Conservation is one of the major key functions that make up The Dawes Arboretum. This has been a historical convention that the Dawes Family has always upheld, and we are continuing that to this day. Seed collecting is one of the many ways we can protect and expand our grounds. This exercise is not only great for creating native habitats, but also for educational means. The Arboretum has been collecting seed in a large bulk amount for the last 4 years. From southern regions of the United States to right here on arboretum grounds, seed collection has allowed for over 26 acres of land to be restored. With this, we have had the opportunity to restore exhausted agriculture fields to habitats for wildlife.
Our Science and Conservation team sets a goal every year for the total dollar amount of seeds they would like to collect. In 2022, we collected $67,000 worth of native seed with a goal that year of $50,000. Surpassing that initial goal, we sought to make an even larger impact by expanding our goal. In 2023, our goal was to collect $75,000 worth of seed. We are thrilled to announce that we have collected more than $100,000 worth of native seed. This dollar amount is not a revenue that The Arboretum obtains or holds, but instead, the amount of money saved by collecting seeds, allowing us to expand our reach for the benefit of wildlife and to allow for ecosystems to thrive.
Collection days take place at The Arboretum as well as in southern regions of our native plants range. Due to the warming of our climate, we are able to collect species in their southern range which allows us to prepare for warmer temperatures. These plants can be established here in Newark, Ohio and are already accommodated to those warmer climates from their domestic regions.
Seed preservation does entail some steps to ensure growth while they are waiting to be planted. Staff, volunteers and corporate groups will start by collecting the seeds by hand. Then, they are dried in our drying facility until they are ready to process them through a seed chipper. This grinds up all seed material, knocks the seed heads and will allow seeds to be sifted. Seeds can be quite small, sometimes as small as a pepper flake! Their small size would result in a larger price tag if we were to purchase them directly. Finally, our Science & Conservation team will bag up the seeds and then store them in a cold environment. The cold environment maintains their viability so that they are able to be kept for a while.
You can also participate in seed collecting right in your own backyard! This conservation project is not limited to The Arboretum. You can collect seeds that are native to your land and aid in protecting plant diversity. To process the seeds, you can simply go to your local market and pick up a regular kitchen sifter. This will work just as efficiently when needing to grind up the seeds and process them. This practice is great for seed sharing and allowing native plants to thrive to generate a healthy natural ecosystem.
All seed material collected is used in full- no seeds are left behind! When our team begins to plan for the next year and decides on a site, a mix of the seeds will be decided for the restoration. We begin by preparing the site through tilling and spraying. Once it is time for the seeds to be planted, a prairie mix is created and planted in nursery like setting to help them thrive! The entire process of seed collecting would not have been possible without the help from our amazing volunteers. We are gifted with the opportunity to collect as much as we do because of the hard work our volunteers put forth. We are ecstatic to start goal setting for 2024 and to get outside to start collecting!