Join Minnesota Driftless Chapter of The Prairie Enthusiasts at Garvin Heights, which overlooks Winona, MN, on August 7th for a morning of battling buckthorn and creating firebreaks.
Part of the site is owned by the City of Winona and another part by Winona State University. The Minnesota Driftless chapter is helping both the city and the university with continued management and restoration there after previous restoration efforts during the past two decades. In April, members of the Minnesota Driftless chapter helped the university conduct a prescribed burn on the university's portion of the site. In June, members again showed up to help and started treating buckthorn.
On August 7th, we'll use hand tools to cut buckthorn stems and apply herbicide to the cut stems. The buckthorn control will be done within the areas that have been previously restored to prairie and open woodland, but cutting/treating may also be done on any woody plants growing within some areas that have been identified as future firebreaks. If any oriental bittersweet is found, it will be treated as well.
If you'd like to help with this important work, here's what you can do:
1) Send your RSVP to Peter Hartman at hartmanpm@charter.net. If the event has to be postponed or cancelled, Peter will send the notification to those who have sent him their RSVP.
2) Meet Peter and the crew at the Garvin Heights overlook parking lot https://www.google.com/.../data=!4m6!3m5...
3) Bring loppers or pruning shears if you have them. If you don't have those tools that's fine, we'll have some on hand for folks who don't bring their own. The City of Winona and Winona State University will bring the herbicide and herbicide applicators.
4) Wear appropriate clothing such as long pants, maybe long-sleeved shirts, work gloves, and maybe a hat to keep the sun off your face.
5) Take appropriate measures to protect yourself from ticks! They're out there and they're looking for a meal. Sunscreen would probably be a good idea as well.
6) Bring enough water or other hydrating fluid, and snacks, to keep you healthy and happy.