Conservation district collects milkweed seedpods to create monarch habitats

The Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District, along with other soil and water conservation districts across Ohio, are collecting milkweed seedpods through Saturday, Oct. 31.  

Seed pods will be processed by Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative to establish new plantings and create habitat for monarch butterflies.  

Collected seed pods can be dropped off at any time at the Cuyahoga SWCD office, 3311 Perkins Ave., Suite 100, Cleveland, in the collection bin on the west side of the building by the garage door.  

Participants can take a selfie with the Pod Monster when they drop off seeds and send it to Cuyahoga SWCD to post on its Facebook page. 

Contact the Cuyahoga SWCD office for more information at 216-524-6580, ext. 1005, or aroskilly@cuyahogaswcd.org.  

Pod collection 

When collecting seedpods from a milkweed plant, it is best to pick when they are dry and gray or brown. If the seam pops with gentle pressure, they can be picked. 

It is best to store picked pods in a paper bag. Avoid using plastic bags, as they tend to collect and hold moisture. Store seeds in a dry, cool area until they are dropped off. Mark bags with the county they were picked in and the date.  

Visit cuyahogaswcd.org/programs/common-milkweed-pod-collection for more information on pod collection. 

Monarch habitat 

Milkweed is the only plant that the monarch butterfly uses for egg laying and caterpillar rearing. It also serves as food for monarchs, as well as many other pollinator species.  

The disappearance of milkweed across the United States has contributed to an 80-percent decline in the eastern monarch butterfly population over the past 20 years.  The milkweed pod collection project started in 2015. Seeds are processed at work programs in several prisons, then they are dispersed for fall planting across Ohio and used to grow common milkweed plant plugs.