Volunteers in Action

Volunteers are becoming an increasingly important part of the management of Johnson County Conservation Board (JCCB) areas. From brush cutting, to prairie and woodland seed collection, to planting projects, JCCB volunteers are taking part in many stages of the restoration and management of our native ecosystems.

We would like to invite volunteers to help us with several important projects in the coming months.

Prairie Planting: September 13, 4:30 - 7:30 p.m. at the Valley View Prairie, Kent Park.
The JCCB staff needs your help planting native prairie plant plugs in the Valley View Prairie. These plants were started at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center - Oakdale Facility, Iowa Department of Correction, from seeds collected by volunteers and staff from JCCB prairies. Many species, such as blazing star, pale purple coneflower and bundle flower, will be planted.

Volunteers are encouraged to pre-register for this event and bring along a garden trowel or dibble for digging holes. Please dress in long pants and bring gloves. Refreshments will be provided! If your schedule does not permit you to start at 4:30, come when you can. For more information or to register for this event, contact the JCCB office at 319-645-2315.

Hardwood Seed Collection
The wind storm of June 29, 1998, devastated much of the woodland around the Operation Center at F.W. Kent park. The staff has cleaned up most of the damaged material in preparation to re-establish desirable native hardwoods at this site.

This fall we will be collecting seed for the restoration of this woodland and the Johnson County Conservation Board needs your help! We are asking the public to collect hardwood seed on their property and bring it to the Operation Center at F.W. Kent Park. Office hours are Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

When collecting we ask that each species be kept separate. It is best that the seed be placed in a standard feed bag or burlap bag, this allows the seed to breathe and allows excess moisture to drain out.

Hardwood species that are needed:

Northern Red Oak	Black Walnut
Black Oak	White Walnut
White Oak	Shagbark Hickory
Swamp White Oak	Shellbark Hickory
Burr Oak

Prairie Grass and Forb Seed Collection
Prairie grass and forb seed is also needed. If you have access to native grass and forb seed and would like to collect for the JCCB, it would be greatly appreciated. We are trying to build up a large seed bank for future restorations on JCCB lands.

When collecting prairie grass seed it is important to:

• Keep each species separate

• Make sure that each species is a local ecotype

• Record the location the seed was collect and the date.Old grain bags make good collection and storage bags. Seed can be dropped off at the Operations Center at F.W. Kent Park. Office hours are Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Prairie Seed Collecting: October 28, 1 - 3 p.m. at the Valley View Prairie, Kent Park.
If you would like to learn the ins and outs of collecting native prairie grasses and forbs and would like to help collect seed for future plantings on JCCB areas, join us for an afternoon of fun.
Prairie seed collection is very important to the future of the restoration efforts of JCCB prairie areas. For example, some of the seed which was collected from the Valley View Prairie Volunteer Collection in the fall of 2000, was germinated and grown into plugs in the Oakdale facility. The plugs will be planted this fall in several of the JCCB prairies. Other seed is being saved for future restoration efforts.

Volunteers are encouraged to pre-register for this event. Please wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants and bring gloves. Refreshments will be provided! For more information or to register for this event, contact the JCCB office at 319-645-2315.