Ok, a blitz of several things here at once.
First, our dear friends at the Appalachian Institute for Renewable Energy (who were instrumental in guiding our solar energy initiatives) are crowd-funding for another solar project. Phase 1 was for the Burton Street Community Peace Gardens in Ashville, NC. They are now on to Phase 2, a project designed for St. Paul’s Missionary Baptist Church. See much more at this link, and please consider donating via the PayPal link. Every little bit helps.
Second, it’s tax time. And you know what that means, right? But of course! It’s time to enter “Nongame Wildlife Fund”, it’s 3-digit code (200), and your donation amount on Line 1 of the Schedule 5/Schedule IN-DONATE form, and then add your amount to Line 17 on the main IT-40 form! (Kinda just rolls of the tongue, doesn’t it?)
Why would you do this? Well, just try looking at these little turtle eyes and telling him “no”.
You can’t do it, can you?
Game animals in Indiana and elsewhere have a long-running and well-established system of funding through the sale of hunting licenses and special taxes on ammunition. Non-game animals – like bald eagles, box turtles, whooping cranes, and the like – are equally deserving of protection & scientific study. For every $5 donation to the Nongame Wildlife Fund, Indiana is eligible to receive an additional $9 in federal funds. It’s a great way to show your support for wildlife to policymakers. Read more here.
Thirdly, a brief update on the 9th Road Fen restoration project. We just squeezed in the dormant season seeding this week. It was really difficult to time properly; the soils are rich in carbon and very squishy for most of the year, so in order to get a tractor on site without getting stuck, we have to go during or just after a long, deep freeze. We seeded right on top of the snow as the sun was starting to melt the top layer, within just a couple hours, the seeds were melting their way downward to the soil. By the afternoon, the soils were already getting too soft in places, so we switched to hand-seeding. On this scale, it really doesn’t take much longer and allows some additional control. Here are a few photos:
a beautiful mix of 37 native grasses, sedges, and wildflowers 
loading up the hopper 
periodically stopping to ensure proper coverage (density of seed not too high/low) 
seed falls on top of the snow and quickly is warmed by the sun and melts its way downward 
shifting to hand-seeding for the really soft spots… no one wants to get stuck if we can help it
Lastly, the Provincial Leadership of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ have released a statement on SB 389, the proposed legislation that would eliminate protection for isolated wetlands in Indiana. You can read it here.
Can’t wait to see the results in the field.
Sr. Linda,
I understand the feeling, but wait you must! As a colleague told me, “patience is a prairie word”. Most plantings in year 1 are a field of annual, weedy species (and should usually be mowed a couple times; this is going to be tricky to do with a tractor on such wet soils here). The ones I planted in spring 2017 only really started taking off last year, their 4th growing season. It probably takes decades (more?) to (fully?) restore the microbial/and fungal networks beneath the soil surface.
Valuable topics and info. God bless our AIRE friends. Adam how lucky to be able to see the rare “Boxer” and so nearby.