Protecting the CSA Grounds from Invasive Plants

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Through the Ecology Committee the CSA has become a working partner with the North West Michigan Invasive Species Network (ISN). The ISN is a collaboration of over 40 partners in Benzie, Grand Traverse, Leelanau, and Manistee counties working to manage the invasive terrestrial plant populations that threaten Michigan’s natural communities. ISN was formed in 2005, and has been cooperating with partner organizations, municipalities and private property owners to remove and treat invasive species since. Most visible is the help they have given the CSA, free of charge, over the past three years with the removal of garlic mustard, dame’s rocket and invasive shrubs. ISN has also provided free workshops which have assisted our understanding of the importance of controlling the growth of invasive species.

As a result of this partnership, an Invasive Species Monitoring Group of about 20 CSA volunteers has formed. They have divided the CSA grounds among them, and with assistance from the folks at ISN, will survey the property periodically during the year to determine the extent of invasive plant growth and learn to detect new invasive species before they multiply and get out of control. The purpose of these efforts is to save the CSA time, money, and effort, as well as to protect the CSA environment for the future. The monitoring group’s data and suggested responses will be reported to the Board of Trustees and CSA community.

If you would like to volunteer for these monitoring efforts, please contact Nancy Baglan at or (314) 749-0099.

Below you will find a link to a very interesting article published by the North West Michigan Invasive Species Network, presenting information on the invasive plants that pose particular risk to our grounds, as well as to the greater Michigan communities. We hope you find it helpful.

Escaping Ornamentals: A Threat to Natural Area Biodiversity

Tick Information

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From the Ecology Committee

Ticks have become increasingly prevalent in our area. The Ecology Committee has provided information about tick prevention and what to do in the event of a tick bite that has been gathered from the Michigan Department of Community Health. This information has been placed in the Ecology rack in the Assembly Building and on the Ecology bulletin board. The following Websites can be accessed, as well.

Michigan's five most common ticks

Tick ID Card and Removal Tips

Tick Bite Prevention and Removal

Children and Ticks

Comprehensive Booklet on Ticks and Your Health

Thanks to Kevin Kinnan for supplying these Websites.

The Benzie County Health Department next to Crystal Lake Health Center on Rte. M-115 provides a kit that includes a vile in which a tick, when removed, can be placed and sent to The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to determine if it carries Lyme Disease.

Thanks to Joel Buzzell for this information.

New Butterfly Garden

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Have you seen the lovely new butterfly garden on the side of the Assembly Building?

The Ecology Committee joined with the CSA to plant a butterfly garden to the east of the Assembly Building. The garden enhances the new landscaping completed in the front of the building during the fall 2014, provides a habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators, and is an educational setting for the Ecology Fun Program. This wonderful addition was made possible by generous funding from the CSA Women’s Association, the CSA, and the fund-raising efforts of the Ecology Committee.

Under the design and guidance of Carolyn Thayer, owner Designs in Bloom, and Nancy Baglan, children in the first 2015 Ecology Fun class and several volunteers planted 265 native plants, which include 35 species in the butterfly gardern! A watering schedule with volunteers helped establish the garden.

Thanks to Jan and David Wynne for their donation of a native Serviceberry tree, "Autumn Brilliance," which can reach 8-9 feet in height.

The Harrison family is graciously donating a bench that will be placed next season, facing the garden.

Congratulations! Monarch Watch and the North American Butterfly Association have certified the CSA as committed to the protection of butterflies and other pollinators through its planting of the Butterfly Garden. A garden’s size, number of nectar and caterpillar host plants sown, and habitat and maintenance plans are criteria for being recognized. Signage indicating the certification by each organization is integrated into the plantings.

Nancy Baglan and Barbara Poehlein are coordinating with Carolyn Thayer on ways of including signage and pamphlets to inform the CSA community about what varieties are planted in the garden and where they are located.

A Monarch is born to the new CSA butterfly garden!

Before leaving the CSA, Nancy Baglan gave her brother-in-law, Tony Gish, a Monarch chrysalis to look after. The four stages of the monarch butterfly life cycle are the egg, the larvae (caterpillar), the pupa (chrysalis), and the adult butterfly. The chrysalis "hatched" August 29th, 2015.  

Tony and his wife Betty, took the Monarch to the new CSA Butterfly Garden and released it. It found a good plant, the Yellow coneflower, to go to right away!