Give back to your planet this Earth Day! Volunteer to help rescue a Jones County prairie from invasive species.

Even if it’s just a few hours, you will be doing your part to help return one of Iowa’s prairies to its natural state.

As part of the 2008 Statewide Prairie Rescue, the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF) is sponsoring a rescue event from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 19, at the Breen Prairie Farm. The volunteer event is targeted to adults and youth over age 7.

During the rescue at Breen Prairie Farm, volunteers will use hand tools to remove small trees and shrubs, such as sumac and honeysuckle. A few larger trees like elm and ash may be removed from the site as well.

The prairie is three miles north of Monticello on Highway 38, just south of the Delaware County line. Volunteers should look for event signs and cars on the west side of the road.

Prairie Rescue is an annual event managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, INHF and other conservation partners who are concerned with the maintenance of our prairies.

The project is a hands-on opportunity for adults and youth to experience Iowa’s prairies, as well as help preserve the land for future generations.

Iowa’s landscape was originally dominated by prairie, but people and time have changed the state’s natural habitat. Today, only about 1/1,000^th of the original prairie remains.

Equally alarming, these tiny prairie remnants — even those in public ownership — are still at risk from invasive species, historically held at bay by wildfires and large grazing animals.

“The impact volunteers can have on a prairie in a short period of time is remarkable,” said Joe McGovern, land stewardship program director for INHF. “We would not be able to save Iowa’s prairie remnants without volunteers’ hard work.”

Helen Reichardt donated the site to INHF in 1989 in hopes of preserving the land’s natural beauty and wildlife. 

INHF manages the land to preserve its prairie remnants and provide wildlife habitat while allowing agricultural pesticides on the productive agricultural land. The 140-acre farm contains 90 acres of crop land with remaining acres as remnant prairie and some woodland. The site is open to the public only on special occasions, group tours or by request.

Gloves and tools will be available at the Prairie Rescue event. However, volunteers are asked to bring their own gloves and pruning tools, if possible, so that there are enough for everyone.

INHF staff members and interns will be on site to provide work supervision and prairie education.

If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact Joe McGovern or Cathy Engstrom at 1-800-475-1846. For more information on other prairie rescue sites, visit www.inhf.org/prairierescue2008.htm.

Other INHF projects in Jones County include Whitewater Canyon and Indian Bluffs.

For more information, e-mail Cathy Engstrom, Director of Communications, or call (515) 288-1846.