The Sprout Quarterly Newsletter

This edition is centered around NICHES’ inspiring community. Bob Easter shares an article on the impact of invasive Japanese Stiltgrass on the ecosystem and on endangered Eastern Box turtles, encouraging locals to pull the weed when spotted. Children from the Summer Adventure Camp express their favorite memories of this years’ camp, and Summer Interns Zach Neff and Catherine Fisher recap their experience over the summer. Catherine Fisher goes on to write an incredible article about local landowners and their efforts toward managing invasive species removal at their properties, along with their stories about why they decided to preserve their land with NICHES. 

In this update, NICHES covers exciting acquisition and restoration projects. A new addition of 89 acres was made along the Wabash Greenway, which is a huge leap toward NICHES’ goal of creating one interconnected natural area along the river. An article by Stewardship Director Bob Easter describes his efforts on the restoration of glacial remnant white pine trees at NICHES properties. The ecological history of the rare Sand Barrens of the Maumee Torrent is delivered in great detail from its glacial beginnings, to its soil composition, to the rare species that reside in it and NICHES’ efforts to restore the area. 

This issue takes a look at the progress the organization has made over the past 25 years. One article provides an update on NICHES’ response to Coronavirus and updated event dates.  NICHES then announces two exciting projects: a waste clean-up success with the AmeriCorps NCCC team and a community poetry project with the Indiana Arts Commission and Samuel Love. Another article by staff commemorates the past 25 years by reviewing milestones–Clegg Memorial Garden becoming the headquarters for NICHES, staff and resource increases, and large land acquisitions. Shawnee Bottoms is announced as the organization’s largest nature preserve at an incredible 518 acres.

In this quarter’s newsletter, NICHES staff covers the importance of land restoration and invasive management. In one article, Bob Easter explains the difference between Indiana’s native red mulberry, invasive white mulberry, and hybrids between the two species. Executive Director Gus Nyberg expresses the importance of maintaining and restoring native ecosystems through clearing invasive species, prescribed burns, and timber harvest/oak thinning. A second article by Bob covers NICHES’ restoration efforts at Swanson’s Bluff through invasive control and seeding. The 2020 Board Members are introduced to the community, and NICHES commemorates Dr. Guthrie Evans Carr through the naming of Carr Island–a fitting piece of land for a man who loved to go paddling along the river.