donate Acorns & Seeds to the State Nursery

If you live in the Potomac River area, or in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, get information about how to donate seeds and acorns you have collected HERE.

Ash trees are disappearing rapidly due to invasion by a pest that kills them. If you have Ash trees in your area collect the seeds and learn how to donate them HERE.

Sources:

http://www.nwf.org/News-and-Magazines/National-Wildlife/Gardening/Archives/2010/Collect-Native-Tree-Seeds.aspx

http://www.growingnative.org/

Personal experience collecting and donating acorns and tree seeds.