Native Tree and Acorn Collection Results – It Went NUTS.

The VA Department of Forestry (VDoF) Acorn and Seed Collection Program was established several years ago to help sustain the native tree population in Virginia by collecting native seeds and acorns, raising trees on VDoF farms, and reforesting areas that may have been destroyed by fire or disease. In 2025, VDoF again partnered with Potomac Conservancy’s Tomorrow Tree’s Program, Fairfax Tree Stewardsm and Virginia Master Naturalists to improve the quality of the collection.

In an effort to increase and distribute collection sites in and around Northern Virginia, Mindy Kania (Tommorow’s Trees program coordinator) and Jacob Zielinski (Community Forester for VDoF) developed a presentation that was hosted at Hidden Oaks Nature Center (HONC). It was well attended by VMN members of both the Fairfax and Arlington Region chapters, which resulted in an increase of collection sites for 2025 as shown below.

Whereas this article focuses on Northern Virginia chapters, I would be remiss not to mention that many other VMN chapters around the state contributed to the at large VDoF program as well. Twenty one FMN members contributed 163 hours this year.

FMN Kristina Watts (site manager at HONC) monitored their bin and commented that it seemed to be constantly full. “We had a lot of visitors asking about it, what the collection was for, how they could contribute, etc. So I think it was a good conversation starter about forest stewardship. We also had people calling to ask directions to find our site to drop off their bags, so it was a great way to get new people to find our park. Lots of benefits to this program!  I’m happy that Hidden Oaks could help.”

FMN Maryum Dadkhah is pictured with the Vienna Community Center bin she helped monitor.  This was a new bin for 2025 and reported collecting 884 pounds of acorns and seeds.

The recorded poundage astonishingly increased this year over 2024, which is a compliment to preparation by Mindy and Jacob and the many volunteers that monitored the bins and transported the collective bounty. Mindy mentioned that the unrecorded boxes and bags of seeds randomly dropped off  at the Fairfax County Government Center, significantly increased the total collected. VDoF did report the need to bring in additional containers to hold the increased volume delivered to the cold storage facility in Gainsville.

All that being said, Mindy and Jacob would like to Thank all the volunteers that steadfastly contributed to the measurable success of the 2025 VDoF Acorn and Seed collection activity this year – it was #Treemendous20th.

Collection bin Locations and recorded totals in pounds:
1. Fairfax City Composting Center – City Hall (1860)
2. Herrity VDoF office (unknown but ALOT)
3. Hidden Oaks Nature Center (938)
4. Mt Vernon District Governmental Center (295)
5. Potomac Overlook Park (786)
6. Vienna Community Center (884)
7. Walker Nature Center (1017)
8. Winkler Botanical Preserve (1111)
9. Private Individual Donations (2250+)

Sample list of tree species collected include – black walnut, chinkapin oak, white oak, red oak, willow oak, pin oak, chestnut, hickory, Shumard oak, and black oak.

Acknowledgements:

Cover Photo and Vienna Town photo – FMN Maryum Dadkhah

Mt Vernon bin – FMN Jerry Nissley