In an age where “new and improved” are words by which we live, it is refreshing and curious when someone deviates and chooses methods of old. One such case is the recently released book To Reconstruct a Prairie by Susan Gardels.

Gardels will be signing copies and individual pages of the book at Big Table Books tonight at 7:30 p.m.

Gardels, an artist in residence at the Artists Emporium in Des Moines, chose to print her book of 10 poems and drawings in the old traditional style on a Challenge Proof Press. It seems only fitting that the collection of poems, about the rich history of Iowa prairie, is brought to life by a printer that itself is a piece of history.

Gardels chose the Challenge Proof Press to get the results of type that she wanted. “Even though it’s not an antique, it’s from the 1950s, and that’s considered pretty old,” she said.

In fact, with the modern luxuries of Xerox machines and laser printers, Gardels has acquired a fan club of sorts who comes to see her patiently rolling her ink. “I’ve gotten a lot of advice and comments from older printers. They come to watch; they know it’s a wonderful craft,” Gardels said.

To Reconstruct a Prairie is a collection of poems and illustrations based on the tales of the people and the land that was once tall grass prairie and oak savanna, about 20 miles east of Des Moines.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is fighting to preserve this land which, according to a press release has been labeled the largest prairie reconstruction project in the world. Gardels knew of the savanna and after discovering the struggle to save it, decided to write her book. She talked to staff members of the Walnut Creek National Wildlife Refuge and Prairies Learning Center for research and gathered stories from descendants of the original settlers. After sifting through historical documents for about a year, Gardels selected those that captured the beauty of the land and its inhabitants.

A favorite story that cropped up was one of a nude wrestling match. “A particular story about a nude wrestling match that took place here came up several times in my research. I found out that shortly after the Civil War, a Southern soldier challenged a Northern soldier to a wrestling match. The Southern soldier arrived drunk and nude. The Northern soldier arrived nude also and covered in animal lard: He won because the Southern soldier couldn’t grip him.”

And just how did Gardels illustrate this bare-all moment to accompany her poem? “I drew prairie chickens booming to represent the nude match.”

For more information, call 232-8976.