Alameda Native History Project

Tag: 2025 acorn harvest

  • Acorn Harvest Build Day

    Join Us for the Acorn Harvest Build Days

    The Alameda Native History Project invites you to roll up your sleeves and be part of something historic.

    This September, we are coming together to build the specialized tools and equipment that will make the Second Annual Acorn Harvest possible. Whether you are new to our work or a returning volunteer, these Build Days are a chance to contribute directly to reopening Indigenous foodways in the Bay Area.

    Saturday, Sept. 6 : Prep Day (Starts at 10 a.m.)

    Our first Build Day is focused on preparing equipment for final assembly. Volunteers will be drilling, cutting, sanding, gluing, painting, and shaping metal mesh.

    Because of the sharp tools, spray paint, and detail work involved, this session is best for adults who feel comfortable and experienced with hands-on tasks such as drilling, cutting, or painting.

    If you have your own gloves, safety goggles, or respirator, please bring them. Space is limited, so Register for Sept. 6.

    Saturday, Sept. 13 : Main Build Day (10 a.m. – 1 p.m.)

    This is our big community gathering. Together, we will assemble the tools we will use to harvest and store acorns during the Second Annual Acorn Harvest. It is a clean and sober event, open to all, with jobs suited for every comfort level.

    Even though registration is free, you can choose to “pay what you want” to help cover equipment, rental fees, snacks, gloves, and other volunteer care. Register for Sept. 13

    Why It Matters

    Acorn foods sustained Indigenous people here for millennia, and harvesting them with care is both cultural practice and ecological stewardship. Our protocols are rooted in Traditional Ecological Knowledge: take only what the trees freely give, give back in return, and ensure all flourishing is mutual.

    This work is more than building buckets and tenders. It is about restoring an Indigenous food system that has not operated at scale in 300 years. California law recognizes the importance of protecting Native cultural practices, and the United Nations affirms Indigenous peoples’ rights to maintain their foodways and cultural traditions. Here in Alameda, the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe has voiced support for our work to restore acorn harvesting as a tangible tribal benefit.

    By joining us, you are helping to create equipment that will feed community, honor sovereignty, and keep Indigenous traditions alive.

    Learn More

  • Acorn Harvest Training : Reciprocity and the Honorable Harvest

    On Sundays, August 17 and August 31, the Alameda Native History Project will host Acorn Harvest Training, a hands-on, field-based workshop rooted in Indigenous tradition and ecological stewardship.

    Participants will learn to identify local oaks, distinguish between red and white oak by leaf shape, bark, and acorn characteristics, and understand the significance of mast years in acorn production. We will explore how acorns nourish entire ecosystems, not just people, and why respectful harvesting ensures that “all flourishing is mutual.”

    This training is grounded in the Honorable Harvest, a principle passed through generations:

    • Take only what is freely given.
    • Never take more than you need.
    • Give thanks, and give back.

    Our harvesting protocol reflects these values. We use low-impact wooden acorn tenders, tapping branches lightly. No climbing, pruning, or mechanical shakers. Only acorns released by gentle taps or natural fall are gathered, and our collective harvest is capped at less than 15 percent of the seasonal crop, well below ecologically safe limits. Viable acorns we do not keep are buried nearby, replenishing the seed bank and echoing the work of squirrels that help oak forests regenerate.

    These sessions are not about extraction. They are about building a respectful, living relationship with the land. The work is grounded in Traditional Ecological Knowledge and supported by the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, which recognizes the importance of restoring Indigenous foodways as a living practice of cultural sovereignty and environmental stewardship.

    People who signed up for the Indigenous Land Lab and the Acorn Harvest using our volunteer form received text messages with exclusive offers for free tickets. If you would like to join us on the harvest, and receive exclusive offers and special invitations such as private willow harvests and other events at the Indigenous Land Lab, sign up at https://nativehistoryproject.org/volunteer.

    Space is limited for each session to ensure a meaningful and safe learning environment.

    August 17 Acorn Harvest Training
    August 31 Acorn Harvest Training

  • 2025 Acorn Harvest Planning Begins

    We’re excited to invite prospective volunteers, land owners, land stewards, and community members to join our upcoming meeting discussing the 2025 Acorn Harvest!

    Share Your Insights, Shape Our Success

    Meeting Details:

    • Date: January 5th, 2025
    • Time: 10:00am – 11:30am
    • Platform: Google Meet

    Together, let’s:

    • Recap the accomplishments of the First Annual Acorn Harvest
    • Explore specific goals and thoughtful improvements for the 2025 Acorn Harvest – building on our strengths!
    • Outline our timeline, materials needs, and budget considerations
    • Discuss strategies for accessing vital resources and connections to local organizations

    Your Network Matters!

    Do you have personal or professional connections to local organizations that could support our mission? Share your links with us!

    Next Steps

    • Attend our meeting and contribute your ideas
    • Volunteer to help establish connections with local organizations
    • Mark your calendars for our follow-up meeting in two weeks (Jan 19) – same time!

    RSVP Now

    Please sign up for the meeting using this link:
    https://tinyurl.com/2025-Acorn-Harvest-Meetings

    Meeting details and link will be sent to your registered email upon RSVP – we look forward to collaborating with you!