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To arrange a guided tour of the Birch Island Woods District
Call Jeff at 952-949-8980.
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OUR WONDERFUL 2008 PLANT SALE VOLUNTEERS
Despite a few cool and rainy days over 100 volunteers helped
make the
7th Annual Friends of Birch Island Woods Plant Sale a resounding
success. In mid April volunteers potted bare root trees and shrubs
to be sold at the sale. During the 10 day event volunteers assisted
with greenhouse restocking, coordinating parking, carrying customer
purchase's and welcoming people to the Picha Heritage Farm.
Thank you to all of the volunteers for giving of your time to
make this year's event
so successful. Special thanks to all of the volunteer Master
Gardener's from the Hennepin County Extension Service who answered
hundreds of growing and plant related questions, you are all
terrific. To the coordinators and students of the Eden Prairie
High School Students Learning in Community Program, it was an
honor working with you all. Thank you also to Fresh Seasons Market
of Glen Lake Minnetonka and our special friends and neighbors
who donated their assistance. And a very special thank you to
the Picha Family. Your generosity and dedication is a testament
to your commitment to the community and the Birch Island Woods
Conservation Area.
Thank you,
Vicky Miller
Friends of Birch Island Woods,
Plant Sale Coordiator
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FBIW Buckthorn Events
|
 Our
buckthorn and invasive weed seminars are designed to help the do-it-yourself
inclined to learn effective removal and control strategies for areas
of an acre or less in size. Forestry professionals demonstrate how
to remove “buck” without harming valued, native Minnesota
woodland plants, herbs, saplings and trees like cherry and hawthorn.
A $5.00 fee is charged for seminars and removal workshops. The
buckthorn pulls and garlic mustard cuts are free. All events are
held at Eden Wood Lodge and BIW Conservation area regardless of
weather conditions.
For our portal to the world
of buckthorn and invasive weeds 
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DISCOVER RUSTIC EDEN WOOD CENTER
AND FRIENDSHIP VENTURE’S SPECIAL MISSION
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Tour Eden Wood Center
 Tours
of Eden Wood Center in Birch Island Park next to woods can be
arranged for small groups by Friendship Ventures. Friendship
Ventures is the non-profit agency which runs recreational, educational,
therapeutic, travel, outdoors and confidence building programs
for kids with special needs and others in the “up-north” settings
of the park, conservation area and lake.
While on the hour-long tour, you’ll learn about FV’s
special mission for special needs children as you walk through
Eden Wood’s rustic and historic grounds with its conference
center, all-season cabins, hiking trails, the 1862 Holasek House
and the Glen Lake Children’s Camp which is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places.
For tour reservations and more information about Eden Wood or
Camp Friendship in Annendale call Friendship Ventures, Inc. at
952-852-0101
To inquire about renting Eden Woods’ conference, meeting,
retreat and dining facilities and services call Linda Kelm at
952-852-0104 #4
For more on the Glen
Lake Children’s Camp click here
Click here for the
Friendship Ventures web site
Directions to Eden Wood Center 952--934-2771
6350 Indian Chief Road, Eden Prairie
Click
here for Mapquest Directions!
From Chaska, Chanhassen, Victoria, Western Eden Prairie and
Western Minnetonka and Shorewood.
East on Highway 5 or Hwy 7 to Co. Rd 101.
North (or south if coming from Minnetonka) on Co. Rd. 101 to Crosstown
Highway
East on Crosstown Highway to stoplight at the entry to Glen Lake Golf
Course and County Boys Home. Stay in right lane.
Turn right onto service road and in 40 yards turn right onto
Indian Chief Road. Follow to
Edenwood Center. The center has several parking areas in a rustic, wooded
setting. You’ll love it.
From Minnetonka, Hopkins and elsewhere.
Take Crosstown Highway to the first stoplight (at Glen Lake
Golf Course) after Baker Road. Stay in left lane. Turn left (south)
onto service road and in 40 yards turn right onto Indian Chief
Road. Follow to Edenwood Center. The center has several parking
areas in a rustic, wooded setting. You’ll love it.
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Friends of Birch Island Woods Annual Events Log
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| 2007 |
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September 8
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North Star/Sierra Club: Celebration
of Volunteers, BI Woods & Eden Wood
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August 29
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Eden Wood Master Plan Meeting, FBIW, City, design consultants
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May 28
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The “Save Birch Island Woods” sign retired after 6 years & 7
mounths service at Edenvale Boulevard and Indian Chief
Road
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May, early June
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4 buckthorn pulls at Scenic Heights Primary School, Mtka
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May 11-20
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Birch Island Woods Plant Sale at
the Picha Heritage Farm (#6)
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May
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BIW woodchip trail maintenance (Boy Scout project, McCotter)
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April 21
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Picha Farm Plant Potting Party
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April 21
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Woods Pick Up
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April 21
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Buckthorn pull
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April-July
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Spring Weed Wrench loaner program resumes operation
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March 31
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Buckthorn Boot Camp, Eden Wood, Birch Island Woods
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March 17
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Minnetonka Eco-Fair, Mtka Community
Cntr (display & buckthorn
info)
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January 20
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EP Environmental Fair, EP High
School (display & buckthorn
info)
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January-February
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Screenings of “Glen Lake Children’s Camp,” a
documentary arranged for EP History Society and other
groups.
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| 2006 |
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Sat, Nov 11
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EP High School Key Club buckthorn pull in woods organized by Emily Ward. Approximately
30 volunteers.
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Sun, Oct 29
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Sam McCotter Boy Scout buckthorn pull along main trail and near wood chip loop
in center of conservation area.
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Sat, Oct 28
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EPHS Teens Make a Difference Day buckthorn pull in woods organized
by Emily Ward 15 volunteers.
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Sun, Oct 8
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Immanuel Lutheran Church buckthorn pull with Tommy Johnson in
woods. 12 volunteers.
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Sun, Oct 8
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Gustavus Adolphus College Class
tour & buckthorn pull in
woods with Jeff Strate organized by Christina Lewis.
9 volunteers.
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Sat, Sun, Oct 7, 8
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Matt Boudreux Scout Troop 695,
buckthorn pull and brush clean
up at Birch Island Lake campsite (EdenWood)
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Thur, Sept 14
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International School of MN buckthorn pull in woods. 60 volunteers. Thur/Sat, Aug 10
and 12 - Mike Herzog, Troop 290, buckthorn pull/new picnic Area, near Eden Wood Lodge.
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May, June, July
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Small group garlic mustard pulls involving students from Minnehaha
Academy, U of MN, Cornell Univerrsity, Macalster College and
nearby residents.
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May
12-21
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Birch
Island Woods Plant Sale, Picha Heritage farm
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May
6
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Birch
Island Woods Buckthorn & Garlic
Mustard Pull, with teacher Sue Neilson’s EP Central
Middle School science students and Friends of Birch
Island Woods volunteers. Approximately 32 participants
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April
27
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Herbaceous
weeds Seminar: Henepin County Home Landscaping Series,
Eden Wood
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April
23
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Earth
Day Weekend event: Global Warming Forum with EP Mayor
Nancy, Will Steger, Paul Douglas, ME3, CCC and others,
St. Andrew Church
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April
22
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Earth
Day Events: Picha Farm Potting Party, Woods Clean-up
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April
12-22
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Litter
Cleanup Promotion
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April
15
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Buckthorn
Boot Camp, Eden Wood
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March
19
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Buckthorn
101, Eden Wood
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March
18
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Minnetonka
Eco-Fair, FBIW table display with other earth-friendly
organizations and businesses and speakers, Minnetonka
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January
17
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EP
City Council Form with former State Senator Ed Oliver,
Minnetonka City Council Member Bob Ellingson, FBIW volunteers
Rachel Harlos and Jeff Strate
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Jan 9
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EP Parks Commission Meeting presentation on land acquisitions with FBIW
volunteers Marcus Johnson, Jeff Strate and approximately
45 others
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| |
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| 2005 |
|
| December 15 |
Minnesota's
Energy Future: Symposium at the EP Library. Co-sponsored
by FBIW, Sierra Club and ME3 Minnesotans for an Energy
Efficient Economy |
| November 28 |
Luncheon
at Eden Wood, with host Friendship Ventures and co-sponsors Minneapolis
Building & Construction Trades Council, Eden Prairie Lions, Friends
of Birch Island Woods, Eden Prairie Heritage Preservation Commission |
| October 21 |
Haunted Woods Walk |
| October 15 |
Buckthorn Busting Day |
| September 11 |
Sunbonnet Day, Riley-Jacques
Farmstead (Lake Riley Park): Information on Birch Island
Woods & buckthorn control. Mini farmers market with
produce from the Picha, Marshall and Peterson Farms |
| August 6 |
Information table at
Round Lake Park (Corn Feed) |
| July 4 |
Information table at
Round Lake Park (July 4th Celebration) |
| May 28 |
Buckthorn and Garlic
Mustard Pull |
| May 7 |
Wood Chip Loop Trail
Construction (near Indian Chief Road),
Troop #349, Eagle Scout project |
| May 6-15 |
Birch Island Woods
Plant Sale, Picha Heritage Farm |
| April 30 |
Buckthorn Bootcamp |
| April 16 |
Picha Farm Potting
Party |
| April 2 |
EP Home Garden &
Landscape Expo |
| March 12 |
Buckthorn 101, with
Janet Larson and Jeff Cordez |
| March 5 |
Shining Hope In
Environmental Organizing, A Sierra Club skills & tactics
workshop at Harrison Neighborhood Cntr. Mpls. with State Representative
Keith Ellison, FBIW's Jeff Strate and others |
| February
20, 26 |
Birch Island Woods
featured on CH. 11's Minnesota Bound and subsequently
on the Outdoor Living Network’s “Backroads with
Ron [Schara] and Raven" |
| |
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| 2004 |
|
| October
30 |
Eagle Scout Buckthorn
Pull |
| October
29 |
Haunted Woods Walk,
Witch’s Raffle |
| October
18 |
Microsoft
Meeting & Buckthorn Pull, Eden Wood & BIW |
| September 9 |
International School
Students Pull Buckthorn in Birch Island Woods |
| August 7 |
Eden Prairie Lion's
Annual Corn Feed, Round Lake Park |
| July 24 |
Citizens’ Organizing
Conference, Macalaster College (Sierra Club) |
| July 3 |
Wood chip Trail Walks,
Birch Island Woods |
| June 5 |
Buckthorn Pull, Eden
Wood and the woods |
| May 24 |
Eden Prairie Environmental
Fair, Central Middle School |
| May 7-15 |
Birch Island Woods
Plant Sale, Picha Heritage Farm |
| April 17 |
Pot Planting Party,
Picha Heritage Farm |
| April 17 |
Spring Clean of woods
and perimeter roads, Woods Area |
| April 3 |
Buckthorn Boot Camp,
Eden Wood and the Woods |
| Feb. 28 |
Buckthorn 101, Eden
Wood and the Woods |
| Oct 24, 2003 |
Haunted Woods Walk
Picha Farm, wood, Children’s Camp |
| Ongoing |
Special group tours
of Eden Wood & Birch Island Woods area |
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