make the sticks safe for indoor play, we bake them in the oven on its lowest setting (175 – 200℉ or 80 – 90℃) just like we do with the acorns and other nuts.
branches that are freshly cut are inspect for any sign of insects and then we use them without baking them. insects start to move once the branches lay on the ground for a while. those branches can sometimes have beautiful marks under their bark from wood-eating insects. peel back the bark and take a look next time you find one.
can i freeze nature materials to kill off bugs?
the simple answer is no. freezing nuts, pine cones and 