Kristi's Workdays

Helping people protect the local wild and scenic places they care most about.

Kristi's Wednesday Workday Journal 2007

In Paul's epistle to the Roamin's, he declares that the proud and stalwart warriors wrought many mighty acts last Wednesday at GM Bauer. The garlic mustard was vanquished, the multiflora roses were subdued, and a fallen tree felt the teeth of a warrior-wielding chainsaw. Well done, warriors!

And now for something completely different, we will skip through the flower fields and collect lupine seeds! Okay, skipping is optional. But show up Wednesday, June 13, at 9:00 am at the carpool lot at D Avenue & I-131. Weaponry this week is a plastic grocery bag. We will proceed to a private property where we have been invited to pick lupine pods. Then we will barrel down the road to Chipman Preserve to install the fresh seeds in a new prairie-to-be. Paul & Prairie Bob have scouted out the place, and it promises to be a productive morning.

Hope to see you there. - Kristi & Paul

"For a list of all the ways technology has failed to improve the quality of life, please press three." - Alice Kahn

Wasn't that fun this week, loping through the lupines? What a handsome prairie remnant (with a 'For Sale' sign - anyone want to buy it for the Conservancy?). We plucked lupine pods, and whisked them off to Sand Creek and Chipman to sow new patches of blue beauty for next year.

And next Wednesday, June 20, a solstice frolic - we will explore every crook and nanny of a brand new preserve: Dowagiac Fen. Planned activity is posting signs to mark the new boundaries. I'll bring all the materials. You might want to bring good work gloves and water (whistle, compass, bright orange hat). Let's meet at the northeast corner of KVCC parking lot at 8:30 and carpool from there.

Directions to Dowagiac Fen: Take I-94 west to exit 56 (Route 51). Take Rt. 51 south through Decatur to Dowagiac. Turn left (west) on Prairie Ronde Road. Turn left (north) on Colby Rd. which deadends at corner of preserve

Looking ahead:

June 27 - we'll attack the phragmites at Winterberry

July 4 - off - Nate can't afford to pay us double our rate

July 11 - trail work at Oak Braes

Hope to see you there. - Kristi & Paul

When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe. – John Muir, My First Summer in the Sierra

Happy Solstice!

Embrace your inner Druid and doing something outdoors today.

The Wednesday Warriors got a head start by pacing out the perimeter of our NEW preserve: Dowagiac Fen. We saw a swell turtle, spiderwort, blooming catalpa trees, a large patch of milweed, but only ten surveyer pins. We posted what signs we could, and promised ourselves to come back when the vegetation is sparser (hard to think of winter on a day like this, but it'll happen).

Next Wednesday, June 27, we will resume our quarrel with the phoe: the mighty phragmites of Winterberry Preserve. We will mow it down in anticipation of herbicide treatment in the fall. Extra hands can consolidate the farm dump - call it an archeological dig if it makes you feel better. The prickly pear cactus should be in bloom. And stop and say hi to the 'native' koi in the 'native' square pond. Paul will be the phearless leader. To carpool, meet at the parking lot behind McDonald's on W. Main (former Frank's Nursery), at 8:30. Driving directions below. Reminder: no workday July 4 you little sparklers.

Kristi & Paul

Directions to Winterberry: West on M-43. Just before Bangor, left on Arlington Dr. (becomes CR378). Go 7.3 miles. Winterberry on right; pull in at gate.

"Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life" - Rachel Carson

Dear Warriors,

Hope you had a good holiday. I am having WW withdrawal, and am weady to work.

This Wednesday, July 11, we will meet at Oak Braes Preserve for some trail work. Bring loppers and work gloves, and hope for cooler weather. Meet us there at 9:00 am.

Directions to Oak Braes: Take I-94 to Galesburg exit (35^th St). Go north on 35^th to G Ave. Turn right on G and go east past 36^th St. The donor lives at 11378 East G Ave. The preserve is behind his house with a narrow access. Look for the small parking lot (first come first served.) All others park on the road. (NOTE: G Ave is blocked just east of there, so if you're coming from the east, don't.)

Hope to see you there. - Kristi & Paul

“The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.” – Eden Phillpots

First off, my apologies for the missing email last week. I hope it was operator error and not something in the electronic world that tripped me up, so I can fix it.

Last week was (not surprisingly) a small ensemble: The Carter Lake Quartet, with DaveW and Brian on brush cutter, Paul on mower and lopper, and Kristi keeping the beat with herbicide and vocals. The quartet played a lively variety of numbers: "Mow that Swamp" and "Ain't Gonna Miss You, Autumn Olive" to an appreciative audience (ourselves). The trail looks really nice and inviting now, and you can see the sign clearly.

This Wednesday, July 25, we will continue our work to clear the savanna at PawPaw Preserve. I'll supply all tools. Some of us are attending the Wau-Ke-Na presentation later, so please make your own carpool arrangements. We'll meet there at 9:00 am. The canned directions below mention a parking lot, but we'll be working east of there, so just start looking for parked cars, and pull in along the road.

Hope to see you there, Kristi & Paul

Directions to Paw Paw Preserve: Go west on I-94 to PawPaw exit, then north on M-40, through city of PawPaw (OR go south from M-43). After about 3 miles (from either I-94 or M-43), turn west on 44th Ave. Go about 1 mile, past the gated entrance, to the parking lot for the preserve which is on the north side of 44th Ave.

"In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous." - Aristotle

There once was a tiny savannah

As small as a baby banana.

The Warriors were fearless

'Neath skies dark and cheerless.

And now it's as big as Montana!

Okay, maybe Rhode Island. Mackinac Island? Well, it's bigger than it was the day before. We hacked and lopped and otherwise violated the interlopers, letting in the daylight.

And next Wednesday, August 1 (AUGUST already!) we will return to PawPaw Preserve to lay waste to the autumn olive thicket in the southwest corner. If you have a chain saw--and know how to use it--safely--bring it along. Or just show up and help haul away limbs from the mighty sawyers...that's tree limbs not the arms and legs of the sawyers. I hope! Meet there at 9:00 am. Please make your own carpool arrangements. Special note: the street sign for 44th Ave. is missing, so watch your odometer and look for the strange blueberry sign on the corner - the sign is at the bottom of two very tall posts.

Dear Warriors and AC cocooners,

This Wednesday was a three-chainsaw day. Working eastward, we stood in the shade of the autumn olive at PawPaw preserve, and proceeded to cut them down in succession. Pretty clever, eh?

But in typical fashion, there's always more to do than time and headcount permit. So, great news: I believe there's a workday planned at PawPaw this very Saturday - tomorrow - to continue the onslaught. Hopefully the new alley of open ground will inspire you as to what dedicated workers can accomplish in a morning.

And now for a change of pace, on Wednesday, August 8, we'll wade out to one of my favorite preserves, Glenn Allen Island. Did you know we own a whole island? We'll wade across the refreshing river, count heron nests, and pick up flotsam - that's trash that washed down in the spring. Wear long pants for the poison ivy, and shoes that can get wet. If you really like gear, or have to be somewhere afterwards, you can bring waders. I just wear lightweight pants and go for it. Meet there at 9:00 am.

Keep cool, Kristi & Paul

Directions to Glenn Allen Island: Take either Douglas Ave. or N. Westnedge north toward the Nature Center. North of Mosel Ave (at which there is a traffic light or 4-way stop, respectively) approximately 1 mile, G Ave runs east and west crossing both roads. Turn right (east) onto G Ave. When it gets to the river it turns 90 degrees south and becomes Pitcher St. Park along Pitcher St. just south of the 90 degree turn. Park along the road.

Approximately 150-200 yards south of the turn a culvert goes under the street with a small stream running through it that goes over to the river. We can walk more or less parallel to this stream to reach the river

"Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world." - Desmond Tutu

The Wednesday Warriors became the Wet Warriors this week, as we waded the Kalamazoo River and went exploring on Glenn Allen Island Preserve. We counted heron nests (7) and collected lotsa trash (12 bags), and saw some neat plants: a Green Dragon and a Swamp Rose Mallow. We had time to ponder the ubiquitous nature of plastic. Please think to bring your own mug to any event that serves coffee in foam cups. I'm also enclosing a fairly lengthy article about plastic water bottles at the bottom of this email; I found it informative and hope you do too.

Next Wednesday, August 15, we will team up with a Boy Scout troop to clear autumn olive and other foreign invaders at Consumers Power Preserve. Let's show those young whippersnappers how full-time Warriors attack alien species. And be good adult role models of clean, loyal, reverent, brave.. all that good scouty stuff. Bring your own chain saw or loppers if you like. Make your own carpool arrangements and meet there at 9:00 am. Directions below.

Directions to Consumers (Kalamazoo County): From US-131, take D Ave. exit. Go one block east on D Ave, past the gas station to 12th St. Turn left (North) on 12th and go to B Ave. Turn left (west) on B Ave and the preserve is right at the NE corner of the B Ave overpass of 131.

Kristi & Paul

Americans spend $10.8 billion dollars annually for 8.25 billion gallons of bottled water, most of which is domestic and is merely tap water. More than 75% of the billions of soft plastic bottles used every year for water do not get recycled; they end up in landfills or, worse yet, in surface waters, including the ocean.
     80% of the plastic in the ocean originates from land, not from ships. Wave action breaks down plastic into microscopic particles of plastic, which now outweighs phytoplankton 6 to 1 in the Northern Pacific gyre. The toll on sea creatures is incalculable. And there is no sign that any of the plastic is biodegrading; it merely breaks and grinds into smaller and smaller particles. Even so-called “biodegradable” polymers don’t go away; they just break up. Except for a small amount that’s been incinerated, virtually every bit of plastic manufactured in the last fifty years is still around, somewhere.
     Why aren’t the landfills overflowing? One reason is that a tremendous amount of the plastic winds up in “ocean-fills,” the great slowly whirling gyres that collect surface debris, like the Northern Pacific gyre, a 10-million-square-mile dump.
     Plastic bottles themselves contain toxic materials. Soft plastic leaches out chemicals when exposed to heat (such as in direct sunlight or left in your car on warm days), releasing phthalates, which contribute to infertility and breast and ovarian cancer. The older the bottle, the more it releases.
     Finally, the use of petrochemicals in manufacturing the bottles and transporting the water (1.5 billion gallons of fuel oil per year for transport, plus another 1.5 billion BARRELS of oil for the bottles) is a major contributor to global warming.
     It is dangerous to your health to re-use soft plastic bottles (#1). It is dangerous to the planet’s health to drink bottled water.
     Books and articles paraphrased and cited in this article include:
     Alan Weisman, “Polymers Are Forever,” in THE WORLD WITHOUT US (2007), pp. 112-128..
     Greg Horn, LIVING GREEN (2006), pp. 40-43
     Stevenson Swanson, “Advocates Hope to Turn Tide Against Bottled Water,” CHICAGO TRIBUNE, July 22, 2007, pp. 1, 12.
     “In Praise of Tap Water,” a NY TIMES editorial, Aug. 1, 2007, p. A22.

Today's workday, August 22, is cancelled on account of the weather. We will reschedule for next Wednesday, August 29, same time same place.

Go catch up on your reading.

Well the Wednesday Warriors turned out in force today (nine! - we could have fielded a baseball team) and stormed Conumers Power Preserve, along with a contingent of Boy Scouts. We methodically annihilated this year's crop of autumn olive, continuing our previous years of clearing. What a secret treasure this preserve is, within earshot of I-131, we marvelled at the Joe Pye Weed, ironweed, gerardia, blazing star, and a box turtle. Thanks to Paul for guiding us through the wetlands, to Stan for patiently coaching the scouts, to Julie for putting the weekly announcements on the website, and to MattS for joining us today (even if we thought you were a scout leader!).

Next Wednesday, August 29, we return to Hidden Marsh Preseve and Lacey Preserve to check our progress in eradicating the black swallowort vine, mow the trails, and cut some fallen trees. I'll bring the weaponry in the BUT (Big Ugly Truck). Actually I think it's cool with the tailgate lift. And flashy light on the roof. Even if it doesn't have cup holders. We'll meet there at 9:00 am.

Keep cool, Kristi & Paul

Directions to Hidden Marsh: Go south on US-131 to Heimbach Road (just north of Three Rivers). Turn left (east) and go to Buckhorn Road. Turn right and go south 2.5 miles. Buckhorn becomes Portage Road, and you will see a big preserve sign on the left (east) side, near 1501 Portage Road.

Directions to Lacey Preserve: Go south on US-131 to Heimbach Road (just north of Three Rivers). Turn left (east), and drive past Buckhorn Road, and go 1.5 miles. Turn into the driveway just before the bridge over the river.

“If Nature were not beautiful, it would not be worth knowing, and if nature were not worth knowing, life would not be worth living.” – Henry Poincare (1854-1912)

This Wednesday, August 29, we return to Hidden Marsh Preseve and Lacey Preserve to check our progress in eradicating the black swallowort vine, mow the trails, and cut some fallen trees. I'll bring the weaponry in the BUT (Big Ugly Truck). Actually I think it's a cool truck with the tailgate lift. And flashy light on the roof. We'll meet at Hidden Marsh parking lot at 9:00 am. Directions below.

Keep cool, Kristi & Paul

"Buy local! Conservation is just a growler away."

Quick Quiz: Match the following:

1. Mow a. fallen logs

2. Spray b. signs

3. Pound c. giant stands of Japanese knotweed

4. Saw d. black swallowort vines (again)

5. Chop e. trails

If you answered e, d, b, a, c - you are Correct! Congratulations! You are qualified to come out and work as a Wednesday Warrior!!

This week was a smorgasbord of frenzied activity as seven Warriors attacked all comers at Hidden Marsh and Lacey Preserves. What carnage! A pack of pachyderms couldn't have laid waste to that knotweed any better than we did. It was a new alien for me; I must add it to my resume.

Next Wednesday, September 5 (SEPTEMBER!?), we will focus with laser-like precision on the dastardly m.f. roses (tsk tsk, you know that stands for multiflora) at Gertrude McPharlin Bauer Nature Sanctuary up by Hastings. It's a beautiful drive, and we will carpool from the Meijer parking lot on Gull Road. Meet at the northeast corner at 8:15 am. Driving directions below. I recommend long sleeved shirts, the heavier the better, and heavy gloves.

Have a good Labor Day holiday. Kristi & Paul

Gertrude McPharlin Bauer Nature Sanctuary (Barry County): The sanctuary is located on the west side of Barryville Road, about ½ mile south of M-79, 4 miles west of Nashville, and 7 miles east of Hastings.

“To see a world in a grain of sand, and a heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour.” – William Blake

Plunging into September, the Wednesday Warriors headed north to give Gertrude a good grooming. She now has a nice mowed trail and has been rid of many unsightly rose bushes.

Next Wednesday, September 12, we stay in the 'zoo and explore the boundaries of our newest preserve: "Bow in the Clouds." Donated by the Sisters of St. Joseph, it is tucked in behind Nazareth College. I can't wait to see it. Only price of admission will be finding survey stakes and posting signs. Meet there at 9:00 am. Directions below.

Hope to see you there, Kristi & Paul

Directions to Bow in the Clouds: Nazareth College is on the north side of Gull Road (M-43), almost to Sprinkle. Take the main boulevard up to the large stone building. Go around to the left, and follow the parking lots around to the back. We will meet there.

"I do not know how the world could persist gracefully if but a single animal species were to vanish from it."

and

"I have no time to think of illness, Flora comes hastening with all her beautiful companions." - Carl Linnaeu

This week, nine Warriors appeared at our newest preserve: Bow in the Cloud to post boundary signs. The two teams went scavenging for survey stakes, and then took an exploratory walk on the nice boardwark through the wetland, replete with asters and cattails and joe-pye-weed. I'd never seen a swamp aster, and they were everywhere. We were up to our asters in asters.

Next Wednesday, September 19, we resume our battle against invasive aliens. We will spray the phragmites of Winterberry Preserve. This will be our third campaign there, and we want to finish them off! Please bring any sprayers you may have. And jugs of water. I'll bring the herbicide. Let's carpool from the parking lot behind McDonald's on West Main (next to former Frank's Nursery) at 8:30 am. We'll work till noon, and drive back.

Hope to see you there. Kristi & Paul

Directions to Winterberry: West on M-43. Just before Bangor, left on Arlington Dr. (becomes CR378). Go 7.3 miles. Winterberry on right; pull in at gate.

"I set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth." - Genesis 9:13

What a sight: six Warriors marching across the phragmites field with sprayers! In an awesome display of equipment and determination, we gave the phearsome phragmites a blast of our wrath (and 2% Accord) after a pre-emptive mowing earlier in the season. Stay tuned: we'll be back next year to check on our success. We said goodbye to Winterberry Preserve, with Nate's favorite goldfish "Patches" standing guard till next time.

Next Wednesday September 26, we continue our onslaught of buckthorn at Marc's Marsh, a close drive from town. We will cut, saw, lop, prune, spray, and any other verb we can throw at this persistent pest. Bring heavy gloves, and wear long sleeved shirts for the poison sumac. We will meet there at 9:00 am, and work till noon. Directions below.

Oh, collective wisdom of Warriors: does anyone know a source of free, good quality wood chips? We are thinking of dressing up the trails at Jeptha.

Best, Kristi & Paul

Directions to Marcʼs Marsh: From Sprinkle Road, go east on East Main. The preserve is about ½ mile past the intersection of 26^th St., on the north side.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." - Yogi Berra

Well the lucky eight Warriors who showed up this week at Marc's Marsh were treated to a special delight. We stepped into a whole field of fringed gentians - in all directions, as far as we could see! Even the most hardened warrior was awestruck by the delicate beauty and lavender-blue hues that graced the landscape. And that, my friends, is how we volunteers get paid. And for the rest of you, I urge you to go out and see the gentians. Marc's Marsh is a quarter mile past 26th St. on East Main. It's a little soggy, so wear shoes or boots you can get wet. Bring your camera.

Next Wednesday, October 3 (OCTOBER?!?!), we head south to Hidden Marsh and Lacey Preserves, near Three Rivers. It's time to spruce up for the fall color festival and tackle a few fallen logs and check on our success with the knotweed and swallowort. Should be enough projects to keep us all amused. Bring heavy work gloves. Paul Olexia will be trail boss for the next five weeks, so direct any questions to him. Meet at Hidden Marsh at 9:00 am. Directions below.

“There is a pleasure in the pathless woods.

There is a rapture on the lonely shore.

There is a society where none intrudes.

By the deep sea and music in its roar.

I love not man the less, but nature more.” – Lord Byron

We missed Kristi last Wednesday, but 6 dedicated Warriors showed up at Hidden Marsh to mow, prune, trim and clean up in preparation for the Fall Color Tour. The trails never have looked better. And we have done all we can to prepare for the tour. The remainder is up to Mother Nature to work her magic on the foliage.
    All those who previously had worked to eradicate the dense stand of Japanese Knot Weed were pleased at the success of their efforts. And we continue to make progress against the invasive black swallow wort. Unfortunately we were not well prepared to remove the ash tree from the river at the Lacey Preserve. So it remains. (We have very high job security.)

    Next week we will go to the Wah-Ke-Na Preserve near the village of Glenn. A small remnant of a distinctive plant community called Lake Plain Priairie has been identified on the "South Tract". There is a high priority for trying to prevent this area from encroaching non-native plants. So we will work to remove the invaders as much as possible so that this distinct community can not only survive, but hopefully expand.

    Bring work gloves and appropriate work attire. We will be cutting some small woody vegetation (and herbiciding stumps) as well as spraying surrounding herbaceous vegetation if it doesn't rain. Bill Martinus, who has conducted an inventory of the area, will be there to help us find the location and recognize the more important plants. If you have any questions about a possible cancellation, please call Paul (342-6695) before 7:45am Wednesday.

   For those interested, we will carpool from the "West Main" site behind McDonalds and near the former Frank's Nursery. We should leave the carpool area by 8:15am in order to meet Bill Martinus at the site by 9:00.

    For those who prefer to drive separately, the directions are: Take M-43 west to South Haven. Take Blue Star Highway (or 196) north toward Glenn. 114th intersects with BlueStar in downtown Glenn. Proceed slightly north and 70th St, also called Lakeshore Rd. bears off to the left as Blue Star Highway turns to the right just north of Glenn. Continue north on 70th, approximately 1/2 mile, and look for Wau-Ke-Na sign on the left. There is a driveway that leads into an area with a couple of outbuildings that are not easy to see until you have turned into the drive. We will assemble in the vicinity of the outbuildings.

"The creation of thousand forests is in one acorn" - Ralph Walso Emerson

The past Wednesday four intrepid warriors, undeterred by predictions of cold, rain and wind, answered the call at Wau-Ke-Na Preserve where we met highly regarded botanical guru Bill Martinus. Bill came to show us the location of the lakeplain prairie remnant, a distinct plant community, that is being threatened by invasive shrubs. Bill pitched right in with the work crew as we attacked one of the largest and meanest autumn olive trees most of us have ever seen. Among the more interesting plant species were colic root (in the lily family) and lady's tresses orchids (which were gone by the time we got there). As we proceeded with removing other autumn olives we discovered a highbush blueberry plant that was completely hidden by autumn olive and a frustrating assembledge of grapevine. We opened a notably large area but a lot of autumn olive and other woody plants remain for another day. Our "job security" is not threatened.

Next Wednesday, Oct. 17 we will return to Marc's Marsh in Comstock Township to go after remaining large glossy buckthorn and clear away some of the cattails and purple loosestrife near the viewing platform. Wear work gloves and substantial footwear since the marsh is a bit wet (should not require rubber boots) and "hummocky". We plan to start at 9:00am and work until noon or whenever we finish, which ever comes first.

Special plea - a number of our normal volunteers are traveling and our numbers are down. Old reliable Dave Sheldon will be gone next week and Stan and Connie will be gone the following week. And of course, Kristi is "out for the season". At this point, we have no workdays scheduled beyond the end of October, so let's try to finish up with a strong showing this month.

Directions to Marc's Marsh: Head east on East Main St. to the stop sign at the intersection of 26th St., just south of Comstock High School. Continue east on East Main approximately 1/4 mile just beyond the bottom of the hill. There is a small parking area on the left (north side of the road) where we will assemble.

We look forward to seeing you,
Kristi and Paul

"When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world" - John Muir

We had a good showing of 7 dedicated warriors out at Marc's Marsh on Wednesday. We completed the cutting and herbiciding of stumps of larger (greater than a pencil in diameter) glossy buckthorn and can only hope that we get an opportunity to get in a burn at the Marsh to kill off the buckthorn saplings that are coming up in such profusion. We also carried off about 7 garbage bags full of purple loosestrife "seed heads". Our goal is to at least try to deter the spread through new seed. So, other than a burn, there is not much more to be done at the present at this preserve. There still were a few of those terrific fringed gentians in flower. And although the humidity was high with abundant leaf drip from the shrubs, it was a beautiful day to be out helping to improve mother nature and save some of the native flora and fauna from the invasive alien species.
Due to the fact that so many people will be traveling, we are going to cancel Wednesday, Oct. 24 activities for next . The original schedule called for us to work out at Jepthat fen, but there weren't many really pressing issues and we can get back out there at a later time.
Currently we tentatively are scheduled to return to our newest preserve, "Bow in the Clouds" for Wednesday Oct. 31. We need to finish putting in boundary signs. We will wait until next week to get a formal notice out with directions and meeting time. In the meantime, we hope you are able to get outside and enjoy this unusually warm October weather.

Kristi and Paul

"Life is like a bicycle. In order to keep it balanced you need to keep it moving". A. Einstein

So here's a good chance to keep your life moving as well as balanced and get a good start on Haloween. We hope everyone is well rested after a week off and that you have had one or more opportunities to enjoy some of this beautiful fall weather.

Our next, and last scheduled, workday is this coming Wednesday, Oct. 31. As promised, we will return to the land conservancy's most recent preserve, "Bow in the Clouds" about which you may have read in the most recent newsletter. We need to finish putting up boundary signs on the north and west boundaries of the preserve. In addition, we will do some mowing for a parking area near the old barn toward the northeast corner of the preserve. Wear sturdy shoes and bring work gloves. Keep an eye on the weather report since it might be fairly chilly.

Workday: Wednesday, Oct. 31 at Bow in the Clouds Preseve. Meet at 9:00am at the barn located along Nazareth Rd. north of Gull Rd. (M-43).

Directions: From downtown Kalamazoo, take Gull Rd northeast toward Richland to the intersection of Nazareth Rd., just past the campus of the former Nazareth College. Turn left (north) at the traffic light on to Nazareth Rd. Continue on Nazareth Rd. for approximately 1/2 mile to where it turns significantly to the left. At approximately the turn, on the left is a gravel driveway and you should be able to see the barn. Turn left at the driveway and park near the barn.
If coming from east of Kalamazoo, take Gull Rd southwest e.g. from Sprinkle Rd and turn right on to Nazareth Rd, heading north. Follow the above directions from there.

Let's try to get a good turnout for this, our tentative last Wednesday workday of the year.

Kristi and Paul

"In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous" Aristotle

We had a determined group of 8 warriors (including one new volunteer) show up at Bow In the Clouds last Wednesday. Brian took on mowing (and mower maintenance) chores while the remainder of us loaded ourselves with posts, signs, and related equipment and headed off to the north boundary with Nate and his GPS unit leading the way. It's a good thing we had so many people show up since there was a lot of material to be carried and quite some distance to cover. Signs were placed along the north boundary and the northern part of the west boundary before we began to run out of supplies. We used all 25 posts and signs that Nate brought. We still need a few more signs on the southern part of the west boundary, especially in the southwest corner.

It was a beautiful day and we got to see parts of the preserve that we had not previously seen. It was gratifying to see some very large oaks in various places. I was tempted to suggest that we extend our season for the Wednesday Warriors but with the forecast of rain mixed with snow this Wednesday my enthusiasm was a bit "dampened".

So I think we are finished for the year. We have had a very productive summer.

Both of us express our deepest gratitude to all of you who have contributed to our efforts this year. We hope you enjoyed the work, explorations and comradery as much as we did. And we look forward to seeing as many of you as possible next year, if not before.

Kristi and Paul

Tuesday, November 13
Wednesday Stewardship Warriors:

    While our weekly efforts to assist in restoring natural habitats and assaults on various invaders in southwest Michigan have ended for the season, there are ongoing stewardship opportunities.
    There is an organization in the southern part of the state called "The Stewardship Network" that focuses on furthering stewardship of natural areas through a number of "Stewardship Clusters" (local groups interested in stewardship). The land conservancy is a member of the local cluster. One of the activities of the "Network" is that they offer monthly webcasts involving authorities in various aspects of stewardship. The topics covered vary from month to month with the webcasts scheduled at 11:45am one Wednesday each month.
    Nate has suggested that some of us might like to observe (or even participate in) some of these webcasts now that our Wednesday mornings are less crowded. The next webcast is scheduled for this Wednesday, Nov. 14 from 11:45am-1:00pm. The topic is "Enhancing Beneficial Insects with Native Plants".
    Paul McNelis at the physical plant at Western Michigan University has offered a conference room for us to share with his staff as they tune in to the webcast. The building is located on Stadium Drive near where Oakland and Stadium Drives meet at the bottom of the Oakland Drive hill. It's right across Stadium Dr. from the Dairy Queen. Parking is a problem. There may be a few parking spaces in the lower parking lot across from the Dairy Queen. It also may be possible to use the Dairy Queen parking lot or to park along Lovell St west of the railroad tracks.
    The conference room where the webcast will be shown is on the second floor of the Physical Plant building at the north end of the building (room number not currently available).
    Attendees may want to bring a sack lunch and some paper on which to take notes.

    If this works out OK we may want to continue in later months.

Kristi and Paul

Things I've Learned as a Wednesday Workday Warrior by Kristi Chapman

Invasive aliens, such as black swallowwort, can be really pretty -- but they're still deadly.
When Stan gets a good haircut, he's in love.
A sprayer that doesn't clog is a wonderful thing.
Persistent pulling pays off -- after ten years, Hultmark Preserve is now garlic mustard free.
You can't stump Paul with an unfamiliar plant.
The fringed gentians at Marc's Marsh can take my breath away.
When Nate schedules a burn, everybody wants to be there.
Our fancy-schmancy GPS is afraid of leaves. (Oooh!)
Garlic mustard season now starts in March. Thanks, global warming.
If I stop talking long enough, I can hear lupine seeds pop at Chipman Preserve.
Nate can make any kind of map, even ones with imaginary boundaries and trails.
Cub Scouts and yellowjackets don't mix.
I love seeing new preserves, even if I'm carrying a load of sign posts.
The beaver moved out of Bow in the Clouds and ruined all my dam jokes.
The Wednesday Workday Warriors are the most dedicated, cheerful, hard-working, ingenious, fun people I've ever been privileged to be associated with.
I can't wait till next season!

Kristi's Workday Blogs 2008

What comes after April Fools Day? The first Wednesday Warriors workday of 2008!

No foolin' - let's hope the mild spring weather will return by then for our first foray into the forest.

Wednesday, April 2, we will begin our garlic mustard season of slaughter at Pritschett-Davis Preserve. We put a real hurt on that patch last year, and this year we will try spraying, if we time it right. If not, I'll have trash bags at the ready; and we all know what to do with them.

Let's carpool from the D Avenue carpool lot along I-131. We'll leave there at 9:00 am. Driving directions below.

Hope to see you there. Think Spring. Kristi & Paul

Directions to Pritschet-Davis Preserve: North on I-131 to Exit 61 - M179. Go west on 129^th Ave, dead ends at 13^th St. Go north on 13^th St. to 130^th Ave. Go west on 130^th to 18^th St. Go south on 18^th St., and look for the first patch of woods on the left. There is a big farm with silos on the right. You’ll see our preserve sign on the left. A two-track runs along the north boundary, which we’ll take. But wait by the road until we all arrive.

"When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect." – Aldo Leopold

What a start for the season! The Wednesday Warriors descended on Pritschett-Davis in full force, sprayers in hand, and in 20 minutes declared Mission Accomplished. (sound familiar?) We eradicated every garlic mustard in sight ... which was none ... we were too early! Those wily plants decided to lurk under the frozen leaf cover a little longer than we predicted. We were punked! But all was not lost. We enjoyed the walk in the sunshine, admiring the lycopodia and wild leeks, welcoming newbie Randy, and catching up on everyone's winter doings.

Next Wednesday, April 9, we will try something new: we will meet at 1:30 PM at Woodlawn Preserve to post boundary signs. The Stewardship Network web cast runs until 1:00, so we will change our start time and see how that works out. If you want to know more about the web cast, email me and I'll forward the information.

This new preserve is east of Gull Lake - I will send you directions as soon as I get them, but wanted to get this to you to help you plan your week, and know the different start time.

Stay tuned,

Kristi & Paul

“Go to the winter woods: listen there, look, watch, and ‘the dead months’ will give you a subtler secret than any you have yet found in the forest.” – Fiona Macleod

Like butterflies emerging from their cocoons, nine warriors popped out of their cars and trucks into the spring air. Refreshed from a winter of non-warrioring, we split into two teams this week and posted the entire boundary of our new Woodlawn Preserve in record time. The fact that the preserve is a small rectangle bounded by two roads in no way diminished our achievement, especially since we were armed with aerial maps, survey maps, compasses, measuring tape, GPS, and boundless enthusiasm.We also managed to clear out some trash, and inspect the plant-life. Stan has claimed dibs on the intricately twisted bittersweet for his teapot handles. Talk about seeing the glass (teacup?) half full!

Next Wednesday, April 16, we will begin garlic mustard season in earnest. No, in Sand Creek Preserve. Our timing should be just right this time, and our Steward-in-residence Ilse will lead us to her secret stashes. I am looking forward to seeing some of the outer boundaries of this preserve. She recommends footwear suitable for the wet lowlands. We will either pull or spray, so bring your favorite workgloves. We will meet there at 9:00 am. Driving directions below.

See you there, Kristi & Paul

Directions to Sand Creek (Kalamazoo County): Go west on M-43, north on 2nd St. (slight jog at G, but keep going north on 2nd), Russ & Ilse's house is 6450 2nd St., just about opposite EF Ave. Pull into their drive and park in the grass on the left.

“Many people feel that science reduces all beauty and all marvels to cold facts in the process of establishing the absolute and unquestionable truth about our universe. This view is as incorrect as it is regrettable. The findings of science uncover more new mysteries and post more new questions than they resolve. The doors unlocked for us by science should, therefore, increase, not diminish, our awe and reverence for the enigma of the universe of which we are an integral part.

We can be proud. This season has seen a surge (sorry) of Warriors, and our Fearless Leader Nate provided tasks worthy of our might. We descended on Chipman Preserve, 11 strong, and prepared burn breaks for Thursday's burn. The day was sunny and pleasant, the burn breaks looked great, the Great White Truck hauled the mower, and all was well in the world. In addition, Bea missed the email changing the location and was able to help Ilse at Sand Creek with garlic mustard. So that turned out to be bonus success.

Next Wednesday Aptil 23, we will journey to Dunes Parkway Preserve to spray/pull garlic mustard. This is prime garlic mustard season, and if you can't make it Wednesday, go pull something in your yard or neighboring woods. Let's carpool from the parking lot behind McDonald's at West Main, just east of 131 (next to the former Frank's Nursery). We'll leave at 8:15 am. If you drive youself, meet us there a little after 9; directions below. We probably won't get home till 1:00, so you may want to bring a snack.

Hope to see you there. Kristi & Paul

p.s. Good luck at the Boston Marathon, Brian!

Directions to Dunes Parkway Preserve: From M43, head west to Blue Star Memorial Highway. Take Blue Star Hwy. south to about 1/2 mile south of 32nd Avenue (CR 378). Park along the east edge of the highway and look for small "SWMLC Preserve" signs just off the west edge of Blue Star Highway. There are multiple preserves along the highway.

"Happy Earth Day to You!

Another week of light duty for the Wednesday Warriors. Four stalwarts wiped out the errant garlic mustard at Hultmark, with only five body bags to show for the morning. We have proven that persistent pulling pays off. We then had time to stroll among the stately beeches, pay our respects at Sarah and Gordon's resting place, and gaze at the marsh marigolds, blooming in sumptuous profusion.

Next Wednesday May 7, we have scheduled a rematch at Pritschet-Davis preserve. We will attack the garlic mustard and check on the wild leeks and trout lillies. If someone can do an advance scouting trip and report back to us, that would be very helpful. Again, check your email Tuesday afternoon/evening in case we change the location. We will meet at the carpool lot at the D Ave. exit of I-131 at 8:45am. Driving directions to the preserve below.

Hope to see you there. - Kristi & Paul

“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.” – John Muir, My First Summer in the Sierra

Where do I start? Last Wednesday was a milestone day for the Wednesday Warriors. We welcomed our youngest Warrior, Chance, to the group (displacing last year's record-holder Sarah). We saw a bounteous display of spring flowers. We found scattered garlic mustard at Pritschett-Davis, thanks to Bea's sharp eyes. We celebrated the sight of NO garlic mustard at the corner we worked so hard on last year - so DaveW's scouting report was accurate. Now here's a mystery: is the reason the g.m. didn't return this year is because it's such a healthy woods full of native plants which crowded out the seedlings? Or could it be the fungus we saw on a few plants last year? Has anyone else seen any sickly garlic mustard covered with black fuzzy fungus?

We did miss Paul our resident botanist extraordinaire, but we bumbled along and identified (hopefully) the following plants at Pritschett: trillium, spring beauty, marsh marigold, wild leek, phlox, squirrel corn, wild lilly of the valley, rue anemone, trout lilly, strawberries, club moss, wild ginger, violets, solomon's seal, may apple. What a delightful preserve!

Next week, we'll stay a little closer to home in case anyone wants to catch the Stewardship Webcast at noon. Wednesday, May 14, we will converge on Chipman Preserve to - yes - pull garlic mustard. Come see the results of the burn four weeks ago. Meet there at 9:00 am. Directions below.

Hope to see you there. - Kristi & Paul

Directions to Chipman Preserve (Kalamazoo County) is on East Main Street, 3 miles east of Sprinkle Road. Go 1/2 mile past 30th St, past house number 8417, and pull into the parking lot on the north side of the road.

"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken."

Dear Weeders and Readers,

The Wednesday Warriors got extra points for pulling garlic mustard in a soft warm spring rain yesterday at Chipman Preserve. The preserve now has12 bags less biomass (question: can this be made into biodiesel?). And that's in addition to the work of Rambo--I mean Randy--who is his own one-man assault army attacking the aliens with sundry weaponry. We salute you! Highlights on the Warriors: MattG was on Dawn Patrol and set a new record, arriving at the preserve at 6:50 am to prowl the outer reaches, Mary feeds garlic mustard to her husband! (she's braver than I am), DaveW is a proud grandfather, Paul is going to research the health benefits of red wine in Italy, Connie orients herself using CPS: the Chapman positioning system where I talk loudly and constantly and serve as a beacon in the woods, Brian actually enjoys driving the Great White truck... and we all made it back out of the woods, muddy, soggy, and exhiliarated by our discovery of a large patch of wild geraniums in bloom.

Next Wednesday, May 21, we drive to the beautiful Kesling Preserve to pull garlic mustard - our specialty. This will be another surgical strike, pulling strategically among all the wonderful native plants that Kesling is famous for. We will carpool from KVCC parking lot, northeast corner at 8:15 am. Driving directions below. It's a bit of a distance, so we may be persuaded to stop for lunch somewhere afterwards. Or at least pack an apple.

May the forest be with you, Kristi & Paul

Directions to Kesling Preserve: From I-94, take exit 4A (New Buffalo Exit), onto US12 east. Go about 2.5 miles east on US-12 and turn south onto Basswood Road. Go 1.5 miles south on Basswood Road and turn west onto Forest Lawn Road. Follow Forest Lawn Road about .75 miles. The preserve is on the north side of the road, just east of the bridge over the South Branch of the Galien River.

A recent study conducted by Harvard University found that the average American walks about 900 miles a year.

Another study by the American Medical Association found that Americans drink, on average, 22 gallons of alcohol a year.

This means, on average, Americans get about 41 miles to the gallon.

Kind Of Makes You Proud To Be An American.

The Warriors went the distance this week: Kesling may be our preserve farthest from the epicenter (Nate's desk). And as luck would have it, the task was equal to the turnout: TEN mighty warriors scoured the lowlands and evicted 18 bags of garlic mustard from among the delightful bounty of spring flowers we have now liberated.

My amateur's list of flowers in bloom at Kesling: sessile trillium, may apple, jack-in-the-pulpit, wild geranium, sweet cicely, wild ginger, solomon's seal (false and true).

Next Wednesday, May 28, we have another road trip (more quality time in the car with comrades - keeping my laugh muscles in shape - Matt suggested we get tattoos of preserve maps) to Tower Hill Preserve. Not to be elitist, but we will only take the first six people to rsvp to this email. This is practically a vertical preserve - all sand and quite sensitive. We will pull garlic mustard, check the erosion, and pull lianthus sprouts - all while hovering a foot above the sand... or at least on tiptoe. All others will get to stay closer to home and perform various acts of restoration at Chipman Preserve. After you rsvp to me that you are coming next Wednesday, I will let you know which team you're on, and the logistics. I never dreamed we'd have such a wonderful response to the Wednesday Warriors. I'm getting all misty.

All the best, Kristi and Paul

Garlic mustard can spread, but it can't hide: not with the Wednesday Warriors' two-pronged attack this week. We deployed TWO battalions, one to Tower Hill and one to Chipman, where we searched and destroyed the persistent garlic mustard that is showing signs of diminishing year by year, thanks to everyone's valiant efforts. Beware long car rides: the two Daves are now nicknamed "Deft and Defter" and the driver barely survived a near-mutiny after the third chocolate billboard at Exit 39 on I-94. Young Matt and Rambo Randy only got to pull garlic mustard at Chipman.

Next Wednesday, June 4, we will converge on the Conservancy Headquarters to re-balance the native planting in their yard, thinnning the copious cup-plant and other rambunctious native sons, and boxing them up to plant at Chipman. If you want in on the fun, meet there at 9:00 am. Bring your favorite shovel. If you want to pack a lunch, we can invade the office lunchroom afterwards and liven up the dedicated folks that are the Conservancy (and frankly envy our time outdoors).

Directions to Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy Office: The office is at 6851 S. Sprinkle Road, on the east side, just north of Romence/Bishop Rd. They are in a unique "office park" consisting of restored historical buildings. Pull in at the driveway next to the "American Hydrogeology" sign. The Conservancy is the second building on the left: an old farm house, painted the color of an old Band-aid.

Bonus Round: List of plants in bloom at Tower Hill today: virginia waterleaf, one of the phloxes, wood poppy, marginal wood fern, solomon's seal (T/F), trillium in their last hurrahs, ditto jack-in-pulpit, columbine. (and puccoon on the dune!)

Hope to see you next week. Kristi and Tuscan Paul.

"How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg." - Abraham Lincoln

The few, the proud, the Wednesday Warriors. I'm going to picture the rest of you deeply involved in other commitments that make you such well-rounded and fascinating individuals. The three of us who did show up in the cool mist of the morning were guided by Nate through the tangled plethora of plants that make up the front yard of the Conservancy headquarters. There are some nice plants there, struggling for a peek of sunlight in the midst of some loutish cup-plants that threatened to dominate the landscape. After a morning of determined work, a pile of potted cup-plants now await transport to a bright new future at Chipman, and the prairie smoke, butterfly weed, leadplant, rattlesnake master, etc, have now been liberated.

Next Wednesday, June 11, we will plant the potted and bagged plants at Chipman Preserve, and prepare the ground for a second set of plants to be dug next week. Please rsvp if you are coming; that will help me plan the logistics and equipment. Meet at the Chipman parking lot at 9:00 am. If you are interested in leaving early to tune into the Stewardship Network webcast at noon, let me know and I'll forward the information.

Hope to see you there. - Kristi & Paul

"The count: Nate calculates that the Wednesday Warriors, Saturday volunteers, Sand Creek stewards and other contributors pulled a total of 1.25 tons of garlic mustard! Way to go!"

The mighty Wednesday Warriors stormed Chipman Preserve today, in the spirit of our recent stormy weather. Nine stalwarts descended on the restoration-in-progress at the trailhead, and poured our fury on the spotted knapweed before planting some large chunks of cupplants, hoary vervain, clematis, and prairie coreopsis. We carefully watered them and even marked them with flags, so if you're out that way, stop and admire these new additions to the native reclamation. Our peripatetic troops regaled one another with reports of various travels to Italy, Colorado, West Virginia, and Newago. It's all good.

Next Wednesday, June 18, we will condense our efforts to dig up and plant all on the same day. Meet at the Conservancy Headquarters at 9:00 am to dig more plants from the bounty that is their front yard (you can even take some home). Bring your favorite shovel. Then we will whisk them to Chipman Preserve where the ground should still be softened after our attack this week. If you live closer to Chipman, you may want to just meet us there at around 10:30. If you get there before we do, you are welcome to pull spotted knapweed around the bur oak/interpretive center/circle of benches....or anyplace you see spotted knapweed.

Hope to see you there. The turnout today was magnificent. And you had to be there to get the descriptions of pistachio gelato & a mop-handle cane.

Kristi & Paulo

Subject: Tick Warning
> >
> >I hate it when people forward bogus warnings, and I have even done
> >it myself a couple times unintentionally...but this one is real, and
> >it's important. So please send this warning to everyone on your
> >email list.
> >
> >If someone comes to your front door saying they are checking for ticks
> >due to the Spring weather and asks you to take your clothes off and
> >spin around with your arms up.....
> >
> >DO NOT DO IT!! THIS IS A SCAM!!
> >
> >They only want to see you naked.
> >I wish I'd gotten this yesterday. I feel so stupid.....

The mighty Warriors stormed the Conservancy Headquarters AND Chipman Preserve in an unprecedented display of prowess and power. The soon-to-be legendary David the Decimator, Bea the Eradicator, Dave the Composter, John “The Axe”, Connie the Clay Wrestler, Paul the Plant Guru, Stan the Gravel Thief, and Kristi the Cheerleader swung into action. Nineteen large buckets of plants were dug, schlepped, and planted. In addition, the cup-plants who were the playground bullies have been put in their place (see “Decimator”), liberating the leadplant, prairie smoke, spiderwort, rattlesnake master, penstemon, butterfly weed, hoary vervain, and milkweed to bask in the sun. Come and admire the almost civilized native planting at the Conservancy Office, and then come admire the new plants at the entrance to Chipman, cheerily marked with flags to invite all comers to inspect the new arrivals and maybe throw some water their way. Great job everyone!

Next Wednesday, June 25, a three-peat for Chipman Preserve. The lupine seeds are ripening, and we can frolic in the meadows and power line and pick seeds and then distribute them in the new open area. More people than seeds? No problem, there’s always spotted knapweed (see “Eradicator”)! We will meet at the Chipman parking lot at 9:00 am. All you need to bring is a small bag or bucket to collect seed.

Hope to see you there, Kristi and Paul

The Wednesday Warriors took a break from their trademark pillaging and rampaging this week, and reverted to the hunter/gatherer stage of civilization. We greeted Rambo Randy the Scourge of the Knapweed, at the entrance to Chipman, and proceeded to the north boundary, led by Jaimie our Native Guide. There, Dave the Podmeister, the Artful Rain Dodger, Connie Kind Words, Stan the Shovel Thief, and Kristi the humble Reporter picked ripe lupine seeds and reveled in the blooming swaths of spiderwort and butterfly weed. Joined by Paul the NurseryMan, we then sowed what we reaped in our new planting by the entrance – truly a work in progress. Can’t wait to see our results next year.

Next Wednesday, July 2, we resume our wanton ways and descend on Hidden Marsh to attack the smorgasbord of aliens that we have come to know and violate. I will bring the Great White Truck, armed with full weaponry, for us to mow, lop, saw, maybe spray. Bring gloves. Let’s meet there at 9:00 am; please make your own carpool arrangements. Directions below.

“Nature is ever at work, building and pulling down, creating and destroying, keeping everything whirling and flowing, allowing no rest but in rhythmical motion, chasing everything in endless song out of one beautiful form into another.” – John Muir

Veni Vidi Violati

The Warriors were in good form this week as we seven unloaded our arsenal from the Great White Truck and attacked the panoply of aliens lurking in Hidden Marsh. The black swallowort took a beating, the Japanese knotweed was assessed and a plan was formed for Dave the Assassin to launch a month-long assault, and Bea the Eradicator added bittersweet to her list of fallen foes. Nature highlight was a swan family in the river, and low point was a mower that said "no mow" - so we took our cue and broke for the holiday. Thanks for coming out, newbie Kay!

Next Wednesday July 9, we will continue our legacy of merciless disdain toward all alien species, and burn the leftover limbs of the old Christmas tree farm that was logged off Sand Creek Preserve. Hope for cool weather as we haul, stack, and burn. Or bring marshmallows. Let's get an early start and meet at the parking lot at 8:30am, wear heavy gloves and clothes you don't mind getting pitchy. If there's a light rain, we'll just haul and stack, and burn some other day - so show up, Art.

Directions to Sand Creek (Kalamazoo County): Go west on M-43, north on 2nd St. (slight jog at G, but keep going north on 2nd), The parking lot is on the east side, just before Russ & Ilse's driveway at 6450 2nd St.. If you get to EF Ave., you've gone too far.

BONUS ROUND ONE:

"Paul D. Olexia" <polexia@kzoo.edu> wrote:

Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:20:44 -0700
From: "Paul D. Olexia" <polexia@kzoo.edu>
To: Yard2prairy <Yard2prairy@AOL.COM>,
Kristi Chapman
<kpchapma@sbcglobal.net>
Subject: Ohio Prairie Conference

Please refer to the URL below for information on the Ohio Prairie
Conference in mid-July and pass on this information to anyone that you
believe might be interested. It will feature the Oak Openings area
around Toledo. This area is supposed to be very attractive.

http://www.ohioprairie.org/27th_ohio_prairie_conference.htm

Paul

BONUS ROUND TWO: Second Wednesday of every month is Stewardship Network Webcast at noon. Let me know if you want their URL. - Kristi

The Wednesday Workday Warriors are volunteers who perform various stewardship projects on Wednesday mornings, starting in the spring. To get e-mails of their work schedule, contact the SWMLC office at (269) 324-1600.

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