Wait to harvest the whole head of the sunflower until all the petals have dropped off and the seeds have turned from green to black.

Once the petals have fallen you can cover the sunflower heads in a paper bag if you don't want to share any sunflower seeds with the birds. Birds WILL eat your seeds if the heads aren't covered. Still wait to harvest the heads until the seeds have turned dark.

Cut the flower from the stalk with the limb saw.

Once the seeds have turned black (black and white stripes), cut the head from the stalk. Compost the stalk or use in wattle fencing.

Lay the heads on a large screen or any flat surface that will allow good air flow. If you have an extra screen door on hand, they work well. If all you have is screen, staple it over two sawhorses.

Flip the heads over every 3-5 days as the seeds cure (dry) to prevent mold from developing on the sunflower seeds. If you are concerned that the heads are too moist, place a fan gently blowing near them to better circulate the air.

Once the heads and seeds are completely dry, they should pop out pretty easily. Wear some gloves to save your skin and begin working the seeds out of the heads by massaging the head gently. Do this over a sheet so you don't lose any seed.

Store your seeds in an envelope or jar. Eat within a year or give to the birds for fresh flavor. Compost the leftover dried plant matter.

Be sure to save some of the best seed for planting next year.