Meinert Prairie

Meinert Prairie is a small prairie located in the very far corner of the Allen Meinert farm. The entrance is located just about 200 feet west of Siedschlag Road on Walnut Grove Road in Section 21 of Rock Run Township of Stephenson County. The map coordinates are 42 degrees 29’ and 48.33’’ North and 89 degrees 27’ 55.27’’ West. The elevation is 1030 feet above sea level.

It was never tilled as there is a large ditch that prevented access by farm tractors allowing the native flora to survive. Allen Meinert told of potatoes grown there a few years.

The Meinert Prairie is managed by volunteers of the Prairie Enthusiasts to allow the 75 plus native species to thrive. Our management of Meinert Prairie includes removing weeds and brush that threaten the native flora. We do prescribed burns as needed to ensure native grasses and forbs the chance to thrive.

Management

Management at Meinert prairie will include pulling sweet clover and cutting sumac. Seeds will be collected and spread to the South and West sides as a buffer to the original prairie site. Lots of trees and brush have been removed along with wire rolls and posts.

The Meinert Prairie is managed by volunteers of the Prairie Enthusiasts forever to allow the 75 plus native species to thrive. Our management of Meinert Prairie includes removing weeds and brush that threaten the native flora. We do prescribed burns as needed to ensure native grasses and forbs the chance to thrive.

The parcel is regularly burned, but only about one third at one time to insure invertebrates have a chance to survive.

We do tours led by knowledgeable volunteers to promote education and appreciation of fire dependent ecosystems. Our volunteers also have assisted others in their scientific studies of prairie plants, insects and other native life on the prairie.