| New Office Update By Nate Simons As some of you may have heard, we are moving! It is not a long-distance move. It is right across the road from where I am writing this piece and from where we have had our headquarters for over 20 years. We are building a 524 sq. ft. addition to our existing barn that will be our new office space. Simple and small. Two bathrooms, a storage closet, a kitchenette, and space for the crew to meet every morning (or work at desks on those rare all-day rain events). Construction has begun. I thought you might enjoy seeing the progress. |
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| We had to remove a bit of our demonstration prairie to make room for the small addition. The little prairie was planted by a small band of faithful friends of Blue Heron Ministries in December 2020. We may need to do a little touch up to the prairie once the new office is complete. |
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| Under contract with Brett Delancey’s 101 Lake Construction, the frost footer and plumbing for the bathrooms and kitchenette were completed a week later. |
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| And last week the concrete floor was poured. I got there in time (barely) to scratch into the fresh concrete “2025.” The floor will be polished, stained, and sealed for a simple, low maintenance finish. The trusses have arrived, and framing is next. We have been saving money over the years, and we have conducted a challenge match donation drive (thanks, Fred and Jackie Wooley Donor Advised Fund!). Thanks to all who have generously given towards this project so far. Our goal is to complete the new office without debt. To that end, we are hosting an open-house and fund-raising event on Sunday afternoon (noon to 3:00), October 19, at our new office space. Our new address is 2985 N 300 W Angola, IN 46703. The afternoon will feature a free luncheon catered by Fort Wayne’s beloved Powers Hamburgers (with those iconic sliders, of course); a tour of the office space in progress (that won’t take long because it is simple and small) and of our existing facilities (pardon our mess, we are in the process of seed collection and drying); a brief update of the construction progress and budget with a plea to “emPower us to reach the finish line strong!”; prairie seed gathering; and a silent auction (auctioned items include prairie plants, tree seedlings, guided nature preserve hikes, maple syrup, Blue Heron Ministries artifacts). Please join us for an afternoon of food, laughter, stories, and giving! |
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| What’s Behind Rapidly Declining Butterfly Populations in the Midwest A new study finds that butterfly populations are rapidly declining in the Midwest: https://www.cbsnews.com/video/whats-behind-rapidly-declining-butterfly-populations-midwest/ Blue Heron Ministries leads the way in Lakes Country in helping to provide habitat for our winged friends by planting acres of prairie each year. This is how we begin to take on the responsibility to make signposts of the upcoming new creation and restoration of all things. We get to build for the Kingdom come on earth (the land) as it is in heaven (the skies). We get to be part of our Father’s plan to bring the world to rights and be a part of his making-things-right project because we have been made right through Jesus. I can’t wait to see what butterflies and prairies look like on the new earth! |
| View from the Crew by Eva Curtis |
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| This month we got to do a fun planting project by extending the native prairie planting in Mongo Park! Check it out if you’re in the area! |
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| We don’t normally do a lot of growing season burns, but this month the crew got to perform a few! Here is a picture of the process. |
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| While doing some shopwork, we had a visitor…he chose to hang out with us and eat his lunch. |
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| We spotted this beautiful white fen thistle while doing a site visit on a property near Lake Gage. |
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| If you are looking to see this amazing fringed gentian for yourself, check out Duff Lake Fen at Pine Knob Park in Lagrange County! Definitely worth the hike! |
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| You can also see the grass of parnassus at Duff Lake! |
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| Here is a cute little monarch caterpillar on some whorled milkweed. |
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| A view of Lime Lake North, a nature preserve near the Michigan boarder. The area on the right side of the stream was burned this spring. Can you see any differences? |
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| While at the Indiana Land Protection Alliance (ILPA) Conference we found a plains garter snake! |
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| The ILPA conference was hosted by Shirley Heinze Land Trust at the Indiana Dunes State Park. This black rat snake is in their visitors center! |
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| We got to take a sunset hike at Indiana Dunes State Park! Check out this beautiful oak savanna. Another location worth a visit! |
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| This monarch butterfly’s color was incredibly vibrant! |
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| During our first night at the ILPA conference we got the pleasure of experiencing bat netting! We only caught this little guy! He’s a big brown bat and according to his measured weight, he is definitely stocked up for winter! |
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| This guy is also in an enclosure at the Indiana Dunes State Park visitors center. |
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| At the ILPA conference we were able to connect with lovely stewards across the state. Going to conferences like this always fills me with joy and hope knowing that there are so many amazing people taking care of this world. |
| Upcoming Events |
| Annual Native Seed Collection Every Saturday in October from 12-4PM ‘Tis finally the season for seed collection! Please join us for the next four Saturdays from 12-4PM, to collect seed from the native species that are crucial for our restoration projects! . We will meet at our office at noon and carpool to our seed collection site. Our office is located at 2955 W. Orland Rd. Angola, IN 46703 at noon and we”ll caravan to the site(s). Be sure to wear long pants, shoes you don’t mind getting muddy, and a smile! |
| Open House and Fundraising Event Sunday, October 19th from 12-3PM |
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| Our new address is: 2985 N 300 W Angola, IN 46703 Please join us for an afternoon of food, laughter, stories, and giving! |
Blue Heron Ministries 