Fall 2003
Agriculture as Culture
by Kathy Fairchild
 The Program on Agricultural Technology Studies (PATS) at UW-Madison informs us that “the demand for rural housing and recreational land development has resulted in a dramatic acceleration in the rate of farmland conversion to non-farm uses over the last 15 years.” This is not news to the citizens of the Kickapoo valley. Here, the percentage of sold land converted to non-farm use has nearly doubled in the last ten years, with Crawford and Vernon counties reaching some of the highest levels in the state. From 1995-1999, Crawford County led the watershed with a 45% conversion rate (a statistic noted by PATS as probably underreported). And according to the U.S. Census of Agriculture, Vernon County lost more than 150 farms in the five years from 1992-1997. (Continued... Click Here)
Caring for Kickapoo Forests
by Lila Marmel
The Kickapoo Woods Cooperative (KWC) is improving the health, value, and beauty of our forests by providing educational, forestry and marketing services in the greater Kickapoo region.Over a century of profit-based forestry has removed many of the healthiest trees, reduced diversity, left soils vulnerable to erosion and negatively affected water quality. (Continued... Click Here)
Who is in your backyard?
by Gary Thompson
It’s that time of the year again! Summer has passed us by, ending with hot scorching days, only to usher in cool crisp mornings and comfortable breezy days. Fall is one of my favorite times of the year. We often enjoy the obvious benefits of this season, the colorful foliage and the abundance of the harvest. But have you noticed the transients? Yes, there are others besides Grandma and Grandpa who have southern climes on their minds. (Continued... Click Here)
Kickapoo Conversations: What's Happening Now?
by Josh Leonard and Jeremy Lopez
As lifestyles in our area continue to change, we can choose our future through comprehensive planning or let it happen to us without a plan. Earlier this year more than 220 concerned local citizens devoted time and energy to help realize a desirable future for the Kickapoo Watershed. Last June VSN published the Kickapoo Conversations Report as an inspirational tool for local comprehensive planning efforts.(Continued... Click Here)
Amish Concerns Over "Smart Growth"
by Pat Conway
The Kickapoo Conversations, sponsored by VSN, were intended to “let every voice be heard.”No one from the Amish community attended the meetings, but Atlee Miller, the bishop for the Cashton community wrote me a letter to express the views of most Amish in our area.(Continued... Click Here)
Kickapoo Water Quality
by Gary Thompson
VSN is proud to report water quality improvement on three tributaries to the Kickapoo River. Tainter Creek and McGraw Creek (Franklin Township) both have been upgraded from a Class II stream to a Class I brown trout stream for their entire length. Weister Creek (Clinton, Whitestown and Stark Townships) has been upgraded from a Class II brook trout stream to a Class I stream, having sufficient natural reproduction to sustain populations of wild trout. (Continued... Click Here)
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