CState volunteers helped Great Parks with seed harvesting

On Saturday, Sep. 25, Cincinnati State faculty, staff members, students (and family members like Rick Shumate, above, husband of faculty member Deb Shumate) participated in a seed harvesting event at the prairie fields near Shaker Trace Nursery in Harrison, Ohio.

The prairie fields are part of the Great Parks of Hamilton County, and a University of Cincinnati field studies area for programs in agriculture and archaeology.

The College volunteers harvested seeds from the native partridge pea plant (photo at right), an important species found in prairies.

Great Parks event facilitator Tim Osborne and Volunteer Coordinator Niki Marengo thanked Cincinnati State for helping out and said they welcome future collaborations with the College.

Milene Donlin, who coordinated this event for the Celebrating Community Committee, said the students who participated appreciated the ability to connect with nature and serve their community in a positive way.

The Celebrating Community Committee hopes to schedule additional outdoor community service events in 2022.

Below, CState volunteers take a break from seed harvesting.

Below, Patty Edwards collects seeds.

Below, a successful harvest produces a bucket of partridge pea plant seeds.

(Photos provided by Milene Donlin)