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Email Correspondence: Thanks, Dear Mr. Omer, Thank you for your message regarding SRNE Acquired Habitat Site #0004041908KCMO. The site was acquired this spring (2008) by The Society for a Re-Natural Environment as a Re-Natural Habitat. The Re-Natural Habitat Acquisition Program was initiated to identify and protect underutilized sites in urban and suburban areas and allow them to return to a semi-wild state. The acquisition of this site was based on eight months of observation. We were under the impression that this site had no active mediation (other than mowing). If this is not the case, please inform us of any site history that has been disrupted by our actions. Our primary goal is to create as much animal and plant friendly green space as possible. In addition to our desire to increase “wild” habitats for local unmediated flora and fauna, we wish to eliminate polluting, energy, and money wasting “management” of what people commonly call medians, margins, buffers, weedy or waste spaces and allow them to find their own semi-natural balance. The acceptance of “weeds” as part of the beauty and diversity of a balanced re-natural environment is an issue that we are actively pursuing educational programs about. Specifically regarding the plant of concern, Bidens frondosa L. (stick tights), although classified as a weed, these are highly durable and adaptable native plants and thus part of the re-natural environment. You might be interested to know, because of the lack of floral diversity at the site, we dispersed a large number of native prairie seeds (both grasses and forbs) which will take 1-3 years to mature. We believe that these plants will combine with the existing native and non-native species to create a sustainable and diverse habitat. Research and previous test cases have shown that leaving a site to find its own balance can be highly beneficial for plant and animal communities living in and around human dominated habitats. With a little patience and an open-minded attitude, these spaces can provide interesting, diverse, and beautiful (albeit often small) wilderness areas that urban and suburban residents don't have to travel long distances to experience. For more information I welcome any comments or questions you might have. You may also visit our website: www.societyrne.net. Sincerely, Dear Mr. Collier: Thanks for getting back to Don and myself on this. Although the Crossroads Community Association is very supportive of Greening the Crossroads, the Association has been pursuing for a number of years a different use for this island. Since this is one of the main entry points to the Crossroads we have been working with the city to get funding for a sculpture at this site. Projects like yours need to come through the Crossroads Community Association for approval from a committee or our board of directors. Many in our community and the general public don't yet understand that things like prairie grass and stick tights are native habitat. They just see them as weeds. I would suggest that a different location be looked at where this can be used as an education opportunity for our community and where the grasses can be burned to keep them healthy. Please give me call and we can discuss this further. Thanks again Dear Mr. Morris, Thank you for the information. We appreciate your position and your encouragement of another site for this program. A second site has already been acquired in Kansas City and more are planned. Our intention is to provide an increasing amount of wild habitat in the human dominated urban space while illustrating why these sites should be valued. Our hope is that local artists will get involved and use their talents to show the public the hidden beauty of places not conventionally considered beautiful (which is, in my humble opinion, one of the primary functions of art). We welcome any help you might be able to provide with this mission. We are huge supporters of the Crossroads art community and will immediately remove the signs when another project is ready to go up at this site. We don't want to get in the way of public art projects. What we humbly ask is, until that time, you allow the space to remain in a relatively wild state protected by the signs. With a little patience, the diversity will increase, more flowers will become visible and the site will be able to provide a small habitat for birds and butterflies. We are acutely aware of the public opinion of weeds and are working to gradually shift that perception. Wild nature is uncontrolled and diverse, diversity can be messy, but in the context of wild nature, this “mess” can be exquisitely beautiful. Based on our observations, we were unaware that anyone had been burning this site to encourage native prairie plant growth. We enthusiastically encourage this activity to continue at the site. The signs need not be removed for a burn to occur. The diverse native seeds we have dispersed at the site will benefit greatly from this activity. Once again, we will remove the signs when the artwork is ready to go into this site. Our hope is that we can let wild nature have this little space until that time. Although it may seem small and insignificant, we are convinced that a little wild nature is better than none at all. Sincerely, BD Collier, Founder and President PS. I will be away from my office for the next 10 days but am returning to Kansas City after that. After I return, if need be, I am happy to meet with you to discuss this matter further. I have been watching the loss of the prairie grass either you or someone else planted in the discussed median for several years now. The appearance of an irritating weed in it's place is not a positive thing. Let's see, what animal, if they could survive the trip through myopic traffic, would benefit from their coat being covered in sharp little bristles which then have to be pulled out one by one? Last time I looked, squirrels don't have the use of a grooming brush. I have seen them work all the way down to the skin on more than one animal. Perhaps there is a moth or butterfly that is endemic to something you've planted around here. Ever notice how few cars brake for even a beautiful, big butterfly like a monarch or swallowtail. OK that takes care of the easily identified species, so let's just think what might thrive there. Possibly the same creatures that are in our garage and alley. That would be mice, rats, waterbugs, centipedes. I have had generations of praying mantis on my rooftop and I certainly wouldn't suggest they take a jaunt over to the median and risk becoming a grill ornament. How about a hatching of caterpillar that need to migrate in order to survive-what chance do you consider them having crossing Main Street ? I am very interested to hear what your plan is, in detail. Thank you. Joyce Omer PS Have you ever noticed the lack of streetscape in the Cross Roads? The CCA Committee has been attempting to receive permission to do something eye-catching with this little piece of land for 2 years now. It will involve local art and, yes, probably grasses and forbs. Joyce Omer Dear Ms. Omer, I apologize for my slow response. I was away from my phone and computer on an expedition in the North Country. I am deeply sorry if the placement of our signs has upset you in any way. Let me try to address a few of your concerns… The SRNE did not plant the “prairie grass” or any of the other plants (or weeds) that are currently located in the median habitat. We did put out a few native prairie flower and grass seeds that will take at least a year to show any significant results. If you like, I can make a list of the species we planted available. We absolutely did not plant anything invasive or “irritating.” Any such plants occurred naturally and have arrived there by wind, birds, or small mammals. These plants are simply part of the native ecosystem and as such have a role to play, albeit one that might not be clear to most people. Regarding any animals that might live in such a “weedy” habitat… To my knowledge, tree squirrels do not live in tallgrass prairie. There are several species of vole, mouse and the thirteen-striped ground squirrel that do occasionally live in such habitats. Because native animals encounter these plants in the wild, they have certainly developed coping mechanisms for managing their less pleasant features. Because of its location, I imagine the habitat will be used by a wide range of insects, including butterflies, and birds that eat seeds or insects. Although many of these species might be considered “undesirable” to some people, they are important parts of the ecosystem. Regarding concerns about cars and the well-being of animals living in the site… All wild animals living in urban and suburban areas are at extreme risk due to human activities. In addition to being killed by cars, there are many other mortal dangers for them, including pesticides, other harmful chemical and pollution, and purposeful extermination when they tread where we believe they should not be. These animals are struggling to find space in ever expanding, human-dominated areas. Although I admit, some might be killed when crossing the road, as my friend Dr. Ken Robertson of the Illinois Natural History Survey says in response to concerns about butterflies being killed along the highway, a little bit of habitat is better than no habitat at all. Increasing habitat, even in places where the animals might be occasionally killed, will increase the overall numbers of butterflies in the area. The SRNE believes that we humans have made a terrible mess of managing the natural environment. We are committed to trying a new strategy. We want to increase native diversity and let the plants and animals find their own balance. You don't need to look far to see the positive results of this strategy. Go to almost any abandoned, severely human disrupted site and take a close look at how wild nature is reclaiming it. We place great value in nearby wild nature and hope to help others find value in it as well. The plan that we followed for this site and other like it is and continues to be this: 1. Locate underutilized green space in severely human-altered urban and suburban locations. 2. If diversity is low, seed the site with hardy native plants. 3. Place signs to reduce destructive human activities at the site. 4. Allow the site to develop naturally. Finally, we are prepared to step away from this site as soon as is necessary, although we are sad to do so. The SRNE encourages development of the site and took action only because there was none present. I hope this note eases some of your concerns. Sincerely, ______________________________________________________________________ A couple of follow up items. I think there was a misunderstanding about burning this area. My statement was that it needs to be burned to stay healthy and because of it's location it would be almost impossible to burn. Second, whom did you acquire this piece of land from. No one we have talked to knows anything about anyone acquiring this piece of city property. Thanks again. Please send me a copy of your authorization for this project. Thanks. Mobile response from: Please contact me to discuss the project. Public Works has not authorized this project and it is located within the public right of way. . Thanks. Dear Mr. Usher, We appreciate and understand your concerns, but hope that this small habitat will be allowed to remain in a semi-wild state until there is another project slated for it. We believe you will agree that the cost of labor and energy required to mow this unutilized site is a tremendous waste of your resources. Please let us know if any changes to the site need to be made. We will send SRNE members to remove the signs if necessary so you will not have to incur the labor cost of this action. We appreciate your civility and understanding. Sincerely, BD Collier, Founder and President The Society for a Re-Natural Environment > Hi there bd, just as I thought, you are full of shit. Just my opinion, of > course. Party on. Joyce Omer > Joyce Omer Dear Ms. Omer, It is unfortunate that you feel the need to resort to hostile profanity. Although our programs might have the appearance of insincerity to some, I assure you, we are dealing with issues that we are extremely serious about. I sense that you have a deep and sincere concern for the environment. We share this concern and engage in programs designed to bring attention to local ecological and environmental issues. It quite a challenge to ask people to alter the way they think about their relationship to the non-human natural world. I welcome you as a concerned citizen to become a member of the SRNE. You are officially invited to receive a free one year membership. Please let me know if you are interested and I will send you all the paperwork. BD Collier, Founder and President We have received complaints about the tall grass and "weeds." Please remove your signs as this area will be mowed in the near future. I also understand that the Crossroads Community Association will be submitting a PIAC request for a project at this location. I have reviewed your website and other projects you have undertaken. I think the City and neighborhood/business groups would be interested in working with your group to implement similar projects. As you are aware, "green solutions" are becoming more mainstream and the City is working to implement sustainable projects and programs, so please let me know if you'd like to pursue something with a higher level of public involvement. Thanks. Rick Usher Dear Mr. Usher, Dear Mr. Usher, I'm writing to inform you and all interested parties that the signs have been removed from Habitat Acquisition Site #0004041908KCMO. We would like to sincerely thank you for your respectful conversations and for allowing us the chance to retrieve our signs. We are also looking forward to conversations about future 'green' projects and programs. Please contact us at your earliest convenience. Although we understand that you are receiving pressure from local members of the community, we remain hopeful that you will respect the plant and animal life that has been thriving at the site and reconsider the decision to mow it, at least until winter. It would be even better if the site could be left alone until there is a specific project placed there. Please also consider the practical costs of mowing the site, both environmental (air pollution by the mowers) and economic (labor, fuel, etc.). Thank you again for your time and willingness to work with us. Sincerely, BD Collier, Founder and President |