Prairie Smoke News and Events
Sunday, August 29th Annual Summer Get-Together and Potluck, Weaver Dunes, 4pm.
We will go for a hike at Weaver Dunes, then have a potluck for all of our members. Prairie Smoke will provide some food, drinks, and plates/silverware. Please bring a chair and something to pass. More information will be sent soon. Here are the directions:
To get to the Nature Conservancy's Weaver Dunes headquarters:
from the south:
- get to the intersection of US 61 and MN 74 in Weaver MN
- go north on US 61 for 1.7 miles
- turn right (east) onto Wabasha county 84
- go about 1.8 miles
- watch for the sign for the preserve at the end of a driveway
- drive in and park near the house and pole building
from the north (option 1):
- come down US 61 to Kellogg;
- continue south on 61 for 5.6 miles
- turn left (east) onto Wabasha county 84
- go about 1.8 miles
- watch for the sign for the preserve at the end of a driveway
- drive in and park near the house and pole building
from the north (option 2):
- come down US 61 to Kellogg;
- at the intersection with MN 42, turn left (east);
- Head northeast on County Rd 18 0.3 mi
- Take the 1st right onto Old US Hwy 61 0.1 mi
- Slight left at County Rd 84 6.3 mi
- watch for the sign for the preserve at the end of a driveway
- drive in and park near the house and pole building
Sunday, September 26th Pickwick Mill Tour and Dinner (at a local eatery) Pickwick Mill in Pickwick, Minnesota (near Winona), 2 pm.
This event is still in the planning process, but please put it on your calendars. The plan is to meet at the site (or carpool) and then have a tour of the Pickwick Mill and town of Pickwick followed by having dinner at a local eatery.
Top 10 Tallgrass Prairie Facts:
Jeff Nielsen of BWSR sends in the following facts on tallgrass prairie, compiled by Minnesota DNR:
1. Native tallgrass is the MOST ENDANGERED ecosystem in North America and the foundation of PERENNIAL POLYCULTURE. Kansas University
2. Native prairie root systems are the BEST natural soil anchors on earth.
3. In one acre of established prairie there is 24,000 pounds of roots. Iowa State University
4. One acre of established prairie can ABSORB 9 inches of rainfall per hour before runoff occurs. University of Northern Iowa
5. One acre of established prairie will INTERCEPT as much as 53 tons of water during a one inch per hour rain event. University of Nebraska, Lincoln
6. Prairie foliage represents a surface area of 5 to 20 times larger than the soil area beneath it. University of Nebraska, Lincoln
7. Prairie planted in roadside ditches makes highways safer by INCREASING the holding capacity for snow in the ditch provided the shoulder is mowed. MDOT.
8. Natural competition of prairie plants REDUCES the occurrence of weeds in an area. Iowa State University
9. Greater prairie diversity, creates biotic barriers to PREVENT weed invasion. University of Minnesota
10. One acre of reconstructed prairie can produce more bioenergy than land used to grow corn for ethanol. University of Minnesota