Category Archives: Uncategorized

Native Seed Exchange

Posted on February 13, 2020 by

by Joshua Clark, Natural Resource Manager, DeKalb County Forest Preserve, IL On December 13th the Northern Illinois Native Seed Network held its 5th annual native seed exchange and potluck. In the 5 years since its inception the group has grown … Continue reading →

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Scaling up to mow brush

Posted on February 7, 2020 by

By Bill Kleiman Most natural areas have brush work to do.  Repeated use of prescribed fire keeps brush in check, but often a tract is purchased which has not had fire in a long time and the build up of … Continue reading →

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Demolition before restoration

Posted on January 30, 2020 by

By Bill Kleiman, Nachusa Grasslands, TNC Sometimes, before restoring habitat we first have to remove old buildings and  infrastructure. This Fall we closed on a tract of land with a house, two mobile homes, and three huge pole barns, a … Continue reading →

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The Timing of Prairie Seeding Matters!

Posted on January 23, 2020 by

By Julianne Mason, Restoration Program Coordinator, Forest Preserve District of Will County Here is a strong visual example of how the timing of prairie seeding matters.  A former agricultural field in Will County, Illinois was seeded with rather diverse mixes … Continue reading →

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Seed Hammer Mill

Posted on January 16, 2020 by

By Bill Kleiman, Nachusa Grasslands TNC This is a hammer mill used to break apart seed heads of all sorts of native seeds. The mill is under the red housing which has spinning hammers inside.  It has a galvanized chute … Continue reading →

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UTV tanks for prescribed fire

Posted on January 9, 2020 by

By Bill Kleiman, Nachusa Grasslands, TNC I hope you all don’t mind another fire equipment post. UTV skid unit tanks:  The best part of a Utility Vehicle is its mobility on prescribed fires.  In my humble opinion 50 gallons of … Continue reading →

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Fire, Rubus and Geranium

Posted on December 26, 2019 by

By Bill Kleiman In a closed canopy oak woods we have been doing annual fire for a long time.  The Rubus allegheniensis, common blackberry is slowly fading in stature and density, while the wild geranium, G maculatum, has become abundant.  … Continue reading →

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