About this Project
In fall 2018, we partnered with Pottawattamie County Conservation and Iowa Prairie Network on two events for native prairie seed harvest. We've expanded the program each year since then.
We are working with local partners to find volunteers for the project. Volunteers will visit local prairie remnants and learn how to identify which plants are available for seed collection. The hand-collected seed will then be used for local prairie restoration and reconstruction projects.
We are working with local partners to find volunteers for the project. Volunteers will visit local prairie remnants and learn how to identify which plants are available for seed collection. The hand-collected seed will then be used for local prairie restoration and reconstruction projects.
If you are interested in volunteering, fill out this form to receive updates.
Seed Harvest Summary for Volunteers
The list below includes a summary of some of the targeted species we are seeking in 2022. Pottawattamie Conservation staff helped make this list, which includes species with a Coefficient of Conservatism score of 4 or higher, and those documented at Hitchcock Nature Center. Click the image for the interactive spreadsheet, or download a pdf of it here.
View the full Loess Hills plants database here.
This includes all species documented through several inventories in the Loess Hills region, including native and non-native. It has information about where species grow, when they bloom, and much more.
Project Goals
We have several goals for harvesting prairie seed*:
- Provide local conservation agencies (county conservation boards, Iowa DNR, land trusts) with local ecotype prairie seed for their larger-scale prairie restoration and reconstruction projects.
- Make native seed mixes to package and distribute locally.
- Propagate native plants to sell for local gardens, yards and smaller-scale landscape projects.
- Establish seed plots to increase efficiency of seed production and harvest in future years.
- Create a seed bank to ensure long-term storage and viability of many diverse native species.
Fall 2022 Events
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Prairie Seed Harvest
Hitchcock Nature Center (meet outside the Lodge) 27792 Ski Hill Loop Honey Creek, IA 51542 Monday, September 12, 2022 6:00-7:30pm Email lance@goldenhillsrcd.org with questions. |
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Prairie Seed Harvest
Old Town Conservation Area Lima Trail, Missouri Valley **Rescheduled due to weather** New date: Monday, September 26 6:00-7:30pm Email lance@goldenhillsrcd.org with questions. |
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Prairie Seed Harvest
Five Ridge Prairie Preserve West entrance - Hwy 12, Akron, IA Wednesday, September 21, 2022 6:00-7:30pm Please RSVP to lance@goldenhillsrcd.org or call Victoria with Plymouth County Conservation at 712-947-4270. |
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Prairie Seed Harvest
Loess Hills State Forest - Pisgah Unit Christiansen Farm - 204 Jaguar Ave. Thursday, September 22, 2022 5:00-6:30pm Email lance@goldenhillsrcd.org with questions. |
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Prairie Seed Harvest
Hitchcock Nature Center (meet outside the Lodge) 27792 Ski Hill Loop Honey Creek, IA 51542 Tuesday, September 27, 2022 6:00-7:30pm Email lance@goldenhillsrcd.org with questions. |
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Prairie Seed Harvest
Co-hosted by Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation Armstrong Farm - Harrison County Wednesday, September 28, 2022 5:00-7:00pm Please RSVP here. |
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Prairie Seed Harvest - Murray Hill Scenic Overlook
1634 Easton Trl., Little Sioux, IA 51545 Monday, October 10, 2022 5:30-7:30pm Email lance@goldenhillsrcd.org with questions. |
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Prairie Seed Harvest
Hitchcock Nature Center (meet outside the Lodge) 27792 Ski Hill Loop Honey Creek, IA 51542 Tuesday, October 11, 2022 5:30-7:00pm Email lance@goldenhillsrcd.org with questions. |
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Prairie Seed Harvest - Dahm Farm
Co-hosted by Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation Thursday, October 13, 2022 4:30-6:30pm RSVP here. |
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Prairie Seed Harvest - Waubonsie State Park
2585 Waubonsie Park Rd, Hamburg, IA 51640 Meet at the Overlook parking lot. Saturday, October 15 1:00-2:30pm Email lance@goldenhillsrcd.org with questions. |
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Prairie Seed Harvest - Stone State Park
Co-hosted by Friends of Stone State Park Meet at the main park office. Tuesday, October 18, 2022 5:00-7:00pm Email lance@goldenhillsrcd.org with questions. |
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Prairie Seed Harvest - West Oak Forest
55877 195th St Pacific Junction, IA Thursday, October 20, 2022 5:00-6:30pm Email lance@goldenhillsrcd.org with questions. |
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Prairie Seed Harvest
Hitchcock Nature Center (meet outside the Lodge) 27792 Ski Hill Loop Honey Creek, IA 51542 Sunday, October 23, 2022 5:00-6:30pm Email lance@goldenhillsrcd.org with questions. |
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Previous Events
Events will be added below and on our Events Calendar.
Sign up to get email updates.
Volunteers can come to as many or as few as they can. If you are unable to attend the entire time, that is fine too. All are free and open to the public. All ages are welcome and no experience is necessary.
Sign up to get email updates.
Volunteers can come to as many or as few as they can. If you are unable to attend the entire time, that is fine too. All are free and open to the public. All ages are welcome and no experience is necessary.
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Friday, July 29, 2022
6:30-8:0opm Hitchcock Nature Center - Meet outside the Lodge. Email lance@goldenhillsrcd.org to RSVP. |
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Monday, June 27, 2022
6:30-8:0opm Hitchcock Nature Center - Meet outside the Lodge. Email lance@goldenhillsrcd.org with questions. |
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Mini Seed School
Tuesday, January 18th 6-8pm and Tuesday, February 8th 6-8pm at Iowa Western in Council Bluffs. |
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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. |
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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. Email lance@goldenhillsrcd.org with questions. |
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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 lance@goldenhillsrcd.org with questions. |
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Green Hill Wildlife Management Area
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. Email lance@goldenhillsrcd.org with questions. |
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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. Email lance@goldenhillsrcd.org with questions. |
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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. Email lance@goldenhillsrcd.org with questions. |
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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. Email lance@goldenhillsrcd.org with questions. |
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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. Email lance@goldenhillsrcd.org with questions. |
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Armstrong Farm
with Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation 1775 124th Trl. Pisgah, IA 51564 Wednesday, September 29 5:30-7:30pm RSVP here. Rain date for inclement weather is Sept. 30. Parking available along the north side of 124th Trail. Look for signage. Email lance@goldenhillsrcd.org with questions. |
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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. Email lance@goldenhillsrcd.org with questions. |
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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. Email lance@goldenhillsrcd.org with questions. |
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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. Email lance@goldenhillsrcd.org with questions. |
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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 lance@goldenhillsrcd.org with questions. |
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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. Email lance@goldenhillsrcd.org with questions. |
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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 RSVP here. Rain date for inclement weather is Oct 14. Email lance@goldenhillsrcd.org with questions. |
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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. Email lance@goldenhillsrcd.org with questions. |
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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. Email lance@goldenhillsrcd.org with questions. |
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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. Email lance@goldenhillsrcd.org with questions. |
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Previous Events
Native Plant & Seed Resources
Project Partners
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Funding Provided By
(Specialty Crop Block Grant Program)
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