adventure

JDW I WNS & AEC 

 The Jane and Dean Wilson Informal Wildlife Nature Sanctuary & Agricultural Educational Center 

   otherwise known as the 

AUSTIN ROAD ADVENTURE

   (Please send all correspondence to 5660 Austin Rd.  Camden, MI  49232)

Trivia:

How many pieces of property comprise the JDWIWNS & AEC?  

4

When was the first piece of property acquired for this project?

  November 1979  (NorthEast 120 acres)

What years were the other 3 parcels added into the adventure?  

  Mable Moss’s or SouthWest 100 acres in Spring of 1983

Albert’s or NorthWest 80 acres in 1987

Jake’s or SouthEast 80 acres in 1999

Please describe the condition of each piece at the time it was included into the adventure:

  NE: open areas plowed wheat fields, rare trees,  large gravel pit area, wooded areas heavily logged the previous year, no wetlands or ponds 

  SW:  open areas plowed wheat fields, rare trees, wooded areas recently logged, wetland drained

  NW: open areas plowed wheat fields, rare trees, wooded areas continuously logged

  SE:  open areas plowed crop fields, rare trees,  wooded areas recently logged, wetland drained 

Please describe the current condition of each piece in the adventure:

  NE:  open areas in permanent pasture with abundant & varied trees, wooded areas intact,

5 acre wetland, 2 small and 1 large pond established  

  SW: open areas in permanent pasture (not currently grazed) with occasional, varied trees, 

wooded areas intact,  wetland established, 10 acre permanent grass hay field harvested twice a year  

  NW: open areas in permanent pasture (not currently grazed) with occasional, varied trees, 

northern most field planted into trees, wooded areas intact

  SE:  open areas in permanent pasture with occasional, varied trees, 2 wetlands established, wooded areas intact 

   10 acre permanent grass hay field harvested once a year, northern most field planted into 200 conifer trees  

How many times does the St. Joseph River flow through this adventure?

  Twice

Please describe the condition of land surrounding the Austin Road Adventure:

   open areas plowed crop fields, sprayed with chemicals, rare trees, open areas and wetlands tiled and drained, wooded areas continuously logged, multiple active small (50 - 250 animals) CAFO 's (Confined Animal Feed Operation), fresh manure spread regularly on limited acres, frequently near surface water ditches  

What is meant by “permanent pasture” and why are these areas significant?

    Land in “permanent pasture” was plowed one time, planted into pasture (diverse mix of grasses and legumes), and has since been allowed to thrive.  It has not been and will never be plowed again, under the current stewardship.  

Pasture is not always an accurate descriptor since much of the land here is not currently grazed by farm animals. 

 One could use the word meadow to describe “permanent pasture” areas.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meadow

A meadow is a field habitat vegetated by grass and other non-woody plants (grassland).^[1]

Meadows are of ecological importance because they are open, sunny areas that attract and support flora and fauna that could not thrive in other conditions.  They often host a multitude of wildlife, providing areas for courtship displays, nesting, food gathering and sometimes sheltering if the vegetation is high enough. Many meadows support a wide array of wildflowers, which makes them of utmost importance to pollinating insects, including bees, and hence the entire ecosystem.    

As mentioned above, the “permanent pasture” areas are significant because they provide HABITAT for plants and animals.

The significance of “permanent pastures” also lies in the natural formation of TOPSOIL that occurs in these areas. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topsoil  

 Without topsoil, little plant life is possible.  Conventional agriculture encourages the depletion of topsoil because the soil must be plowed and replanted each year.  The United States alone loses almost 3 tons of topsoil per acre per year.^[10] This is of great ecological concern as one inch of topsoil can take between 500^[11] and 1,000 years^[12] to form naturally. On current trends, the world has about 60 years of topsoil left.^[12][13]

What is meant by wetland and why are these areas significant?  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wetland  

A wetland is a land area that is saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, such that it takes on the characteristics of a distinct ecosystem.^[2]  Wetlands play a number of roles in the environment, principally water purification, flood control, carbon sink and shoreline stability. Wetlands are also considered the most biologically diverse of all ecosystems, serving as home to a wide range of plant and animal life.

As mentioned above, wetlands are significant partly because of the WATER PURIFICATION and HABITAT they provide.  

According to the Ramsar Convention:

The economic worth of the ecosystem services provided to society by intact, naturally functioning wetlands is frequently much greater than the perceived benefits of converting them to 'more valuable' intensive land use – particularly as the profits from unsustainable use often go to relatively few individuals or corporations, rather than being shared by society as a whole.

Please list the educational activities available through the JDE I WNS & AEC:

 EDUCATION ACTIVITIES

 A ] Hand milking cows -

Etiquette, cleanliness, technique

 B ] Fresh cow care -

Differences in animal behavior, detect and resolve problem quarters, amount of milk to take on days 1 thru 7, monitoring for postpartum complications

 C ] Newborn calf care - 

monitor for temperature, nursing, stool, umbilical cord

 D ] Care of Milk -

Cleanliness, filtering, cooling, storage, allowing cream to rise, skimming cream  

 E ] Knife sharpening - 

technique, frequency  

 F ] Butcher -

Confine, kill, move, skin, gut, cut in half, hang, proper use of remains    

 G ] Pork processing -

from hanging carcass, identify and harvest various cuts, cure bacon, season and grind sausage, render lard, proper packaging and storage

 H ] Beef processing -

from hanging carcass, identify and harvest steaks, roasts, hamburger, tallow, proper packaging and storage  

 I ] Beef jerky -

Identify proper cut of meat to use, thin slicing meat, marination, dehydration, packaging

 J ] Cheese making -

time, temperature, pH and bacteria management to curds and whey; pressing and rind formation  

 K ] Cheese maintenance -

daily temperature and humidity management, weekly salt wash and oil rub, crack butter plugs  

 L ] Butter - skim cream, set up and clean electric 8 gallon churn, determine correct churn time, drain, rinse, and squeeze butter, proper packaging and storage  

 M ] Kefir - Grain function and care, time, temperature and volume adjustments

 N ] Maple Sugar - 

Tap maple trees: Identify maple trees, use of hand drill, correct tap location, homemade Elder wood taps

Boil maple sap:  fire safety and maintenance in the woods, 50 gallon sap pan management, correct sap depth and strength of boil, determine time to stop boiling 

Make maple sugar:  monitor and identify different stages of sugar bubbles, maintain correct heat to stir ratio, determine correct time to remove from heat, maintain stir and determine adequate granulation

 O ] Apple harvest & Cider pressing

use of ladder to pick from tree, collecting from ground, proper storage   

wash, chop, press, cider packaging and storing, use of remaining pulp  

 P ] Raw food tasting -  

kefir, milk, cheese, beef, egg yolk  

 Q ] Fruit dehydration -

Harvest and preparation of pears, peaches, apples; dehydration time and packaging

 R ] Cooking on a wood stove -

various heat locations, baking in the oven, adding wood, monitoring fire, water reservoirs  

 S ] Animal husbandry -

cows: approach, distance, reading behaviors, offering assistance and affection, halter training, moving single animals and large herd short and long distances 

lambs: halter training, natural behaviors, offering assistance and affection  

chickens: natural behaviors, dust bath, aggression, egg collection, noticing problems and offering assistance

Pigs: approach, feed and watering, pasture and fence maintenance

horse: approach, maintaining safe boundaries, reading behaviors, offering assistance and affection, moving short distances  

 T ] Fire wood - identify tree type, quality, safety, loading, stacking, splitting  

 U ] Natural material harvest and building project

 V ] Nature walk

 W ] Bird Identification

 X ] Tree identification

 Y ] Fence maintenance

 Z ] Wild herb and wild edible identification, harvest   

 AA ] Gardening  

 BB ] Discussion topics     

Does the JDW I WNS & AEC currently host any school groups?

  Yes.  A Montessori School from Dearborn Heights, Michigan currently brings 30 middle school students to the adventure 4 times every year for overnight trips.  They have been visiting for 10 years.  

Education on Austin Road

Opportunity

  "a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something"

        We were talking about a meeting to discuss how they could “help us” with the land purchase.  That does not sit well with me, that they are "helping us".  It is a terribly narrow view to say that we need help.  I want a clear understanding of what is happening out here on Austin Road.  There is a real opportunity here that is significant to many aspects of Earth life.  We are presenting an opportunity to significantly positively impact air quality, water quality, and sound quality (noise pollution) in this small part of planet Earth.  People talk about saving the environment but that is such a huge topic.  How does one save the environment?  One may throw a paper coffee cup into the recycling bin and turn down the house furnace while away.  All of this surely makes a difference and our actions together are cumulative.  But what if one looked at their local environment and was able to immediately and simply ensure the health of a small section of mother earth?  It is similar to Central Park in New York City.  New York is an amazing place and I imagine anyone who lives there or has visited would agree that if Central Park existed instead as a cluster of tall buildings and traffic-clogged streets, the entire City would reflect that horror.  The opportunity on Austin Road imitates the genius of Central Park.  Provide continued sanctuary for a small section of the earth’s natural health to enhance and support the surrounding area.  

We do not have a formal mission statement here in this place where we live.  By examining our way of life maybe one could say that our mission statement would include the phrases “have fun, relax, work just a little each day, take care of yourself so you can offer some love to others”.   There are formal organizations and tax funded government agencies that do have mission statements.  They have made it a priority to clearly articulate and publish their mission statements.  The project with the land out here is just an opportunity for these groups to follow their public declaration of mission.  

For example:

 "The purpose of the Michigan Nature Association is to acquire, protect and maintain natural areas that contain examples of Michigan endangered and threatened flora, fauna, and other components of the natural environment, including habitat for fish, wildlife and plants of the state of Michigan and to carry on a program of natural history study and conservation education."

The 260 acres in question have been protected and maintained since their acquisition by the Wilson family beginning in 1980.  As it comes up for sale in the near future, ensuring its continued preservation is an opportunity for MNA to fulfill its published mission.  

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.

The mission of Mid-Michigan Land Conservancy (MMLC) is:

• To protect natural, scenic, recreational, and agricultural lands and their natural diversity in mid-Michigan so rural landscapes are preserved,
• To encourage and promote the protection of these lands and their natural diversity through education and other assistance.

OUR MISSION

The mission of the Lake Erie Region Conservancy is to identify, conserve, and protect the Lake Erie region's unique natural and cultural resources.  We also promote sustainable development through research and outreach.

The Nature Conservancy our mission:  Conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends

You are the ones who publicly declare what your purpose is.  We are a family that brought to your attention the opportunity to pursue that purpose.  Are you helping us or have we helped you? 

I am not saying that any of these organizations are obligated to participate in the project.  I am trying to clarify what is happening out here on Austin Road.  Maybe we are functioning as Real Estate Agents or Stock Brokers or just the local news.  The sale of this land will have unmeasurable impact on the surrounding environment.   There is a set of circumstances here that makes it possible to do something positive.  Opportunity  

Copperbelly Water Snake sunning himself next to our swamp

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nerodia_erythrogaster_neglecta

The copperbelly (Nerodia erythrogaster neglecta) is a species of nonvenomous snake, which is listed as a threatened species.

Copperbellies live in lowland swamps or other warm, quiet waters.

Lowland and some upland woods are almost always part of the swamp habitat. Recent studies have shown that at least 500 acres (200 ha) of more or less continuous swamp-forest habitat is necessary to sustain a viable population over time.

These snakes have declined mainly because of the drainage, pollution, loss and filling over of their lowland swamp habitat and clearing of adjacent upland woods where they spend the winter (hibernation sites).

The copperbelly water snake was added to the U.S. List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants on February 28, 1997. The population that was listed as threatened occurs in southern Michigan, northeastern Indiana, and northwestern Ohio.