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Previous Prairie Seed & Native Plant Events

2025 Prairie Seed Harvests


2024 Events:
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​Prairie Seed Harvest
Smokey Hill - Meet 0.25 miles north of 29156 Oak Ave. Moorhead, IA 51558
Monday, October 14

5:00-7:00pm
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Prairie Seed Harvest
Hitchcock Nature Center
​27792 Ski Hill Loop
Honey Creek, IA 51542
Sunday, October 13, 2024
​3:00-5:00pm
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Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center
4500 Sioux River Rd.
Sioux City, IA 51109
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
​5:30-7:00pm
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Prairie Seed Harvest 
Five Ridge Prairie State Preserve
Monday, September 30, 2024
5:30-7:00pm
Meet at the west entrance along Highway 12, north of Sioux City.

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Willow Lake Nature Center
2725 Easton Trail
Woodbine, IA 51579
Thursday, September 26, 2024
​5:30-7:30pm
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​Hitchcock Nature Center
27792 Ski Hill Loop
Honey Creek, IA 51542
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
​5:30-7:00pm
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Green Hill Wildlife Area
50501 221st St.
Council Bluffs, IA 51503
Tuesday, September 3, 2024
​6:00-7:30pm


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​Prairie Seed Harvest
Hitchcock Nature Center
The August 29 seed harvest at Hitchcock has been canceled due to the forecasted thunderstorms.

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Prairie Seed Harvest
Hitchcock Nature Center
27792 Ski Hill Loop
Honey Creek, IA 51542
Tuesday, August 13, 2024
6:30-8:00pm
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Native Seed Planting Program
Monday, January 15
5:00-7:oopm
Iowa Western, Council Bluffs

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Learn how to and help Golden Hills plant native prairie seed for our spring native plant sale!
Free event, but RSVP requested: email [email protected]
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2023 Events
2023 EventsCustom Seed Services Tour
Sunday, December 17
1:00-3:oopm
Panama, Iowa

Free educational tour of a native seed cleaning & processing facility.
Please RSVP to [email protected] by December 15
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Prairie Seed Harvest
Hitchcock Nature Center
27792 Ski Hill Loop, Honey Creek, IA 51542

Thursday, August 10
6:00pm-8:00pm
Meet at the Loess Hills Lodge. 
No experience required, but be prepared for a short hike on steep terrain.


Prairie Seed Harvest
Hitchcock Nature Center
27792 Ski Hill Loop, Honey Creek, IA 51542

Thursday, August 31
6:00pm-8:00pm
Meet at the Loess Hills Lodge. 
No experience required, but be prepared for a short hike on steep terrain.



Prairie Seed Harvest
Hitchcock Nature Center - Mt. Crescent

**This event has been canceled due to weather.**


​Prairie Seed Harvest
Murray Hill Scenic Overlook

1634 Co Rd F20, Little Sioux, IA 51545
Monday, September 11
6:00pm-8:00pm

No experience required, but be prepared for a short hike on steep terrain.



Prairie Seed Harvest
Loess Hills State Forest - Preparation Canyon Unit
Monday, September 18

5:30-7:30pm
Meet in the parking lot across from the barn on County Road E60, 0.5 miles east of Larpenteur Memorial Road; 7 miles southwest of Moorhead.
Click here for a Google map. 

No experience required, but be prepared for a short hike on steep terrain.



Prairie Seed Harvest
Waubonsie State Park
2585 Waubonsie Park Rd, Hamburg, IA 51640
Tuesday, September 19
5:30-7:30pm
Meet at the parking lot near the overlook. ​
No experience required, but be prepared for a short hike on steep terrain.


Prairie Seed Harvest

Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center

4500 Sioux River Rd, Sioux City, IA 51109
Monday, October 2
5:30-7:00pm
Meet at the parking lot near the overlook. ​
No experience required, but be prepared for a short hike on steep terrain.



Prairie Seed Harvest
Armstrong Farm (Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation property)
Pisgah, IA
Wednesday, Oct. 4th
5:00pm-7:00pm

​


 
Prairie Seed Harvest 
Five Ridge Prairie
Wednesday, Oct. 4th

5:00pm-7:00pm
Westfield, IA

Meet at the west entrance/parking lot on Highway 12.
No experience required, but be prepared for a short hike on steep terrain.




Prairie Seed Harvest
Green Hill Wildlife Management Area
Wednesday, Oct. 18th

5:00pm-7:00pm
​50501 221st St.
​Council Bluffs, IA 51503

No experience required, but be prepared for a short hike on steep terrain.


Prairie Seed Harvest
Hitchcock Nature Center

27792 Ski Hill Loop, Honey Creek, IA 51542
Monday, October 23
5:00pm-7:00pm
Meet at the Loess Hills Lodge.
No experience required, but be prepared for a short hike on steep terrain.



​Seed Harvest & Prairie Walk
**This event has been canceled due to low registration.**
Hitchcock Nature Center
Join Golden Hills, Pottawattamie Conservation, and Iowa Prairie Network in exploring remnant prairies on newly-accessible public land at Hitchcock. 




​Prairie Seed Processing Day
​& Farmer Meetup

at Mullein Hill Farm
Sunday, November 5th
1:00pm-4:00pm
2024 Hillside Avenue
Mondamin, IA 51557

Join us for a farm tour and prairie seed saving event. We will have seed saving demos and hands-on seed processing time. Food will also be provided. This is a community event for anyone interested in learning about seed saving. If you have prairie seeds to process feel free to bring them along. Everyone will get to leave with seeds. 
Sponsored by Mullein Hill Farm, Golden Hills RC&D, and Center for Rural Affairs.

2022 Events
Prairie Seed Harvest 
Friday, July 29, 2022
6:30-8:0opm
Hitchcock Nature Center - Meet outside the Lodge. 



Prairie Seed Harvest 
Monday, June 27, 2022
6:30-8:0opm
Hitchcock Nature Center - Meet outside the Lodge. 




Mini Seed School
Tuesday, January 18th 6-8pm and 
Tuesday,  February 8th 6-8pm
​at Iowa Western in Council Bluffs.




Prairie Seed Processing & Uses of Native Plants
Tuesday, November 30
​6:30-8:00pm
Iowa Western Community College 
Dodge Hall greenhouse
2700 College Road, Council Bluffs

Celebrate Giving Tuesday by volunteering to help process prairie seed harvested this fall. We'll also discuss some of the practical uses of native plants, such as fibers, dyes, & pollinator nests, and have books & resources about native plants.
Free and open to the public. No experience needed. No registration required.




Prairie Seed Harvest
Hitchcock Nature Center

27792 Ski Hill Loop
Honey Creek, IA 51542

Wednesday, September 1
​6:30-8:00pm
Meet at the Loess Hills Lodge.

​Event may be rescheduled if inclement weather. Check back on the day of the event. 



Prairie Seed Harvest
Old Town Conservation Area
3370 Lima Trail
Missouri Valley, IA 

Tuesday, September 14
5:30-7:30pm
Rain date of Wednesday, Sept. 15 if postponed due to weather. Check back here or the Facebook event on the day of the event. Email [email protected] with questions. 




Prairie Seed Harvest
Green Hill Wildlife Management Area
​
50501 221st St.
​Council Bluffs, IA 51503

Thursday, September 16
5:30-7:30pm
Event may be rescheduled if inclement weather. Check back here or on the Facebook event on the day of the event.



Prairie Seed Harvest
Hitchcock Nature Center

27792 Ski Hill Loop
Honey Creek, IA 51542

Friday, September 17
​5:30-7:30pm

Meet at the Loess Hills Lodge.
​Event may be rescheduled if inclement weather. Check back on the day of the event. 




Prairie Seed Harvest
Eli Slusher Wildlife Management Area

2826 Bluff Road
Hamburg, IA 51640

Saturday, September 25
12:30-2:30pm

Event may be rescheduled if inclement weather. Check back on the day of the event.

 

Prairie Seed Harvest
Waubonsie State Park

2585 Waubonsie Park Road
Hamburg, IA 51640

Saturday, September 25
3:00-5:00pm

Meet at the parking area near the overlook.
Event may be rescheduled if inclement weather. Check back on the day of the event. 


Prairie Seed Harvest
Hitchcock Nature Center

27792 Ski Hill Loop
Honey Creek, IA 51542

Monday, September 27
​5:30-7:30pm

Meet at the Loess Hills Lodge.
​Event may be rescheduled if inclement weather. Check back on the day of the event. 


Prairie Seed Harvest
Armstrong Farm 
with Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation

1775 124th Trl.
Pisgah, IA
 51564

Wednesday, September 29
5:30-7:30pm

Rain date for inclement weather is Sept. 30.
Parking available along the north side of 124th Trail. Look for signage. 



Prairie Seed Harvest
Vincent Bluff State Preserve

2200 Thallas Street
Council Bluffs, IA 51503

Friday, October 1
​5:30-7:30pm

​Event may be rescheduled if inclement weather. Check back on the day of the event. 



Prairie Seed Harvest
Folsom Point Preserve

50365 Brohard Ave.
Council Bluffs, IA 51503

Monday, October 4
5:00-7:00pm

​Event may be rescheduled if inclement weather. Check back on the day of the event. 



Loess Hills State Forest - Christensen Farm (Pisgah Unit)
204 Jaguar Ave.
Pisgah, IA
 51564

Thursday, October 7
5:00-7:00pm

Parking near the old farmstead off Jaguar Ave. just east of Pisgah.




Prairie Seed Harvest
Hitchcock Nature Center

27792 Ski Hill Loop
Honey Creek, IA 51542

Sunday, October 10
​5:00-7:00pm

Meet at the Loess Hills Lodge.
​Event may be rescheduled if inclement weather. Check back on the day of the event. 

Email [email protected] with questions. 


Prairie Seed Harvest
Murray Hill Scenic Overlook

1634 Easton Trail
Little Sioux, IA 51545

Monday, October 11
​5:00-7:00pm

​Event may be rescheduled if inclement weather. Check back on the day of the event. 


Prairie Seed Harvest
Sylvan Runkel State Preserve
with Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation

Meet at Loess Hills Prairie Seminar Campground – intersection of 178th St. and Oak Ave. near rural Castana.
Onawa, IA
Wednesday, October 13
5:00-7:00pm

Rain date for inclement weather is Oct 14.


Prairie Seed Harvest
Hitchcock Nature Center

27792 Ski Hill Loop
Honey Creek, IA 51542

Monday, October 18
​5:00-7:00pm

Meet at the Loess Hills Lodge.
​Event may be rescheduled if inclement weather. Check back on the day of the event. 


Prairie Seed Harvest
Loess Hills State Forest - Little Sioux Unit

1715 138th Trail
​Pisgah, IA 51564

Wednesday, October 20
5:00-7:00pm

Meet at the parking area at 1715 138th Trail. 


Prairie Seed Harvest
​Hitchcock Nature Center

27792 Ski Hill Loop
Honey Creek, IA 51542

Friday, October 29
​5:00-7:00pm

Meet at the Loess Hills Lodge.
​Event may be rescheduled if inclement weather. Check back on the day of the event. 


2021 Events

Pasque Flower Seed Harvest
Loess Hills State Forest - Pisgah Unit
Wednesday, May 12
6:30-8:00pm
204 Jaguar Ave.
Pisgah, IA 51564


Join Golden Hills at Loess Hills State Forest for the first Prairie Seed Harvest of 2021! Pasque flower, the earliest spring ephemeral wildflower to bloom, currently has ripe seed. All seed collected will be donated to Iowa DNR for their Loess Hills prairie restoration projects. 
​
Parking will be at the old farmstead on the east side of Pisgah just off Jaguar Ave. 

Dress for the weather. We will be hiking up a hill on uneven terrain. Insect repellent recommended. We will practice social distancing and remain outdoors for the duration of the event.

Free & open to the public. No registration required and 
​no experience necessary. 

Direct any questions to [email protected].
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2020 Events

Growing Native Plants

**This event has been rescheduled**
Monday, November 16
6:00-8:00pm
Online via Zoom.
Pre-registration required. $5 registration fee.
​
Native plant enthusiast and grower Cait Caughey will teach techniques and best practices for starting native prairie plants.

Class held in partnership with Golden Hills RC&D and Iowa Western Community College, with support from Gilchrist Foundation.

Class will take place via Zoom. Registered participants will receive the Zoom link before class.
Register here before Friday, November 13 at noon.


We will be planning more classes later this winter--stay tuned here and at Golden Hills' Facebook page.

Most of the seed we will plant is hand-harvested from local ecotype remnant prairies. Learn more about seed harvest here.
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Prairie Seed Processing Workshop

​Sunday, October 18, 2020
2:00-4:00pm
Mullein Hill Farm  
Mondamin, Iowa
Facebook event.
Photos.
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Prairie Seed Harvest - Folsom Point Preserve

Saturday, October 17
10:30am-noon
Facebook event.
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Prairie Seed Harvest - Hitchcock Nature Center

Friday, October 16
5:30-7:00pm
Facebook event.

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Prairie Seed Harvest - Waubonsie State Park

Thursday, October 15
5:30-7:00pm

Facebook event.
Photos.
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Prairie Seed Harvest - Old Town Conservation Area

Wednesday, October 14
6:00-7:30pm
Facebook event.
Photos.
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Prairie Seed Harvest - Loess Hills State Forest - Little Sioux Unit

Tuesday, October 6
6:00-8:00pm
Facebook event.
Photos.

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Prairie Seed Harvest - Monona County Complex

Monday, September 28
6:00-7:30pm
Facebook event.
Photos.
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Prairie Seed Harvest - Hitchcock Nature Center

​Friday, September 25
6:00-7:30pm
Facebook event. 
Photos.
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Prairie Seed Harvest - Hitchcock Nature Center

​Friday, September 18, 2020
6:00-7:30pm
Facebook event.
Photos.
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Native Plant Sale

Friday, June 12, 2020
4:30-6:30pm 
Outside Dodge Hall at Iowa Western Community College, Council Bluffs
​Photos.
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Growing Prairies - Online Class

Monday, May 18
7:00-8:30pm

Learn how to incorporate Iowa's native vegetation into your garden, yard or farm. This class will be held online through Zoom. Pre-registration is required. Native plant enthusiast and grower, Cait Caughey, will teach techniques and best practices for adding native plants into your home garden or yard. Jason Andersen, Wildlife Biologist with Pheasants Forever, will discuss how to convert lawns, pasture and crop fields into prairie. Each presenter will have a short presentation with ample time for Q&A. Please send your questions in advance to [email protected]. 
Pre-registration required. $5 class fee.
Facebook event.

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Growing Native Prairie Plants 
Monday, January 6 and Monday, January 27.
​6:00-8:00pm at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs.

Growing Native Plants
Sign up for one or two sessions. Pre-registration required. $5 per class.
Native plant enthusiast and grower Cait Caughey will teach techniques and best practices for starting native prairie plants. 

Facebook event.
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2019 Events

Prairie Seed Harvest - Waubonsie State Park
Tuesday, October 15 (rescheduled)
Hamburg, IA

6:00-7:30pm

Hitchcock Nature Center Prairie Seed Harvest
Honey Creek, IA
Friday, October 18
5:00-7:00pm

Loess Hills State Forest Prairie Seed Harvest
Moorhead, IA
Monday, October 14
3:00-7:00pm

Prairie Seed Harvest - Monona Complex
Monona County
Wednesday, October 9
5:30-7:00pm

Prairie Seed Harvest - Old Town Conservation Area
CANCELED due to wet weather
​Tuesday, October 1 (rescheduled)

6:00-7:30pm
​

Prairie Seed Harvest - Caddy Property
Thursday, September 26
6:00-7;30pm

Address

712 South Highway Street 
P.O. Box 189
​Oakland, IA 51560

Contact

Phone: 712-482-3029
General inquiries: [email protected]
Contact Us Page (Office hours & staff emails)
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Job Openings
    • Who We Are
    • Where We Work
    • What We Do >
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      • Arts and Culture
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      • Local Foods
      • Outdoor Recreation & Tourism
      • Land Stewardship
    • News
  • Events
  • Donate to Golden Hills