Prairie Burn 2013

A Knox College tradition was relit last weekend after being put on hiatus last year due to an early spring. With a new system, and some new equipment, Professor of Biology and Director of Green Oaks Stuart Allison, with the help of seven students, was able to complete all three planned prairie burns on Sunday, April 7.

Dressed in new flame retardant yellow and green clothing, the group tackled the project of burning the dry old growth on the prairies, allowing for new grasses and other plants of the prairie to grow better. The old growth on some of the prairies neared four years old, due to last year's cancellation and the regular scheduled gap year between burnings. With near perfect weather conditions, the group worked through each prairie with relative ease.