Sixteen acres of prairie burned north of Fairfield

FAIRFIELD — Sixteen acres of prairie north of Fairfield were burned in late March, which the landowners hope will rejuvenate the soil and encourage the growth of wildflowers.

Jeffrey Hedquist is the president and creative director of Prairie Song Farms, an intentional community 5 miles north of Fairfield covering 65 acres, including the 16 acres of prairie that were burned. Hedquist said the Richland Fire Department was at the scene to assist with the burn, which went as planned.

“Having 12 experienced guys with all the right equipment and a big water truck made it so much easier,” Hedquist said. “They were tremendous help.”

Hedquist said one of the goals of his intentional community is to restore Iowa’s prairies, and burning is a good way to do that because it discourages cool weather grasses brought from Europe like fescue and makes way for wildflowers and forbs. Prairie Song Farms produces honey, and Hedquist said the honey produced there is especially flavorful because it has a lot of native prairie pollen. Hedquist encourages others to set aside a portion of their lawn for native prairie, which will attract birds, monarch butterflies and pollinators, which will help with their home gardens.

“Nothing is better for your squash, zucchini and tomatoes to thrive than to have more pollinators,” Hedquist said. “It will help every vegetable grow.”

Hedquist said prairies have always burned naturally through lightning strikes starting fires. Before European settlers arrived, Native Americans discovered the benefits of prairie burning when they noticed that grass grew back very green after a prairie burn, and this attracted buffalo. Hedquist said Native Americans also burned prairie for safety since, by knocking down the tall grass, they were able to see enemies coming near.

Prairie Song Farms gives people an opportunity to live on a farm with others who share a passion for getting their hands dirty. Six people are living on the farm now, which has had as many as 12 and as few as four.

“It’s for people who want to see their kids grow up running through the garden and playing with chickens and goats rather than video games,” Hedquist said. “Everyone who lives here is working a full-time job as well as participating on the farm.”

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com