Category Archives: restoration

Cleaning Wild Rose (hips)

Posted on August 14, 2017 by Alison

Wild rose is a perennial forb that colonizes large areas where native grasses are thin. I think it’s an essential component of mixed grass prairie restorations because it blooms early in the summer and withstands drought better than many other … Continue reading →

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New Production Plot

Posted on July 12, 2017 by Alison

  Our land is smothered by smooth brome (Bromus inermus). To better establish new production plots, we grow vegetables for three years before seeding native species. We start by solarizing the new garden with clear plastic before planting the first … Continue reading →

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Porcupine Grass – Hesperostipa spartea

Posted on March 12, 2017 by Alison

One of the most elegant grasses of the prairie is porcupine grass. Few plants animate wind and light conditions as well as this cool season native. But for all of its grace, few plants cause more pain to the non-observant … Continue reading →

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2017 Native Seed Conference

Posted on February 21, 2017 by Alison

We just returned from the National Native Seed Conference in Washington DC. The title is a bit of a misnomer. Most of the attendees were from the western US where federal agencies are the largest landowners and buy millions of … Continue reading →

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Paris Climate Agreement

Posted on January 19, 2016 by Alison

Since the conclusion of the Paris Climate meeting, I have been thinking and reading about how the US will meet its obligation to lower CO2 emissions. A significant contribution could come from increasing the country’s forest canopy, especially in cities: Cities … Continue reading →

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Pasture Burn

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Alison

“You won’t get a permit if we don’t get some moisture,” the Clearwater Volunteer Fire Chief flatly informed me.  It was the week before the seed conference, two weeks before we wanted to burn the pasture. “I understand.” Heck, I … Continue reading →

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Final Thoughts on the Native Seed Conference

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Alison

During the drive home from Santa Fe I studied my notes of the conference and developed a list of things we will try and reflected on some issues we cannot resolve but should follow.  My favorite quip was “we need … Continue reading →

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Inspiration – Gary Nabhan

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Alison

I read Gary Nabhan’s book Coming Home to Eat in 2002 or so.  It inspired me to be a better gardener and forage for more than mushrooms in the wild.  For one year he ate only what he could grow, … Continue reading →

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