2013 Wild Lapeer Programs and Events May 11, 2013 Chatfield School/Willows Ecology Center 11am-3pm
Hoophouse Program and Farm Tour.Hoophouses or high tunnels are large unheated plastic covered greenhouses used for season extension. Lapeer County is one of the leading recipients of the USDA funded program to increase local food production.
Hoophouse Program.Jay Blair from NRCS will speak about farm bill initiatives including hoophouses, drought, air quality, and organic production. Rob Malcomson from March Haven Farm will provide an overview of local farm production using hoophouses from 12-1.
Hoophouse Farm Tour.Join us for a tour of 3 local farms using hoophouses. You will experience beginner and experienced farmers and a wide range of production methods and equipment. Bussing provided. 1-4. Canoe Rides.Lapeer Rotary Club and Chatfield School will have canoes for people to use for a brief exploration of the Oakdale Pond. Youth must be accompanied by a guardian. 11:30-2:30 Information at Flint River Watershed Coalition Booth.
Rootbeer.Join the Lapeer Area Brewers Club for an in depth exploration of the brewing process, equipment, and local resources. Participants will use local ingredients to make and try herb/root beer. 11-3.
Oakdale Cemetery Nature Hike. Explore the fascinating history of Oakdale and hike out to the beautiful 100 yr old cemetery with guides Karen Page and Sarah Grant. 1-2:30. Easy hike, no hills, 1.5 mi. roundtrip. Meet at Information Booth #1.
Pioneer Farm Tools.The Lapeer Historical Society hosts an interactive exhibit to experience local farm history and agricultural innovation. 11-3.
Waterlife.Participants will use dipnets and fieldscopes in a close up adventure observing the aquatic animals that live at Ponds and Prairies. 1-3. Earthen Ovens: Cooking and Construction.We will fire up two earthen ovens (one is portable), bake pizza, and teach you how to build and use it. Explore the amazing versatility of cob, a mixture of local sand, clay, straw, and water. This class will allow you the chance to use your feet to mix the materials on a tarp, apply plasters with your hands, and utilize your taste buds. Instructor Peter McCreedy will build your confidence in adapting this material to fit your construction needs whether it is finish paints, cattail plaster, cob walls, wattle and daub, strawbale, or your own mud oven. Anyone can build with earth, “dirt cheap”. 1:30-2:30
Explore Geocache 101.Learn about Geocaching and go on a treasure hunt using GPS (Global Positioning System) technology. We will meet at the north parking lot area on the grounds of Chatfield School. Join Karen Page as she discusses some of the basics of geocaching and then have a real-world experience finding temporary caches placed in Prairies and Ponds and on the school grounds. Please call the Marguerite deAngeli Branch library at 810-664-6971 to register for this exciting event for people of all ages. Class size is limited and GPS units are provided. This program is in partnership with Lapeer County District Library, Chatfield School, Prairies and Ponds, and Wild Lapeer. 11-12:15
Native Plants.Join Naturalist, Carrie Spencer of Seven Ponds Nature Center, as she explores gardening with native plants. This program will help you discover the beauty of Michigan's Wildflowers and how to incorporate them into your landscape. The talk will be followed by a walk on the grounds. 11:30-12:30