Project Native Harvest
2026 Volunteer Seed Collection Series
Join Project Native Harvest starting this July
As NICHES staff and volunteers restore habitats and remove invasive plant species from our preserves, we can help reduce reinvasion and rebuild biodiversity by collecting locally sourced native seeds for habitat restoration.
For this year’s effort, we will be hosting seed collection workdays every Friday (1:00 pm -4:00 pm) between July 31st and October 23rd.
Please dress for the weather and wear sturdy footwear suitable for working outdoors. Since we'll be venturing off trail to collect native seeds, long pants and long sleeves are strongly recommended for protection from tall vegetation, insects, and poison ivy. We also recommend bringing sunscreen, insect repellent, work gloves, snacks, and plenty of water.
Note: Seasonal timing and seed availability can be hard to predict. Some workday locations and target species may change as we get a better idea of what is available and where volunteer support is most needed. Participants will be notified by email of any location changes immediately!
Volunteer Shift Schedule & Locations:
| Date | Location | Primary Target |
|---|---|---|
| 7/31 | Granville Sand Barrens | Early wild rye (Elymus Macgregorii) |
| 8/7 | Shawnee Bottoms | Silky wild rye (Elymus villosus) |
| 8/14 | Shawnee Bottoms | Beardtongue (Penstemon) |
| 8/21 | Granville Sand Barrens | Virginia wild rye (Elymus virginiana) |
| 8/28 | Granville Sand Barrens | Sand sedge (Carex muehlenbergii) |
| 9/4 | Frogs' Glory | Beak grass and wild rye (Diarrhena and Elymus) |
| 9/11 | Granville Sand Barrens | Flowering spurge (Euphorbia corollata) |
| 9/18 | Weiler Leopold | Beak grass (Diarrhena spp.) |
| 9/25 | Farris Estate | Prairie rose (Rosa carolina) |
| 10/2 | Farris Estate | Leadplant (Amorpha canescens) |
| 10/9 | Shawnee Bottoms | Woodreed (Cinna spp.) |
| 10/16 | Echo Valley | Purple false foxglove (Agalinis purpurea) |
| 10/23 | Granville Sand Barrens | Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepsis) |
