Posted on Jan 3, 2023
Volunteer naturalists work to reestablish prairies in Missouri: ‘Everybody can do their part’
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A group of volunteers hope to bring native wildlife back into abundance by reestablishing grasslands that were wiped out after the European settlement of Missouri. Now in its third year, they've created a seed bank that provides free seeds to landowners who want to establish a prairie.
MONROE CITY – As beautiful as a tallgrass prairie in bloom is, establishing one is equally unglamorous.
First invasive species, like autumn olive or bradford pear trees, have to be ripped out and burned off. And even after prairie grass seeds are thrown, it won’t be pretty at first.
“And next year, you look out there and you just weep because it looks disgusting,” said Bob Kendrick, a member of the Mississippi Hills chapter of the Missouri Master Naturalists.
MONROE CITY – As beautiful as a tallgrass prairie in bloom is, establishing one is equally unglamorous.
First invasive species, like autumn olive or bradford pear trees, have to be ripped out and burned off. And even after prairie grass seeds are thrown, it won’t be pretty at first.
“And next year, you look out there and you just weep because it looks disgusting,” said Bob Kendrick, a member of the Mississippi Hills chapter of the Missouri Master Naturalists.
Volunteer naturalists work to reestablish prairies in Missouri: ‘Everybody can do their part’
Posted from kcur.orgPosted in these groups: State of Missouri
Wildlife
Wildlife
Posted >1 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel good day Brother William, always informational and of the most interesting. Thanks for sharing, have a blessed day!
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."This year, Miller said he cleared autumn olive on 12 acres. He had to fight autumn olive as it tried to encroach on land he cleared four years ago.
But on the acre he started establishing a prairie on a few years ago, he’s seeing results following a prescribed burn last year.
“One of the guys that helped on that burn came to my place,” he said. “I goes, ‘You’re in for a treat now,’ and it was blooming and it was just full of flowers.”
In Kendrick’s own yard, he estimates he has four or five species of birds that weren’t there before.
It’s not just the master naturalists who are helping. Kendrick said more than 40 people have pitched in to collect seed from swaths of prairie for the seed bank. Kendrick said he bought enough seeds for two acres and it cost more than $1,000.
So he’s giving away seeds for those who want to help establish the prairie.
“My garage is a mess,” Kendrick said. “My wife is ready to kill me.”
Trevathan is establishing a prairie on her one-acre yard and a songbird garden on a neighboring property she rents out.
“Everybody can do their part,” she said."
..."This year, Miller said he cleared autumn olive on 12 acres. He had to fight autumn olive as it tried to encroach on land he cleared four years ago.
But on the acre he started establishing a prairie on a few years ago, he’s seeing results following a prescribed burn last year.
“One of the guys that helped on that burn came to my place,” he said. “I goes, ‘You’re in for a treat now,’ and it was blooming and it was just full of flowers.”
In Kendrick’s own yard, he estimates he has four or five species of birds that weren’t there before.
It’s not just the master naturalists who are helping. Kendrick said more than 40 people have pitched in to collect seed from swaths of prairie for the seed bank. Kendrick said he bought enough seeds for two acres and it cost more than $1,000.
So he’s giving away seeds for those who want to help establish the prairie.
“My garage is a mess,” Kendrick said. “My wife is ready to kill me.”
Trevathan is establishing a prairie on her one-acre yard and a songbird garden on a neighboring property she rents out.
“Everybody can do their part,” she said."
(9)
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