8/19/21 - You can pick pine cones to earn money, help DNR reforest Michigan

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is offering a novel way for people to make a little extra cash in the month of September.

LANSING, MICH. -- (MLive) - From Sept. 1-30, people can pick fresh pine cones from red pine trees and drop them off by appointment at six DNR locations across the Upper and Northern Lower Peninsulas.

A bushel of red pine cones will net $75 and help the DNR plant trees in state forests, a DNR release said.

First, register in the DNR’s online system in order to get paid for your pine cone pickings. Details here

Make sure you’re picking the right species. Red pines have craggy, reddish bark and 4- to 6-inch needles that grow in pairs. Scotch and Austrian pine cones will not be accepted. More helpful ID info can be found here

Cones should be picked off the tree; fallen cones on the ground are likely to be too old or wet. No twigs, needles or debris will be accepted.

Cone scales should be closed, with a little bit of green or purple tint – all brown and open, and they’re too far gone.

Store pine cones in a cool, dry place in mesh bags. “Onion bags,” which are great for this purpose, will be provided by the DNR at drop-off locations. Don’t use burlap or plastic bags, which can hold moisture and ruin the cones.

Tag bags on the inside and outside with your name, county where you picked, and if the cones are natural or from a plantation.

Drop off cones by appointment at the following DNR Customer Service Centers or Wyman State Forest Nursery in Manistique: Marquette (906-250-9225), Newberry (906-440-1348), Wyman Nursery (906-341-2518), Gaylord (989-619-5519), Roscommon (989-390-0279), and Cadillac (231-775-9727).

According to the DNR, the simplest way to gather red pine cones is to pick from living red pine trees where branches extend close to the ground.

Fresh cones also can be found in felled treetops from recent timber sales, on state forestlands, and in recently gathered squirrel caches. If picking from a recent timber sale, logger permission is necessary, and pickers must wear hardhats for safety.

After drop-off, the pine cones are put into machines that warm them up and then shake them, allowing the seeds to drop out and be stored until planting time.

This process helps foresters replant Michigan’s forests and replenishes the supply of red pine seed, which is in high demand, the DNR release said.