LC Nature Park: Coffee and Calves

10/26/2023

LC Nature Park is a cornerstone nature organization in Northeast Indiana. It is a farm that has restored much of its land to pre-settlement status. That includes wetlands, prairie, grassland, and a dune. It has also established a herd of elk and a herd of bison, animals that are indigenous to the area. The education center is a beautifully restored and highly functional barn. The park partially supports itself by hosting social and educational events. One of those events was Coffee and Calves.

The presenters were from Utopian Coffee. This is a company that is involved in the whole journey of the coffee bean, from planting to drinking. Participants met in the beautiful education center with a pillar of elk antlers and a mounted bison head. The participants enjoyed baked goods and delicious and aromatic coffee while learning about the production of coffee and the challenges of a monocrop or plantation crop becoming sustainable. The journey starts with planting, growing, and harvesting. Then transportation and finally a variety of methods of roasting. By the time we had taken our sip of coffee the beans had been handled by fourteen different people.

After the presentation we all took a short hike. Our goal was to spot elk and bison calves. These were two very different animals with different behaviors. Elk can grow to 700 pounds and the males sport antlers for half the year. Still, to protect the calves they hide in the woodland. We saw a few adults and that was enough to make us smile.

Bison males can weigh up to 2000 pounds and both males and females have horns. They do not hide, the were out in the field.

It was gratifying to see both species living in the Little River Valley. Prior to settlement there were up to 60 million bison in North America. By 1884 that number had dwindled to 325. These animals that were so important to the health of the prairies and plains are precious. Prior to settlement the elk population was estimated to be around ten million.

Everything about this event was inspiring. We learned about coffee production and the challenge of growing coffee responsibly during climate change. We got to appreciate some of the five miles of trails in the park and appreciate the plant life. The herds were breathtaking. So, if you’re looking for events with pie, learning, and reason to hope, check out LC Nature Park.