There are always big things to do at the prairie. This summer we’ve moved our boulders and railroad ties to better outline the road and parking areas, taken down invasive trees, and cleared the creek that borders the prairie to the north, which has brought back fish, frogs, and snakes (although the creek needs fairly regular attention, especially after big rains that can clog it with debris).
| Among our many projects are controlled burns. Burning is part of a prairie’s identity. Without burns, prairies would not exist. Burns bring back part of what makes a prairie what it is. Burns keep trees, shrubs and invasives from crowding out the tallgrass prairie plants that support the wildlife that only live in prairies. There are plant species that depend on burns, and would not otherwise exist in that landscape, and the process aids greatly with plant diversity. In the springtime this means more sun hits the ground, unimpeded by the previous year’s debris. |  |
 | Ideally we want to run a controlled burn every year although this is not always possible. Various cooperative organizations provide certified volunteers with experience in planning and executing our burns. Civilians can get certified to participate in these events. Our volunteers are welcome to observe the burns, and even help set up burn breaks that keep the fires contained to the desired areas. Keep an eye on our volunteer page for information on upcoming burns as they are scheduled. |