On a recent Monday morning work day, while in the Harmony Prairie along Woodward Drive, a volunteer named Janet Davis spoke of the feeling of hope she gets as a result of participating in the work in the prairie. Sally Bowers, another Northside neighbor and one of the project originators, also spoke of the work at the prairie giving her a sense of harmony. It was Bowers’ comment, at the onset of the project, that gave rise to the name Harmony Prairie.
Harmony Prairie has taken shape only through the generous contributions of time, effort and financial donations of local businesses, organizations and our neighbors. The partnership with the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad has been a good one as they have helped with clearing the area of plant debris, concrete blocks and railroad ties. As the prairie is installed along their railroad right-of-way, the half-mile long stretch of prairie is creating a monarch butterfly waystation, habitat for pollinators, wildlife and birds, and a source of improved water quality for Lake Mendota.
In this first phase of the prairie installation, hundreds of native plants have been installed with the help of community members and students from Malcolm Shabazz City High School. Shabazz educator Brian Counselman completed a course section devoted to native plants and prairies and then had students join work days in the prairie for two sessions.
Two community planting days were hosted this summer with the installation of 300 native plants donated by the Dane County Land & Water Resources Department. Community members have direct-seeded an additional area with native plant seeds purchased with donations from Northside neighbors.
This summer, Bowers and Maria Francesca Drews produced a video about the Harmony Prairie project. On You Tube, search for Fourth Lake Alliance to view the video.
There is a new partnership with Vanessa Tortolano, a soil microbiologist, who is working in a small section of the prairie on a study of the use of organic soil amendments like “compost tea” and the impact on the plant community and the soil biome.
The Northside Planning Council has been providing support and is the fiscal sponsor for the Fourth Lake Alliance, the group of Northside neighbors installing the prairie. Neighbors interested in donating to the prairie project can send a donation to the Northside Planning Council and note that the funds are for the Harmony Prairie project.
The prairie installation and maintenance will continue in the spring. For more information about the project, visit the Fourth Lake Alliance Facebook page or email them at fourthlakealliance@gmail.com.
