Multiple Days to Volunteer Available between April 10 - April 28.

New Hampshire State Forest Nursery Harvest 2023 The time is right, The time is near, To sort the trees, We hold so dear. Yes folks, it’s time to sign up for this year’s State Forest Nursery seedling harvest. Harvesting and sorting of seedlings begins next week: April 10th - April 28th at the NH State Forest Nursery at 405 Daniel Webster Highway in Boscawen, NH. Please read this in its entirety before signing up below.

The State Nursery collects local seed, grows, and sells the seedlings to the public, making it super affordable to plant trees and shrubs, many of them native. For over ten years volunteers have become crucial to the process. Once the seedlings are dug in the spring by the Nursery staff, volunteers help sort out and count the best ones for sale. It is a great way to learn some plant identification, gain comradery with like-minded people, and at the end of the day you get to take home some culled seedlings of your choice, which are very viable but maybe just not be perfect for sales.

Here are a few things you need to know

• The first two weeks we have set aside for 4 days for new volunteers only, and 6 days for experienced volunteers. If you are new, once you’ve worked your first day you are the considered experienced, so you can sign up for any additional spots that you’d like as an experienced volunteer. During those first two weeks, we will have lead volunteers to check you in and train anyone new to the process. The third week is for experienced volunteers only and you will check yourself in using the roster at the pick-up desk.

• Physical requirements: the ability to stand for most of your shift, so wearing comfortable shoes or boots is important. Dress in layers and be prepared to get dirty. There is a wood stove in the processing area but it can still get chilly inside depending on the weather.

• The shifts that will appear below in Sign Up, are from 8:45 to 4:00 (and include breaks). We encourage you to come for the full day, but we can make things work if you can’t do a full shift. Please contact me so that I can make the lead volunteer aware of the hours you can work. Or, if you find during the course of your full shift, that you can’t work the whole day, please let the lead volunteer know.

• Signing up for shifts serves as your commitment to the NH State Forest Nursery who depends on volunteers to make it all happen during their busiest time of year. If you are sick please cancel as we want to keep everyone healthy, otherwise if you sign up please show up! 😊 Thanks for understanding.

If you have any questions or comments please contact Sue Mayotte at theq387@gmail.com. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Sue Mayotte, Volunteer Coordinator NH State Forest Nursery Seedling Harvest & NRS 2017, NH Coverts 2018.