Learning from the Land: Prairie Field Day at Atherton Island

Credit: Vigo County Soil and Water Conservation District

Staff from the Vigo, Vermillion, and Parke County Soil and Water Conservation Districts and others recently came together for a hands-on field day focused on prairie restoration and native seed collection, all eager to learn from Dr. Jim Nardi, who helped restore two remarkable prairie sites in Parke County—one along the riverbottoms within the Healthy Rivers INitiative and another at Ouabache Land Conservancy’s Atherton Island Natural Area.

Jim shared insights into what plants would have naturally grown before these lands were cultivated, helping guide today’s restoration work. Participants spent the day walking through the prairie, learning, and collecting native wildflower seeds.

Field days like this are about more than learning techniques—they’re about reconnecting with the land, sharing knowledge, and rediscovering the wonder that drew so many of us to conservation in the first place.