By Janet Blauvelt, THB Group Conservation Committee Co-Chair
Hi Everyone!
Despite the fact that this winter has been the most severe in a while, the newly revived Conservation Committee of the Thomas Hart-Benton Group is moving along!
We have just about completed the removal of the invasive Callery Pear Trees from the intersection of I-470 and Bowlin road (Lakewood). We should complete the task at our next workday, scheduled for March 8, 2025, from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Please join us by signing up with Meetup at I-470 and Lakewood Clean-up, Sat, Mar 8, 2025, 1:00 p.m. | Meetup.
Once we have completed the removal of invasive Callery Pear Trees at the intersection of I-470 and Lakewood, we will continue our partnership with the Missouri Department of Transportation. We are in the process of planning our next project, and we invite all members of the Thomas Hart-Benton Group to participate. We will be installing native plantings at another intersection of I-470, at Strother, while we wait a year for the intersection of I-470 and Lakewood to be ready for planting. Committee co-chair, Jennifer Helber, prepared an application to the Missouri Prairie Foundation for native seeds and signage. Unfortunately, the application was turned down, but Jennifer is revising it to apply for a grant from the Eastern Missouri Group of the Sierra Club. Fingers crossed that this time we will be successful!
To be part of the planning process, join us for the next Conservation Committee meeting on March 10, via Zoom, from 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. You can sign up for the meeting here.
Eddy-Ballentine Trail Restoration (Sat., March 1)
Time: 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
This was rescheduled from January and February due to weather. It’s difficult to lose two of our winter workdays because we need to complete the work outside of the growing season. So hopefully in March and April we can get more hands on deck!
Join Sierra Club as we work together to restore the diversity, health and resiliency of the Blue River Glades Natural Area. This remnant of ecologically significant public land is managed in conjunction with Jackson County Parks & Recreation & KC Wildlands. It is located in the heart of Kansas City providing “nearby nature” opportunities for all. From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. volunteers will work to remove invasive shrub honeysuckle from the Eddy-Ballentine Trail loop which winds through upland forest to the Blue River Glade Natural Area. From 3:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. we will do an optional hike.
Please see above report about this cleanup activity for more background on this series of Callery Pear Tree removal and monarch habitat restoration.
Join Sierra Club as we work together to restore the diversity, health and resiliency of the I-470 and Lakewood Blvd. Interchange. We will work from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. on every second Saturday this fall and winter. (Weather permitting!) The progress thus far has been outstanding!
Located at the interchange of I-470 and Lakewood Blvd., this Interchange is a good example of how Callery Pear Trees, an invasive species, can take over a place. In partnership with the Missouri Department of Transportation, The Missouri Department of Conservation, Deep Roots, Heartland Conservation Alliance, KC Wildlands, the Invasive Species Council (administered by the Missouri Prairie Foundation) and other state and non-profit organizations, the local Sierra Club Group will spend the winter months (every second Saturday) removing this invasive species so future plantings and maintenance can benefit.
Should we clear this intersection, the ultimate goal is to maintain ALL intersections of I-470 as beneficial ecosystems for pollinators and wildlife. Please come and help so native flowers and grasses flourish again in these stunning areas. Interchange maintenance at this time of year is an advantage because there are fewer ticks but if it is too cold or rainy, we will reschedule. No prior experience necessary! We will meet just north of the intersection of Anderson Lane and Bowlin Road. Parking will be available at 701 NE Lakewood Blvd.
What to Bring: A water bottle full of water Bug spray and sunscreen Work gloves, and a hand saw or loppers if you have them Long pants and sturdy, closed-toe shoes (no sandals) are required Layers of clothing and a hat depending on the weather.
Dark Sky Missouri: Creating a Dark Sky Reserve and the Total Lunar Eclipse
Date: Wed., March 12
Join DarkSky Missouri for a talk from Bill Wren, who will talk about how he helped establish the Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve.
It’s the largest such reserve in the world, and the only truly international one, spanning 14,000 square miles north and south of the Rio Grande River. It includes a national park, three state parks, a half dozen or so wildlife management areas in the U.S. and Mexico, and Nature Conservancy Lands. See more about the reserve here.
He will also talk about how to view the total lunar eclipse, which will be happening one night after the talk on the night of the 13th. During the lunar eclipse, the moon will turn red. The lunar eclipse can be seen from anywhere in the US without the need for dark skies or special equipment.
The talk will be in the Large Meeting Room at the Plaza Library, with time included after the talk for questions.
Location: Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center, 4750 Troost, KCMO 64110
In this program, Tracy Lewandowski, Missouri Prairie Foundation Board Member, will introduce us to prairies and other grasslands and help us understand why they are so relevant today. Mark your calendars and plan to attend! We will be working to plant some native habitat areas—this will help you understand the importance!
April Book Club: What Your Food Ate: How to Restore Our Land and Reclaim Our Health—by David R. Montgomery and Anne Biklé (Online)
Date: Wed., April 16 Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Food and health are always popular topics whenever we have programs and meetings about that subject. The health of our soil is crucial to the health of our food supply and our wellbeing!
Here is some of the commentary from Amazon about What Your Food Ate: “The long-running partnerships through which crops and soil life nourish one another suffuse plant and animal foods in the human diet with an array of compounds and nutrients our bodies need to protect us from pathogens and chronic ailments. Unfortunately, conventional agricultural practices unravel these vital partnerships and thereby undercut our well-being. Can farmers and ranchers produce enough nutrient-dense food to feed us all? Can we have quality and quantity?”
Jim Turner, a longtime Thomas Hart Benton Group member and dedicated soil-health activist, will lead this Zoom discussion.
Location: Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Center, 3700 Blue Parkway, Kansas City, MO 64130
Celebrate Earth Day by spending a few hours making one of our local watersheds a little bit cleaner! This is the second year that the Thomas Hart Benton Group is participating in the Great Kansas City Cleanup, hosted by the City of Kansas City, to clean up litter along a stretch of Brush Creek. During this cleanup we will focus on the eastern stretch of Brush Creek, heading toward the creek's confluence with the Blue River.
