By: Alyssa Alvarez
Carleton College
2024-2025
The Minnesota prairie is a vital yet often overlooked ecosystem, rich in biodiversity and deeply rooted in the cultural heritage of the Midwest. Controlled burns have been a tried and true method of natural disturbances that can stunt or kill species that pose a threat to prairie vegetation. Also called prescribed fires, this management tool enhances the biodiversity of ecosystems, prevents wildfires, and controls invasive species. For my project, I helped fund and conduct a two-day prescribed burn event on a local farm near my college for both ecological benefits and community building.
Sharing Our Roots Farm is a local regenerative agriculture farm that works in the “intersection of land justice, food security, and conservation,” as described on their website. One of their missions is to restore and preserve these prairies for future generations through sustainable practices like prescribed burns since 2021. We spent $1463.44 of the grant on good-quality burn gear in different sizes from Forestry Suppliers, leaving us with $36.56 to put towards other expenses. Sharing Our Roots has possession of the items bought from the grant and will continue this volunteering event even after my Newman Civic Cycle is done.
Throughout this experience, I have gained a deeper sense of confidence in my leadership potential and a stronger belief in my ability to initiate meaningful change within my community. When I first considered applying for this grant, I was hesitant. However, through this process, I’ve come to understand that impactful change starts with intention, commitment, and collaboration. My work on this project, in partnership with Nic Nelson, Erica Zweiefel, and Sinda Nichols, gave me an invaluable opportunity to step into a leadership role that required a new skillset. One of the most meaningful outcomes of the project was having people who might not have seen themselves as part of this kind of work show up, gear up, and actively contribute to land stewardship efforts. While the turnout for the volunteer event was lower than I had initially hoped, the enthusiasm and engagement of those who did attend far exceeded my expectations. The event fostered a sense of connection not just to the land, but to one another. It demonstrated the power of community-centered environmental work and reinforced the idea that inclusive design can significantly broaden who gets to be part of these conversations and actions that have effects on a wide range of people.
I am incredibly grateful to The Allstate Foundation for believing in me and making this work possible through their generous support. I also want to thank the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources and the Dakota County Government Land Conservation Department for their additional support. Finally, I want to express my sincere appreciation to Nic Nelson, whose mentorship and encouragement made all the difference. I’m proud of what we accomplished together, and I look forward to continuing this kind of work in the future.