Great Lakes Echo (https://greatlakesecho.org/category/land/page/39/)
This category encompasses land-based issues. It is further segregated with tags into such issues as farm, urban redevelopment or decay, forest, mining.
As workers at many farms and orchards become more and more scarce, the need for mechanical harvesting is rising.
Blueberries, cherries and grapes are all increasingly being harvested by machines rather than farm workers.
The fight over the fate of a massive iron ore mine has moved this summer from the state Capitol in Madison to the forests of northwestern Wisconsin.
State support for Wisconsin’s state parks has slid steadily. General purpose revenue covered 50 percent of their operations in the late 1990s, but only 21 percent today.
Two of Wisconsin’s most popular state parks – Devil’s Lake and Peninsula – are cash cows that help support dozens of money-losing parks and recreation areas, state figures show.
Detroit resident Cheryl English knows that growing native plants in her garden can greatly benefit the environment.
Looking at farmers markets by Great Lakes Echo
As the summer weather gets nicer, farmers markets seem to be multiplying around the area. But it’s not as simple as just popping up tents and selling veggies. Current State’s Peter Whorf speaks with Dru Montri, Director of the Michigan Farmers Market Association, to talk about market trends, realities, and the work behind the markets that go unseen.
Last year, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative began producing a series of educational videos about invasive species in the Great Lakes for the National Park Service. New videos have been uploaded this spring and summer, and you can watch the entire “Little Things, Big Problems” series here on Echo. This video discusses how invasive plants can be harmful to the native vegetation in Great Lakes parks.
After the completion of a two-year project this month, 30 percent of campsites in Wisconsin state parks will be electrified. Electric sites are growing in popularity, according to park rangers.
By Daniel Badhwa
The city of Duluth, Minn. has launched a new program to restore and plant more trees in urban neighborhoods. Trees have disappeared from Duluth due to higher energy costs, pollution and unhealthy growing environments. The city of Duluth established the Re-Leaf program three years ago after setting aside a $5,000 annual budget to re-leaf the city. Urban trees provide shade for houses and businesses and soak up rainwater to lessen polluted runoff into lakes and streams. To many people though, urban trees simply provide a more pleasant living environment.
In Michigan, dogs may be allowed to accompany their owners in outdoor dining areas if a bill introduced by Rep. Margaret O’Brien, R-Portage, passes.