Help steward our region's native oak woodlands and learn about our local ecology by collecting acorns in the fall. Every year, volunteers collect nearly 10,000 acorns that are grown into seedlings by students as they learn about science and social studies. A year after the harvest, the seedlings are ready to be planted at reforestation sites throughout the region.
The acorn harvest is not currently active. Come back and join us in September 2025!
About this project
At the Sacramento Tree Foundation, we steward our urban forest from seed to slab. The annual acorn harvest celebrates the beginnings of the lifecycle of our native oaks. Acorns are harvested by volunteers, carefully sorted by interns, grown into seedlings by schoolchildren, planted at reforestation sites by volunteers, and stewarded by our staff. When trees reach the end of their lifespans, we salvage and sell their wood to further support education and programming around the lifecycle of the urban forest.
Acorn Harvester trainings are held in September for individuals and families looking for an opportunity to gain knowledge then participate by harvesting acorns independently or to lead their own group in the activity and work on their own schedule. Acorn Harvesters will learn how to harvest in a sustainable and ethical way and how to work under the organization’s harvesting permits.
How it works
- Sign up for the Acorn Harvester 2-part training in September 2025
- Collect native oak acorns around Sacramento County on your own time when the acorns are ripe, September-November
- Deliver acorns to Sac Tree’s office
If you have questions about this initiative or would like to get more deeply involved, please contact Pamela Sanchez, Community Education Manager, at acornharvest@sactree.org or (916) 974-4311.