|
 |
Visit our headquarters in Princeton, MN, our newest retail Shop in Scandia, or a location nearest you
|
Restoration Tips
Join our Email list and receive Seasonal Updates, Retail Promotions, Restoration Tips and more!
|
|
|
| Download our free
PDF manual, Guidelines
for Establishing Your Own Prairie.
Prairie
Restorations Inc.
Princeton Headquarters P.O. Box 327
Princeton, MN 55371
Ph: 763-389-4342
email: info@prairieresto.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
PRI BLOG -Explore our News & Events, Projects and Frequently Asked Customer Questions...
 Spring is here in full force. The trees are about leafed out here and everything is greening up. It’s a peaceful time of year, but for us at PRI it means the busy season is upon us. Along with the trees and the grass, the weeds are growing at a quick rate as well. It’s time to get out there and start IPM (integrated plant management) in our native landscapes before weeds start to flower and seed out. Garlic mustard is our first priority with a couple weeks dedicated to mowing and hand pulling this weed which is found in wooded areas. I refer to this nuisance plant as a “super” weed because of its uncanny ability to reproduce in some situations even after being mowed or pulled. It is important that the right timing and techniques are used when eradicating garlic mustard so that seed is prevented from reentering the system. When we are done with this effort it’s on to the prairies where reed canary grass, thistle and a multitude of other weeds await our attention.
One of the perks of our job is getting to enjoy the sites we work on. There are tons of birds, insects and interesting plants we see that would otherwise go unnoticed. Morel mushrooms are out in full force now in the woods. We often spot them while cutting garlic mustard.
While I am not working this time of year I am still enjoying the outside with activities such as gardening, tree planting, yard work, fishing and biking. I encourage everyone to get outside, get some air and take the time to notice the subtle things out there. You will be surprised what is right in your backyard or your local park that you pass by everyday.
Eric Mattson
Land Management Specialist
Watertown Office
 As many of you know, spring has come very early this year. I was hoping for a little break between all the buckthorn removal we had this winter and the spring burn season. It didn’t happen. But I can’t complain – we had good weather to get most of our burns completed. We are already seeing some of the results of our earlier burns. It’s amazing how much a prairie landscape can benefit from a burn. I like to hunt and do controlled burns, and knowing that these controlled burns benefit wildlife makes it even better.
At our Watertown office we are getting started on our garlic mustard control as it is already starting to flower. It’s a really aggressive plant and often chokes out our native woodland species. If we are persistent with control measures, we can thin out the colonies and allow the native plants to prosper. Our summer weed management season has already begun – we are fortunate that our seasonal crew from last season has returned. Now with a year behind me as coordinator, a good experienced crew, and burn season coming to an end, things should settle down a bit. I’m looking forward to the upcoming season ahead.
John Condon
Land Management Coordinator
Watertown Office
Watertown, MN
 Up here at Prairie Restorations Inc. Bluestem Farm, fire is what we live for in the spring. Spending early mornings gearing up equipment, setting plans, routes, and contacting residents for what could be a burn-till-after-dark day. These days, controlling fire safely and effectively is the main objective but in reality, it’s more than just igniting grasses with a drip torch. It’s the fact of knowing what effect a fire has on our prairie ecosystems and that it goes far beyond a blackened field. It’s the start to a new beginning for native warm season species and the end to the undesirable, non-native cool season grasses. It’s the start to a richer, more diverse native ecosystem that offers unlimited habitat for hundreds of living creatures. It’s the thickening of these native species with unmatched root systems that prevent erosion and provide abundant oxygen. It’s knowing that there are countless other reasons why fire is so beneficial when it comes to managing our native ecosystems.
This summer and for years to come, I will walk and manage these burned prairies and will see, firsthand, how great of an impact one burn can make. So the next time you see a Prairie Restorations, Inc. crew implementing a controlled burn, remember we’re not just burning because we love to burn, but we’re burning for the good of our native ecosystems.
Tyler Luedke
Land Management Coordinator
Bluestem Farm
Hawley, MN
 Over the years at PRI, one of the consistent requests we have gotten from customers is, “Can you show me what it will look like?” This is a very important question, and we have found that answering that question with a picture is easier than composing a thousand word essay. So, over the years we have taken the time to snap pictures of our work to share with all who are interested.
As we all know, there are many great ways to share photos via email and over the web, but sometimes it is a challenge to share the big picture of what PRI is all about in this manner. We have a story: a mission, a way of working, and a broad range of project types. Thankfully, we have found a way to share the PRI story with our customers and friends in a way that is easy to access, fun to use and can be enjoyed in several formats.
We have created a photo-laden book entitled “Native Landscapes by Prairie Restorations, Inc.” This is no ordinary, average, run of the mill book. This book is a 150+ page jumbo, coffee table sized color photo gallery, and it is an ebook you can easily download to your iPad or iPhone! You can easily preview it on a computer and you can share a link to it with any or all of your friends using social media.
The book was created with Blurb bookmaking tools and can be ordered directly from their site. You can also preview much of the book online! Just follow this link: Native Landscapes Book
Josh Richardson
Project Sales
Prairie Restorations Inc.
P.O. Box 327
Princeton, MN 56371
www.prairieresto.com
 Spring is in full swing and the crew is keeping me quite busy. It seems like there has been a lot of equipment breakage already – I hope it slows down! The management burns here on the farm have gone well and we are making good headway. We will be burning the larger production fields in the near future.
The new building and shop are well underway and are looking great – it is amazing how fast things are moving along. It will be exciting when it is done and I can start working in the new shop.
I am seeing a lot of new faces around as we ramp up for the busy season. It seems like a great group of people who are eager to get to work and help PRI get a lot of good things done. Let’s hope they take it easy on the equipment!
Al Nord
Chief Mechanic
 The Boreal Natives crew is working on a unique green roof project for the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. They are creating transportable mats which are comprised of northern Minnesota bog species. After allowing them a few weeks to get established, the mats will be transferred to Minneapolis and then installed on a designated rooftop at the college. The idea is to make people aware of this unique plant community and that it is important to protect all native plant communities.
 Mother Nature’s senses have come alive with the sights, smells and sounds of spring in the air. This is very evident at Prairie Restorations, Inc. Bluestem Farm.
Arriving at work in the morning I am greeted by the hooting moan of the greater prairie chicken as they dance on nearby booming grounds. While scouting the production fields to gauge spring management needs, I hear the call of the western meadowlark. Sitting on an old fence post I spot his yellow chest with the distinct black “V.” Different management is needed for each plot. Some need a prescribed burn, others a dormant mow, chemical applications for some, while others need nothing but some sun and rain. As I continue along, the smell of ash and smoke lofts past my nose as I walk through a recently burned plot. The prescribed fires have been very effective this year at removing the thatch layers and setting back the cool season grasses that invade the production plots.
Spring is upon us! Take a moment to enjoy your favorite natural area and stimulate your senses.
Jim Johansen
Native Seed Production Supervisor
Prairie Restorations Bluestem Farm
 Our Boreal Natives staff recently conducted a prescribed burn at our farm near Duluth. The production plot areas were burned for management purposes. Burning stimulates the native grasses and wildflowers to produce more seed during the upcoming growing seaon.
 The Princeton seed department is finally done cleaning seed! Our short winter was good in many ways, but it didn’t allow us as much time to get our inside work done. Things have already started to green up – a sure sign of spring. We have already begun to work in the fields and soon we will be conducting management burns on many of our production plots.
 Here are a few of the many hundred Diervilla lonicera (Bush honeysuckle) that were transplanted last week at our Boreal Natives facility near Duluth. These plants will continue to grow and will be transplanted into larger container sizes later this year.
|
|
|
| |
|
