Conservation Corner

Fall is a great time to plant your prairie grasses and flowers. Smooth Phlox, Wild Petunia, Blue Vervain, and Wild Bergamot are just a few that are native to Wisconsin. These seeds need exposure to cold, damp conditions for better germination rates. Most of these...

This time of year, many of you are probably thinking of closing down and cleaning up your gardens.  There are many reasons NOT to clean up your garden in the fall.  What we do in them every autumn can either enhance or inhibit that role. Here are some...

Lately, people have been asking, ‘Where are my Orioles or the Redwing Blackbirds?  Did you know that even though it's summer, birds have already begun their fall migration? Fall migration starts as early as June and lasts until early January, with peak times...

Boaters in Wisconsin have long had to cut back on speed near docks, rafts, piers and restricted areas. Did you also know that the slow, no-wake rule also applies to the full lake shoreline on all lakes in the state? The law prohibits boaters from operating their boats...

In my yard I have a massive old maple tree.  There’s a hole in this tree that gets bigger every year.  My wife and I are waiting for the tree to fall and looks like it will land in a place that won’t damage too much.  Visitors to our place always ask how it’s still...

Did you know Pollinators are responsible for helping aid in over 80% of the world’s flowering plants reproduce, along with wind and water?  Without pollinators, animals and humans would not have much food at all, or beautiful flowers to enjoy. Pollinators are...

From Wisconsin Woodland Owners Group: Living in a technology world gives us some great tools and resources at the touch of a button or the touch of a screen. Apps on our smart phone or tablet can make our lives a bit easier and organized.  Here are some apps to help...

Spring has arrived in Northern Wisconsin, and pretty soon the leaves will be emerging, greening up the Northwoods!  There are many tools to help us become experts at identifying trees.  I’ll share some of my favorite tools and resources. If you’re new to tree...

This week, I read a Blog from Bill Gates and his thoughts about the Coronavirus.  I’ll try to summarize what he says in dealing with the ‘first modern pandemic'.   Gates begins by stating that the coronavirus pandemic pits all of humanity against the virus.  This is...

This week I’d like to present a couple funding programs that are available to Forest County Landowners.  The first program is the Environmental Quality Incentives Program or (EQIP).   The tentative application deadline for the next round of funding for this program...

Lately in Wisconsin media there has been a lot of talk about PFAS.  I did some research and would like to share my findings. What are PFAS and Why are They a Problem?PFAS is a catch-all term for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which is a group of more than 5,000...

In a Press Release from Wednesday, January 8th, the Legislative Speaker’s Task Force on Water Quality seeks to increase county conservation department funding by nearly three million dollars.  “We heard overwhelmingly at the Task Force hearings throughout the past...