HC: It’s
been more than ten years since the first edition of your book was published.
What has changed in the world of prairie reconstruction since then?
CK: It appears that the science behind
reconstructed prairies has advanced with regard to the importance of species
diversity. Diversity is a stability issue. The higher the species diversity,
the more stable the area will be in the long term, and it will have many fewer
weed or invasive species problems.
HC: You’ve
written a new chapter about establishing prairie in old pastureland. Do you
advise potential restorationists to focus on working with pastureland, or would
other sites be preferable?
CK: Old pastures present new challenges
and often have a reservoir of native species that can be preserved or enhanced.
Old pastures are also often hilly and less suitable for intensive farming and
should be maintained as pastures or for wildlife habitat. Restoring them to high-quality prairie can
also enhance their water-holding ability.
HC: You’ve
also written a new chapter about using herbicides, which must have taken quite
a bit of research. Is it possible to establish and maintain a prairie
reconstruction without using herbicides?
CK: You may be able to establish a
prairie without the use of herbicides; however, they are often only used during
a specific phase in the establishment process or for a very specific problem on
a small scale. If you are trying to establish a large area, it may not be
possible to deal with the equally large problems without the herbicides. Most
of the time you will not rely on them for long-term use.
HC: You’ve
got twenty-five-plus years of experience with prairie reconstruction under your
belt. What do you wish you had known when you started this adventure?
CK: I feel that not knowing what you are
in for may be an advantage. If you knew how hard the work was going to be or what
the risks are, you might not try it.
HC: You
have interns working in your plantings each year. How would someone find out
about interning with you?
CK: We welcome visitors year round and
are always happy to have them become involved in our operation. College
students often need work experience in the field of land management, which fits
into our need as well.
HC: You
are also a professional photographer. How do you find time and energy to merge
your restoration work, your seed-production operation, and your
photography?
