Volunteers Needed at the Lusk Heritage Kitchen Garden, Turkey Run State Park

Contact Mary Sullivan (sullivanm50@protonmail.com) or Brooke Meschen (meschen5@gmail.com) for more information about dates/times.

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FREE Purdue Extension Parke County and the Rockville Rotary are excited to invite you to this fourth in a monthly series of Community Garden Lessons at the Parke County Community Garden (413 S. Hwy 41, Rockville, IN (about one mile south of the junction Highways 41 & 36).  Everyone is welcome and encouraged to come.

For more details and future lessons see the attached flier.

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ReportINvasive Summer Virtual Series starts June 20^th

Join Purdue U. Exotic Forest Pest Educator, Bob Bruner, via Zoom at the ReportINvasive Summer Series that starts on June 20^th.   

If you want to register for any program, just visit https://ag.purdue.edu/reportinvasive/programs/ .  Once you click on the “Register” button for a program, you’ll be sent to the registration form.  Once you submit your registration, you will receive an email with the Zoom link immediately (please check the spelling of your email address).  Then, the day of the webinar, just open the Zoom link at 6:00 pm EST. 

 All programs start at 6pm EST

June 20^th – Hammerhead Worm: Yes, It’s Still Alive

July 11^th – A Close Look at Oak Wilt

July 25^th – Asian Bush Honeysuckle: 2024 Update

August 8^th – The Impact of Chestnut Blight

August 22^nd – Emerald Ash Borer: Is Ash Protection Worth It?

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Jackson-Schnyder Tallgrass Prairie Hike – July 20^th

FREE Everyone is invited to a tallgrass prairie hike at the Jackson-Schnyder Nature Preserve, west of St. Mary-of-the-Woods College, on Saturday, July 20 from 10:00 to 11:30 am.  Phil Cox, Purdue University Extension Educator, and Dr. Jim Nardi, University of Illinois Research Entomologist (retired), will lead hikers on the Julius Trail around the 4-acre tallgrass prairie identifying the native and invasive flora, pollinators, and other insects of the prairie along the way.  Ten species of native grasses and sedges, including Big and Little Bluestem, Indian Grass, and Prairie Dropseed; and 38 species of native forbs including Wild Quinine, Dense Blazing Star, Mountain Mint, Wild Senna, Compass Plant, Culver's Root, White False Indigo, and Rattlesnake Master were drilled into this former soybean field in June 2009.  In addition, Cox will discuss recommended Indiana-native plants for attracting pollinators.  The preserve is located at 3635 W. Concannon Ave., West Terre Haute, IN 47885. To get to the Jackson-Schnyder Nature Preserve, take Hwy 150 to St. Mary’s Ave and turn west, drive past the St. Mary-of-the-Woods College main entrance, continue west and turn left on Bloomtown Road, go under the railroad and turn right on Concannon Ave. and just past the bridge is the roadside entrance (on the right) to the Preserve. No reservations are required for this easy, free family-friendly hike.  Please follow OLC on Facebook or email ouabachelandconservancy@gmail.com for more information.

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Monarch Butterflies – July 23^rd

The Parke-Vermillion Master Gardener Association will host Monarch butterfly hobbyist and Purdue Extension Master Gardener, Brenda Alabaugh on Tuesday, July 23^rd at 5:30 pm at the Parke County Extension Office (1472 N US Highway 41, Rockville, IN).  Brenda will share her passion about raising Monarch butterflies from eggs to butterflies then releasing them to increase their population.  Her experience has taught her many things and given her an appreciation of the delicate life cycle of the Monarch. She will discuss her experiences and how to aid Monarch survival by planting nectar and host plants in your home landscape.  Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.  Purdue University is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution.

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Moth Night Out at Atherton Island Natural Area – July 27^th 

FREE In celebration of National Moth Week, Ouabache Land Conservancy is offering a night out on the prairie at Atherton Island Natural Area in southwestern Parke County on July 27th. This is for all nature

enthusiasts that would like to learn about prairie, creatures of the night, “foxfire”, and skygazing.  An optional easy walk around the prairie will start at 8:30 pm to discover what flowers are blooming for

our native pollinators. After dark (about 9:30 pm) we’ll attract and identify many species of moths, beetles, ant lions, and other insects up-close on a large white sheet. Participants will see the many different moth patterns, colors, and behaviors, as well as learn about the essential role of moths as pollinators. Information about what native plants to plant for moths and other pollinators will be shared, as well as, information about how to contribute to community science by reporting moth/butterfly sightings through the Great American Indiana Nature Lepidoptera Project (GAINLP). We also hope to capture images of flying squirrels, white-footed mice, and other creatures attracted to an LED red light and sunflower feeder set up in the nearby woods. In addition, we’ll be monitoring bat activity with the aid of a bat detector. Lastly, we’ll also see the fascinating fungi of Atherton Island known as “foxfire” that begin to glow after dark and have a telescope available to do some skygazing by the nearby campfire.

Moth Night Out is a free family-friendly event (no pre-registration required) and will be held at Atherton Island Natural Area, with parking available at 6540 W CR 800 S, Rosedale, IN (near Lyford, about 0.7 miles east of Hwy 41).  Please carpool as much as possible as parking is limited and overflow parking will likely be used. The optional prairie walk will start at 8:30 pm, with nocturnal activities from 9:30 pm to 11:00 pm. Water and an accessible porta-potty will be provided.  Please bring your own tick/mosquito repellent as needed.

Ouabache Land Conservancy serves the west-central Indiana counties of Clay, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan, Vermillion and Vigo. For more information, visit: www.ouabachelandconservancy.org , follow OLC onFacebook, or email ouabachelandconservancy@gmail.com .

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Purdue Small Farm Education Field Day - July 25^th

Purdue Extension is presenting its annual Small Farm Education Field Day on July 25^th at the Purdue Student Farm, West Lafayette, IN.  Register at: https://am.ticketmaster.com/purdue/smfarm

Purdue Small Farm Ed Field Day Schedule

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WEED WRANGLE - Jackson-Schnyder Day – August 17^th (Volunteer Opportunity)  

FREE The Ouabache Land Conservancy (a 501(c)3 land trust) invites everyone to the 6th annual "Jackson-Schnyder Day" celebration on Saturday, August 17th from 10:00 to Noon. This Weed Wrangle ® will celebrate the legacy and land ethic of Dr. Marion Jackson and Julius Schnyder, the preserve's former owners and namesakes.  Harmful invasive plants will be cut and treated with herbicide in the
preserve’s 4-acre tallgrass prairie and the woodlands as time and volunteer participation permits. Please bring loppers, work gloves, and water.  Those items will be supplied to those as needed as supplies last.  The address of the preserve is 3635 W. Concannon Ave., West Terre Haute, IN 47885. To get there, take Hwy 150 to St. Mary’s Ave and turn west, drive past the St. Mary-of-the-Woods College main entrance continuing west and turn left on Bloomtown Road, go under the railroad and turn right on Concannon Ave.  Just past the bridge is the roadside entrance (on the right) to the preserve. No reservations are required.  Sponsors include: Vigo Invasives Management, ISU Office of Sustainability, and SICIM (State of Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management).  Vigo Invasives Management (VIM) is a volunteer organization focused on the education and eradication of invasive plants. VIM meets the 2nd Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at the Vigo County Public Library.  Ouabache Land Conservancy (OLC) serves the west-central Indiana counties of Clay, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan, Vermillion and Vigo.  For more information, to donate or join, please visit: www.ouabachelandconservancy.org, follow OLC on Facebook, or email ouabachelandconservancy@gmail.com.

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Microirrigation Workshop for Small-Scale Farms- September 4^th  

FREE This workshop is at the Southwest Purdue Ag Center (4369 N. Purdue Rd., Vincennes, IN 47591), from 3:00 – 8:00 PM EST.  FREE dinner is included and registration is required. Limited to 50 participants.