invasive species Archives | ACRES Land Trust

Herbarium provides a glimpse into the past

ACRES protects more than land. We also work to protect the history of our land donors. Their stories and artifacts provide a glimpse into the past, an explanation of who they were and how they cared for and loved the land before ACRES. Join local journalist Kevin Kilbane as he uncovers the story of a ...

12/16/2020
1 Comment(s)

Oak Farm & Detering Partnership: Learning Land Protection through Meaningful Work

In a nonprofit partnership, students and staff at Oak Farm Montessori School, near Avilla, Indiana, have partnered with ACRES for the last few years. Our first collaboration, students growing seedlings for ACRES in the school’s greenhouse, quickly blossomed into more, led by Brett Bloom. by Brett Bloom I am the Ecoliteracy Coordinator at Oak Farm ...

06/02/2020
3 Comment(s)

ACRES Land Trust seeking summer land management internship applicants

UPDATE April 1, 2020: an additional spot is now open with no restrictions on county of residency. Huntertown, Ind., February 13, 2020 – ACRES Land Trust is seeking applications for two summer land management internships. For ten years, ACRES interns have helped care for the organization’s ever-increasing number of permanently protected places. “ACRES interns help ...

02/13/2020
0 Comment(s)

Fighting for the Forest: Volunteers battle autumn olive on the Tom and Jane Dustin Nature Preserve

Did you know that autumn olive was once planted by many conservationists, including Tom and Jane, to provide wildlife habitat? Today, this invasive shrub is a prime target for removal on ACRES preserves and on managed land across the U.S. Why? Because its beautiful brush (with sweetsmelling spring blooms, signature silver-backed leaves and red berries) ...

10/24/2019
0 Comment(s)

A tale of two disturbances: surprises in land management

To keep pace with our growing acreage, ACRES has invested more time and resources in managing, restoring and enhancing land. In late winter and early spring, we put our new forestry mulcher to work shredding acres of non-native invasive autumn olive. The forestry mulcher, a barrel-like roller attachment for a skid steer, crunches up the ...

08/21/2019
0 Comment(s)

Non-native invasive species: Successes in progress

Part of being responsible stewards of the land is ensuring native species have the resources to flourish. Sometimes, that means breaking out the tools and combatting non-native plants that invade the area, choking out native life. Director of Land Management Casey Jones and crew give us an update on two non-native invasive species projects going ...

10/29/2018
0 Comment(s)

Eating (non-native, invasive) greens: ACRES to purchase forestry mulcher

ACRES will soon purchase a forestry mulcher, pictured above, to “chew” or shred through dense patches of nonnative invasive shrubs and brush, instead of using hand tools to tackle these sometimes overwhelming jobs. How overwhelming? Watch this video to see a forestry mulcher in action, “eating” dense patches of overgrown Autumn Olive amid a tree planting on the Tom and Jane Dustin ...

08/28/2018
2 Comment(s)

Managing land with spirit: Happy trails, summer interns!

The land management crew was quieter this week, having said goodbye to our team of ever-laughing, occasionally-singing, summer interns. The team disbanded, cheerfully* returning to classrooms across the state, having gained experience they’ll not soon forget. On the experience, Phoebe Habeck, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Forestry at Purdue University, says, “Along ...

08/18/2018
0 Comment(s)

Autumn Olive Project Update | A bold goal and call for help

Are you looking for a rewarding service project on the land? ACRES is putting out a new call for help. Last year, volunteers started the process of completely removing Autumn Olive from the Tom and Jane Dustin Nature Preserve. It was a bold goal, and the work continues. With many hands, we can beat this ...

05/23/2018
2 Comment(s)

Protecting Biodiversity: Managing Invasive Species

“Biodiversity that should be there, and has potential to be there, is lost when a non-native species takes a foothold.” While some people can walk through the woods, take in the lush, green views, and be at peace, Casey Jones, ACRES’ director of land management, isn’t one of them. His trained eye goes straight to ...

07/25/2017
0 Comment(s)

News & Blog