Ann Collins
HOUGHTON — Land owners are faced with plenty of challenges: How do I manage this woodlot? Am I stuck with this field of spotted knapweed? Could I start a native prairie, hobby farm, or bison ranch?
YouTube videos only take you so far. Fortunately, you can get free, professional advice (and sometimes financial help) right here in the Keweenaw, from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
District conservationist Anne Collins will discuss NRCS programs at her talk, “Together We Can: Partnering with NRCS to Achieve Your Land Management Goals,” set for 6 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 1, at the Portage Lake District Library Community Room. The Wild Ones Keweenaw Chapter sponsors the talk.
NRCS programs target many types of land use situations, including big and small farms; non-industrial private forests, large or small; pollinator plantings; invasive species; increasing biodiversity; and more.
“What drives us is what the landowner wants and resource concerns on the land,” said Collins. “We provide technical advice, and we can also help you apply for grants.”
Funding is available for various projects, such as tree planting for wildlife and native plant restoration.
“If you have forested land, we can help you develop a management plan, which opens the door to lots of different programs,” she said.
The local NRCS office, located in Baraga, serves Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga and Ontonagon counties. For more information contact Keweenaw Wild Ones at wildoneskeweenaw@gmail.com .
A pollinator field developed with support from the NRCS. Photo courtesy of Keweenaw Wild Ones.