The mission of Crossroads at Big Creek is to inspire environmental stewardship in learners of all ages and from all backgrounds through education, research, restoration and outdoor experiences.

One of the ways we hope to inspire environmental stewardship this summer is to host  a Resources for Landowners Lecture Series--eight programs  aimed at connecting landowners with the tools and resources available in the Door County for restoring and managing the plant communities on their land.

A number of people have come to us, expressing an interest in embarking on a restoration project.

Some hope to enhance their home landscapes for birds and pollinators by reducing the size of their lawns and planting native trees, shrubs and wildflowers.

Others dream of transforming their property into a native meadow  or a  woodlot or even a private forest refuge, which, while a rewarding endeavor,  is a serious commitment.

Restoration is complicated because every piece of property-due to geology, soil type, weather and land-use history-- is unique.  Restoration can be expensive. It is labor intensive. And it is ongoing…..certainly not a “one and done” project. 

Knowing land-use history is important. Some past practices —done with the very best of intentions—have been detrimental. Take, for example, the beloved Norway spruce plantations at Crossroads, which admittedly are majestic and beautiful.

In her book “Natural Connections 2”, Emily Stone, who recently spoke at Crossroads, wrote: “In its native range in Europe, fast-growing Norway spruce is a commercially important source of wood for lumber. Stradivarius used it to make instruments. Its cones were once employed as weights in grandfather and cuckoo clocks….

“In Wisconsin, the ‘cutover period,’ when most of our original forests were logged to build our rapidly growing country, left the land denuded.  Hopeful immigrants tried to homestead the land and found that the soils were better suited for trees than crops.”

Emily explained that to protect the soils of abandoned farms, and government agencies opted “to grow non-native species in hopes that they wouldn’t be susceptible to insect and disease problems that slowed growth in native species. Scots pine, Austrian pine, and Norway spruce were all given a try.”  Alas, these trees grew fast and have thrived in Door County because it was true. These non-native species did not support insects. But ironically, insects are absolutely essential for a healthy ecosystem.

Insects, predominately caterpillars, eat green leaves, so the energy from the Sun, captured through photosynthesis, is transferred in the form of proteins and fats to baby birds, amphibians, and even mammals and fish. Without a variety of native trees providing food for many species of insects, we would have very little wildlife.

Knowing this, we at Crossroads realized that rows of trees, all the same age, all the same species…...especially Norway spruce, a species on which few insects feed, will not support a healthy ecosystem.

Our goal is to establish a sustainable forest with diverse native trees and shrubs: species on which moths and butterflies lay their eggs and/or flowering trees and shrubs which provide pollen and nectar for pollinators.

Though it looks a bit brutal, we are, a few at a time, killing the Norway spruce and replacing them with insect-supporting native trees. This restoration effort reflects current scientific research.

Fortunately, this region is blessed with several organizations and agencies that can offer evidence-based science, lend equipment, and perhaps provide financial assistance and free seeds.

The first program is scheduled for Thursday, June 20, at 4:30. Mike Grimm will present “Introduction to Land Management Plans and Bio-Inventories.” He will discuss how to evaluate a piece of land and suggest that landowners develop clear and reasonable objectives before embarking on a restoration project.

Thursday, June 20,

4:30 Resources for Land Management Series

Introduction to Land Management Plans and Bio-inventories.

Landowners and community members are invited to join professionals from a variety of organizations to a lecture series to discuss restoration practices and resources. The June program will be presented by Mike Grimm, recently retired from The Nature Conservancy. The program is free and open to the public. Meet in the Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.