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VDoF Acorn Collection 2026 – Part 2

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The VA Department of Forestry (VDoF) Acorn and Seed Collection Program was established to sustain the native tree population in Virginia by collecting native tree seeds, raising trees on farms, and reforesting areas that may have been destroyed by fire or disease. For 2026, Virginia Master Naturalists has again partnered with VDoF to collect various acorns and tree seeds. Please check-out VDoF’s sustainability program link for collection hints, a seed identification chart, and details of seed types being collected for 2026:

Acorn and Nut Sustainability Program : Virginia Department of Forestry

Collection period for 2026 is September 8 thru October 11.

Process Changes for 2026:

Each FMN collection site will have a manager. Please contact the listed manager with questions or to help administer the site (monitor bin or transport seeds).  Otherwise simply drop off acorns in appropriate containers as they are collected.

Notably, the Fairfax County Government Center (Herrity building) is NOT a drop spot for 2026. Due to this reduction in collection capacity we are asking FMN to please REDUCE the donation of Black Walnut nuts (drupes) this year. Because the Herrity Building is not available, our smaller bins and transport resources may be stressed by the volume created by walnut donations. This will be a test year for that. Please focus on donating acorns for any of the 15 types of oak and chestnut species listed on the VDoF site.

FMN Collection Bin Locations:

Fairfax City Composting Center – Sophia Chapin, Stewardship Coordinator 703.223.5054, Sophia.chapin@fairfax.gov

Hidden Oaks Nature Center – Kristina Watts – Kristina.watts@fairfaxcounty.gov

Mt Vernon District Governmental Center – Jerry Nissley – jerry14niss@gmail.com

Vienna Community Center – Maryam Dadkhah – Maryamdad@yahoo.com

Walker Nature Center – Charles Colby – Charles.L.colby@gmail.com

Collection bags will not be provided, so please use sturdy paper, cloth, or canvas bags.

VDoF Collection requirements:
1. Please DO NOT collect acorns or any seed in plastic bags. They will mildew and spoil.

2. Please separate different seed types into separate bags and include a leaf from the tree to help with positive identification.

3. Please label the bag with type of seed, collection date, collection site (zip code at least) and approximate weight.

4. Acorns need to be clean (no holes). Holes indicate that a grub has bored into the acorn. If an acorn floats on water, it is not viable and cannot be used by VDoF – please toss it.

Record FMN service Hours: S400: VDoF Acorn and Seed Collecting — (VDoF)

Jerry Nissley

VDoF Acorn and Seed Collection – 2026

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The VA Department of Forestry (VDoF) Acorn and Seed Collection Program was established to sustain the native tree population in Virginia by collecting native tree seeds, raising trees on farms, and reforesting areas that may have been destroyed by fire or disease. For 2026, Virginia Master Naturalists has again partnered with VDoF to collect various acorns and tree seeds. Please check-out VDoF’s sustainability program for an identification chart and seed types being collected for 2026:

Acorn and Nut Collection link : Virginia Department of Forestry

Process Changes for 2026:

Each FMN collection site will have an FMN manager. Please contact the manager (TBD) with questions or to help administer the site (monitor bin or transport seeds).  Otherwise simply drop off seeds in appropriate containers as they are collected.

Notably, the Fairfax County Government Center (Herrity building) is NOT a drop spot for 2026.

FMN Collection Bin Locations have not all been confirmed for 2026. Sites will be announced via a Listserv message very soon. The DoF link above indicates detail will be announced in early September. At the time of this article, FMN is waiting for final process details from DoF.

Collection requirements:
1. Please DO NOT collect acorns or any seed in plastic bags. They will mildew and spoil.
2. Please separate different seed types into separate bags and include a leaf from the tree to help with positive identification.
3. Please label the bag with type of seed, collection date, collection site (zip code at least) and approximate weight.

Record FMN Hours: S400: VDoF Acorn and Seed Collecting — (VDoF)

VDoF Acorn and Seed Collection – 2025

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The VA Department of Forestry (VDoF) Acorn and Seed Collection Program was established to sustain the native tree population in Virginia by collecting native acorns, raising trees on farms, and reforesting areas that may have been destroyed by fire or disease. This year VDoF has again partnered with Potomac Conservancy’s Tomorrow Tree’s Program, Fairfax Tree Stewards, and Virginia Master Naturalists to improve the quality of the collection. VDoF’s Community Forester for Fairfax, provided training to the above coalition, designed to help identify correct seed types and collection methods. Please check-out VDoF’s sustainability program for details and a chart of acorn types collected.

Mt Vernon collection Bin – photo Jerry Nissley

In an effort to expand collection sites, we are pleased that Supervisor Storck has offered space at the Mt. Vernon Government Center to host an Acorn Collection Bin. Mt. Vernon’s Potomac Corridor is rich with heritage oak trees in prime maturity that are producing quality seeds, so this bin is a welcome addition to the network.

A link to the complete list of collection locations and a signup sheet is shown at the bottom of the article.

VDoF seed collection season is approximately 1 Sep through 15 Oct.
Collection bags, sized for 5 or 10 lbs, are available on location in limited supply. Brown paper bags are also accepted in the Collection Bin.
Collection requirements:
1. Please DO NOT collect acorns in plastic bags. Acorns will mildew and spoil.
2. Please separate different acorn types into separate bags and include a leaf from the tree to help with positive identification.
3. Please label the bag with type of acorn, collection date, and collection site (zip code at least)

Links:

drop-off site locations: https://tomorrows-trees.org/find-a-dropoff/
Collection bin Locations:
  1. Fairfax City Composting Center – City Hall (open 1 Sep)
  2. Herrity VDoF office (open later in Sep)
  3. Hidden Oaks Nature Center (open Sep 1)
  4. Mt Vernon District Governmental Center (open Sep 1)
  5. Potomac Overlook Park (open Sep 1)
  6. Vienna Community Center (open Sep 1)
  7. Walker Nature Center (open by Sep 5)
  8. Winkler Botanical Preserve (open Sep 1)
Here is the sign-up link for volunteering at our sites (you can sign up as Bin monitor AND driver or just pick one for a given week until Oct 15th.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4CAEAA29A1FFC70-58162477-tomorrows

Tomorrow’s Trees: https://tomorrows-trees.org/

Acorn and Nut Collection : Virginia Department of Forestry

Projects | Fairfax Tree Stewards