On Sunday, November 8, a beautiful fall afternoon, Huron Nation Indian Princesses and their fathers took part in a community service project at Vehe Farm. The girls learned about why prairies are important, who makes prairies their home, and how to help nature at their own home. 

Fathers and daughters from the Deer Park, Lake Zurich, Barrington, and surrounding communities, worked hard to prepare the butterfly garden for winter and remove buckthorn and other invasives from the north side of the farm property. After a well-deserved break, everyone dispersed prairie seeds in areas that had previously been cleared of invasives. The girls had a great time dispersing milkweed seeds into the prairie. So many seeds were floating in the light breeze that it was felt the sky was snowing milkweed seeds.

The Huron Nation Indian Princess program is for girls from 5 to 11 years of age and their dads and is based out of the Buehler YMCA. Contact info@huronnation.org for more information.

The historic Vehe Farm is located in the Village of Deer Park and is open to the public. The fourteen plus acre site includes a restored 1866 barn, original outbuildings, restored prairie and wetlands, windmill, and educational butterfly garden. To learn more about Vehe Farm, visit www.vehefarmfoundation.org.