Harvesting birch seed pods for leaves...

[phreedh]

So, I nabbed a few birch catkins from my neighbors huge birch. What's a catkin? It's one of these:


I leave them to dry for a few days and then the seeds and seed pods can be pulled off into a huge pile looking like this:


Question is, how do I get rid of the seeds and end up with only the pods in a pile like this:


There's no way I'll sit and separate them one by one. Must be a quicker way. But what?! HALPZ!

[Daeothar]

Softly blowing over them; the seeds are heavier, and will remain, while you catch the leaves you blow away. There will still be some final sifting to be done, but when you find the right strength/speed, the separating by wind is pretty effective...

[Dewbakuk]

Otherway around, the seeds are incredibly light (so they blow around in the wind to spread the species) while the 'leaves' stay on your tray. Use a tray with a decent lip around the edge. The seeds will fly up in the air when you blow while the leaves will mostly just move around on the tray. It's not that time intensive to do.

[Argonor]

I just collected a bunch of catkins from the garden, and I would like to know how you  pull them apart; do you do it with your fingers, or do you use a tool of some sorts?

[Ragnar]

I just collected a bunch of catkins from the garden, and I would like to know how you  pull them apart; do you do it with your fingers, or do you use a tool of some sorts?

Let them dry out for days or weeks and they will just crumble apart very easily.

[Argonor]

Let them dry out for days or weeks and they will just crumble apart very easily.

OK, thanks. I'm just now trying Neldoreth's method of drying a couple in the oven. 

[von Lucky]

Thanks - reminds me I have a jar of them drying somewhere. Will have to take them outside when there's a weak wind to seperate the seeds from the "leaves".

[carlos marighela]

The bloody silver birch outside my balcony is forever shedding them. Pain in the arse as that's where I paint. I suppose I should harvest them before I bore a hole into the trunk and pour in a couple of litres of Roundup.

[Major_Gilbear]

[...] I bore a hole into the trunk and pour in a couple of litres of Roundup.

Just bang in a decent-sized copper nail into the trunk!

As for collecting some catkins... Do these need to be sterilized in some way to prevent them from going mouldy a few years after you've glued them to a base? Perhaps soaking them in ethanol for a day or so before drying them out again?

[FramFramson]

Don't think I've ever heard of that problem. I doubt they'll go mouldy if they're kept dry.

I just wish I could pick some of those up around here. Not many silver birches in Toronto, I'm afraid

[matthais-mouse]

Oddly enough, the seeds look a bit like little flying insects haha 

A great idea and one that I shall be trying soon to base a lizardmen diorama type doodad I think 

[snitcythedog]

Just bang in a decent-sized copper nail into the trunk!

As for collecting some catkins... Do these need to be sterilized in some way to prevent them from going mouldy a few years after you've glued them to a base? Perhaps soaking them in ethanol for a day or so before drying them out again?

If you are worried, you can bake in the oven at a low heat for a long time.  It's what I do to sterilize dirt and sawdust that I use for basing and terrain building.  Bake at 250 degrees for over a hour and a half. 
Snitchy sends.

[DELTADOG]

Oh man don`t wont to break someones ethusiansm, but have you guys not better things to do with your craftingtime then harvesting birch seeds ?? Calculated on the time you spend and the energy for Heatdrying etc. it would be much esier to buy a cheap kg of that stuff to have seeds till end of your life.

One example:
http://prachtfinken-zentrum.de/shop/product_info.php?info=p190_birkensamen-1000-gr-.html

Just my 2cent.

[Dolmot]

Well, I just harvest mine from car parks and other paved yards, where the wind and sun have already done most of the sorting, piling and drying. A large plastic bag can be filled in minutes if you know the spot and choose the day wisely. Extra drying may be a good idea to ensure that no other lifeforms remain there, but the oven does that, not me. There are a few 10l cans in my cupboard waiting for the day when I want to make a moody autumn diorama.

[gary42]

Oh man don`t wont to break someones ethusiansm, but have you guys not better things to do with your craftingtime then harvesting birch seeds ?? Calculated on the time you spend and the energy for Heatdrying etc. it would be much esier to buy a cheap kg of that stuff to have seeds till end of your life.

One example:
http://prachtfinken-zentrum.de/shop/product_info.php?info=p190_birkensamen-1000-gr-.html

Just my 2cent.

16.95 EUROS!  Carry on foraging boys!