Ecology Day, a special one time activity for children & adults at the CSA. Naturalist Jim McGrath of Nature Discovery in Williamston, MI will be here to present a Michigan Wildlife program from 3-5 PM in the CSA Assembly Building. There will be live animals to see, touch and help feed including reptiles, amphibians, insects, giant moths and more! There will also be some some ecology displays which will include information about the Emerald Ash Borer, invasive plants, and ecology fun pictures from this summer!

In attendance: Nancy Baglan, Intern Katie Hartin, Intern Lauren Hoerr, Emily Baker, Linda Campbell, Jane Comings, Nancy Donald, Elizabeth Hill, Michael Kennedy, Ed Petrick, Heidi Smith

Introductions, New Members (Michael Kennedy, Heidi Smith), Updated Contact Information

Main Activities (all taking place in Main Assembly Building unless otherwise noted)

• July 16^th 10am – Dr. David Roberts from MSU: “The Emerald Ash Borer: A Threat to Ash Trees in Benzie County”  Lecture will take place around 10am after CLWA meeting
• July 17^th 6-8:30pm/July 18^th 8-11am – Mike Bishop: Bird Banding event, Michigan Courts
• July 18^th 8:30pm – Mike Bishop: Talk on Bird Banding in Ecuador
• July 25^th 8:30pm – Katie Hartin: Presentation on 2011 Ecology Project results
• July 28^th 7:30pm – Sandra O’Neal/Carolyn Thayer, FALC Presentation: “What is Happening at the old Golf Course next to the CSA?”
• July 31^st 7:30pm – Bill Barnes: Presentation on Climate Change
• August 5^th 3–5 pm:  ECOLOGY DAY: Jim McGrath of Nature Discovery.  Assembly Bldg
  • For parents and children of all ages.  Will have live animals to see and touch!
• August 9^th  7:30pm – Jim Olsen: Presentation on Michigan’s Public Water Trust
• August 12^th Douglas Tallamy speaking in Traverse City: Milliken Auditorium
  • author of Bringing Nature Home, talk on importance of native plants to wildlife
  • sponsored by Botanical Garden Society, coordinated by Saving Birds Thru Habitat

Ed Petrick—Update on CSA Recycling and Waste Reduction Plan

• Recycling bins have been set up in the CSA Office and on Crystal L. Beach next to trash can
• Idea to have lifeguards make announcements on the beach each day reminding beach-goers to reuse their water bottles as well as recycle or throw away their trash
• Contract signed again with Benzie County Recycling to be able to drop off CSA recycling items at their facility; fee is prorated for our 10-week season.
• Information about recycling styrofoam in Benzie County located in Ecology Rack
• Plan to perhaps turn off some CSA street lights during the off-season to conserve energy
• Idea of using a type of light sensor and other technology to conserve energy
• Crystal View: work in progress, will establish 2012 recycling plan in the next couple months

Invasives Removal at CSA

• Approval by Trustees to use extra money from G. M. budget to remove other invasives

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)

• Katie and Lauren talked about plans to place door hangers at cottages and put letters in mailboxes to educate members about EAB and treatment options
• Emily Baker spoke about concerns with trespassing on private property re. EAB efforts
• Suggestion from Linda to also put information on the CSA website
• Suggestion from Nancy Donald to have Ken make announcement at church

Future of the Ecology Fun Program and Intern Program

• Contact Nancy Baglan if interested in helping to create detailed proposal/ budget to Trustees about 2012 program: transition to making Ecology Fun part of regular CSA programming and hire someone as CSA Staff to run the Ecology Fun program (with help from E. Comm.)
• Contact Nancy Baglan with potential people we could hire for EF position: local teachers, CSA members with ecology backgrounds, etc.
• Katie/Lauren working on creating long-term recommendations for how to continue their work in the future, will wait for these before making decision about hiring 2012 interns

In attendance:  Nancy Baglan, Julia Frost-Nerbonne, Intern Katie Hartin, Intern Lauren Hoerr, Jim Boecker, Gayle Boecker, Jane Comings, Carol Edmonds,  Elizabeth Hill, Kim-Nora Moses, Linda Campbell  

Introductions, New Members, Updated Contact Information

• New Members: Jim & Gayle Boecker, Visitor: Kim-Nora Moses

 Jane Comings expressed opinion that there is a lack of concern at CSA about dying trees

• Nancy told committee about CLWA intern Paul Gerhart’s use of Erin and Nelson’s 2009 Report to supplement his work on tree diseases (Beech Bark Disease, Emerald Ash Borer)

 Main Activities

• Tuesday June 28^th 7:30pm at Assembly—Ecology Intern Presentation: 2011 Goals/Projects
• Recycling contract with Benzie County for recycling office supplies happened last summer
  • Recycling update will be made by Ed Petrick at next meeting
• Mike Bishop—Bird Banding event, late afternoon July 17^th, early morning July 18^th
• Mike Bishop—will give short talk, July 18^th 8:30pm
• Garlic Mustard pullers hired again for 2011; coordinator Pat Baker
• Elizabeth Hill talked about her method of removing Garlic Mustard while walking—cut off seeds/flowers, then uproot plant to avoid carrying large bag. Members discussed pros/cons, this method should NOT be promoted to public without supporting data
• Ecology Day August 5^th replacing Ecology Fun class time, open to kids and adults
  • Presentation by Jim McGrath from Nature Discovery
  • Committee approved of the speaker and the date
• Publicize Douglas Tallamy (author of Bringing Nature Home), August 12^th-Traverse City

 New Activities

• Birds Colliding into Windows
  • Kim-Nora Moses expressed concern, will make handout
• Adult Education/Volunteer Events—Wednesdays 9:15-11:15am
  • Help out with Lauren’s research and learn about the plants/trees of the CSA forest

 Potential Presentations

• FALC presentation by Carolyn Thayer and Sandra O’Neal
  • Voted to sponsor the event sometime in July
• Jim Olsen, head of Flow for Water in Traverse City, lives in Honor
  • Issues surrounding Lake Michigan and public trust for water
• Julia discusses political economist Elinor Ostrom’s “Commons Principle”
• Julia (or maybe professor, someone from US Fish & Wildlife) could talk about how global climate change will impact the future of our forest

Intern Activities

• Katie talked about work done last summer and projects this summer
  • Concern about Dame’s Rocket and other invasive species of the CSA this year
  • Invasive Species Management Plan to include community resources
• Lauren talked about work done last summer and projects this summer
  • 2011: Restoration projects (see Ecology Rack), studies on myrtle

Hello, fellow CSA members!   The CSA Ecology Committee is writing to you to ask for your support to bring our Ecology interns back to the CSA for one more year.  We are lucky to have both Katie Hartin and Lauren Hoerr returning for a second summer!   This year they will continue Ecology Fun activities for children twice a week (with some fresh, new ideas) and will finish important projects begun last summer, with the goal of keeping our CSA forest and beach areas healthy into the future.   A brief summary of the last two summers’ Ecology Projects:

In 2009 we inaugurated a new program for the CSA which was called the Ecology Intern Project.  With the approval of the Trustees, we raised the necessary funds ($5,000) to hire two skilled Ecology interns who helped us accomplish two main goals that summer:  (1) To start an environmental education program for children and  (2) To start an environmental assessment of the CSA and a plan for protecting its fragile ecosystem for the future.  A very extensive report containing research, assessment data, results and recommendations was published and is available in the CSA Office.  We invite you to check it out.

In 2010 we continued with an Ecology Project which followed up on the 2009 Project’s recommendations to concentrate on the threat of various invasive species in the CSA environment.  Project results were presented to the CSA on August 11.  Our new interns, Katie and Lauren, also continued the very popular Ecology Fun activities for children twice a week, with the help of Ecology members and other volunteers.  Several adults, with special skills, were guest ecology teachers – including Jay Burt (Monarch Butterflies), Julia Nerbonne (Pond Life), Ken Cox (Barred Owls), Benzie Co. Recycling Director Marlene Wood-Zylstra (Recycled Crafts), Beth Skelton (Compass Skills and Orienteering).   Some days we had as many as 25 children, ages 4-6  . . .  a lot of budding ecologists!                                

In 2011 the Ecology Project will provide funds for:    Lauren – to continue research on specific restoration techniques,  to emphasize community education, and to start a program to help individual cottage owners do woodland restoration on their own property.   Katie – to continue work on a comprehensive invasive species eradication plan for the CSA, to write up the interview data collected last year, to conduct some follow-up focus groups, and to begin a Crystal Beach assessment and removal of invasives there.   As before,  Ecology Fun activities will continue twice a week. 

This year’s budget is $5,900.  The CSA Women’s Association has granted us $1,500, the CSA Trustees $1,500, and we have received a $500 grant from the John N. Barnes Environmental Education Endowment.  We have raised more than half the needed funds, but we still need some additional support.  Can you support this important ecological work at CSA with a contribution, via the CSA Pilgrim Fund?   Denote at the bottom of your check that it is for the Ecology Intern Project.   Please mail to  CSA Pilgrim Fund, c/o Jim Royle, 5660 Hacienda Ct., Saginaw, MI 48638.  Any funds beyond those needed would go into an Ecology Sub-Fund for future years.  Donations are tax-deductible.

We Thank You!   CSA Ecology Committee  - Nancy Baglan, Chair; Julia Nerbonne, project manager; Emily Baker, Bill Barnes, Gayle Boecker, Jim Boecker, Jane Comings, Nancy Donald, Carol Edmonds, Holly Freeburg, Katie Hartin, Elizabeth Hill, Lauren Hoerr, Julia Frost Nerbonne, Marjorie Pearsall-Groenwald, Ed Petrick, Heidi Smith, Chris Toole

Katie Hartin is a senior at the University of Vermont.  She is majoring in Environmental Studies with a minor in Music.  She also plays violin.

Lauren Hoerr is a junior at Elon University in North Carolina.  She has a double major in Environmental Studies and Sociology and a minor in GIS (geographic information systems).

In 2009, the CSA Ecology Committee sponsored two programs- an ecological education program for children and an environmental baseline assessment of the CSA.  Carrying forward with this momentum, they proposed to continue Ecology Fun classes in 2010 and, additionally, build a robust plan for tackling the threat of invasive species in the CSA forest. 

In order to accomplish these goals, the Ecology Committee had in mind to hire one intern, but through good fortune and an extra push in fundraising was able to have two interns on board, Katie Hartin and Lauren Hoerr.  These two women worked closely together to facilitate Ecology Fun classes and to take on several large projects regarding the health of the CSA forest.

Ecology Fun had another successful year with high turnout and very positive feedback from all involved.  The program was expanded by starting two weeks earlier in the season, giving more students an opportunity to participate.  Each class focused on an ecological lesson or concept that can be applied to the environment at the CSA and on a broader scale as well. For more detailed information and photographs, please see the interns’ report. 

The two interns also worked to educate adults by coordinating volunteer events on Wednesday afternoons.  The goal of these meetings was to educate members on how to identify both common woodland plants and invasive species.  These sessions were also combined with efforts to remove garlic mustard and perform experiments regarding other invasive species.  

In order to mitigate some of the impacts of invasive species, the two interns worked on several components of a larger goal, which is to develop a comprehensive plan to systematically work towards controlling invasive species at the CSA. 

To find out what some of the personal and cultural barriers and bridges are to getting individuals involved with removing invasive species, a survey was distributed to the general population throughout six weeks of the summer season.  A significant portion of this survey was based around the Hines Model for Environmentally Responsible Behavior, which identifies key variables that strongly correlate to pro-environmental behaviors. A series of follow-up interviews with some of the respondents were also conducted to gather more in-depth information. 

In summary, it was found that most of the respondents are concerned about invasive species at the CSA, but they either do not have the time to invest in removal during their stay or they lack the proper tools and education to identify and remove invasive species. Other themes elicited include that some of the invasive species identified, myrtle in particular, may be desirable to some cottage owners for both aesthetic and functional reasons and that the infrastructure of the CSA, as a mix of private and common property, presents challenges to management as the intended uses for adjacent areas may be vastly different.     

Building on the baseline assessment done in 2009, the 2010 interns conducted a field survey of the 123-acre CSA grounds to quantify the presence of the identified early invaders, such as honeysuckle, barberry, and garlic mustard.  With the help of volunteers, the interns covered the area, tracking the occurrence of invasives by tagging them with pink tape and logging them in a GPS Trimble Unit. By recording the locations of invasives, data can be kept that will help monitor the progress of management and evaluate methods of removal.  It may also prove to be useful when re-checking areas from season to season. The results of this survey are still being tabulated, but preliminary data show some overall trends. 

1. For example, widespread community efforts to pull garlic mustard have had a significant impact on the amount present at the CSA. The garlic mustard found in the survey tended to be on steep hillsides or far from roads and cottages where it is unlikely that many people would venture to pull. Unfortunately, these areas are often of the highest priority to manage because these communities support the most native biodiversity. It is recommended that the CSA find a way to control garlic mustard in these difficult areas, perhaps by hiring able-bodied labor. 
2. Exotic honeysuckle bushes were most often found near roads or buildings, in sunny areas, or near disturbed locations, such as areas of fragmentation or natural disturbances.
3. Barberry bushes were noted both near buildings and cottages, where they may have been planted as ornamentals in landscaping, and in the woods. The presence of barberry was relatively sporadic, most bushes occurring within several meters of each other in isolated clumps.      

After having identified the locations of these invasive species, the interns worked closely with the Buildings and Grounds Committee, Managing Director Ken Cox, and Groundskeeper Eddie Elsworth to prioritize and implement removal.  Eddie has done a tremendous job with beginning the process by cutting and treating some of these invaders. 

A great deal of research was performed by the two interns to learn about how to best remove invasive species and how to restore these areas with native plants. The interns met with the Invasive Species Management Team at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park to study their methods of removal and learn about some of the research they are doing. Katie submitted five samples to the Michigan State Diagnostic Services to help identify certain plants down to specie. Lauren worked in conjunction with Vern Stephens of Design by Nature and with the group Plant It Wild to find appropriate native plants to use in the CSA Garden and in our experiments. 

One of this summer’s projects was to install a native plant garden on CSA grounds to display some perennial natives that may be used around cottages. This demonstration area showcases some of the benefits of native plants, such as their proclivity to coexist with other natives and their relatively low maintenance. Armed with the help of volunteers, this garden was installed directly to the east of the Meeting House in early July. Currently, two restoration projects are also underway at different cottages to determine some native alternative groundcovers to myrtle and the most effective means of removing myrtle should people wish to do so.  

As with many investigations, our studies have raised further questions. Some of these inquiries will be part of future projects.

A full detailed report and analysis of these projects will be coming soon. Submitted by Katie Hartin and Lauren Hoerr, this document will provide much more in-depth information on what we have learned this past summer, including data from the member survey and field survey.