Time Flies When You're Sitting at Your Desk
Posted by Amy Jones on May 5, 2008 - 16:55 PM
This blogging gig is not easy! I’m more than a little embarrassed that it’s been almost a year since I last blogged. A YEAR! Part of my job description is website management. I have a desk job. I should have time for this.
It’s not that I haven’t had anything to write about in the last 11 months. Thinking back, I’m amazed at everything that has happened. It’s hard to know where to start, but here goes.
We had a great harvest last fall, and I was lucky enough to participate. Imagine thinking you have a desk job but finding out you get to learn to drive a combine! And I did. On several beautiful fall days (and a couple not-so-beautiful ones) I got to drive a combine through a field of tall grass all day. I saw countless birds, deer and cloud formations, and learned a little more about all that goes into high-diversity prairie restoration. Suffice it to say that Mike (our restoration ecologist) works his tail off. Between the combine, the seed stripper and much hand collecting, Mike and Bill filled the curvette with a mix of over 200 species of seed that makes the planting we do different than any other.
The winter months were busy with fundraising. We were fortunate enough to spend time with many generous people who appreciate the work of the Institute and its potential. Thanks to our members, corporate sponsors and several foundations, we raised funds for general operating expenses and the Charles L. Whitney Education Center. In fact, we met our first phase goal of $300,000 for the Center, which means the first level of the building can be completed in 2008!
In December I also got away from my desk to help Mike plant. Did I mention that Mike works his tail off? Anyway, my assignment was to drive the four-wheeler that pulled Mike’s four-wheeler that pulled the spreader full of seed. Through the snow. Deep, wet, snow. Oh, and it was cold and windy. But it was so much fun. The area we planted is beautiful and will be even more so once the planting matures. It’s a pretty incredible feeling to know you’ve made a change to the landscape that will last for generations. And driving around in the snow is pretty cool, too.
Since I last blogged we hosted a number of great volunteer work days and special events. Whether we’re working or hiking or just relaxing, it’s always fun to spend time with people who support and encourage the mission of the Institute.
Already this spring we’ve gotten signs put up on two of our properties, which I think makes the properties and Prairie Plains even more approachable. We’ve also enjoyed some incredible migrating birds, the prescribed burn of Griffith Prairie (you’ve got to check out the photos in the Preserves Scrapbook ) and more construction progress on the Center. In three weeks we’ll host our Annual Prairie Festival at Griffith’s and July will mark Flight 17 of SOAR. To make things even more exciting, Mike has found a home for all of the seed we picked last year. All of it. That adds up to a lot of new prairie.
So do you feel caught up now? I could tell more, but I’ve heard blogs should be kept short. I’m promising myself to blog more regularly. I’ll make the time. Unless I’m out picking…or burning…or SOARing. I guess I don’t really have a desk job after all.
