We’ve been reminded this season that there’s wisdom in the land itself. What it’s telling us if we’re willing to listen. The lesson of diversity there is ever-present and we talk a lot on this show about how plant diversity makes a prairie stronger and more resilient. We can use basically the same logic to show how human diversity can make prairie conservation stronger and more resilient.

Minnesota DNR Prairie Pod

Seeds of Wisdom from the Prairie: how listening to stories from a diversity of cultures perfects our prairie understanding

On today’s podcast, we’re talking Climate Change Consequences: how the weather will determine how your prairie weathers. Climate change is a bigger topic than ever today—we’re seeing evidence of it around us all of the time—6” rain anyone? No longer can we talk about climate change strictly as a future phenomenon: it’s happening now.

Climate Change Consequences: how the weather will determine how your prairie weathers

Today’s podcast is talking about the importance of prairie structure with our very special guest, The Nature Conservancy’s Director of Science and Prairie Ecologist, Chris Helzer. Diversity, restoration planning and design, and management choices, all play a role in how we achieve different prairie structures to benefit a wide variety of wildlife species.

Beyond the walls of grass: the importance of structure in a prairie (Restoration Series)

Today’s podcast is talking about the legacy of restoration in Minnesota. We have two very special guests, Dr. Gina Quiram (DNR Restoration Evaluation Specialist) and Dr. Sue Galatowitsch (Professor, Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology at the University of Minnesota) who have been actively working to evaluate reconstructions. We know they’ve got the goods on lessons learned, common mistakes, and the future of restoration in Minnesota.

The legacy of restoration in Minnesota (Restoration series: common mistakes and lessons learned)

Today’s podcast is part 2 of our invasive species support group. If you missed last week’s episode go check it out so you can be caught up on how to manage the struggle with smooth brome and Kentucky bluegrass.

Invasive species support group Part 2: how to cope with Kentucky bluegrass and smooth brome

Today’s podcast is continuing our mental health theme and featuring an invasive species support group. Have you ever struggled with smooth brome or Kentucky bluegrass in your prairies or reconstructions? Well, help is on the way!

Invasive species support group Part 1: how to cope with Kentucky bluegrass and smooth brome

On today’s podcast we’ll be chatting with Verónica Jaralambides, DNR’s Marketing Consultant with the Division of Parks and Trails as well as local medical doctor, Ann Vogel where they share with us prairie’s importance as a mental health refuge. Need a brain break? This is just the ticket.

Prairie’s importance as a mental health refuge

Today’s podcast is talking about grazing grasslands. Grasslands rely on disturbance for their survival. The challenge is building disturbance back into a landscape that’s deeply fragmented. Luckily we have two smart scientists: Kent Solberg (sustainable farming association) and Amber Knutson (DNR Assistant Area Wildlife Manager) to walk us through adaptive management grazing, their successes and challenges, and of course figuring out how to get grazing animals back on the prairie when the historical pattern is largely unknown and some historical grazers no longer roam widely or free.

The How not the Cow (Restoration Series: Grazing Grasslands)

Today’s podcast is talking about a very special occurrence that happened right here in southern Minnesota just outside of the City of Mankato. It’s a story of healing, Dakota history, ecology, and restoration of a landscape that has been reduced to just under 2% of its native range in Minnesota.

Tohan tataŋkaḣca kiŋ hdipi (When the Bison Came Home)

Today’s podcast is talking about ssssnakes! Don’t get scared, snakes are a super important part of the prairie. Whether we’re talking the fabulous bluff prairies of the east or the majestic expanses of prairie in western Minnesota, snakes are an important piece of what makessss prairies function.

Snake, Rattle, and Roll: Minnesota’s bluff prairies in summer to cozy hibernaculum in winter

The Minnesota Prairie is a legacy that connects us through the sounds, sights, smells and memories for all who are lucky enough to stop and take notice. This year, for the holiday #prairiepod we offer you the power of prairie through the voices of people who share our passion. We hope you’ll laugh, cry, and lose yourself for a little while in the stories of what prairie offers us: the power to make us whole again. We recommend a blanket, fuzzy slippers, a mug of hot chocolate, and at least 20 cookies as you listen. #discovertheprairie

Holiday Bonus Episode! (Stories from the Field)

On today's podcast, we're covering Part 2 of our special bonus episode where we're offering you a virtual way to connect with each other and answer your questions! If you missed it, make sure you check out part one because it covers your questions about prairie reconstructions in the establishment phase, how to balance cost, nesting sites for bees and dealing with climate change. This episode covers questions related to restoration management: how can I make my prairie more diverse, what to do about weeds, and how to burn and provide refugia for pollinators. Special thanks to our partners (MnDNR, Prairie Reconstruction Initiative, The Nature Conservancy, UMN Bee Lab, and USFWS) from our Restoration and Pollinator Field Days Team. #prairietuesdays just got even better in September! For resources and more details related to today's episode, find us on the web at mndnr.gov/prairiepod

Land manager take-over part 2

Today's podcast is a land manager takeover. We'd much rather be in the field with you sharing this knowledge and learning from you and your experiences, but we're still excited to offer you this virtual field day with all of the original partners that would've been in the field with you: MN DNR, UMN Bee Lab, TNC and PRI. Establishment phase challenges, cost, climate change, host plants, and creating nesting sites for pollinators are just some of the questions you asked and we answered. We think these are great Q+A and we're not pollen your leg, either! For resources and more details related to today's episode, find us on the web at mndnr.gov/prairiepod

Land manager take-over part 1

On today's podcast, we're getting back to our roots with Justin Meissen with the Tallgrass Prairie Center in Iowa. We'll be digging deep and I mean really deep because we're talking about prairie roots, people! Some prairie roots have been documented to grow more than 14' into the ground and that's not even counting how far they can go horizontally! We'll learn more about the intricate underground world that makes prairies one of the most productive places on earth! For resources and more details related to today's episode, find us on the web at mndnr.gov/prairiepod

Getting back to our roots: prairies do it best

Today's podcast we are going to cover the Grassland Monitoring Team. Did you know even prairies need a health check-up? Turns out, there's a whole team of scientists invested in assessing the health of Minnesota's prairies! Diversity, resilience, and persistence are all top marks we want to see on this health exam. For resources and more details related to today's episode, find us on the web at mndnr.gov/prairiepod

The Minnesota Prairie gets a health check-up (Grassland Monitoring Team)

The Prairie Pod podcast engages natural resource professionals and land managers in the latest prairie-related science and practical experience related to prairie restoration. You'll hear discussions from a variety of experts, tackling the complexity, challenges and beauty of Minnesota's prairie landscape. For resources and more details related to today's episode, find us on the web at mndnr.gov/prairiepod

hubhopper

Minnesota DNR Prairie Pod

hubhopper