Tallgrass Prairie Resources

Inspiring videos about prairie leaders and projects, a list of prairie organizations, native seed and plant suppliers, prairie heroes, prairie contractors, books and podcasts


Inspiring videos about prairie projects

  • Doug Tallamy: You are the future of conservation!

    NATIVE PLANT CHANNEL AT MT CUBA, DELAWARE

    Doug Tallamy, learn more about good land stewardship as Dr. Tallamy leads viewers on a tour of Mt. Cuba Center in Delaware, discussing ways to create biologically diverse plantings that support life.

    Video

    Homegrown National Park

  • Nature's Alarm: Accounting for Endangered Prairie Plants with Researcher Dr. Tom Rosburg

    THE CEDAR RAPIDS GAZETTE

    Dr Rosburg shares how he takes a floristic inventory at Corriell Nature Preserve, Bur Oak Land Trust's newest and largest acquisition north of Muscatine, Iowa.

    Video

    Bur Oak Land Trust, Corriel Nature Preserve

  • Dr. Lisa Schulte Moore

    Dr. Lisa Schulte Moore

    IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

    Dr. Lisa Schulte Moore, MacArthur Fellow, Professor at Iowa State shares the agriculture collaboration STRIPS program combats climate change

    Video

  • Virtual tour of Irvine Prairie 77-acre prairie-in-progress, Benton County

    TALLGRASS PRAIRIE CENTER, PRACTICAL FARMERS OF IOWA

    Hosts Justin Meissen and Laura Walter from the Tallgrass Prairie Center show prairie plantings that are one, two and three years old.

    Video

  • Priairie STRIPS

    Restoring the Balance: Prairie Conservation Strips (STRIPS the Movie)

    STRIPS, IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH

    An Iowa State University research team has discovered that strategically adding a little bit of prairie back onto the agricultural landscape can result in many benefits – in water and soil quality, habitat for wildlife and pollinators, as well as opportunities for biomass production.

    Video

  • Tallgrass Prairie & the Power of Perenniality

    Connecting the dots between art, agriculture, ecology and interpersonal problem-solving, Kelly Yarbrough shares some examples of what the unassuming prairie landscape can teach us all about life well-lived.
    Kelly Yarbrough (b. Plano, TX) is an artist based in Manhattan, Kansas.

    Ted Talk
    https://www.kellyyarbrough.com/


Organizations

  • The Iowa Prairie Network is a grassroots, volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. They are dedicated to the preservation of Iowa's prairie heritage.
    https://www.iowaprairienetwork.org/

  • “The Tallgrass Prairie Center is a strong advocate of progressive, ecological approaches utilizing native vegetation to provide environmental, economic, and aesthetic benefits for the public good. The Center is in the vanguard of roadside vegetation management, native Source Identified seed development, and prairie advocacy. The Center primarily serves the Upper Midwest Tallgrass Prairie Region and is a model for similar efforts nationally and internationally.”
    https://tallgrassprairiecenter.org/

  • “Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa is restoring resources and changing lives.

    Through our wide range of program opportunities, youth and young adults grow as environmental stewards and leaders while giving back to the community through meaningful service.”
    https://conservationcorps.org/

  • “Pheasants Forever works for America’s wildlife and natural resources in Washington D.C. and state capitols across the country. Pheasants Forever volunteers, members and staff work hand-in-hand with America’s farmers, ranchers and landowners to implement conservation and wildlife habitat projects that compliment working farms and ranches across the nation. We also work with our state and federal agency partners on public land to enhance wildlife habitat while providing hunting, fishing and recreational access.”
    https://www.pheasantsforever.org/

  • ICEC is the professional membership organization for all environmental and conservation educators in

    https://iowaee.org/

  • HOMEGROWN NATIONAL PARK® is a grassroots call to action to regenerate biodiversity and ecosystem function by planting native plants and creating new ecological networks.
    Douglas Tallamy and Michelle Alfandari Founders

    https://homegrownnationalpark.org/

  • Established in 1936
    ”Our strategic plan sets in motion a Common Agenda for Wildlife to increase America's fish and wildlife populations and enhance their capability to thrive in a rapidly changing world.”
    https://www.nwf.org/

  • “The Nature Conservancy began when leading scientists, committed citizens and dedicated leaders came together with a shared vision to protect and care for nature. Today, as we take on the most complex environmental challenges of our lives, our diverse staff, partners and members impact conservation across more than 70 countries and territories.”
    https://www.nature.org/en-us/

  • “For nearly 50 years, NatureServe has been the authoritative source for biodiversity data throughout North America. NatureServe works with 60+ organizations and 1,000+ conservation scientists to collect, analyze, and deliver biodiversity information, providing comprehensive spatial data to meet both regulatory and conservation needs.”
    https://www.natureserve.org/


Native Seeds & Plants

Identification, resources and where to purchase

Prairie Heroes

  • Dr. Lisa Schulte Moore

    Dr. Lisa Schulte Moore

    IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY, RESEARCH

    Dr. Lisa Schulte Moore is a professor in the Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management and co-director of the Bioeconomy Institute at Iowa State University.

    Read more

  • Dr. Thomas Rosburg

    Dr. Thomas Rosburg

    DRAKE UNIVERSITY, PROFESSOR OF BIOLOGY

    Dr. Thomas Rosburg has a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Iowa State University and a Master’s in Plant Ecology and a Bachelor of Science in Fish and Wildlife Biology were also earned at ISU.

    Read more on: LinkedIn, Drake University

Prairie Contractors

Companies that can help you with your prairie project


Books

  • Tending Iowa's Land

    Tending Iowa's Land

    EDITED BY CORNELIA MUTEL

    “…Connie and the amazing team of contributors gave me hope by shining a bright light on the path forward.”—Joe McGovern, president, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation

    BUY
  • Nature's Best Hope book cover

    Nature's Best Hope

    DOUGLAS TALLAMY

    A new approach to conservation that starts in your yard.

    BUY

Podcasts


Join the movement

Programs for landowners and renters—urban and rural—for growing native plants and prairies

Renters… links coming soon


Landowners