Lindsay Knusdvig
I had my first encounter with invasive species fifteen years ago when I married my wife Connie and moved into her house on an old abandoned pasture. After many years spent clearing a trail and winning back some lawn we brought in an environmental consulting firm and decided to do an Oak Savanna restoration project. They did some initial mowing and spraying then guided me as I did follow up control of the invasives.
The project led me to enroll in the Horticulture/Landscape Technician program at Blackhawk Tech in Janesville where classes like Weeds and Invasives and Landscape and the Environment inspired me to do an internship at the UW-Arboretum working in their Restoration and Nursery programs where I learned a lot about Native Plant Communities and Restoration.
Then while attending S-130/S-190 fire classes I met Paul and he told me about all the brush piles he had to burn in the Kettle Moraine State Forest out by Eagle. Well, I live not too far away in Delavan, so I offered to help and here I am making more piles for this winter uncovering the intoxicating beauty that is Scuppernong Springs Nature Trail.
Paul and I also completed FISTA chainsaw safety training together and I have a State of Wisconsins Pesticide Applicator Lisence. So with the help of Paul, the helpful people at the DNR in Eagle and the generous people of the Kettle Moraine Natural History Association I feel Iike I’m becoming a good steward of the Land that we all share.
It has been a real pleasure to meet Lindsay and work with him. Check out these stories that include Lindsay’s volunteer contributions:
Cutting buckthorn at the Indian Springs
Helping coordinate volunteers piling brush and phragmites,
Phragmites mowing and discovery of the Hidden Spring
Indian Spring Buckthorn cutting in summer heat, here and here
Lindsay posted this story about quack grass at the indian spring
Phragmites mowing in the Scuppernong River valley
Clearing the area along the river below hwy 67
Bundling and poisoning phragmites
Hatching House Springs (now called the Fish Hatchery Springs)
Opening up the Lost Trail, and here (now called the cut-off trail)
Journey down the Scuppernong River (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5)
Sowing seeds and cutting buckthorn
Burning brush piles on hilltop above hillside springs
Burning brush piles near the Scuppernong Spring
Return of the Three Brushcuteers
Cutting Buckthorn at Ottawa Lake
I Am The Buckthorn Man 