 Photo by Sally Wagoner How to sow native plant seeds in winter for spring growth will be offered on Wednesday, December 6, 5:30pm – 7:00pm. This hands-on demonstration will be hosted by Big Bluestem Farm and the Newaygo County Environmental Coalition (NCEC) and will take place at the Waters Edge Golf Course – Lakes Restaurant, 1100 Ramshorn, Fremont, MI 49412. “Many native plant seeds need the cold weather of winter in order to germinate in spring,” states Ken Hoganson of Big Bluestem Farm. “We will demonstrate how you can easily sow seeds in reusable household containers so you can grow the native plants that you want in your garden and yard.” Michigan native plants are naturally adapted to live in a Michigan climate, which brings periods of freezing temperatures, Ken explains. For optimal germination many types of native seeds require exposure to cold, moist winter conditions alternating with the warming spring sun in order to germinate and grow well. This process is called “stratification”. The program will include a discussion on the importance of native plants to our local ecosystems, what winter sowing is, and the benefits of the process. There will be demonstrations on the types of common household containers that are suitable to use as “mini-greenhouses” for the seed sowing. “We may have some native plant seeds to give away,” adds Sally Wagoner of the Newaygo County Environmental Coalition. “We have some left over from the November Seed Swap. This is a great opportunity for folks to go home with some native plant seeds, turn their plastic milk containers into mini-greenhouses, and get ready for spring planting!” Big Bluestem Farm is a native plant nursery near Bitely that specializes in native plants and an expanding “seed bank”. Ken and Shelly Hoganson grow dozens of different species of native plants providing plugs, quarts and gallons for gardens and installations by appointment. They also offer sales at some of the spring and summer native plant sales in the region. Also on the agenda for the evening will be information about Vernal Pools Monitoring, and the Wild Ones Newaygo Region chapter in development. Katie Clark of NCEC is the local field coordinator for the Vernal Pools Partnership. These elusive spring ponds are highly important to our local ecosystems, yet they are not recognized or identified very much in Newaygo County. Ms. Clark will discuss how community members can become “citizen scientists” this coming spring in the Vernal Pools Monitoring Workshop. This will add Newaygo County and its vernal pools data to the national map. “Wild Ones: Native Plants, Natural Landscapes” is a national non-profit that promotes environmentally sound landscaping practices to preserve biodiversity through the preservation, restoration and establishment of native plant communities. “There is a growing interest in native habitats and native plants in Newaygo County, so we are in the process of developing a local Wild Ones Chapter. This will benefit both our community members as they pursue native plants in their yards & gardens, as well as our unique native habitats throughout the County,” explains Sally Wagoner. Registration for the Winter Seed Sowing program is recommended, although walk-ins can be seated as well. The event is free, with food and beverages the responsibility of attendees. To register click here: Winter Seed Sowing. Or you can email buzz@nc-ec.org. Visit the Newaygo County Environmental Coalition website calendar to view and register for this and other upcoming events in the region: www.nc-ec.org. For more information about winter seed sowing and native plants, contact Ken Hoganson: khogansonjr@gmail.com, 630-915-7715.
0 Comments
 Find a bow, snap a photo, and win prizes at Land Conservancy nature preserves
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. (Nov. 20, 2023) -- This holiday season, busy elves from the Land Conservancy of West Michigan have hung a big red bow on one tree at several nature preserves located throughout West Michigan. If you find them, you have the chance to win some cool prizes! The Land Conservancy of West Michigan has partnered with several local artists and businesses to create a fun way for families and explorers of all ages to get outside this season. Taking part in this scavenger hunt promises participants the opportunity to discover new trails and win amazing prizes from sponsors like Brewery Vivant, REI, Querkus Creative, and many more! Event Details: The event will run from November 20-December 31, 2023. A complete list of the nature preserves where participants can search for bows and prizes will be revealed on the Land Conservancy’s website on Monday, November 20. How to Enter: Hike Explore select LCWM nature preserves any time between November 20 and December 31, 2023 to look for trees decorated with holiday bows! There is only one bow per nature preserve. Snap Take a photo with the decorated tree! Share Post the photograph to Instagram and tag @naturenearby*, or email the photo to kendra@naturenearby.org. If you correctly identify the tree species the bow is affixed to, you will be entered into the prize raffle twice! *Note: Your Instagram profile must be public for us to see and count your entries! Win Prizes – Each holiday bow found enters you into a raffle to win prizes! This year, we have grand prizes for the first two people to visit all of our preserves and for the first two people to correctly identify the most trees. If you don’t win a grand prize, you will still be entered into a raffle – every tree found and every correct tree ID counts as a submission. Bonus Prize – This year, your social media entries make you eligible for a bonus prize! This means each time you find a tree and share it on Instagram, your name will be entered into a separate raffle for a special prize (1x per tree shared). Anyone who wins a grand prize or raffle prize is still eligible for this bonus social media prize. Rules & Guidelines: • One photo submission per family per preserve • Photo should clearly show the bow and the tag indicating the preserve name • Submissions will be accepted starting at 12:00 am on November 20 through 11:59 pm on December 31. For more information, please visit our event page on our website: https://naturenearby.org/events/holiday-hike-challenge-23/  Photo and article by Donna Iverson When November arrives, my attention turns to turkey. Not the turkey I’m looking forward to on my Thanksgiving dinner plate. But the wild turkeys meandering along roads and highways in small flocks. Seemingly fearless, they waltz across the road while cars line up patiently waiting for them to pass. But get out of the car, to try to get a photo and they pick up their speed, moving at 15 to 25 miles an hour out of range. Wild turkeys are native to Michigan. They are a bird of many contradictions. Basically sociable, an individual turkey can become aggressive toward humans and attack. (If threatened, grab a broom or a hose) Spending most of their time scratching on the ground near woods, they can nevertheless fly at 55 miles per hour. While wild turkey numbers are growing and the flocks are moving into suburbia, it hasn’t always been so. In the late 1800s, wild turkeys had all but disappeared from the state. Logging had destroyed their habitat.In the 1950s, wildlife biologists began a reintroduction program in southwest Michigan. And now the wild turkey is no longer endangered. If you have wild turkeys in your yard, you are lucky. For one thing, they eat ticks. One turkey can eat 200 ticks a day. They feed on nuts, berries, insects, snails, and grains, like corn and soybean. Acorns are a special favorite. Predators include raccoons, skunks, opossums and occasionally crows and coyotes. Wild turkeys are highly intelligent and have excellent vision and hearing even though they have no ears. Scientists report they can make 20 different vocalizations which are recognized by others in the pack. They are also curious and polygamous. Surprisingly, they sleep in the top of trees. In the spring, an alpha male will mate with nearly every hen in the flock. Hens lay eggs in ground nests often near trees. Young turkeys are extremely vulnerable to prey until they can fly, about two weeks after hatching. A young turkey is called a jake. As winter approaches, the flock will break up into smaller groups ..the hens, the toms and the jakes. They have a hard time surviving in deep snow, so are mostly found in southern Michigan and not in the UP. Their home range is one to four miles in circumference. Hunting season for wild turkeys began September 15 and lasts till November 14. A state license is needed. For more information on attracting wild turkeys to your property, check out https://www2.dnr.state.mi.us/publications/pdfs/huntingwildlifehabitat/landowners_guide/Resource_Dir/Acrobat/Wild_Turkeys.PDF
Local author Brett Allen coming to FADL
Live @ the Library, a series of events including author visits and informational presentations at Fremont Area District Library is thrilled to host former Fremont resident and author Brett Allen for a presentation of his new book, Sly Fox Hollow. Brett Allen will be doing a short reading from Sly Fox Hollow, and will discuss how our current national socio/political climate inspired a story about a small-town mayoral election gone awry. He’ll also share how growing up in Fremont affected and inspired the work and will briefly talk about his first book, Kilroy Was Here, which is loosely based on his 2009 deployment to Afghanistan as a cavalry officer with the U.S. Army. This event will take place in the Fremont library’s Community Room on Tuesday, November 14th at 7:00 p.m.  A Native Plant Seed Swap and Wild Ones Chapter discussion will take place on Saturday, November 11 from 1pm – 3pm. The free event will be held in Hope Hall at the Center for Hope & Healing, 601 North Evergreen Drive, White Cloud, 49337. Guests are encouraged to collect native plant seeds from their yards & gardens to share with others. “We want to spread native plants around our county to help support our pollinators and wildlife. And what better way than to share free seeds with other homeowners!” states Katie Clark of the Newaygo County Environmental Coalition (NCEC). “We will also discuss the possibility of starting a Wild Ones Chapter in Newaygo,” added Sally Wagoner of NCEC. “Wild Ones is a national nonprofit that promotes the preservation of biodiversity through increasing native plant communities. There are chapters all around Michigan, but the closest one to us is in Grand Rapids.” “The number of community members interested in native plants is growing rapidly. We think the time is right to start a Wild Ones chapter here,” Ms. Wagoner added. “A Wild Ones affiliation will provide information and resources on growing native plants, as well as assure camaraderie among native plant enthusiasts here.” According to Katie and Sally, there are instructions on how to prepare your seeds for the seed swap:
Questions? Email: buzz@nc-ec.org. For information about Wild Ones go to www.wildones.org. NCEC is a 501c3 non-profit which endeavors to be the environmental resource hub and to support the beauty and sustainability of Newaygo County and region. Learn more at www.nc-ec.org.
Author Jennifer Graeser Dornbush to Present New Book at Fremont Library
Live @ the Library, a series of events including author visits and informational presentations at Fremont Area District Library, is thrilled to host Jennifer Graeser Dornbush for a reading and presentation of her newest book. Jennifer is a screenwriter, author, international speaker, and forensic specialist. She is developing multiple projects for TV and film, while also penning mysteries, thrillers, and short stories. She will present her newest novel, Last One Alive. In this story, Dr. Emily Hartford is back in Chicago, ready to move forward and leave the past behind, until an unexpected request for help sends her deep into an investigation—and into the path of a killer. This event will take place in the Fremont Library’s Community Room on Tuesday, October 24th at 7:00 p.m. and books will be available for purchase.  Photo and article by Donna Iverson
If you’re a gardener, exploring a farmers market is like exploring an art museum to the artistically inclined. And if it’s fall, there is one veggie that is almost certain to catch your eye: snake gourds. Shaped like giant writhing green beans, the snake gourd is a subtropical vine native to southeast Asia. They are a member of the pumpkin family. In Michigan, it is sold as a decorative craft item that can be carved into anything from musical instruments to bird houses. Birds that will nest in a snake gourd house include wrens, chickadees, swallows, blue birds, titmice, and nuthatches. Before carving out a birdhouse in a snake gourd, it is necessary to dry the plant until it is well hardened. This could take up to a year, according to a local farmer. Instructions can be found at: https://www.thespruce.com/gourd-bird-houses-4070291 Most people just use snake gourds as fall decorations, especially around Halloween….taking advantage of their scary appearance. With the warmer summers of late, Michigan farmers are now able to grow snake gourds locally. Seeds are available from Baker Creek at https://www.rareseeds.com/ If you do grow your own snake gourds, they are edible when they are very young …about the size of a cucumber. And reportedly, they taste a lot like a bitter cucumber. They are also a staple of Ayurvedic medicine. The snake gourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina) arrived in Europe from China around 1720. By the 1820’s, Thomas Jefferson was growing it in his garden at Monticello. It is classified by some as a heritage plant. Technically, it is a fruit and not a vegetable.  Photo and article by Donna Iverson As October rolls around and the Halloween decorations appear, it seems like human skeletons on front lawns are getting larger and larger. This year, skeletons have reached 12 feet tall, looming over many a front yard filled with spiders, tombstones, and witches. And they don’t come cheap …a 12-foot Halloween skeleton can run up to $300 at big box stores. So what’s going on? A house-sized skeleton certainly gets attention. And is definitely scary, reflecting our times. These oversized skeletons are a huge menacing presence that says something is coming for you. Our growing fascination with skeletons harkens back to an earlier era. In late Middle Ages, intellectuals were beginning to study anatomy in a more scientific way. Dissection was reveling the body’s structure. Like today, a fascination with skeletons grew. In the US, it is legal to possess, display and sell human bones with a few exceptions. Eight states forbid the selling of bones. These states include Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, South Caroline, Texas and Virginia. Native America skeletons and bones are also protected under the Native American Graves Protection Act. The oldest skeleton discovered by archaeologists is Lucy, uncovered in Ethiopia in 1974. She dates back 3.2 million years. Today, scientists are able to extract DNA for ancient skeletons telling us more and more about our ancient history. Meanwhile in our front yards, skeletons rule. At least they do through the month of October.
Author John Smolens to Present New Book at Fremont Library
Live @ the Library, a series of events including author visits and informational presentations at Fremont Area District Library is thrilled to host John Smolens for a reading and presentation of his newest book. Michigan author John Smolens will present his novel, A Cold, Hard Prayer. In 1924, an orphan train delivers a girl of mixed race and a boy with a disabled hand to rural Michigan, where a farmer’s attempted rape and subsequent murder forces them to flee; hunted by law enforcement and the reemergent KKK, mutual trust and determination helps the teenage suspects navigate a stark American landscape shaped by prejudice, hypocrisy, and fear. This event will take place in the Fremont library’s Community Room on Tuesday, October 17th at 7:00 p.m. and books will be available for purchase.  Adventure #6 in the books Backpacking it in Algonquin Wilderness Area A quartet of local women recently completed a rather rigorous hiking experience. Peggy Mercer, Kay Clouse, Cheryl McGrath and Sibyl Smith came together for their sixth trip, having previously tackled Manistee River Loop, Jordan Valley Loop, Pictured Rocks, Porcupine Mountains, and last year Isle Royale. “There’s nothing like a good bonding experience, depending on each other in the remote wilderness of Canada,” said Peggy Mercer.”It took trust and teamwork to tackle 3300’ of elevation gain backpacking in the Algonquin Wilderness of Ontario, Canada.” “We all agreed “this was the hilliest, most rugged and challenging trip yet. Plans are already underway for next year.” We at N3 World Headquarters were intrigued and set out to ask the foursome about their experience on these hikes. We were able to catch up with 3 of the 4. It seems Ms. Mercer was off on yet another hike. This is your 6th trip. How did these begin and what was the motivation to do this? Kay: I introduced Cheryl to Peggy’s Wander Women group in about 2017, and she asked me if I’d ever consider backpacking again. I had done Isle Royale as a young woman and she had done the Wind River Range in Wyoming. I really was, though I was concerned about sleeping on the ground again at my age! We checked with Peggy and Sibyl who had similar concerns- but as we explored options and equipment, we decided to try a couple of short trips to see how we liked it. We all loved the outdoors and hiking, and the challenge it provided to be totally on our own! Cheryl: I backpacked 100 miles in the Wind River Range, Wyoming, in 2015. I enjoyed the adventure and challenge and wanted to use my equipment again. In 2018, I asked a few hiking friends if they would be interested in backpacking and Kay, Peggy and Sibyl said yes. Our first trip was the NCT/Manistee River Trail loop to see if everyone could sleep on the ground…and we did. I like to spend time with friends, explore new areas of the country, get out into nature, soak up beautiful scenery, listen to the sounds of silence, and take on new challenges. Sibyl: I am the only one of the 4 who had never backpacked before, . On Wander Women hikes I would listen to women talk about past adventures and think that sounded like fun but obviously, something that I had missed out on in my youth. Then, I heard Cheryl and Kay discuss their plans to backpack (I believe I heard Isle Royale mentioned, a life long dream of mine), and wanted a couple more women to join in. I jumped in with borrowed gear for the first trip to the Manistee River loop. The rest is history. What have been the challenges? Cheryl: Dealing with unexpected difficulty of a trail, carrying 36 pounds on Day 1, and setting up tents during a huge thunderstorm. Sibyl: We have had to adjust distances and routes based on our specific abilities, taking into consideration the weight we are carrying and our ages. Kay: There really have been few. We work well together as a team and all share in the planning and responsibilities. One challenge this year was learning a new technique to hang our food bags to keep bears out of them at night! What have you learned about yourself? Sibyl: The others I have learned that I am pretty tough and have the grit to keep going when the trail gets rugged. Participating in challenges like this is self enhancing in body , mind and spirit. When we began these trips I was just an acquaintance of these women. Now, they are dear friends. I feel blessed have been included. Kay: I have learned that I am strong and capable of learning new things. I’ve learned that when my body hurts I probably need to work on getting stronger or stretch, and not give up on it! I’ve also learned to deal with my fears about wildlife by learning about their behaviors and habits. I’ve learned that Cheryl is a spread sheet guru, Sibyl is a mapping whiz, and Peggy is a great logistics organizer, with all being willing and capable to put in the time to get conditioned and be ready to go. They each have many more strengths and are totally dependable. Cheryl: I’m capable of doing more than I realized. Also, I’ve learned to be more flexible than in the past. We make a good team! We’ve learned how to communicate effectively and work through issues together. No one is a “chief” and everyone has a voice in solving problems. What do these trips mean to you? Kay:These trips are one of the highlights of my year. I love the friendship, camaraderie and laughter we all share, as well as the planning process and anticipation. There is also a lot of satisfaction in looking back at our accomplishments. Cheryl: The memories we’ve made together are priceless. Backpacking on Isle Royale had been on my bucket list for many years and, in 2022, we made it happen. When I look at pictures from our adventures, they always bring a smile to my heart. Kay, Peg and Sibyl are special friends and I count on them - on the trail and in my life. Sibyl: These backpacking trips are a highlight of the year, The anticipation builds as we meet and make plans throughout the year. The sense of pride and accomplishment that I feel afterwards is worth all of the sore muscles.and tired feet.  Not just a stroll in the park  "The most challenging trip yet" |
Archives
November 2023
Categories |
RSS Feed