Something shifted this fall…
You could feel it the moment over one hundred people poured into the San Lorenzo Library for our Acorn Processing Workshop on November 15. Fifty kids arrived on charter buses. Families crowded around the tables. People who had never cracked an acorn in their lives were suddenly shoulder to shoulder, fully invested, asking questions, grinding, sorting, and trying everything for themselves.
Last year our best attended events averaged about twelve people. So watching that level of interest unfold in real time was a moment. It was controlled chaos, but it was the best kind. The kind that tells you the work you are doing is needed, and that the community is ready for more.
We are especially grateful to our Alameda County Library partners and to the participants who stepped up to help manage the tidal wave of kids. Without that teamwork, the workshop would have looked very different. Instead, it became our largest and most successful event to date.
The 2025 Harvest: A Tough Year for Oaks
This was a low yield year for oak trees. Wildlife was competing hard for the few acorns that were out there, and most of the time we found ourselves coming in right after the animals had already done the rounds. Every harvest this season required patience, attention, and fast communication.
That is why our partners made all the difference. Their careful observations, timely updates, and willingness to keep checking trees meant we harvested what we did. It may not have been a huge year, but it was enough. And it reminded us that community monitoring is just as important as community processing.
We also want to acknowledge our newest partners for stepping up with generosity and collaboration: John Muir Land Trust, Alameda County Library, Hidden Villa, and Copal Calli. And none of this happens without the APC Farm2Market and the Alameda Recreation and Park Department. They have been with us from the start.
Community Acorns Wanted
Even with the harvest winding down, there is still room for community participation. If you have acorns to share, we can turn them into acorn flour for our educational programs and culinary sessions.
We are looking for:
- Ripe, brown acorns
- Whole, shells on
- No holes or cracks
- No mold
- No caps
If you think you have a good batch, send a photo to acorns@nativehistoryproject.org along with a good pick up or drop off time. We respond quickly.
Building the Acorn Leaching Machine
If you received our fundraising letter, you already know: we’re facing the existential problems of colonization by sciencing the **** out of our TEK application for acorn leaching by making a “mechanical river”. A closed loop, self-contained acorn leaching system that functions like the river we would traditionally use to leach acorns. It is a practical, hands-on way to protect Indigenous foodways, support large-scale workshops, and teach people the full cycle of acorn processing.
The finished Acorn Leaching Machine will be shown at schools and libraries to teach kids about what it means to use science + imagination to solve the problems we face.
And yes, you can literally leave your name on this project. People who donate seventy-five dollars or more are eligible to have their name engraved on the side of the machine. It is one of the first of its kind in the region, and we want the people who helped make it possible to be recognized.
Upcoming Events
Acorn Granary Sealing Workshop
Wednesday, December 3, 1:30 to 4:30 pm
San Lorenzo Library
Acorn Granary Sealing (Centerville)
Saturday, December 13, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Centerville Library, Fremont
Acorn Processing Workshop (Centerville)
Wednesday, December 17, 4:00 to 6:00 pm
Centerville Library, Fremont
Newsletter subscribers and volunteers will get advance notice for all future events, including our upcoming adults-only acorn processing session.
Looking Ahead
The excitement around acorns is not slowing down. In 2026 we are expanding even more. We are bringing the Acorn Processing Workshop and the ACORNS! Culinary Series back to Alameda, and we are also taking the show on the road to other parts of the Bay Area. The interest, the turnout, and the energy we have seen this year make it clear that this work matters to people. So we are scaling up responsibly to meet that demand.
A Community Effort
Everything we do is powered by community support. People volunteer. People donate tools. People hand us acorns from their own backyards. People show up with their kids. People learn. People teach each other. That is what keeps this project alive.
This year proved that Indigenous foodways can ignite genuine public interest and participation. And the best part is that we are only getting started.
If you want to help, there is a place for you.
If you want to learn, there is space for you.
If you want to support the work, there are three real ways to do that.
Volunteer: Help facilitate events, guide participants, or offer expertise.
In-kind support: Tools, equipment, and services help us run programs year round.
Donate: Support Indigenous foodways, education, and our GIS lab through our fiscal sponsor, the Hack Foundation.
And if all you want to do is follow along and watch the growth unfold, that is fine too.
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