| Seed Collection Wrap-up by Beth Williams Each spring and summer, I wonder how the local prairies that I’m familiar with will change. I wonder how the weather last year will have affected growing rates and seed production, and how the weather and management methods this year will determine what grew best and what species will be prolific. I wonder what I’ll find in our family’s prairie this year, that I didn’t see last year. |
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| An early morning walk through our prairie, in late July. |
| This year my seed harvest season started earlier than normal, when Nate asked me to learn some new species and start collecting sedges in June. It was a challenge to fit it in to an already busy schedule, but it was rewarding to learn new plants and new places. |
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| Nate showing me Carex pellita at IDNR’s Marsh Lake Nature Preserve. |
| As our family goes about the day to day, I survey the roadsides and undisturbed areas. Our children have become accustomed to (but not necessarily comfortable with) me stopping to attempt to ID something and sometimes harvest along the roadside. They frequently join me in the field and learn along with me. |
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| My daughter Rachel, collecting Baptisia leucantha at a prairie near Clear Lake. photo credit: Jennifer Maxwell |
| We see changes in the prairie, when we head out to hand harvest the native seed. Some species are prolific and are in the same places and continue to provide year after year. Sometimes, we walk in circles thinking “Am I in the right spot? I was certain we collected that here, last year”.For me, seed collection is a very rewarding experience. It’s interesting to visit new sites and learn new plant species. It’s fun to meet with friends and reconnect with each other and with God. It’s satisfying to see the seed room fill up from our labor. It’s fulfilling to then use that seed to plant a new prairie and begin the cycle again.We thrive on sharing and learning with others. We’d be thrilled if you’d join us this December, when we use the seeds collected this fall, to plant a new prairie in Angola. Check the Upcoming Events for more information. |
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| Heading out on Trail 8 at Pokagon State Park, on October 29th. photo credit: Jennifer Maxwell |
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| Alexis made a new friend in the prairie. photo credit: Jennifer Maxwell |
| Friend of Creation by T. M. Moore God reveals Himself through two portals. Columbanus And do not wonder that the beasts and birds thus obeyed the command of the man of God. For we have learned from Chamnoald, royal chaplain at Laon, who was his attendant and disciple, that he has often seen Columban wandering about in the wilderness fasting and praying, and call the wild beasts and birds. These came immediately at his command and he stroked them with his hands. – Jonas, Life of St. Columban Understand the creation, if you wish to know the Creator; if you will not know the former either, be silent concerning the Creator, but believe in the Creator. – Columbanus, Sermon … what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse… – Romans 1.19, 20 The revelation of God—of His Being, attributes, and works—comes to us via two portals: Scripture and creation. Just as we have two eyes for observing the world, so that we may properly perceive the depth, dimension, distance, and delightfulness of the things we see, so we have two “eyes” through which to contemplate our God. Columbanus insisted on the importance of discerning the revelation of God in creation. He was himself a great friend of creation, as Jonas reports. We may believe in God from the revelation in Scripture alone. In fact, as Paul indicates, apart from Scripture, we will not believe in God. Scripture is powerful to bring us to the knowledge of God. Without Scripture, it will not be possible to discern the revelation of God in creation. All our contemplations and studies of creation apart from Scripture lead to conclusions other than those God intends. God intends to make Himself known through the things of creation. Those thinkers and writers who consider creation apart from God will not end up where God intends; instead, they will end up vaunting the mysteries and glories of physics or evolution or science, which is to say, of themselves and their ridiculous schemes (Eccl. 7.29). We come to believe in God through His revelation in Scripture, in the Gospel and our Lord Jesus Christ. These open the rest of Scripture to us so that we can know God through the lens of Jesus according to God’s Word. Columbanus cautioned against saying too much about God if you choose to remain ignorant of His revelation in creation. What a strange admonition! But think about it: How many ways in Scripture does God refer to the creation to make something known about Himself? By appealing to clouds, stars, the sun and moon, rain, frost, wind, snow, thunder and lightning, flowers, trees, mountains, creatures of all kinds, and so much more, God speaks to us about Himself. He assumes that we will understand something about all these things, so that we can perceive the witness to Him which they offer. Further, as we experience such things during our daily life, we are reminded that God made them, sustains them, is revealing His glory through them, and by them furnishes His grace and bounty for our care and nurture. Thus, the more we know about creation, the better we will know the Lord and be able to give Him thanks and bear witness to His greatness, goodness, faithfulness, and steadfast love. As God speaks to the world through creation, so should we. We are docents of the glory of God in the vast museum of creation. Our calling to God’s Kingdom and glory (1 Thess. 2.12) entails us being able to perceive the revelation of God which He has set in creation and to declare Him and His many excellencies to the world (Prov. 25.2). Would you describe yourself as a friend of creation? How familiar are you with those aspects of creation that you encounter every day? The trees, birds, seasons, skies, landscape, plants, and all the rest? Is this just so much stuff for you? Or do you find in all these things the beckoning voice and shimmering presence of the glory of God? And can you talk about what you see there, not merely in terms of the creatures in your environment, but of how they reveal the glory of God and serve the purposes of His redemptive plan (Ps. 119.89-91)? Wouldn’t it be exciting and wonderful to hear the voice of God in the things He has made? We have a Friend Who sticks closer than a brother, and Who reaches out to us daily from His Word and from His world. Let’s make sure we seek Him in both places. For Reflection 1. How much does the creation factor into your relationship with God? 2. What could you do to become more a “friend” of creation and a docent of God’s glory there? Psalm 111.1-3 (Manoah: When All Your Mercies, O My God) Praise the Lord! O let my heart give thanks here amid His chosen race! Your works are great, O Lord, and sought by all who know their grace. For Your work is full of splendor, Lord, and of majesty most pure; Your righteousness, O glorious God, forever will endure! Lord, show Yourself to me today, and help me to pay attention to all facets of Your revelation, so that… To subscribe to T.M.’s twice-weekly meditations go to https://www.ailbe.org/resources/community and click Crosfigell. |
| View from the Crew by John Brittenham |
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| Lesser fringed gentian showing off amongst marsh blazing star seed heads at LaGrange County Parks’ Mike Metz Fen. Fall is my favorite time of year, and this October has not let me down. I love the color, the weather, the waning day light, and the nostalgia of fall. As the growing season comes to an end, it is a welcome slow down to the business of the growing season. |
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| As I sat and watched a flock of Canada geese fly overhead at LaGrange County Parks’ Mike Metz Fen earlier this month, I was reminded of Aldo Leopold’s Sand County Almanac and Leopold’s love of geese. Though they are much more common today and can be quite a nuisance species, I have to agree that there is still a majestic quality to the song of geese in the fall, and I love hearing it each year. |
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| October often means the final push of the foliar spraying season. The invasive shrubs in our area hold onto their leaves longer than many of our native plants. This gives us a good opportunity to get out and spray the non-native brush, while minimizing the damage to our native species. Here the crew is working on spraying invasive brush at the Cedar Swamp Wetland Conservation Area near Fremont, IN. |
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| Maybe it was because it was so long in coming, but I’ve been mesmerized and immersed in the beauty of the fall foliage this year, even more than usual. In our work at Blue Heron Ministries, we get out and see some amazing areas right in our own backyard. This day, at LaGrange County Parks’ Cedar Lake Fen, near Howe, was a great example. As I walked around, sizing up an area for future restoration work, I couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by the beauty of the day. |
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| October is seed collection season, and I’m addicted. Most years I tell myself “I’m going to cut back on the amount of seed I collect this year.” But every year, I get to the end of October and think “How did I end up collecting all this seed again?” Here, my fellow addict Fred Wooley collects round headed bush clover on a rainy Saturday, at a remnant prairie near the Tri-State Airport in Angola. Fred and I often joke about our addiction to seed collecting and many of you know exactly what I’m talking about. Soon we may have to start a “Seed Collectors Anonymous” chapter. Don’t worry Beth, we’ll save you a seat. |
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| You can’t spend every day in the beauty of the outdoors. Recently, Madeline has been forced indoors, as she works through all the paperwork and forms required to do the amazing restoration work we get to do at Blue Heron Ministries. Here, Madeline is diligently working through the required documentation for a new large-scale restoration grant we just received. Stay tuned, our next exciting project is about to begin! |
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| Passing the torch! This October, I was again able to lead a burn crew comprised of Oak Farm Montessori high school students. This was the second prescribed fire conducted by high school students on the school’s property and has been one of my favorite projects of the past year. I wish they had a program like this when I was in high school! |
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| Students from Oak Farm Montessori collect seeds for the expansion of prairie and savanna habitats on the school grounds. In a fun twist of scheduling, I was able to facilitate seed collecting for a class my wife was substitute teaching for and two of my kids were in. It was practically a small Brittenham family reunion that day. |
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| October has also allowed for some great outdoor excursions and conversations. Recently, I was joined at LaGrange County Parks’ Mike Metz Fen by a group from Goshen College, as part of their Sustainability, Spirituality, and Ethics course. We talked about the work that Blue Heron Ministries does and why and how we do it. It was a great conversation, and I’m excited to see the leaders of tomorrow, as they think through the problems and potentials of today. |
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| It is not only the problems in native habitats that we have to fix, sometimes it’s our truck. Here, Madeline puts her tire changing skills to good use, after our silver truck got a flat. Thank goodness for floor jacks and breaker bars. Changing tires in the garage sure beats changing them in the field! |
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| One of the core values of Blue Heron Ministries is working from a place of rest. As such, employees are encouraged to take time off to rest and rejuvenate. That is exactly what my wife and I did as we took time off this month to celebrate our 17-year anniversary. We enjoyed a wonderful long weekend near Indiana Dunes State Park. Rain was threatening and large waves were crashing when we visited the Lake Michigan shoreline. It was a perfect day to get out and enjoy the beach all to ourselves. |
| Upcoming Events |
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| Thanksgiving Breakfast November 11th at 9AMJoin us for our annual Thanksgiving Breakfast! We take this time to come together, share a meal, and give thanks for the Blue Heron Ministries community. Table service and drinks will be provided, please bring a dish to share.We’ll meet at the Presbyterian Chapel of the Lakes (2955 W. Orland Rd Angola, IN 46703). To help us plan for seating, please RSVP to bwilliams@blueheronministries.org, by Friday, November 10th. |
| Annual Prairie Planting December 2nd at 1-4PM |
| Each December, some of our crew and volunteers gather to plant a new prairie. This year, we will be using some the seed that was gathered during the fall harvest to establish a small site in Angola. No experience is necessary to participate, and we welcome newcomers! We’ll meet at the Presbyterian Chapel of the Lakes (2955 W. Orland Rd Angola, IN 46703) at 1PM and caravan to the site. |
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| Volunteers in position and ready to seed the recent addition to Badger Barrens, in December of 2022 |
Blue Heron Ministries 