Join us for a unique opportunity to harvest native prairie seed from Moraine Kettles Preserve, an Ice Age Trail Alliance-owned property along the Verona Segment in Dane County.

Walk through flowing grasses—big blue stem—and exuberant stands of wildflowers, picking seed from pale purple cone flower, culver’s root, wild bergamot, and more! Alliance staff and expert volunteers will be on hand to guide you through the process, ensuring you know what and where to pick. (The Alliance will also provide clippers for snipping seed heads and collection buckets or bags.)

This fun, easy, casual event allows volunteers of all ages and abilities to participate in an essential aspect of habitat restoration—seed collection.

Later, the collected seed is cleaned at the Alliance’s “Seed Shed” before it is spread, in late winter, across other Alliance-owned preserves to increase plant diversity for struggling pollinators.

Come any time between 9:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. (open-house-style) to help with this crucial habitat improvement task. Light refreshments available, too!

Event Details: 

• Where: Moraine Kettles Preserve, Cross Plains Segment, Dane County
• When: Sunday, September 29, 2024
• Time: Open-house-style, 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• Parking: Near 1193 Wild Willow Way, Verona, WI 53593 (Roadside parking) View Map.
• Terrain: Expect fairly level, but somewhat uneven footing.

What to Bring:

• Gardening gloves
• Close-toed shoes
• Sun hat/sunscreen
• Bug spray
• Long pants, long-sleeve shirt (we will be in tall grass)
• Personal drinking water and container
• Raingear – we will work in light rain, please check the forecast