Jerry NissleyDoF Acorn Collection – Wrapup
The 2026 acorn collection season is now closed. Many thanks to all the volunteers who donated acorns and nuts; and a special thank you to those that monitored the bins and transported donations to the Warrenton cold storage facility.
DoF sent a nice thank you message to the chapter complimenting FMN’s contribution to the new process. Kendra Esparza-Harris, Forest Landowner Outreach Coordinator said in his message, “I would like to share my sincere gratitude for your partnership and with the Fairfax County Master Naturalist and Vienna Community Center in helping to establish and manage the various collection sites in Northern Virginia for the 2026 Acorn Collection Campaign. This year, DOF tested out a new collection process, in which your chapter was an instrumental part in allowing it to happen”. DoF employees Kinner Ingram, District Forester for Rappahannock and Jacqueline Laconi, Customer Care Specialist, provided resources.
Truck load of acorns from Mt Vernon – Photo FMN Jerry Nissley
As you recall FMN had five sites, Mt Vernon, Hidden Oaks Nature Center, Vienna Community Center, Walker Nature Center in Reston, and Fairfax City municipal center. These sites were conveniently spread around the FMN domain area so collection was fruitful. The cover photo shows storage trailers at Warrenton. Trailer on the right is for Black walnuts that do not need cold storage. Trailer in the center is the cold storage unit for all other nuts. Cold storage helps delay the acorns from sprouting until they can be transported to DoF tree farms. Trailer on the left is not currently in use.
As a way to measure success, bin stewards collected some statistics as follows:
Acorn collection bin set up at Mt. Vernon Gov Center – Photo FMN Jerry Nissley
The Mt Vernon government center bin collected approximately 90 pounds of acorns covering seven species – White oak, Shagbark hickory, Willow oak, Bur oak, Red oak, Chinese chestnut, and Pin oak.
Sarah Mayhew transported donations from multiple sites one day reporting a load of at least 40 pounds of different species. Two small bags containing chestnuts (3 lbs each), a small bag containing Bur Oak (3 lbs), a couple of small bags with Pin Oak (3 lbs), a big bag of white oak from Vienna (10 lbs), and two large bags of Red oak acorns that were probably 8 or 9 pounds each.
transporting a car full of acorns to Warrenton – photo courtesy of FMN Sarah Mayhew
Bill Hafker also transported donations from Hidden Oaks Nature Center. Combined estimates from Bill, Sarah, and Kristina Watts came in as follows – Chestnut Oak 40 lbs, Pin Oak 5, White Oak 110, Red Oak 10, and Black Oak 5.
Charles Colby was the primary transporter of acorns collected at Walker Nature Center. He reported finding some nice restaurants in Warrenton he and his wife enjoyed after transporting approximately 144 pounds of acorns broken out as follows:
Total for Location: (29 bags)
- Black Oak — 1 pound
- Cherry Bark Oak — 2 pounds
- Chestnut Oak — 66 pounds
- Pin Oak — 3 pounds
- Red Oak — 7 pounds
- Red Southern Oak – 1 pound
- Sawtooth Oak — 20 pounds
- Scarlett oak — 1 pound
- White Oak — 22 pounds
- Walnut — 11 pounds
- Unidentified — 10 pounds
- Total 144 pounds
Last but certainly not least, many thanks to Fairfax City Urban Forestry employee, Sophie Chapin, who managed the bins at Fairfax City municipal center and transported a large quantity of various acorns and nuts to Warrenton. We did not get estimations as to the totals but we know they collected a significant amount. She was very helpful unloading donations at the Warrenton site as well.
Jerry Nissley
