Join us for a few hours in the woods the second Sunday of each month. We meet at the Maple St. YMCA outdoor tennis courts at 10 a.m. and work for about 2 hours pulling/cutting invasive brush, planting wildflowers, hauling brush, maintaining trails, and picking up trash. Dress for the weather and bring work gloves and small hand tools if you have them. Meet near the outdoor tennis courts at the Maple St. YMCA.

The Stewards of Kleinstuck will host three events to celebrate and learn about one of our most important community members: the essential oak tree! Inspired by the book, The Nature of Oaks, by Douglas Tallamy, the first event will include discussion about the book’s fascinating oak facts, and a talk by Mitch Lettow, Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy’s Conservation and Stewardship Director.

The Nature of Oaks is a delightful read - please come learn and share your thoughts whether you've read the book or not!

As stewards of both our preserve and its surrounding community, we are proud to partner with this is a bookstore, which will be stocking copies of  The Nature of Oaks plentifully this spring. To reserve your copy for pick-up at the bookstore please consider pre-purchasing it online here: The Nature of Oaks and inserting discount code: STEWARDS at check out to have a discounted copy promptly held for you. 

Mitch Lettow is the Conservation & Stewardship Director for the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy. Mitch grew up on Pickerel Lake in Scotts, Michigan, where his time spent in the backyard and the water, with encouragement from his family, nurtured his fascination in nature. This fascination matured into a pursuit of a career in the field of ecology where he worked in both research and restoration for the Kalamazoo Nature Center, Michigan Wildflower Farm, Michigan State University, and the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy. Mitch received his B.S. Environmental Biology/Zoology and his M.S. in Entomology from Michigan State University.

Thank you to the Third Christian Reformed Church for their support of these events through the Winchell Neighborhood Grant!

[Note that this event is occurring in lieu of our usual monthly workday!]

The Stewards of Kleinstuck will host three events to celebrate and learn about one of our most important community members: the essential oak tree! Kalamazoo artist Lad Hanka is featured in our second event, in conversation about his work and relationship with oak trees. Lad will have some samples of his work with him.

These “community read” events are inspired by the book, The Nature of Oaks, by Douglas Tallamy. This is a delightful read - please come learn and share your thoughts whether you've read the book or not!

As stewards of both our preserve and its surrounding community, we are proud to partner with this is a bookstore, which will be stocking copies of  The Nature of Oaks plentifully this spring. To reserve your copy for pick-up at the bookstore please consider pre-purchasing it online here: The Nature of Oaks and inserting discount code: STEWARDS at check out to have a discounted copy promptly held for you. 

Kalamazoo artist Lad Hanka holds a bachelor’s degree of arts from Kalamazoo College, an MFA in printmaking from Western Michigan University and a master’s in zoology from Colorado State University. “My subject matter will tell you where I find evidence of the divine. I love to fish and gather mushrooms. I cannot get enough of ancient trees and the way their asymmetries and gravity bring me back to a place of profound stillness. The very idea that trees alive today were seeded at the birth of the old kingdom of Egypt and are thus as old as the written word itself, sets me free. I kneel at their roots and feel blessed.”

Thank you to the Third Christian Reformed Church for their support of these events through the Winchell Neighborhood Grant!

The Stewards of Kleinstuck will host three events to celebrate and learn about one of our most important community members: the essential oak tree! Our third and most hands-on oak event will take place at a pavilion on the grounds of Kazoo School. Randy Counterman, ecological restoration expert, will share ideas about oak propagation. Learn about the different types of oaks and their acorns, and how to successfully grow oak saplings to integrate into your landscaping.

These “community read” events are inspired by the book, The Nature of Oaks, by Douglas Tallamy. This is a delightful read - please come learn and share your thoughts whether you've read the book or not!

As stewards of both our preserve and its surrounding community, we are proud to partner with this is a bookstore, which will be stocking copies of  The Nature of Oaks plentifully this spring. To reserve your copy for pick-up at the bookstore please consider pre-purchasing it online here: The Nature of Oaks and inserting discount code: STEWARDS at check out to have a discounted copy promptly held for you. 

Randy Counterman founded Native Landscapes in 2013 and remains as the principle force behind the operation today.  After serving in the Air Force and then the private sector in the Information Technology field for 14 years, Randy turned his focus to concentrate on working outside and protecting our natural resources.  First earning an Associates Degree in Fisheries and Natural Resources from Kalamazoo Valley Community College while employed at The Upjohn Company, Randy went on to achieve a BSc Degree in Fisheries and Wildlife from Michigan State University and then a MSc Degree in Natural Resources Management from Grand Valley State University.

Thank you to the Third Christian Reformed Church for their support of these events through the Winchell Neighborhood Grant!