Converting 40 acres comprised of farmed wetland is no easy task for many, but Jack Pizzo saw the potential this piece of land had hidden away within its soil. He proceeded and selected the property for his future homesite. The first undertaking was to clear the reed canary grass and other invasive species starting in 1998.
Farmland to prairie conversions require advanced ecological experience, hard-work, and passion. Here is a quick breakdown showing what went into the installation:
Following the installation, continuous stewardship is required to achieve the best results. Over 500 hours of stewardship goes into maintaining the property including prescribed fire that is rotated every 1-3 years.
The property is now a thriving ecosystem with both prairie and wetland. In order to help with the preservation of the property, Jack placed 37 of the 40 acres in a conservation easement to permanently protect that land.
Founded in 1988, Pizzo & Associates is one of the Midwest’s largest ecological restoration firms with over 170 industry awards. We have the experience and know-how to restore natural environments.
We work with a large variety of public and private landowners on habitat restoration projects of all sizes. We help with everything from installations to ongoing management, which is needed for optimal results.
