Updated Map of Prairie Plantings
Monday, December 24, 2007
Donald created a new map of prairie plantings which can be found here
Spring Planting 2007
Friday, April 06, 2007
An additional 10 (roughly) acres were planted today. A little over 8 acres were planted along the North road near the sign (on land owned by SWCD) and approx 2 acres on the south edge of the prairie. This leaves approximately 6 acres remaining to be planted in the prairie project (not counting the Donald's land which also needs to be planted).
2007 Prairie Burn
Monday, April 02, 2007
We burned the South 1/3 of the prairie this evening. We started around 5:00 PM and the last flames were out at 8:30 PM. I've never seen a burn go quite this slow. I think the grass under the dried material was very green and the wind wasn't very strong (out of the SSW at about 7 MPH), so it really wasn't driving the flames.
It was also very smokey (and I drove my family out of the house from the smoke). But, we got the job done! Now the small trees are all very easy to see, so in the next few days, I'll go out with the chain saw and take them down.
We had approximately 15 volunteers to help contain and control the fire.
Pictures will be posted in the picture gallery.
Planning 2007 Prairie Burn
Friday, March 30, 2007
If weather permits, we will be doing a prairie burn this coming Sunday at 1 PM.
Prairie Burn - 2006
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Weather was perfect today for the 2006 Barnhart Restoration Project Prairie Burn. With the help of approximately 30 people, Brett and Don Barnhart burned the western most 20 acres of the prairie. Everything went as planned and the wind gave a gentle push, blowing out of the NE, blowing the flames in perfectly the right direction.
Every year, we burn approximately 1/3 of the prairie (we do a 3 year burn rotation). Burning the prairie encourages growth of native plant species and supresses various weeds. Burning a 1/3 at a time leaves plenty of cover and food for the various wildlife that live in the prairie.
A big thank you to all the people who came out and to Mary Kay Solecki for loaning us equipment and to Theo Gray for bringout out propane torches.
To see pictures from the burn, click on the link below...
Pictures of 2006 Prairie Burn
Additional Pictures can be found on Theo Gray's website
Barnhart Prairie Restoration Project Receives Nature Preserve Status
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
After several years of hard work by Mary Kay Solecki and others, the original 80 acres of prairie in the restoration project qualified for Nature Preserve Status. This is largely due to the presense of Franklin Ground Squirrels on the property.
Congratulations to everyone involved!
2005 Praire Burn
Saturday, March 19, 2005
It was a windy morning, but with a light rain the night before, board members Donald and Brett Barnhart decided it was a go for the prairie burn. With the help of about a dozen volunteers, approx 20 acres were burned on the north end of the prairie. This represents approx 1/3 of the planted praire.
The westerly wind was a huge help in the burn, which is one of the best the author had ever seen. "There really were no incendents at all. Once we got the fire going and burned the fire breaks, we lit the west side and let her go."
Pictures will be posted later from the burn.
