(Workday Report 1: April 11 Yahara River)
By Topf Wells

That would be the SWTU work day on the Upper Yahara on Saturday morning, April 11.

About 20 SWTU volunteers and friends gathered to continue to clear invasive shrubs from the Upper Yahara corridor in DeForest.  We saw hordes of honeysuckle but once we cleared some we found thriving stands of buckthorn.  The discovery provoked an interesting discussion: which is the worse invader?  My vote is buckthorn because it can hurt.

B oth fell before the brush and chain saws of SWTU and were swiftly hauled and stumps sprayed by the rest of the team.  Greg Hall of the Village of DeForest worked with us and provided donuts, rides to and from the work site, heartfelt gratitude, and, most of all, the news that we could create as many unkempt, scattered brush piles as we wanted.  Greg and his team will consolidate and compress the piles with skidsteers later.  This is a bigger deal than it might sound.  Without having to haul to only a couple of piles and without the need for trimming and stomping, we could cut and treat more and faster. Read More

(Workday report 2: April 25 Garfoot Creek)
By Topf Wells

I usually start these reports with the report before thanking folks but Pam Allen, the landowner on Garfoot Creek, gets pride of place today.  Her easement is probably the oldest DNR easement in the Black Earth Creek watershed.  She takes great care of her creek, welcomes anglers, and, as a member of the Black Earth Creek Watershed Association, is an advocate for the entire watershed.  As a high school teacher, she introduces many students to conservation and sustainable agriculture.  She is a shining example of both with her management of her farm and cattle.  Today’s project was to clear brush so the DNR can re-build the fence along the creek and an important pasture.  Grass fed beef and a protected trout stream are the ultimate goals of today’s project.  She is also an extremely gracious and generous host, providing a spread of pastries, including apple fritters, and beverages, including chocolate milk.  Folks agreed that the combination of apple fritters and pork sticks was the best SWTU breakfast ever.  Finally she ran her tractor all morning to move brush to its final resting place. Read More