The Circle Pines Center Land Use Committee has been planning a prescribed fire on a demonstration plot on the corner of Mullen and Norris Roads. Ahead of this planned fire, this workshop aims to explain how trained volunteers will safely conduct a prescribed fire. We’ll also discuss some of the rationale for conducting regular controlled burns. The benefits of burning include, but are not limited to: reduction in woody invasive shrubs including multiflora rose and autumn olive; enhanced wildflower seed germination and blooming the spring following the burn; and increased competitive advantage for more valuable oak and hickory seedlings over maple. Students at the workshop will be empowered to participate in our prescribed burning efforts along with the Land Use Committee’s crew. There is no cost to attend the workshop, however donations will be accepted to support land management at Circle Pines Center.

ZOOM Workshop link for attending March 20th.

About the presenter:

Badger Johnson is a young educator (M.S. in Agroforestry from University of Missouri) with experience in prescribed fire, wildland firefighting and fire ecology. They serve on the board of the Woodcock Nature Preserve in New Marshfield, OH, which hosts a prescribed fire training for volunteers every autumn. As the head of the Woodcock's prescribed fire program, they use annual burning to manage a 45 acre native warm season grass and wildflower patch. Happily, some successful goals of this practice have been the return of northern bobwhite quail to the preserve (!), increased food for local honeybees and native pollinators, and opportunity to cost-effectively establish medicinal herbs for use by local healers.

The Land Use Committee seeks to aid Circle Pines Center's mission of environmental stewardship by educating the staff, board, members and friends about the vital importance of holistic and sustainable land use practices. We are committed to being a part of the most current land use thinking that honors the sound knowledge of the indigenous past to ensure our long-range future. Additionally, as in the earliest days of Circle Pines, the Land Use Committee works as a partner, a cooperator, within our local network of conservation players to achieve greater conservation goals.