“Feast of the Prairie Moon” highlights prairie efforts

September 13, 2004

On Saturday, Sept. 25, in conjunction with the rising of the full moon, a fun and educational event called the Feast of the Prairie Moon is being held for visitors at the UW-Whitewater Nature Preserve. Friends of the Whitewater Prairie and the UW-Whitewater Marketing Education Association invite the public to attend.

Feast of the Prairie Moon will begin at 4 p.m. with guided tours of the 50 acres of the preserve, which is being reconstructed into a prairie with flowers and plants common to pre-development. Currently, eight acres with more than 150 prairie species have been planted.

At 5:30 p.m., the public can enjoy a bonfire and sample prairie fare including venison, pheasant and bison. Drinks will be provided. Prairie expert Bob Ahrenhoerster will give a talk on prairie ecology. Visitors should bring a lawn chair or blanket for the presentation.

The feast follows a prairie work day beginning at 10 a.m. where volunteers will be preparing two acres in the oak savanna for seeding in October.

The prairie project recently received new funding through a Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program through the United States Department of Agriculture. The program reimburses up to $10,000 over ten years those activities that relate to site preparation, planting and follow-up maintenance.

For more information or to get involved in the work day, contact project coordinator Richard James at (262) 472-4993 or email jamesr@uww.edu.