by The Prairie Enthusiasts | Aug 31, 2026
Billings-Tomfohr Conservation Area Workday
Sunday, September 20 – Noon to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Billings-Tomfohr Conservation Area in Red Wing, MN
Your help is needed to continue the progress being made towards prairie and savanna restoration on the Billings-Tomfohr Conservation Area in Red Wing. The Minnesota Driftless Chapter of The Prairie Enthusiasts received a Conservation Partners Legacy (CPL) Grant in 2025, and significant restoration work was accomplished with those funds.
Recently, another CPL grant was awarded, and phase 2 of the project will start in June. Phase 2 will consist of expanding on the work begun in 2025 and beginning new work on the restoration of several previously untouched areas of the property.
Several volunteer workdays have occurred so far this summer with approximately two acres of dry bluff prairie spot treated with herbicide in order to control buckthorn, oriental bittersweet, sumac and black locust. Work will consist of cutting and stump treating invasive woody plants such as buckthorn, oriental bittersweet, red cedar, black locust and sumac and constructing firebreaks for planned fall burns.
WHAT TO BRING:
A limited amount of hand tools like loppers will be available but if volunteers have some they can bring that would be helpful. Herbicide and herbicide application equipment will also be provided. Volunteers can bring their own brush cutters and chainsaws, along with gas and bar oil, if they are proficient in their safe use and bring appropriate PPE such as eye protection and chaps. As usual, all volunteers should bring enough hydrating liquids and snacks to keep them happy and healthy, as well as sunscreen and insect repellent.
CONTACT:
If you’d like to help during any of these workdays, send your RSVP to the project manager, Jeff Lightfoot, by email or phone: lightfoot.jeff56@gmail.com or (218) 290-7518. Be sure to send Jeff your RSVP so he can schedule each workday accordingly and notify folks if any plans need to be changed. Those who RSVP will also receive updates and specifics in advance of the workdays. You can also email or call Jeff if you have questions or are interested in knowing more.
by The Prairie Enthusiasts | Aug 31, 2026
Billings-Tomfohr Conservation Area Workday
Sunday, September 13 – Noon to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Billings-Tomfohr Conservation Area in Red Wing, MN
Your help is needed to continue the progress being made towards prairie and savanna restoration on the Billings-Tomfohr Conservation Area in Red Wing. The Minnesota Driftless Chapter of The Prairie Enthusiasts received a Conservation Partners Legacy (CPL) Grant in 2025, and significant restoration work was accomplished with those funds.
Recently, another CPL grant was awarded, and phase 2 of the project will start in June. Phase 2 will consist of expanding on the work begun in 2025 and beginning new work on the restoration of several previously untouched areas of the property.
Several volunteer workdays have occurred so far this summer with approximately two acres of dry bluff prairie spot treated with herbicide in order to control buckthorn, oriental bittersweet, sumac and black locust. Work will consist of cutting and stump treating invasive woody plants such as buckthorn, oriental bittersweet, red cedar, black locust and sumac and constructing firebreaks for planned fall burns.
WHAT TO BRING:
A limited amount of hand tools like loppers will be available but if volunteers have some they can bring that would be helpful. Herbicide and herbicide application equipment will also be provided. Volunteers can bring their own brush cutters and chainsaws, along with gas and bar oil, if they are proficient in their safe use and bring appropriate PPE such as eye protection and chaps. As usual, all volunteers should bring enough hydrating liquids and snacks to keep them happy and healthy, as well as sunscreen and insect repellent.
CONTACT:
If you’d like to help during any of these workdays, send your RSVP to the project manager, Jeff Lightfoot, by email or phone: lightfoot.jeff56@gmail.com or (218) 290-7518. Be sure to send Jeff your RSVP so he can schedule each workday accordingly and notify folks if any plans need to be changed. Those who RSVP will also receive updates and specifics in advance of the workdays. You can also email or call Jeff if you have questions or are interested in knowing more.
by The Prairie Enthusiasts | Aug 31, 2026
Planting Prairie Violet Roots at Schurch-Thomson Prairie
Saturday, August 29 – 9:00 a.m. to Noon
Location: Schurch-Thomson Prairie in Barneveld, WI
Help is needed in out-planting 160 prairie violet plugs into various prairie restorations at The Prairie Enthusiasts’ Mounds View Grassland Preserve. These violets are critical to increasing host plant populations for the Regal Fritillary population.
WHAT TO BRING:
Be prepared for digging in the ground. Tools will be provided, but if you have a favorite hand shovel or trowel, bring it along.
WORK PARTY LEADER:
Contact Rich Henderson (tpe.rhenderson@tds.net) or (608) 845-7065.
LOCATION:
Address is 8624 Reilly Road, Barneveld. From the intersection of US Hwy 18-151 and County F (south of Blue Mounds in western Dane County), take F approximately 5 miles south. Turn right onto Reilly Road and proceed to parking lot and kiosks at the end of the road (past the barn). (Note: A half mile down F from 18-151, pay close attention to the road signs, for F turns to the right & the straight ahead road becomes County Z. Stay on F.)
by The Prairie Enthusiasts | Aug 31, 2026
Iris Drive Seed Collecting
Saturday, October 31 – 9:00 a.m. to Noon
Location: Iris Drive near Gays Mills, WI
Site Steward, Bob Retko, invites you to join us in seed collecting at Iris Drive Prairie, located near Gays Mills. This is the last organized Iris Drive seed collecting day of this season.
Seed collection is relatively easy to do, requiring a minimum amount of time and effort in a peaceful prairie environment.
Seed collection aprons and containers will be provided. It is a great opportunity to learn more about local prairies, prairie plants and to meet new people.
WHAT TO BRING:
Volunteers are advised to wear long pants, closed toe shoes, a hat, sunscreen and insect repellant. Bring a water bottle. too.
WORK PARTY LEADER:
The collecting will be led by Bob Retko. If you need to contact him for any reason, such a questions about possible weather delays, you may email him at: retko2001@yahoo.com or call him on his cell phone at (262) 384-0081. An RSVP is not required, however it helps to know the approximate turnout.
DIRECTIONS:
18663 West River Road, Gays Mills/Bell Center. From the park and dam in Gays Mills take West River Road south 3.3 miles. Iris Drive will be a right turn. MAP HERE
From Bell Center, take Sand Creek road to Hwy 131. At the intersection continue ahead onto what now becomes Sand Hill Rd. After you cross the Kickapoo River take a right onto West River Rd. After driving approximately 0.7 miles take a left onto Iris Drive. Iris Drive is a dead end road. There is an east parking area where there is a jog in the road and a west parking area adjacent to the neighbor’s private land.
by The Prairie Enthusiasts | Aug 31, 2026
Iris Drive Seed Collecting
Saturday, October 24 – 9:00 a.m. to Noon
Location: Iris Drive near Gays Mills, WI
Site Steward, Bob Retko, invites you to join us in seed collecting at Iris Drive Prairie, located near Gays Mills. This is one of many seed collecting work parties this fall.
Seed collection is relatively easy to do, requiring a minimum amount of time and effort in a peaceful prairie environment.
Seed collection aprons and containers will be provided. It is a great opportunity to learn more about local prairies, prairie plants and to meet new people.
WHAT TO BRING:
Volunteers are advised to wear long pants, closed toe shoes, a hat, sunscreen and insect repellant. Bring a water bottle. too.
WORK PARTY LEADER:
The collecting will be led by Bob Retko. If you need to contact him for any reason, such a questions about possible weather delays, you may email him at: retko2001@yahoo.com or call him on his cell phone at (262) 384-0081. An RSVP is not required, however it helps to know the approximate turnout.
DIRECTIONS:
18663 West River Road, Gays Mills/Bell Center. From the park and dam in Gays Mills take West River Road south 3.3 miles. Iris Drive will be a right turn. MAP HERE
From Bell Center, take Sand Creek road to Hwy 131. At the intersection continue ahead onto what now becomes Sand Hill Rd. After you cross the Kickapoo River take a right onto West River Rd. After driving approximately 0.7 miles take a left onto Iris Drive. Iris Drive is a dead end road. There is an east parking area where there is a jog in the road and a west parking area adjacent to the neighbor’s private land.
