Highland Conservancy

Students Create Art in Tune with Nature by Katheryn Krupa

My fourth and fifth grade students at Oxbow and Brooks Elementary were in for a treat!  Knowing we were going outside they were bursting with excitement and energy.  I had set up this lesson by introducing the children to the art of Andy Goldsworthy, a unique Scottish artist who creates sculptures entirely made from nature.  They were fascinated to watch him string a trail of golden leaves through an emerald green forest or create huge driftwood structures that slowly floated off into the sea when the tide came in.  Eagerly they broke into groups or worked with a partner setting out their leaves, sticks, acorns, apples or pine cones into radial designs and delightful 3D sculptures around the school.  Rarely have I seen them this engaged in a lesson, rushing to nearby trees to gather crimson colored leaves or picking dandelions to add to their creations.  With the eyes of an artist, they would step back to survey their work, then run over to see what another team was doing, full of eager enthusiasm as the works slowly evolved and developed into finished sculptures.  With only an hour long art class, I often don't get the luxury of time to debrief - yet with one class, we were able to take a few minutes to reflect on the day's experience.  After surveying the finished projects all around the school, I queried the class... What was the best thing about this project?  What was the most difficult?  What did you notice about working together?  What would you do differently?  Every hand in the room shot up as each student had a chance to share.  Wow!

Related articles

Rivers and Tides (Andy Goldsworthy Documentary) (2001)

OAK WILT - DON'T PRUNE OAKS AFTER MARCH By Mark Muhich

The next forestry nightmare is lurking in Michigan’s woods right now. Oak wilt, a fungal disease transmitted by sap beetles, is lethal to all species of oaks. A 200 year-old oak tree can die in a matter of months from oak wilt. Oak wilt has been identified in about one-third of Michigan's counties. It is found in all Minnesota and Wisconsin counties where oak wilt has already killed tens of thousands of oaks. Once the fungus infects an oak tree, it can transfer to other adjacent oaks through root connections.

Oak wilt can be easily prevented by avoiding the cutting or pruning of oaks from April through July. Emergency pruning must be immediately sealed. Officials in Highland Township and in our cities, counties and our state Legislature should protect our magnificent oak trees and forests with proven oak wilt ordinances. Without a timely oak wilt ordinance, our oak forests can go the way of the chestnut, elm, and ash, all extinct.

This is a forest nightmare we can prevent, if we wake up.

Mark Muhich, conservation chairman

Central Michigan Group Sierra Club, Jackson

 

KEEP HIGHLAND RURAL by Katheryn Krupa

With a new township supervisor and fresh ideas flowing into our small township, I am one who believes strongly in keeping Highland rural.  When sewers were about to come online a few years back I was worried.  When new subdivisions starting cropping up before that, I was even more concerned.  As we look at the future for our township, I think it is important that we remember why many of us moved to Highland.  We moved here because we loved the fact that our township is filled with rolling pastures, horse ranches and beautiful undeveloped parkland.  It is special because we still see turkeys strutting through our yards and deer crossing our backroads.

I think we should welcome more bike trails connecting to existing trails and I love the idea of horse trails and hiking paths snaking through our parks.  But what we don't need is to open up our master plan to changes that would encourage more development or an influx of business and commerce.  Highland does not need to become another White Lake.  I would be concerned if we started to head down the route Hartland has with its big box stores crowding out the hometown mom and pop type establishments. 

Let's keep Highland rural and sleepy.  As we start dialogue and meetings in the township about the direction we are headed, please speak out and let your voice be heard.

Huron Valley Earth Day

Earth day is celebrated every April, yet here in Highland Township and Milford, Michigan there will be a very special afternoon of family fun!  On Sunday, April 21, 2013 from 1 to 4pm, the Huron Valley Green Team and Carls Family YMCA off Commerce Road in Milford is hosting a free earth day event packed with activities for families, children and anyone who can attend.  There will be face painting, art activities, dancing, top notch musicians, the International Academy will put on a "green" fashion show (last year there was a dress made entirely of brochures!) and there will be a wide variety of different booths with everything from how to control invasive plants to the "insect man" with cocoons, caterpillars and walking sticks, and hopefully other live animals (last year a pet corn snake was a hit with the younger crowd).  This is an annual event put on by the Huron Valley Green team each year so if you missed the fun last year, I urge you to make sure you attend this year's earth day.

Highland's New Pathway Plan by Jennifer Frederick

Highland Townships Draft Non-Motorized Pathway Master Plan was initiated during the update of the Highland Township Recreation Plan in 2009, because Highland residents showed great interest in meeting the needs of pedestrians, bicyclists and equestrians.  The Draft Non-Motorized Pathway Plan describes the future vision for sidewalks, paths, trails and bike lanes in Highland Township. Highland would like to connect users to natural, cultural and civic destinations and to provide healthy alternatives to driving.  The Plan will also be used as a tool to obtain funds to install the pathways.  The Pathway Plan was developed by a sidewalk committee and has been reviewed by the Planning Commission.  The Plan is now in front of the Board of Trustees for review and comments.  The Board is asking for public comments on the Plan. Once the comments and suggestions have been addressed, the Board will set the Non-Motorized Pathway Master Plan for public hearing and final approval.

The Highland DDA is currently working on a Sidewalk Project in the Downtown Highland Station District check out the details at the DDA’s website at http://www.highlanddda.com/1/220/index.asp.  The project proposes sidewalks on both sides of Milford Road from M-59 south to Snooks Butcher's Shoppe/Colasanti's Produce and East Livingston Road from Milford Road to Eleanor Street.  The DDA is planning to start construction of the project in 2012. 

You may view the Draft Non-Motorized Pathway Master Plan on the Township website at www.highlandtwp.com or at the Highland Township Hall at 205 N. John Street.

If you have any questions or comments you can contact the Township Hall at 248-887-3791.

Stewardship in Action by Katheryn Krupa

A wonderful mix of families, adults, teens and children came out on Sunday, October 16th to plant trees along White Lake Road near Eagle Road in Highland as part of the Faith in Action initiative at Highland United Methodist Church.  Working with Jim Lloyd, President of the Highland Conservancy, Mary Lloyd of the Highland Beautification Committee, and many dedicated individuals from the church and community, we were able to plant white pine, red pine and other evergreen trees.  Several years ago the area had become degraded when a developer bulldozed the area, sold off all the top soil and left the land to be overgrown with invasive weeds such as spotted knapweed, which makes the ground toxic to native growth. 

Everyone pitched in digging holes, spreading organic mulch and planting trees to help in the effort to regenerate a healthy ecosystem in the area.  Several people wondered why someone would strip off all the top soil and then leave the land covered in stone and sand, unable to sustain plants and animals that formerly flourished there?  Good question!  [But that is a fight for another day].  Kid's Church teacher Mary Lloyd helped the children learn the importance of planting a variety of trees and how we need to be good stewards of our planet.  She showed them how to plant the trees and then we got to work.

Finally, we returned to re-mulch and spread woodchips around the evergreens that were planted several years ago in the same area.  The only down note was that of the 2,500 acorns that we planted in 2009, less then 5% managed to sprout and grow into young saplings.  (The biggest problem again has been the spotted knapweed that prevent the oaks from getting enough sunlight or nutrients to get a foothold.)  The best news was that this time around, we planted much larger trees that Jim Lloyd had carefully nurtured and raised in large pots, allowing them to grow into 2 to 3 foot trees.  Thanks to Jim and Mary for all their ongoing work mowing, weeding, watering and tending of the area.

A special thanks to all who turned out to make a difference!

HIGHLAND HEY DAYS 5K RACE A SUCCESS

 
Over 50 runners turned out for the Highland Conservancy’s 5K Cross Country Race held during Highland Hey Days this year.  This race was sponsored by the Highland Conservancy and Highland Feed and featured a stunningly beautiful cross-country course.  Despite the rain, a variety of people and even dogs enjoyed a successful run as part of Highland’s weekend of festivities. Prizes awarded were $50 for first place, $25 for second and $10 for third. What a great way to challenge yourself, enjoy the beauty of Highland and get some great exercise too! If you weren’t able to make it, you can preregister for next year at www.highlandconservancy.org/pages/5k_registration/  or mark your calendar for next September, typically the second week into the month.  Stay tuned to our website for more details:  www.highlandconservancy.org  

Stalking Wild Asparagus by Katheryn Krupa

 

Just a few weeks ago in May, my sister and I were hiking with her flat coated retrievers through some rolling fields (dare I tell you where?) and low and behold we saw a stalk of wild asparagus!  Immediately the two of us fairly pounced on it.  I reached it first and snapping it off at the base I immediately ate it, yes, raw.  Delicious!  Eyes narrowed, the hunt was on!  It was like Christmas as we hiked along, scanning the ground as the dogs danced along beside us until our pockets were bulging with long, green shoots of asparagus.  In one field it almost seemed as if a fairy had planted them every few feet apart.  We also kept our eyes out for morels but despite all the rain we never saw even one, whereas in previous years, they were abundant.  Mentally, I mapped out the locations of our spring shoots, knowing they would be there faithfully next spring. 

One of my favorite books during my hippie years was Eulle Gibbons book Stalking the Wild Asparagus.  I'll never forget reading it, gathering wild ingredients and then boiling up some wild carrot soup (Queen Anne's lace) and getting so ill I was sick for days - but that didn't stop me!  Nowdays, I delight in watching Dual Survival on the Discovery Channel or Bear Grylls, a master at surviving in the wilderness and knowing exactly what to eat and not to eat in almost any environment.  However, even though I know my morel mushrooms, I still carefully double check my guidebook, knowing that even experts have been killed eating the deadly false morel.  So check out a good book on harvesting wild food and enjoy - carefully!

Huron Valley Earth Day by Katheryn Krupa

 

The Highland Conservancy sponsored a poster contest for elementary students in Huron Valley to promote Huron Valley's earth day festival coming up April 17, 2011 from noon-4 at Carls YMCA in Milford.  The theme of the contest was: Live Green:  Use Environmentally Friendly Practices for a healthier earth.  The first place winner was Kellie Hope of Oxbow Community School who won $50.  The second place winner was Gillian James of Country Oaks who won $25, and third place went to Ashley Welch of Oxbow who won $15.  This years events will be family centered with fun art activities, games, interesting booths, music and much more.  Visit the Huron Valley Green Team website for more information on earth day activities or to volunteer: http://www.greenteamofhuronvalley.com/

 
 

 

Highland Conservancy 5K Nature Run

Please join us for the Highland Conservancy 5k Nature Challenge, on Saturday, September 25, 9am, starting at Highland Feed.

Highland Township has many natural areas, parks, and other beautiful natural  features that make it a unique place to live.  The Highland Conservancy 5k Nature Challenge is designed to introduce Highland residents and visitors to some of the great aspects of Highland including the Highland Recreation area and the Dodge 10 Park.  The 5k will start near the railroad tracks by Highland Feed, continuing down Livingston road EAST (on dirt roads) to Pettibone Lake Road SOUTH, finally looping back to the starting point.   Donations are tax-deductible.

When:  Saturday, September 25, 2010, 9am
Starting point:  Highland Feed on 217 E. Livingston Road just EAST of Milford Road -- there is ample parking.
Donation (tax deductible):   $15 entry fee prior (register online at above website, [email protected] or call Ron Flannery, 248-887-8470 x 40);  $20 day of (tax deductible).  Prizes: $50 first, $25 second, $10 third (may be done as gift certificates).  We'll also randomly be giving away tote bags and gifts from local businesses!

For more info go to:

http://www.highlandconservancy.org/pages/5k_nature_challenge/

http://www.highlandconservancy.org/_docs/5k_nature_challenge/5kflyer-20100925.pdf