WHITEHALL — A native plant landscape project on a 4.5-acre field at Alcoa Howmet’s Plant 4 site in Whitehall certainly generated plenty of attention and, as it turns out, plenty of interest from area residents wanting to follow the lead.
Environmental advocates are hosting a workshop to help teach interested residents and business owners how to plant their own native landscapes. The public workshop, which is free, is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the White Lake Community Library, 3900 White Lake Drive.
“We have had great interest from area residents and businesses that want their own native landscape,” said Jeff Auch, executive director of the Muskegon Conservation District, which is coordinating the Alcoa Howmet project. “Fall is a great time to begin planning for this. We’ll provide all of the information needed to create a beautiful, low-maintenance native landscape.”
Organizers said workshop participants will learn how to plant a native landscape and the basics of installing a rain garden. Information will be presented on site preparation, developing a design, choosing appropriate seeds and plants, and maintaining the new landscapes.
Howmet’s native landscape project, which started in 2008, essentially kicked off a larger, communitywide project called the White Lake Community Native Landscape Initiative. The community project was established to encourage the introduction of native landscapes in the area, including on residential, commercial and municipal properties.
Tanya Cabala, an environmental consultant and Whitehall city councilwoman, said the advantages of native landscapes are protection of the groundwater and saving money for property owners with less watering, no use of fertilizer and reduction in mowing. She pointed out that native landscapes also are beneficial to wildlife
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