Conservation on Tap Presentation Series

2022-2023 Season

First Tuesday of Every Month – November-April 7:00 p.m. at The Historic Fortney in Viroqua

NOTE:   The April 4 presentation will be at Tangled Hickory!!

November 1, 2022, Jason Freund, “Climate Change, Flooding, and Stream Manipulation In the Driftless Area” – Jason will talk a bit about what we have seen from climate change in the Driftless Area and about flood events, particularly the damage from the August 2018 flood event. He’ll also discuss our native plant communities, the history of human disturbances, and how we can reconnect streams and their floodplains to minimize the effects of flooding.  Link to video

December 6, 2022, Peter Allen, “Becoming Keystone: Reintegrate to Regenerate” – Indigenous cultures worldwide have embraced their role as keystone species, creating healthy ecosystems as the basis for their sustenance and livelihoods. In our times, it is critical that we remember how to take responsibility for our role as keystone, reintegrating into Nature to restore biologically diverse, ecologically functional, and agriculturally productive ecosystems. Becoming keystone requires both engaging in specific activities that impact the land and an entire paradigm shift on how we think about and understand ourselves and our relations.

January 31, 2023, RESCHEDULED! Nancy Wedwick and Bob Micheel plan to offer background information on watershed councils, their work in particular and also that in collaboration with their sister watershed councils, within the context of the historical legacy of conservation leadership in the Coon Creek Watershed.  Link to video

February 7, 2023, Teri Allendorf, “Community Conservation:  From Wisconsin to the World” – Teri Allendorf will describe Community Conservation‘s projects around the world with local communities to protect biodiversity, including endangered species such as yellow-tailed woolly monkeys in Peru, orangutans in Malaysia, chimpanzees in Cameroon, and tigers in Nepal, among many others.  Link to video

March 7, 2023, David Bruce and Erik Hagen, “Agroforestry and Perennial Cropping Systems: Catalyzing widespread adoption through Demonstration, Research and Education” – Through research, demonstration, and education, we at the Savanna Institute work to create a community of practice and help farmers and landowners learn about and adopt the practices into their current farming practices. With the USDA’s new Climate Smart program, we have several exciting new projects in the works. And you’ll be especially interested to hear about what we are doing here in Vernon County, as well as at our cluster of demonstration farms in the Spring Green area. 

April 4, 2023, Craig Thompson, “From Catbirds to Cuckoos – The Importance of North America’s Driftless Area for Global Bird Conservation” – The Driftless Area harbors the largest expanse of forest between the Ozarks and Canada’s vast boreal biome. The region’s oak woodlands support an important population of migratory birds, many considered conservation priorities. The Driftless also provides critically important stopover habitat for millions of birds during spring and fall migration.  This presentation will examine features that contribute to the region’s importance for birds, provide a glimpse into ongoing bird conservation efforts, and highlight actions Driftless residents can take to lend our feathered friends a helping hand.

For additional information, please call Valley Stewardship Network at 608-637-3615 or email info@valleystewardshipnetwork.org.

Annual Meeting

Tuesday, January 17, 2023

The meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. at The Historic Fortney at 100 N. Main St., in Viroqua, WI

This year we are returning to an in-person Annual Meeting but are including a Zoom portion as well so we can include people who may not want to make the trip.  As an enticement for those who do choose to join us in-person, we are offering tasty appetizers and drinks. Join us Tuesday, January 17, at 7:00 pm, at The Historic Fortney, 100 N. Main St., Viroqua.  We’ll share our successes from 2022 and talk about our plans for 2023!

Doors open at 6:30 pm for socializing.  Presentation starts at 7:00 pm.

To register and/or receive a Zoom link, please email info@valleystewardshipnetwork.org or call 608-637-3615.

Prairie STRIPS Presentation

Tour of several on-farm STRIPS

September 8, 2021 – 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Valley Stewardship Network is hosting a Prairie STRIP (Science-Based Trials of Rowcrops Integrated with Prairie Strips) presentation on Wednesday, September 8, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  Host Dave van Dyke has planted several prairie STRIPS on his property over 5 years.  He will take the group on a tour of a few of his STRIPS at various locations on his farm, which will demonstrate different stages of growth.  Dave will also discuss the seed mixes he used, the planting of the STRIPS, and what it takes to maintain them over time.  Valley Stewardship Network has helped Dave design and install his prairie STRIPS, as well as those of many others around the area, and will have representatives on hand to answer questions as well as talk about other native planting techniques.  There will be light refreshments.  

Dave van Dyke’s address is S5385 Hansen Lane, Viroqua.  From Viroqua, go west on Hwy. 56 about 10 miles.  Turn left on County Rd. N.  After 8/10^th of a mile, turn left onto a gravel road – Hansen Lane (it will look like a driveway, but is really a road).  Follow the road to the end and park.

For additional information, please call Valley Stewardship Network at 608-637-3615 or email info@valleystewardshipnetwork.org.

Visit us at Deep Rooted’s Tasty Tomato Festival

Tomato tasting, food and drink, vendors, live music, and more

September 5, 2021 – 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Valley Stewardship Network will have a booth at the event where we will be selling our watershed T-shirts and beer glasses as well as providing information about our work and services.

For tickets and event information visit Deep Rooted Events

Get to Know Us

In-Person Events

Viroqua Farmers Market

July 24 and August 14 – from 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Visit us at the Viroqua Farmers Market at 220 S. Main St. in Viroqua

Viroqua Sidewalk Sale

July 31  – from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Drop by our office at 110 S. Main St. in Viroqua

We’ll have our watershed T-shirts, beer glasses, and stickers for sale.  

Enter a drawing to win Doug Tallamy’s book Nature’s Best Hope!

Presentation

Wetlands, Watershed, and Cold Water Resources

March 16, 7:00 p.m., on Zoom

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83809443760?pwd=VTlrQUJSdkNrMGp4KzFMMFhqZ2R4QT09

In this presentation by Tracy Hames, Executive Director of Wisconsin Wetlands Association, you’ll learn about what wetlands are and how they help manage the water that flows through our watersheds.  Historically viewed as wastelands, wetland loss was rampant in Wisconsin for many decades.  The legacy of wetland loss has contributed to many of our current natural resource and societal problems, such as increased flooding, decreased water quality, and accelerated loss of fish and wildlife habitat.  Hames will present wetlands from a new perspective, showing how we can use them as solutions to the water-related issues we face, especially flooding. 

Viroqua Farmers Market – 8:00 am – 12:00 pm

New Watershed T-shirts, glasses, and bumper stickers for sale

Come find out what watershed you are in and learn about our activities in local watersheds.

On Rock St., Viroqua, WI, between Jefferson and Terhune (behind the library)

Viroqua Farmers Market – 8:00 am – 12:00 pm

New Watershed T-shirts, glasses, and bumper stickers for sale

Come find out what watershed you are in and learn about our activities in local watersheds.

On Rock St., Viroqua, WI, between Jefferson and Terhune (behind the library)

Conservation on Tap – 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Taking Stock of Tweety – The State of Our Birds

Craig Thompson, WI-DNR

Rooted Spoon, 219 Main St., Viroqua, WI

Conservation on Tap – 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Driftless Prairie, Savanna, and Woodlands – A Journey of Discovery

Armund D. Bartz, Driftless Area Ecologist – Natural Heritage Conservation, WI-DNR

Rooted Spoon, 219 Main St., Viroqua, WI