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