NEWSLETTER
Save Energy with Us
Annette Wittrock, Naturalist
It seems that every conversation these days includes talk about the cost of fuel, food, or just about everything else. I also hear much talk about the use of our non-renewable natural resources such as coal, oil and natural gas. The price keeps going up, and the supply keeps going down.
Many of us will be changing or have already changed our summer plans due to a tighter than usual budget. Don’t let these things keep you from enjoying your summer to the fullest.
We, at Wapello County Conservation Board, feel there is no need for you to stretch your budget, when you can enjoy summer right here in Wapello County. WCCB has 11 sites totalling over 1,700 acres. Each site has unique characteristics and history.
Why drive somewhere else to go fishing when you can fish at any pond at Pioneer Ridge Nature Area or at Sycamore Wildlife Area? The Des Moines River can be accessed for fishing from Rock Bluff Park and Grey Eagle Wildlife Area.
You don’t have to travel far to see unique and rare species of animals
and plants. Plan a visit to the Eddyville Sand Dunes, and you will not be
disappointed. The sand prairie itself is one of a kind. It is one of the most
complete and fragile sand prairie communities in Iowa. The area is home
to the rare ornate box turtle and many plants not found in any other place
in Iowa. This is a great place to enjoy a day of photography and wildlife
viewing.
Garrison Rock is also home to a unique plant species, the walking fern. It grows near horse thief cave. The history of the Garrison Rock will take you back to a time when Native Americans inhabited the area. More recently, European settlers moved in and a Pioneer Cemetery can be found on a bluff top. Stories tell of horse thieves who hid stolen horses in the cave and moonshiners using the area. A spectacular view of the Des Moines River and surrounding land is just another reason to visit this site.
These are just highlights of all Wapello County Conservation Board has to offer you this summer and all year round. You can attend one of our many public programs or plan visits on your own. Either way, enjoy your summer without the worry of spending too much on gas, food and lodging.
Updating the Trail System
Paul Totten, Conservation Technician
Once again, the changing season beckons adventurous spirits to pursue the wandering ways found at Pioneer Ridge Nature Area. These ways are hedged by a flush of new growth, sprinkled with flowers and grasses, and guarded by the watchful eyes of nesting birds.
Horseback riders, hikers, bicyclers, and joggers utilize the extensive system of trails here. Now individuals and groups of every kind will find several improvements intended to make trail navigation easier.
Located at each parking area, where people may launch their adventure, we’ve set kiosks with trail information and maps. These are large, red-roofed structures no one can miss.
Along the trails, at areas where trail spurs intersect, smaller trail maps are contained in viewable boxes that show where the viewer is in relation to the entire area. Becoming lost on Pioneer Ridge’s trails may not be the adventure you were looking for.
Adjacent to the horse trailer parking lot, we’ve also added a loafing shed containing four semi-shaded stalls for horses to be rested temporarily. Future plans include additional improvements for horseback riders that will soon enhance the Pioneer Ridge experience for one of our biggest user groups.
We are always looking for ways to improve our trail system and welcome any assistance or ideas from the good people that visit us. We invite you to fan the flames of your spirit of adventure and come out to Pioneer Ridge - where spirit and nature can meet!
Spring in Eldon at the AGHC
Jessica Strom, AGHC Administrator
If you haven’t been down to Eldon, Iowa recently to check out the visitors’ center, you’ll find that things are happening! Of particular note are the nearly 500 bare root trees we added this spring, the 250 kids from Cardinal Schools who toured our facility within one week, the installation of a new exhibit about how Grant Wood ended up in Eldon to discover this famous house, and the replacement and completion of the concrete sidewalks, viewing circle, and parking lot.
Over the last year, volunteers and conservation board staff members have helped plant a number of trees on the grounds of the visitors’ center. The trees planted this spring included Black Chokeberry, Serviceberry, Gray Dogwood, Arrowwood, and Red Cedar. These native plants will soon grow quite large and serve as a rustic hedge shielding the view of the City sheds and work piles from the eyes of visitors.
Tina Denly, the art teacher from Cardinal Elementary, chose to bring all of her students from preschool through 5th grade out to the center this spring. For four days, we had nearly 65 kids on site each day learning about Grant Wood, American Gothic, and the house that inspired the painting. They then had an opportunity to draw their own version of the house or color in a version of the painting.
This spring saw the culmination of research collaboration between volunteers, Kristy Raine from Mt. Mercy library, and myself in the form of a new exhibit about how Grant Wood decided to visit Eldon. It was this visit that led to his discovery of the house that inspired him to paint “American Gothic.” Therefore, as you will learn from the new exhibit, we have John Sharp and Edward Rowan to thank for putting Eldon on the map. We were quite fortunate to receive grant monies from Alliant Energy to help cover a portion of the expense of this new exhibit.
With the sun of spring, came new concrete. The American Gothic House Center was pleasantly surprised when they received a bid to have the concrete work redone. The surprise was that there was enough money left in the building fund to pay for a concrete parking lot. Goodbye walking through mud and gravel, and hello cleaner floors! Not only that, but check out the detail work Todd Chickering and his crew put into the viewing circle.
So we had an exciting spring, and we are
heading full force into an exciting summer with
a 5K Run/Walk, 20+ Mile Bike Ride, American
Gothic House Art Contest, a presentation of
Grand Wood: Prairie Rebel by Tom Milligan,
and simply lots and lots of visitors. The first
three of these events are in celebration of the
town’s annual Gothic Days weekend, June 13-15. You can register by calling 652-3352. The
unique presentation by Tom Milligan is open to
the public and funded through the Humanities
Iowa Speaker’s Bureau program. For more
information on these upcoming events, see
pages 4 & 5.
Meet the Staff
Josh, Maintenance Technician
Hello. My name is Josh Batterson. I am the new maintenance technician at the Wapello County Conservation Board. I am excited to be a part of the staff and hope to contribute to bringing new opportunities to the conservation board.
I grew up in Davis County and graduated from Davis County High School. After high school, I attended Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo, Iowa where I received an AAS degree in Natural Resources Management.
After College, I began work for Local FSA offices where I assisted landowners on conservation practices. After that, I went to work for the Department of Natural Resources at the Wapello Wildlife Unit in Keosauqua, Iowa.
My most recent work experiences include working for the Mahaska County Roadside Vegetation Program. I also worked for the City of Bloomfield as the parks and recreation director.
I am looking forward to providing the public with a unique outdoor experience at Pioneer Ridge and our other conservation Areas.
Camp Cooking
Annette Wittrick, Naturalist
Camping season has arrived. Camping means different things to everyone who participate in it. For me, camping means putting up a tent, sleeping in a sleeping bag on the ground, fishing, starting a fire, and cooking what I catch (if I actually catch something). I will make it through mosquitos, wind, and rain to get a little camping in.
I also enjoy the times I get to take students out for a night of camping. Many of these students have not had the chance to camp in a tent much less put it up themselves.
More fun and more important than the way the camping is done, is the food you eat while camping. I don’t care if you have an RV with air-conditioning, you still want to eat well in the outdoors. With this in mind, I have thought up some of the best camp food recipes I have tried and enjoyed. These go beyond cooking hotdogs and s’mores over the fire, but they are still easy enough to take along and prepare.
The first recipe is for those of you with venison left in your freezer. I stick with the simple yet tasty vanison kabobs. This meat can be prepared and marinated prior to leaving for the caming trip. I marinate the veison in a mixture of olive oil, two cloves of garlic (pressed or minced), onion salt, and black pepper for at least overnight. When the time comes, place the marinated venison on skewers with vegetable of your choice. I usually use green peppers, mushrooms, andn onions. Cook over the fire until cooked through, marinate occasionally while cooking, and serve to the hungry folks around the fire.
Recipe number two is for those who can provide fresh fish for the table. Fillet the fish you just pulled from the water. Place said fish in foil with butter or olive oil, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Create a pouch with the foil, and place it over or in the fire (depending on how hot it is). Flip frequently so as not to scorch the fresh fish. I serve with veggies cooked in a separate aluminum foil pouch. Recipe also works well with frozen fish.
For those kids or kids at heart out there, campfire pizza is the way to go. Large pita bread is the base for the pizza. Assemble like a normal pizza: sauce, mean, vegetable of choice, and shredded cheese. Place the campfire pizza on foil above a low heat fire until the cheese is melted and ingredients are heated through. If the fire is too hot, the bread will burn before the cheese melts.
Another side dish favorite of mine is corn on the cob. I soak the corn in water for at least a half hour before cooking. Keep the husks on, but remove most of the silk from the top. Placed the corn on a grate above the fire. Turn the cobs frequently and mist with water to keep from burning the husks. Cook until the corn is tender and serve with your main meal. It goes very well with brats or hot dogs.
No matter how you camp this summer, be sure to eat well along the way.