This week’s news out of the international scientific community has not been optimistic. Extreme heat, melting glaciers, unexpected rain in Greenland all makes one wonder if there is a chance of turning around climate change. Of course, the only reasonable or acceptable response is, yes. Effort on our part does not guarantee a successful outcome but no response does guarantee disaster. So, to continue to care mightily and to remember why we care about nature, recognizing that we are part of nature is critical. This past week that immersion came in the form of LC Nature Park’s Trillium Fest 2024. LC Nature Park is a unique private preserve in the heart of the historic Little River Valley. It is part of a neighborhood of preserves and nature corridors. This includes two preserves owned by ACRES Land Trust, two owned by Little River Wetlands Project and it is also located not far from Fogwell Forest, Fox Island County Park and Eagle Marsh. However, this preserve is different from its neighbors. LC Nature Preserve is a 200+ acre preserve. It works to recreate habitats and biodiversity that existed in the area prior to the introduction of European settlers. This includes wetlands, prairie, forests, and a sand dune. It includes two restored historic barns. However, most unique to the area, it includes a herd of elk and a herd of bison. The mission of LC Nature Park is to educate the public about the geology of the area, the history of the area, and the related biodiversity. This past weekend was the third annual Trillium Fest. The dune was carpeted with these beautiful spring flowers. Their blooming becomes an excuse to welcome spring and summer and all of the activities that will be occurring at the park. Trillium Fest includes volunteers who function as greeters and public educators, booths highlighting other nature-focused agencies, educational games at the education center, food trucks, elk and bison, and of course a dune carpeted in trillium. It is difficult to give in to despair and give up on working to heal a planet when you see examples of restoration and hope throughout the Little River Valley. Today’s hope came in the form of restored habitats, restored herds, children and families reveling in nature and of course, the beauty of the trilliums.
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On April 28, 2024, Eco Fest Fort Wayne sponsored a community workshop at the Allen County Public Library in downtown Fort Wayne. The presenter Freya Berntson, Northeast Indiana Native Plant Society Stewardship Chair, presented an Invasive Plant Workshop. This was part of the ACPL Earth Day Observance. The workshop did, in fact, focus on problems associated with invasive plants. I however keep referring to it as a Native Plant presentation. I suspect that is my tendency to want to focus on solutions. Freya provided solutions and strategies for a problem impacting home properties, wilderness, farmland, and community greenspaces. The talk was organized and easy to understand. She defined Invasive Plants and distinguished them from non-native plants that were not invasive and to native plants. Frey provided contacts for learning more about invasive plants. This included the USDA National Invasive Species Information Center, the Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas, and the State of Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management site. (CISMA). She spoke about how the laws to protect environments differs across states. Indiana is regulated by the Indiana Terrestrial Plant Rule 312 1AC 18-3-25. At this time our laws regulate far less plants than our neighboring states laws. The problems, as elaborated by Ms. Bentson, is that invasives our produce native plants, provide less nutrition to native animals, and alter the soil. This out competing may lead to monoculture populations of plants that lower the value of land and harm the ecology of the land. Strategies for removing invasive populations included cutting, mowing, pulling, prescribe burns, and using pesticides. There were pluses and negatives for each strategy. She also talked about the value of native plants. They are part of the local ecology, enrich the soil, feed other species, and provide for a healthier environment. Tools for identifying invasive, non-native, and native plants included: EDD Maps, PlantNet, and iNaturalist. The talk was very well received. There were many questions and the audience remained engaged during the presentation. Freya is a part of the local natrualist landscape. To be sure, she is more of the native plant-type and not to be mistaken for invasive! If you are an active greenie in the area you have met her or heard about her. The following is a brief interview with the woman who provided us with a useful and hopeful presentation on Invasive and native Plants: Question: How long have you been working in nature? Answer: Almost my whole adult life, and a couple of my teenage years (approximately 25 years)! I've worked and/or volunteered in invasive plant management, bird of prey rehabilitation, desert tortoise research, endangered Hawaiian bird aviculture, and helped hundreds of people hold a tarantula, as a few examples. Question: How did you get involved? Answer: I grew up 3 miles from Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center. I was offered a summer camp job there when I was a teen. I then started helping with bird banding and other research related activities thanks to Dave Miller. By the time I turned 18, I knew I wanted to do *something* nature based with the rest of my life. Question: Were you always involved in nature as a kid or was there a moment that changed your life? Answer: Growing up in rural Northeast Indiana, I like to say I was a "feral child." I wandered around the countryside building tree forts, swimming up to frogs in wetlands while they laid eggs. It was idyllic in hindsight. Question: What training or education do you have in your field? Answer: I have a Masters of Natural Resource Stewardship with a focus on Ecological Restoration from Colorado State University. I've completed a variety of prescribed fire certifications, and also hold a Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician certificate (because people get hurt outside sometimes!). Question: Tell us a little about the prescribed fires and the training/certification for that. Answer: The initial certification is about 35-40 hours of coursework plus a field day where you have the option to complete a pack test. The pack test is walking 3 miles, carrying 45 pounds, and you have to finish in less than 45 minutes. I've also completed Burn Manager training in Indiana and Ohio. To date, I've been on over 150 prescribed fires in IN, OH, and MI. Every fire is different, even on sites that you have helped burn before! Hands on experience in prescribed fire is the most important aspect. Question: With climate change, invasive animals and plants, and loss of habitat how do you stay optimistic? Answer: I'd lie if I said it wasn't hard sometimes! Honestly, the beauty and complexity of life awe me every day. Even in some of the more "degraded" places. I know I can't "save the world," but I can do a little here and there to try to help a little. I return to the idea of Leopold's land ethic almost daily. "A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community." I have this tattooed on me! It's not easy to know what is "right" all the time. Question: What advice do you have for young folks who are interested in pursuing a career in environmental work? Answer: Try everything. If you don't like one thing, quit and try something else. Don't commit to something you don't enjoy because it might change how you feel about everything. You will find something that you love, it just might take a while. “In Wilderness is the preservation of the world.” Henry David Thoreau. Little River Wetlands Project hosts a public forum, Breakfast on the Marsh, focused on nature every month. The forum takes place by the shores of Eagle Marsh at Indiana Wesleyan University Fort Wayne. On April 11th, 2024, the speaker was Jessica Merkling, Urban Wildlife Biologist for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Presently she is the only Urban Wildlife biologist for the DNR in Indiana. She is also a friend of LRWP. This was her fourth presentation at Breakfast on the Marsh. Jessica spoke on Urban Wildlife. This is a timely presentation because the state, like much of the world, is losing green spaces. She estimated that 2/3s of the world population would be urban by 2050. Using statistics, maps, and illustrations she should how much the state of Indiana has been altered since the arrival of European settlers. What was once mostly woodland, and wetlands is now mostly farmland and urban and industrial spaces. While the federal government can steer environmental management in much of the West, Indiana, like most the eastern United States is privately owned. In fact, she stated Indiana is 97% privately owned. It is also home to 897 different animal species. The result is that many animals are now successfully living in urban spaces. Biodiversity is important so the challenge is to find ways to accommodate wildlife and protect property and farmland. Many of the successful urban wildlife species have exhibited multiple adaptations. This included being omnivorous and changing movement and activity. This includes becoming more nocturnal. Some species have increased reproduction due to increased environmental temperatures. Others have exhibited increased tolerance of humans. Finally, human environments also provide increased variety in nutrition and diet. A number of species were discussed as examples of urbanization or increased tolerance of human activity. These included racoons, deer, robins, Canada Geese, beaver, and coyote. Jessica pointed out that some of the human created habitats encourage increased wildlife populations. An example would be expansive grassland and water sources (think parks and golf courses) are inviting to Canada Geese. Urban settings are also inviting to racoons and the fringes or borderlands, deer, and coyote. We are creating habitat. Habitat consists of water, food, shelter or cover, and space. The question is, are we going to do this in a way that encourages biodiversity or that increases damage to property and farm crops. During the summers of 2022 and 2023 Purdue University Fort Wayne directed a citizen science project focused on turtles at Eagle Marsh. Citizen Science is a resource multiplier. Scientists (in this case Dr. Mark Jordan) design the research project, develop protocols or standardized methodologies for collecting data and reporting data, and developing volunteer training strategies. The student coordinator, a biology student from Purdue University Fort Wayne, was Autumn Straessle. She trained and directed volunteers from Little River Wetlands Project as well as other students from Purdue University Fort Wayne. Training included safety procedures, transportation, and data collection. Data collection included specific location identification of the turtles, air, and water temperatures, weighing and measuring the turtles, species identification, sex identification, checking for parasites, and creating identification notches on the shell for future reference. The data was collected on standardized forms and the date was sent to Dr. Jordan. The research occurred in two locations at Eagle Marsh. The field work occurred for two weeks during the summer of each year. Turtle species that were identified included painted turtles, soft shelled turtles, snapping turtles, and the threatened Blanding’s turtle. After each day of field work the researchers and volunteers’ waders were washed down with a solution that protected the wetlands from the spread of any disease that would be a threat to other reptiles or amphibians. Equipment was also sanitized. The data tracks the status of the turtle populations as they struggle to survive automobile traffic and natural predators. Despite the focus on standardized protocols and data collection the project was a lot of fun. There was clearly a sense of camaraderie among the volunteers. The setting was inspiring. The setting included herons, geese, songbirds, and beautiful foliage. It was a world of green, or so many shades of green. I look forward to participating in Purdue University Fort Wayne turtle research at Eagle Marsh this summer. If you are interested contact the office of Little River Wetlands Project or follow their website. My Place on Earth, in the Universe, in Time, and Culture. A Response to the 2024 Total Eclipse4/14/2024 I expected that being a witness to the 2024 Total Eclipse in North America would be moving, perhaps spiritual. I was not expecting a day of connecting with sentient beings, of traveling through time, to connect as a child of earth but also of the universe. As many people can attest that day, it was a powerful and moving experience. I had planned to take part in a bus excursion. That way if one pathway led to clouded skies another pathway could lead to clear, blue skies. However, the trip would have started at Metea County Park. The trip would have been 12 hours minimum in length. I am recovering from knee surgery, I was very stiff, and I could not imagine tolerating such a long journey. So, I switched to a closer destination but one still within the path to totality. I chose to drive to Ouabache State Park. The park was approximately 20 miles from my home. This turned out to be an excellent choice. I was surprised that I was even interested in attending an eclipse, much less excited about it. However, I attended a public forum (Breakfast on the Marsh) hosted by Little River Wetlands Project. The speakers, Laura and Neil Anslie, were from the Fort Wayne Astronomical Society. They talked about the very big difference between seeing a 99% partial eclipse of the sun and a total eclipse of the sun. I was sold and needed to not miss this once in a lifetime astronomical event. Getting into the park took some patience. The line was long and slow. Once all the parking spaces were full the park would be closed to the public. That occurred 90 minutes after I arrived. This is a large park, 1,104 acres. So, while there were lots of people in the park sharing a special event you never felt crowded. The first person I met was Laura Ainslie of the Fort Wayne Astronomical Society. She had telescopes, home-made devices, and material explaining the event. I remember she said that first contact was a slow event. That would not occur for two and a half hours. So, I decided to walk around and visit the Bisons. As I walked to the Bison enclosure I stopped by a tent where park rangers and volunteers were providing history and context. That was a wonderful way to begin an auspicious day at the State Park. I learned the area was originally the site of various Miami or Myaamia People. Coming from Fort Wayne or Kekionga this did not surprise me. The Wabash River provides part of the boundary of the park. This river was an important waterway for the Myaamia. I had to remind myself that my classes on First Nations Peoples stressed that First Nation Peoples were not something of the past. True, they had a past, however, they are here with us now. That is certainly true in Fort Wayne, along the Wabash River and tributaries, and I suspect in Wells County. I found myself giving thanks for their stewardship of this land for millenniums. I prayed we would open ourselves up to learning about living in harmony with the land, the plants, the animals, and the earth as the Myaamia and other Peoples had. One of the bridges of time I experienced was the herd of Bison. The Bison are the largest mammals on Turtle Island. They were cornerstone species whose behaviors determined the fauna, the soil, and provided food for other animals. The Bison numbered 8 million in 1870 and within 20 years were reduced to 500. This intentional slaughter was to eliminate American Indian culture. It was to free the land for western style farming, ranching, and industry. It was an ecological disaster. Concerted efforts since the beginning of the 20th century have brought the Bison back from the brink of extinction. Today there are an estimated 20,500 bison in conservation herds and another 420,000 in commercial herds. The Bison are intertwined with the cultures of First Nations. The Bison continues to have an impact on local ecology. The Bison is a symbol of the State of Indiana. As I walked around the Bison enclosure watching the small herd, I felt connected to a long past, and I sensed a glimpse of a future for our planet that could include healing. The rangers and volunteers talked about the settlers in the area. The first settler cabin was erected in the area that would become the park in 1829. In the 1830s and 1840s First Nations Peoples were removed to Kansas and Oklahoma and the Euro-settling of Indiana began in earnest. This included the creation of roads, towns, schools and businesses. It also included communities anchored by Euro-ethnic traditions. I was aware that settlers were also viewed as colonizers. I read my land deed history when I got home. It started with the arrival of the Spanish in North America, followed by the French, English, and Dutch. I was acutely aware that if the land I bought was affordable that would be partially the result of stealing or “acquiring” the land. It is one of the most basic examples of White Privilege. During the 1930s, during The Great Depression, the federal government created the Civilian Conservation Corps (the CCC). The land that would become the state park was first acquired as the Wells County State Forest and Game Preserve. The CCC had a significant impact on the Preserve. They dug up and created Kunkle Lake (mostly using shovels). They grew trees. They built several shelters using Indiana stone. Almost 1600 CCC young men were stationed at the preserve between 1935-40. They created the “greatest wildlife laboratory in the United States.” They raised rabbits and raccoons, quail, and pheasants. Animal populations were restored, and animals were released for hunting. As I walked from the Bison enclosure to the shelter and to the geese at the lake I walked past a fenced in area. I asked if that was part of the wildlife laboratory. I was told it was not. It was the remnants of the Purdue University research project. They fenced in an area to see what impact wildlife was having on the forest ecology. It was impossible not to feel connected to history, people, but also animals. AS I walked toward the site where I would view the eclipse, I walked past perhaps the most iconic artifact of the CCC. I walked past the 100-foot-tall Fire Tower. It was recently restored. However, it was originally built by members of the CCC in the 1930s. It was built without power tools and without a net. There are 13 CCC fire towers still standing in Indiana. During the day of the eclipse they were all closed to the public because of the large number of visitors to each park or site anticipated. When I finally got back to my viewing site people were eating their picnic lunches. Children were playing. Laura Ainslie was telling people about the Fort Wayne Astronomical Society, the telescopes, and what to expect. The mood was one of camaraderie and excitement. The parking lot was full of cars from all over the country. Children played and adults told stories of past astronomical events. Then it began. First Contact occurred when the moon begins to pass in front of the sun. This stage is slow but exciting because we all knew it was starting. It looked as if a small piece of the sun was bitten by Pacman. This stage seemed long and did last for at least 80 minutes. Second Contact occurred when almost the entire sun was covered by the moon’s shadow. Only a spot occurred on the edge giving it a “diamond ring” appearance. This was a brief stage and herald the upcoming totality. By now the sky had gone from a bright sunny day with a few wispy clouds to an evening darkness. The temperature had also dropped and there was a quiet chill in the air. The birds, frogs, and children became silent. The adults were waiting for the moment they could remove their eclipse glasses. And then it occurred, We had Totality. The sun was covered, the rim of the sun had streamers, part of the corona. It was a very moving moment. People were silent, some sucked in their breath, some wiped their eyes. Some muttered, “oh my God” in awe. And then, to make a perfect moment even more momentous the planets Mercury and Venus appeared. They framed the lower half of the sun. When Totality ended and the eclipse moved to Third Contact. We all put our eclipse glasses back on. The slow partial eclipse, the reverse of First and Second Contact was occurring. This ended with Fourth Contact and the end of the 2024 Total Eclipse in North America. During the last two Contacts of stages people processed what they had experienced. Many took advantage of the safety lens telescope provided by the Fort Wayne Astronomical Society and attempted to take photos of the sun. From the moment I arrived at the park I knew I had made the right decision to view the eclipse. It was far more moving than I could have guessed. I loved the connections with others. I loved the silence that greeted Totality and the spontaneous cheering and applause that erupted when the eclipse moved to Third Contact. I suspect this will be the summer I visit the Fort Wayne Astronomical Society. This will be the year I am aware that I am moving about on my planet but that I actually dwell on a planet that is also moving around a solar system that is moving around a galaxy, that is moving around a universe. There are so many places to hike in Fort Wayne and the surrounding area. City parks, nature preserves, county and state parks, riverfronts, and farmland all call out to the nature lover. One of the smaller sites but also a beautiful site is the Lindenwood Nature Preserve. The preserve is a 110-acre wooded preserve. It is home to deer, raccoon, opossum, insects, amphibians, reptiles, and birds. In fact, this small preserve is home to at least 70 distinct species of bird. It is this abundance of avian diversity that was the impetuous for the creation of Feather Fest. For birds this preserve is a choice location. It is part of a semi-wildlife corridor that includes Lindenwood Cemetery, the lake and fields of the University of Saint Francis, and Rockhill Park. To the east the connects to the three rivers (the Saint Mary, the Saint Joseph, and the Maumee rivers), the St. Jospeh Watershed and eventually Lake Erie. To the west is the Little River Valley. That includes Eagle Marsh, Fox Island, ACRES’ Fogwell Forest, the ACRES Land Trust preserves on Aboite Road as well as Arrowhead and Buttonbush Bottoms Preserves, LC Nature Park and then in Huntington the Little River Landing preserve. The continental divide separates two watersheds, one going to Lake Erie and the other to the Wabash River and onto the Mississippi. No wonder there are 70 species of birds at Lindenwood Nature Preserve. This is a major flight path of many migratory birds. This is one of the reasons the Stockbridge Audubon Society often refers to Northern Indiana as one of the best birding areas in the United States. Lindenwood Nature Preserve is surrounded by traffic and development. To the south is Jefferson Blvd and the associated business and traffic. To the immediate east is Lindenwood Avenue which connects the preserve with Lindenwood Cemetery and further north to the University of Saint Francis main campus. Yet, once one enters the preserve one is confronted with the peace that comes with being in nature. That includes four hiking trails, a pond, and the sights, smells, and sounds of nature. Feather Fest is a free annual event. It includes games and educational activities for children. There are guided hiking tours. To highlight the theme of the festival Soarin’ Hawk Raptor Rehabilitation presents their birds to the visitors. Visitors are able to see and learn about raptors and about Soarin’ Hawk. The birds included the large and majestic Great Horned Owl, the small and cute Eastern Screech Owl, and the stunning Red-Tailed Hawk. At the Soarin’ Hawk table was a display to help visitors understand how bird wings adapt to their environment. Between the guided hikes, the activities, the birds, and the preserve Feather Fest is an event that reminds one of the importance of place and our connections with nature. The linked YouTube video is a dance between hiking the trails and meeting the birds, enjoy. Once a month Little Rivers Wetlands Project hosts a community forum, Breakfast on the Marsh. The forum usually takes plac at Wesleyan University Fort Wayne on the border of Eagle Marsh. The presentations focus on the environment, nature, or related policies or projects. On March 14th, 2024, the presentation was very timely. Laura and Neil Ainslie from the Fort Wayne Astronomical Society spoke on the upcoming Total Eclipse. This is not the first time that the Fort Wayne Astronomical Society and LRWP have collaborated. Last fall they gave a presentation, at night, at the LRWP Arrowhead Preserve. Afterwards they demonstrated the use of their various telescopes. As Laura likes to point out, there are two paths to an interest in astronomy. One path is through science, the other through nature. That night at Arrowhead it was both. As stated, the presentation focused on the upcoming April 8th, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse. The presentation included where the line of totality is. It addressed what to expect as it occurs (some flower species closing, temperatures dropping, skies dramatically changing}. Laura described the four phases of the eclipse. She presented various equipment for viewing the sky. She described exercises that viewers could do to better appreciate the phenomena of a total eclipse. Neil prepared the audience for what to expect should they chose to go view the eclipse at the line of totality. This would result in large concentrations of people. So, he says be prepared for the phone service to go down. Be prepared to the internet to go down. Bring cash so if you need to buy something at the store you are prepared in the event they cannot process credit and debit cards. Make sure your car gas tank is full. Neil stressed being patient, arriving early and preparing to leave late. He also suggests you bring food and water. Despite all these preparations Laura was clear, a total eclipse is a rare and wonderful event that should not be missed. To make sure that does not happen she recommends planning your trip in advance, Print out your directions. Pack food and water. Pay attention to the local weather, especially degrees of cloudiness. Finally, when you make it to your site make sure to talk to people. You are surrounded by people who are as excited by this once in a lifetime event as you are, Share the excitement.
On February 24th, 2024, the Allen County Soil and Water Conservation District held it's combined Annual Meeting and Pancake and Sausage Breakfast. This was a time to review the accomplishments and projects of 2023. I did not know what to expect. The setting was on a rural road outside of New Haven. The parking lot was full of pickups and my Chevy Spark looked out of place. When I went inside the hall I was greeted by friendly people, the aroma of fresh pancakes and sausage, and displays of successful projects. The Allen County Soil and Water Conservation District (the SWCD) had a busy year. They had hosted nine events and collaborated with allies in another eleven projects in the county. The displays highlighted some of the projects. The guest-speaker elaborated on the district’s history and future. The meeting was MCed by Chad Shaw. Like many of the participants at the meeting he had a long history of environmental activism. He is the Chair and board member of the Allen County Soil and Water Conservation District. Chad is the Superintendent of Landscape and Horticulture for the Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation department. Chad is a landscape architect and serves on the board of Northeast Indiana Water Trails. There was an election during the meeting and Chad was re-elected Board Chair of the ACSWCD and was sworn in at the meeting. He clearly brought a lot to the meeting and was a wise choice for presenting project successes and introducing the guest-speakers. Before the speakers presented the many projects of 2023 were highlighted. These included: The Urban and Small Farms Program. In this program 12 farmers and gardeners were assisted in soil testing and soil management. They also held 8 virtual workshops that reached 250 participants. The USGS and the Allen SWCD partnered on the Edge of the Field Project. This involved assisting local farmers collect water samples and test for nutrients, sediment, and critical elements. The Healthy Soils Collaboration was a project that paired the Allen SWCD and Purdue Extension and Heartland Communities. Together they created a project that was able to provide free soil testing and technical assistance to urban growers. The On Farm Demo project provided demonstration farms in the Western Lake Erie Basin. The goal was to demonstrate a variety of best management practices and the use of new technologies. The first guest speaker was Larry Clemens, the State Director, Nature Conservancy in Indiana. He is also a member of the State Soil Conservation Board. He provided the history of the events that lead to the cooperation of the counties of Northeast Indiana that protect the Maumee Watershed and the Western Lake Erie Basin. He highlighted some historical successes as well as identifying some challenges. A very different talk was given by Rhiannon Lake. She is a Conservation Programs Specialist for the Allen SWCD. She spoke on the use of drones to assess the health and impact of programs on fields and production. The last two speakers were Rod Renkenberger the Executive Director of the Maumee River Basin Commission and Michael Fruchey, the Allen County Surveyor. Together they spoke on programming to assess the health of riverways, to accurately assess floodplains, and how to work with other governmental entities. The first video captures some of the projects presented and the first two speakers. The second video focuses on Renkenberger and Fruchey’s presentation. Next year I will know what to expect and will work to interview members of the audience as well as board members and speakers. This was a meeting packed with information and that rightfully took pride in their many accomplishments. This group of environmentalists are critically important at a time when protections for wetlands are being diminished. Their focus on collaboration and education provides hope during this challenging time. Being a “greenie” requires attention to reducing your carbon footprint and embracing sustainability. Another part of being a “greenie” is reveling in nature, in being among the plants and animals and being reminded why you care so much for this home. Wild foraging is one way to accomplish both aspects of being green. There are many wild foragers with a social network presence. There are many active foragers locally in Northeast Indiana. However, one person who is mentioned continually in this context is Carrie Vrabel. Carrie Vrabel provides foraging-hiking classes in multiple settings: nature preserves, city parks, county parks, state parks, historical settings, and educational settings. She provides these services throughout the year. I have recorded her classes for the past two years. One thing is consistent, she is well known, and she is liked. She is also gifted. Carrie is a musician and song writer. She is a writer and scholar. She has multiple degrees. She has a B.A. in English and a master’s degree in library science. Carrie cares greatly about animals and the environment. And Carrie knows foraging. Ms. Vrabel did a year mentorship in Illinois learning wild food foraging. This included plant identification at all stages of development. It meant learning which plants were edible (or drinkable), which were medicinal, and which were toxic. She learned about ethnobiology; how Indigenous Peoples used food and honored the food. She also earned certification in wild mushroom identification in the states of Indiana and Michigan. Carrie’s approach to plant identification and consumption is cautious. Her hikes include guidebooks, plant identification, and highlight look-alike but toxic plants. She is also respectful of the land and the plants. There is some controversy about whether foraging is sustainable. Well, with Carrie it is sustainable and respectful of the rules of each site and the needs of the animals that live off the plants. These rules for sustainable and ethical foraging by Brianne Dela Cruz of Gather of Grow also reflect Carrie’s approach to foraging and include:
Consistent with the values and approach by this blog and the Facebook Group A Little Greener Everyday Café, Brianne also advocates that foragers know which plants and lands are sacred to Indigenous Peoples and to respect that plants and land. That includes not using the plants in a way that is culturally inappropriate. Additionally, it is important to receive permission from landowners prior to foraging on their lands. Consistent with this is to get permits if they are required before foraging on public lands. Carrie emphasizes on her hikes that preserves may be great places to practice identification, but they often do not allow foraging and that must be respected. Carrie has presented her popular class-hikes at Merry Lee Environmental Center, Solomon Farms, and many other parks, preserves, and educational settings. Our videos will cover her as she presents at LC Nature Park, Eagle Marsh, Chain O’ Lakes State Park and Fox Island County Park. Many of her attendees are repeat hikers and happy followers. The hikes are multi-generational and held throughout the year. The first video is of Carrie leading a hike at L.C. Nature Park. L.C. Nature Park is a 200-acre park with multiple environments, prairie, woodland, dunes, and wetlands. The park has five miles of trails. The Park has two historical barns with the largest one converted to the Educational Center. The park is in the historic Little River Valley and is the home to a herd of elk and a herd of bison. The park land was once the reserve of Chief Akima Neewilenkwanka of the Myaamia (Miami) Nation. The second video follows Carrie as she leads hikes at Eagle Marsh, Chain O’ Lakes State Park and Fox Island County Park. Eagle Marsh is a reclaimed wetland. It is 831 acres and has fourteen miles of trails. It is the home of deer, bats, coyote, beaver, muskrat, raccoon, mink, and otter. Over 250 species of bird migrate through the preserve. The preserve is a continental divide between the Mississippi-Wabash watershed and the Great Lakes watershed. The preserve consists of prairie, forest, sedge meadow, and wetlands. Chain O’ Lakes State Park is located 19 miles north of Fort Wayne. It is 2,718 acres, has nine lakes and 23 miles of trails. This is a very active park with fishing, boating, overnight camping, and of course hiking. A park ranger accompanied Carrie for the hike providing additional information about the trail and the plants. Finally, the video provides a slide show of Carrie’s earlier hikes at Fox Island County Park before it experienced the 2022 derecho. Fox Island County Park is a 605 acre preserve and neighbor to Eagle Marsh. 270 acres of the park is dedicated as a State Nature Preserve. This is a land of prairie, wetlands, dunes, and a land teaming with animal life. Carrie Vrabel shares her love of foraging with her community. We hope to interview her in the studio so she can also talk about her published articles and a new book she wrote. However, Carrie is not just about facts and skills. She is also about relationships. She ends each hike by sharing an herbal tea she made from one of the plants the group identified. So, sit down, get a warm cup of tea or broth, and join Carrie via video as she teaches us about wild foraging. |
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