Prairie Walk explores unburned landscape at Garfield Farm Museum on May 23

Garfield Farm Museum is offering a two-hour prairie walk on Saturday, May 23, at 9 a.m. The tour will be led by Jerome Johnson, the museum’s biologist.

With the beginning of summer, this is an opportunity to become familiarized with the specific ecosystem of Garfield Farm and see native wildlife. This year in particular will be interesting to take note of observable differences in the landscape as the weather prevented the annual prairie burn. With no burns conducted, the hike will attempt to discover if the prairie has responded differently.

The layout and historic use of the land over time, as well as plant relationships and climate all have an impact on the plants that survive today at Garfield Farm Museum. Johnson will bring his knowledge and experience to bear in understanding these complex relationships.

Reservations are required and can be made by contacting the museum at 630-584-8485 or info@garfieldfarm.org. The cost for the walk is $8. Visitors should dress appropriately for the weather.

Garfield Farm Museum’s land preservation agency, the non-profit Campton Historic Agricultural Lands, has preserved over 366 acres of land including over 70 acres of managed natural areas. Garfield Farm Museum is a historically intact former prairie farmstead and teamster inn being restored by volunteers as a 1840s working farm. The museum is located 5 miles west of Geneva, off Rt. 38 on Garfield Road. Please make reservations by emailing info@garfieldfarm.org or call 630 584-8485.