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Hi from Princeton.
 We are busy at the Princeton Seed Facility this time of year. We spend three seasons outside as growers but in the winter we become a factory, and our product is seed. Full day shifts running seed cleaning equipment. We take a morning break and a lunch break and play cards and not too much eating. Right now, Bob and I currently trail Ben and Mike by one game. So, what do we clean that takes us all winter you may ask?
(Let me grab my guitar…)
Listen, I’ve cleaned every seed in this land
I clean everything, man, I clean everything, man.
Seeds from fall and spring, man, I clean everything, man.
Of dust I’ve had my share, man, seeds from here and there.
I’ve cleaned Wild lupine, Agastache, Sand drop, Prairie drop,
Purple clover, White clover, Bush clover, other crop.
Verbena stricta, Pen grand, Prairie rose, Ironweed
Kalm’s brome, Mountain mint, Cordgrass, Sneezeweed
I’ve cleaned Bedstraw, Bottlebrush, Big blue, Little blue
Eup mac, Eup perf, Aster mac, Aster Oo
Junegrass, Rye grass, Indian grass, Switchgrass
Woolgrass, grama grass, porky grass, you can bet your…
I clean everything, man, I clean everything, man.
Seeds from fall and spring, man, I clean everything, man.
Of dust I’ve had my share, man, seeds from here and there.
I’ve cleaned indigo, Blue joint, Yellow cone, Black-eyed
Stiff sun, Giant sun, Leadplant til I cried
Solidago nemoralis, Solidago rigida,
speciosa, ptarmicoides, Grass-leaved goldenrod
Vervain, Culver’s root, Swamp milk, Zizia,
Common milk, B-weed, Meadow rue and sedge seed
I’ve cleaned everything.
Aaron Julson
Princeton Seed Department
 I was hired part time by PRI my sophomore year of college and returned to work every summer until I graduated. The summer after graduation I was hired full time. I spent the next 3 years working for Prairie Restorations, Inc. out of our Bluestem Farm near Hawley, MN. I then left the company to explore other interests. After 4 years, there was an opportunity for me to come back to PRI – I was so excited to come back to my prairie roots!
Working for Prairie Restorations has always been one of my favorite jobs. Not only did I learn the prairie plants but I learned how to fix broken drills in the field, basic maintenance on vehicles and how to start a Gleaner combine using only a screwdriver – to name only a few things. Working with prairie has also taught me that patience is a virtue, and hard work along with dedication usually pays off in the end.
A question I get asked a lot from our older clients is “Wouldn’t you rather be a secretary?” That question always brings me back to one of my favorite memories – combining native prairie for the Nature Conservancy. I remember one day in particular. Just as the sun was setting, I was unloading my hopper of seed when I just happened to look up and see two coyotes playing in an area that I just combined. They looked like they were the best of buds, just bouncing around. I wouldn’t see that sitting at a desk working as a secretary. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have any dirt under my nails!
My life is about to change again and I have to say good bye to PRI and my Bluestem family. They are a great group of people to work with and I am really going to miss them. However, I won’t be walking away empty handed. I will always consider my coworkers family. With the hassles of everyday life I will do my best to keep in touch. I don’t ever think I will forget about time spent here – that just isn’t possible. My memories are as deep as prairie roots. I won’t be coming back as an employee, but I do plan on being back as a mom with kids and showing them that there is more to life then cell phones and computers.
Thanks for all of the great years and a very Merry Christmas to everyone!!
Kara Cain
Restorationist
Bluestem Farm
 In the early 1990s I lived in the Chicago area, and learned of a gravel hill prairie “rescue” for which volunteers were needed. Gravel hill prairies were growing rare in the area as the underlying gravel is a valuable commodity, and the company which owned the hill was finally planning to begin extraction. During a hot, humid, mosquito plagued summer weekend we toiled to lay down the hunks of dug up sod and plants atop their new hilly home in a municipal nature preserve creating a glorious island of diversity. I met many dedicated folks with a shared sense of urgency and purpose, and I was immediately and permanently hooked on natural area restoration and preservation. My family joined in the fun, my oldest son Jim insisting we never miss a work day at another nearby restoration effort with the Poplar Creek Prairie Stewards (www.poplarcreekprairiestewards.org), and we forged wonderful friendships which remain strong to this day.
My eyes were opened and landscapes around me appeared suddenly barren. Forest preserves and fields, which once seemed so natural — almost wild, now readily betrayed their sad history, nearly devoid of their once lush native diversity and overrun with non native invasive squatters. Aggressive reed canary grass, hungarian brome, teasel, buckthorn and many others were ubiquitous and pervasive.
Moving to Minnesota we have found a similar devastation to native landscapes, and ample opportunities for natural area restoration. I currently focus my efforts at Wild River State Park as species steward for Flowering Spurge (Euphorbia correlata), gathering the seed in the fall for transplanting into new locations in the park the following season. Prairie Restorations graciously helps by germinating the seeds over the winter and providing flats of seedlings ready for their new home. And volunteering has brought me together, once again, with so many thoughtful and purposed people.
So as you work in your own landscapes, creating your own glorious islands of diversity, consider engaging in other natural area restorations. As you help heal our landscapes you’ll likely forge friendships to last a lifetime!
Marty Steitz
Retail Store
Scandia, MN
 Things have quieted down on the prairies and we are wrapping up the year with some buckthorn and tree removals. Differing strategies to dispose of unwanted woody debris are used here at PRI; slashing the branches up and leaving them to decompose naturally, chipping them into mulch, hauling off site and my favorite – burn piles. Burning piles is a great way to “clean up” a buckthorn removal site. When we work on these sites, the heat produced from the fire is a welcome friend to warm up or even cook lunch. Working on the prairies during the growing season, a cold sandwich is the norm – but not this time of year. Brats, hot dogs, grilled cheese and even cherry pie can be made with relative ease at lunch time. There is an art to open fire cooking however, it can go wrong if you are not careful. All burn piles are not created equal and the temperature at which you are cooking can very greatly. But, with a little experimenting, perfection can be mastered.
Winter is upon us here and the inevitable big snow will soon come, hopefully in time for a white Christmas. This time of year is great because many of us get to gather with friends and family and enjoy some time off and great meals. However, I still like to get away from the crowded stores and holiday gatherings for some outdoor recreation.
Winter is not always thought of as the ideal time of year for outside activities, nevertheless there are many opportunities for those that aren’t afraid of a little cold. With a little snow, wildlife species are much easier to spot on the landscape making this time of year the perfect time to get out and see what you can. I like to do a little late season hunting. The end of the pheasant season isn’t until January 1st so there is ample opportunity to look for those wily late season roosters. Cattails, cedar trees and any other cover not smothered with winter’s white blanket is a good place to search. When I find these birds it’s just a bonus to an enjoyable day out-of-doors.
Hard water fishing will soon commence as lakes become ice covered and those brave first icers start to venture out from shore with chisels in hand. Fish await the arrival of fisherman and the bait they present as enticement to bite. The anticipation of the ice house towns will be imminent among these first crusaders; but that is yet to come. Get out and enjoy the outdoors, and don’t let the cold be your excuse.
Eric Mattson
Land Management Specialist
Watertown, MN
 We all seem to start complaining about the weather when it gets cold. Yet as easy as it is to move to another place, we stay. People can go into their houses, but everything else that stays needs a place to go too.
Prairie landscapes not only provide that, it also provides food and just a place to hang out. It even adds interest to the winter landscape for all of us. Small patches like prairie gardens can make a difference for the small creatures, and larger restorations for everyone else. These plants and animals all chose to stay here well before we did – we should always be trying to save or restore their homes. As a bonus, we get to enjoy their company, along with an ever-changing landscape.
This time of year we are mostly working on removing invasive woody vegetation such as buckthorn. This can be a lot of work, but it’s awesome to see the immediate impact you have made when you look back. This is different than a lot of our other work, such as seeding projects, where you have to be very patient to see results.
Unfortunately, a thing we see a lot of on these projects is garbage. It amazes me how much trash is often times left in these woods. Please don’t litter – this is one of those things where, if we all do our part, we can make a huge difference. Happy holidays to everyone – look forward to seeing you next spring.
Nate Johnson
Princeton, MN
 We are wrapping up the last of our fall seeding and planting projects and are moving into our typical winter projects: buckthorn and invasive or undesirable tree and shrub control. Winter is a great time for this labor intensive work. I often get asked if it is a problem to identify trees when they don’t have any leaves. It really isn’t hard when you have done this year after year.
I don’t know if there is a completely typical woodland project. We tailor our plan and technique to each site. In the next few weeks I will be cutting on a steep bluff along the Mississippi River, burning piles of volunteer cottonwood trees along a wetland, chipping invasive trees near a trail in a city park, cutting and piling buckthorn to be picked up and used as a biofuel, and cutting, piling, and burning buckthorn and fallen trees in a small residential lot.
If you have a project in mind, and would just like to talk about strategies and costs, please give our office a call at 800-837-5986 or e-mail us at info@prairieresto.com
Cory Peine
Land Management Assistant
Prairie Creek Office
 I just came home from a seven day trip marking my 29th year of deer hunting in Kabetogoma State Forest. Sitting in a tree stand for 8 hours a day can be a trying experience. Luckily, there always seems to be things of interest that occupy my time. A red squirrel chattering from the top of a pine where it is dropping cones to be cached for consumption another day; gray jays landing on branches inches away from me in hopes of stealing my sandwich; a pine martin gracefully jumping from one dead fall to another. There are also many native trees and shrubs surrounding my stand. I am able to see all three native Minnesota pines – red pine, white pine and jack pine. To my south I notice tamarack, balsam fir and black spruce all growing together. Deciduous broad leaves include paper birch, trembling aspen, mountain maple, service berry and black ash. A faint scent of Balm of Gilead is in the air. The shrubs include red twig dogwood interspersed with beaked hazel.
During the month of October, PRI sold all its native trees and shrubs for 25% off. Some people took advantage of this offer but many do not know that fall is an excellent time to plant trees and shrubs. Knowledge of proper site selection, planting guidelines and maintenance are very important. A site that is well drained is important. Dig a hole 18 inches deep and fill it with water. Check it the next morning. If the water is gone, the soil has adequate drainage. If not, you will need to amend the soil with sand, compost and/or peat. Check the pH of the soil. Most Minnesota native trees grow well in a pH between 5.5 and 7.0. For acid loving plants, the pH can be lowered with iron sulfate. The University of Minnesota Forestry department estimates that 70% of trees are planted too deeply which can cause problems years down the road. Shallow rooted trees such as Populus and Acer can develop stem girdling roots if planted too deeply. The roots grow around the underground trunk, graft themselves to it and “choke” the tree to death. When planting a containerized tree or shrub, scratch away the soil on the top of the container until the first major root is exposed. The tree or shrub should be planted to a depth to just cover this root. Take the plant out of the container. If a mass of roots are circling the sides of the soil, cut 4 to 6 slits vertically through the root mass with a utility knife. Dig a hole twice the diameter of the container and a depth to cover that first root. Do not add pure potting soil. Potting soil mixed with the original soil is ok. Do not fertilize for the first two years. Water well and surround the planting with a good mulch approximately 3 to 4 ft in diameter and 4 to 6 inches deep. Do not let the mulch touch the trunk as this can cause rot. Newly transplanted trees, as well as established ones, should be watered weekly right up until the ground freezes. Not watering in late fall is a mistake that many make. During the winter, occasional warm spells are common. During these periods, the trees will transpire water – especially conifers. However, the ground is frozen and the roots cannot take up water so the tree dehydrates. This is what is known as winter kill. Watering up until the ground freezes and mulching can help prevent winter kill. One last thing. Young trees and shrubs and thin barked plants are magnets for voles and rabbits. Cover the lower trunks with a plastic tree guard and/or a rabbit fence to prevent the critters from girdling your plants. Enjoy your native Minnesota plantings for years to come.
Tom Groppoli
PRI Retail Sales, Scandia
Minnesota Tree Care Advisor
 It’s one of my favorite times of the year; crisp, cool mornings are a good way to start the day. We are almost finished with all of our fall work. I’ll be taking a big sigh of relief when it’s all done. I started working at our Watertown office this May as the new Land Management Coordinator. I could not have started at a worse time, as we had so much work to do while trying to figure out my new position and clientele. With the help of fellow coworkers, and lots of time, we got everything done.
I started working for Prairie Restorations, Inc. in the spring of 2004 out of our Princeton office. Everyone who knows me knows that I’m a big outdoorsman. I love to hunt and fish. In the last few weeks of college, I was hired by Prairie Restorations. My friends commented that “you’re not going to manage for wildlife with that job.” But what better way to manage for wildlife than by improving their habitat. With the prairie, wetland, and woodland management and restoration that we do, we create diverse, healthy habitat for all wildlife. Even the smallest areas are important too. It may not provide habitat for a deer, but it can for rabbits, butterflies, and birds.
I’m sure you’ve noticed most of the leaves have fallen off of the trees. I’m sure you’ve also noticed all of the green buckthorn in many of our woodlands. It may look like it provides good cover for wildlife but, in reality, it has little benefit to them. Buckthorn becomes dominant and crowds out the native grasses, flowers, trees and shrubs that make up a diverse and healthy habitat. Many wildlife species can’t survive very well with poor diversity. Managing buckthorn is very important if we are going to have healthy, diverse woodlands.
I love watching wildlife whenever I can. And knowing that everyday at work I add to and improve the habitat that they live in, makes it even better. It’s great to know that every day native plant communities are being restored and managed in order to provide better habitat for wildlife and a cleaner environment for us all.
John Condon
Land Management Coordinator
Watertown, MN
 If you’re wondering what to do with the buckthorn on your property, now is the perfect time to take action.
In most areas the buckthorn trees are still holding their dark green leaves while the native trees and shrubs have turned to their fall colors or most likely dropped to the forest floor. This makes the buckthorn “show up” for the first time in months. Now they are vulnerable. If chain saws and dragging brush are not your thing – let us help!
Prairie Restorations, Inc. is currently offering a promotional special of 10% off labor and equipment for any buckthorn removal work completed this winter by February 29th.
Call now - 763-389-4342 to schedule a free site assessment of your property. This offer ends November 18th.
We have energetic crews experienced in ecological removals available and ready to help.
Mike Hiltner
Natural Resources Facilitator
 Quiet air lingers above the frost covered native grasslands. “Peep peep” from a young rooster quietly breaks the silence from afar. Appearing out of the dimly lighted thicket covered with Eupatorium perfoliatum (Boneset) and goldenrod steps a doe with her twin fawns. This morning is nothing special – just the start of another fall day on the Bluestem Farm.
When I first stepped foot in my office in the spring of 2010 I did not know what to expect. What I thought was going to be a regular “job” instead turned out to be much more – it was a way to further my passion and love I already had for the outdoors. Being an outdoorsman, I spend every chance I get outside whether I am at work, or hunting or fishing on my own time. I never realized how my time spent at Prairie Restorations, Inc. could affect how I experience and enjoy the outdoors through my passions – fishing and hunting.
I started fishing before I could hardly walk and have had a passion for it ever since. It was not until I started at Prairie Restorations Inc that I realized lakes are a limited resource that need to be protected. With the efforts we make as a company to restore lakeshores and prevent erosion, I now realize it’s not just about aesthetics. It’s about keeping our lake ecosystems healthy so that we can enjoy these valuable natural resources for years to come.
Besides my passion for fishing, I have been addicted to hunting since I was 14 when I took my first hunting trip to a slough in centralMinnesota. Hunting takes up a major portion of my free time whether it’s spring turkey, fall archery and waterfowl, or winter coyote hunting. I never really understood the environmental impact and the importance of a native prairie plant community on these species until now. Spending 85% of my time managing prairie landscapes, I now understand how important it is to have a diverse native ecosystem. It’s a good feeling knowing the positive efforts we put forth on a daily basis managing these native landscapes.
To this day, as I walk through these prairies of native grasses and flowers I manage, I often get asked why I do what I do. “I’m sure you don’t make a ton of money and you work until dark and some nights, even later.” Well, now you are aware of why I’m here and why I chose PRI for my career. It’s knowing that every decision we make is not just based on what’s best for the company, but what’s best for the environment as well. The wildlife, waterfowl down to birds, butterflies, fish and so forth… I’m here because I know my efforts aren’t just benefitting the company. They are helping create a better environment for everyone.
Tyler Luedke
Land Management Coordinator
Bluestem Farm
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