Our Story

It started in 2006 when I purchased 2.5 acres with cabins situated along 280 feet of Lake Michigan Shore in Ozaukee County and spent the summers there with my then 3-year-old granddaughter Ella. In 2013, I bought 28 acres of farmland and wetlands/woodland that abutted my property to the west (and an additional 8 acres adjoining the north end in 2016). I was interested in returning the land to the way it was before it was farmed.

It’s been a wonderful project – fun and interesting and challenging. The land had been 12 acres of corn for many years, managed by a dairy farm down the road, along with wetlands and woodland below the 20-foot bluff. With the help of many gifted professionals, a process was started to remove the invasive bush honeysuckle that had grown into a 6-foot-high thicket in the woodland. Then the removal of thousands of dead ash trees was started due to the emerald ash borer infestation. At the same time, grasses were planted on the old corn field and mowed for hay by a local horse owner.

Deborah Kern - Owner, Firefly Farm

April 22, 2026

The full story…

Map of the land

Coming soon

The Science

Bat Surveys at the Kern Preserve: 2019-2020

By Gary S Casper and Tara C Hohoff

The objective of this study was to determine the species of bats utilizing the Kern Preserve during the maternity season of June–July when young are being raised.

Biological Surveys of the Kern Preserve, Ozaukee County, WI

By Ryne D Rutherford and Gary S Casper

2019-2020 • A comprehensive botanical and lichen inventory. Gathered initial baseline data on several groups of insects.

Breeding Bird Baseline Survey for the Kern Preserve: 2019-2020

By Gary S Casper and Nathaniel Reinartz

March 8, 2021 • We conducted a 2-year baseline survey of breeding birds at the Kern Preserve to obtain checklists of breeding birds utilizing habitats undergoing restoration.

Discussion of Floristic Quality Analysis results for the Kern Preserve

By Douglas Stadler

2022 • This survey establishes a baseline for future monitoring of the management efforts within the preserve.

Firefly Farm Restoration Projects Description

By Native Range Ecological

August 2024 • Our project team proposes three separate ecological restoration projects on the Site. These include Beaver Dam Analogs (BDAs) on the northern intermittent stream channel, expansion and deepening of the scrape near the north end of the lower terrace, and the raising of the berm and placement of an Agri-Drain water control structure on the berm near the mid-point of the eastern conveyance system.