Foundation For Sustainable Forests Loving The Land: Craig & Monica Schwegman Tell Their Story From Erie County

By Bennett Gould, Foundation for Sustainable Forests

This article first appeared in the Summer 2022 Foundation for Sustainable Forests newsletter--

Craig and Monica Schwegman’s love of forests began by chance on a Sunday drive in 2013. The couple departed from their downtown Erie home, with its postage stamp yard and no trees of its own, to explore the region and take in the sights.

As they went along, Craig was leafing through a House to Home real estate book when a listing for “Waterfront in Waterford” made him chuckle. He and Monica agreed; other than Lake LeBeouf, there surely wasn’t any waterfront to speak of in Waterford. 

But, curiosity got the better of them. Craig called the listing agent, who confirmed the property is indeed waterfront and gave an address. Rerouting their driving tour to the property, Craig and Monica were left scratching their heads. 

When they arrived, there was no house to be found, just a driveway into the woods. Craig called the agent back. “Yep, it's there. Just drive on in. I’ll meet you in 20 minutes.” was the realtor’s reply. 

Craig protested – this was just a Sunday drive with no intent of stirring up a realtor, let alone thinking of buying property. Undeterred, the realtor was on his way.

Two hours later, Craig and Monica got back into their car. They sat in silence for many minutes, both having the same thoughts, but hesitant to admit what was on their minds. Craig broke the quiet with “Well, Monica, are we tearing down the house or gutting it?”

The pair had stumbled into a twenty-acre parcel, divided down the middle by LeBeouf Creek. On one side of the creek are lowlands with springs, sinks, and a vernal pool within a stand of red maple, sugar maple, and hickory. On the other side, the ground dries out and the home is nestled within a grove of hemlocks. 

Adjacent to the north are nearly 2,000 acres comprising State Game Lands #109. To the east, Benson Run, a Class A Wild Trout Stream, empties into LeBeouf Creek where it creates a choice fishing hole. 

In the property’s microcosm of woods and water, wildlife abounds from turkey to bear to songbirds. The house had fallen into disrepair, but was alluring as a renovation project. The Schwegmans couldn’t resist and closed on the property as fast as they could.

Prior to Craig and Monica, the Erie County property had been owned by the late Jean Stull Cunningham, an accomplished and widely-published ornithologist, founder of the Presque Isle Nature Club (since renamed the Presque Isle Audubon Society), and champion for Presque Isle State Park. 

In 1973, Jean and her husband James built the LeBeouf Creek house with an ahead-of-its-time design incorporating large windows, porches, decks, and skylights, allowing the outside world to flow into the living space. 

Wanting to ensure protection of her stretch of LeBeouf Creek in perpetuity, Jean partnered with French Creek Valley Conservancy (FCVC) in 2001 to establish a conservation easement for the property.

As new owners of twenty acres of forest, the Schwegmans realized they had a lot to learn. They started by examining a notebook left in the house by Jean that cataloged all species of flora and fauna she had found on the property. 

While familiarizing themselves with the surrounding wildlife, Craig andMonica met with FCVC to learn about the property’s conservation easement and how Jean’s conservation goals might align with their own. 

Monica took the lead on renovating the house with her own Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired touches, and Craig turned his interest to the forest. 

He scheduled a consultation with Tom Erdman, the DCNR Service Forester for Erie County. (Tom was a valued FSF member who recently passed away this spring. You can read a remembrance of Tom from the newsletter.) 

Tom developed a forest management plan for the property and Craig and Monica began to make positive changes by removing invasive plants, converting a small pasture back to woodland, and building a network of walking trails throughout the woods. 

Recognizing the Schwegmans’ enthusiasm and curiosity for forest management, Tom encouraged them to connect with the forest landowner community in northwest PA and they soon learned of the Foundation for Sustainable Forests at an event.

Craig and Monica quickly became FSF members and attended one of the first Loving the Land Through Working Forests conferences. 

Their involvement has grown exponentially since and, in 2016, Craig joined the Foundation’s Board of Directors. 

Craig has been instrumental in helping the organization to grow, not just in conserved acreage, but also in membership engagement and community presence. 

Along the way, the Schwegmans have worked with numerous organizations to learn more about sustainable forestry and implement projects to improve the health of their woodlands. Most importantly, Craig and Monica are passing along what they have learned to others.

At the urging of the late Jim Finley, fellow FSF board member and founder of the Center for Private Forests at Penn State, Craig and Monica both enrolled in the Pennsylvania Forest Stewards Volunteer Program.

This program trains participants in a host of topics – including resource management, forest ecology, biodiversity, and much more – such that they may become ambassadors of forest stewardship for others. 

In addition to his involvement with FSF, Craig now serves on the steering committee for the Pennsylvania Forest Stewards program and the board of the Center for Private Forests, helping to provide resources for those who care for our region’s forests. 

Monica educates others through her art, which she creates in her studio in their LeBeouf Creek home. Monica will be quick to point out, however, that the studio isn’t just a room, but the whole ensemble of the property from trees to stream, soil to songbirds.

Why do Craig and Monica devote so much time to caring for their forest and helping others do the same? 

“It's simple,” says Craig, “we want people 50 years from now to say ‘thankfully the Schwegmans owned that property because it is so healthy today.’” 

Monica chimed in, “and we want our baby granddaughter to enjoy the trees we’ve planted when she and the trees are both grown up.”

Special thanks to the Schwegmans for sharing their story. 

Would you like to share your story? If so, we would love to listen! Please contact Bennett Gould: bgould@forestsandpeople.org or (814) 694-5830.

Upcoming Events

-- August 9: Erie Gives Event

-- August 29-30: Crawford Gives Event

-- September 16: Friends Of The Foundation Dinner, Crawford County

-- October 1: Jim Finley Stewardship Day, Moxie Woods, Mercer County

-- October 2: Walk In Penn’s Woods

-- October 15: Presentation Hosted By Cook Forest Conservancy

For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the Foundation For Sustainable Forests website. Click Here to sign up for updates (top of page).  Click Here to support their work.

(Reprinted from the Summer 2022 Foundation for Sustainable Forests newsletter.   Click Here to sign up for updates (top of page).)

Related Articles:

-- In Memoriam: Tom Erdman: A Life In Penn’s Woods  [PaEN]

-- DEP Blog: How We Killed Our Yard And Replaced It With A Native Habitat  [PaEN]

[Posted: August 1, 2022]  PA Environment Digest

In Memoriam: Tom Erdman: A Life In Penn’s Woods

By Dick Thorr, President, Northwest Pennsylvania Woodland Association

This article first appeared in the Summer 2022 Foundation for Sustainable Forests newsletter--

 

The Foundation for Sustainable Forests is saddened by the loss of Tom Erdman. Tom passed away unexpectedly on June 6, 2022.

Tom worked for the PA DCNR Bureau of Forestry for 38 years, retiring from the position as Erie County Service Forester in 2016.

Tom was a founding member of the Northwest Pennsylvania Woodland Association (NWPWA), a great promoter, an active board member, and served as President after his retirement. 

He worked within NWPWA guiding its direction, setting up and participating in programs and woods walks. 

With the belief that there is always more to learn for himself and others how to care for our woods.

Some achievements Tom was proud of included: working with Envirothon students and teaching them about forestry and preparing them for competition; tree planting projects with the Boy Scouts and others; his woods and how much he enjoyed working in it and im- proving it; being a lifetime blood donor; working to contain forest fires while on the firefighting crew; walking with landowners and teaching them and having an impact on them and their forests.

While listening to other landowners that have worked with Tom it is clear what a profound impact he has had on us and our communities. 

Because of his knowledge and guidance, we have developed an appreciation for the woods, how it works, how to care for it, an interest in learning more, and the enjoyment that comes from working in our woods and sharing our experiences with others. 

The benefits of his lifelong work will continue long into the future.

Tom understood the importance of sweat equity to ensure that our forests could thrive now and in the future.

Anyone who walked in the woods with Tom knew that his commanding presence came from a place of experience and passion for his work.

Tom enjoyed hunting and fishing. He had a well known love/hate relationship with deer. He enjoyed seeing them and hunting them, but hated that they are in direct conflict with his work as a forester, and all the extra work (sometimes unsuccessfully) it took to keep them from eating everything we are trying to grow. 

“Those damn deer,” was a common refrain of Tom’s.

Tom spoke often of his family and how much he enjoyed spending time with them. He will be missed by them and all of us who have known him.

“Tom was a longtime member and friend to FSF who played a significant role in the growth of our organization His initial introductions between FSF and landowners have led to some of our most significant land conservation projects,” said Guy Dunkle.

“He understood that the labor and care that an owner put into her land was only as significant as the plan to carry that stewardship forward into future generations. He will be deeply missed.”

For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the Foundation For Sustainable Forests website. Click Here to sign up for updates (top of page).  Click Here to support their work.

(Reprinted from the Summer 2022 Foundation for Sustainable Forests newsletter.   Click Here to sign up for updates (top of page).)

Related Article:

-- Foundation For Sustainable Forests Loving The Land: Craig & Monica Schwegman Tell Their Story From Erie County

[Posted: August 1, 2022]  PA Environment Digest

DEP Blog: How We Killed Our Yard And Replaced It With A Native Habitat

By Wendy Seifert, Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward, York County

Since colonization, Americans have been importing plants from Europe and Asia. In addition, throughout the 1900s, the turf grass lawn was marketed heavily and accepted as a status symbol and then ordinary. 

Today when you go to most garden centers, the majority of plants, trees, and shrubs you see aren’t native to the United States, and mowing equipment is prominently displayed.

However, many nonnative plants are invasive, because they have traits that make them very adaptable and they have few or no natural predators here. 

They take over areas, crowding out native plants and thereby displacing the food sources and habitat that native insects, birds, and other wildlife rely on. 

Mowed lawns likewise offer little food and habitat to native insects and animals.

Biodiversity loss and the decline of ecosystems are threats to all living beings. The challenges we face in restoring biodiversity can seem overwhelming. Education is the first step to becoming part of the solution.

I’m not an expert on native plants, biodiversity, or habitats. I’m simply a homeowner who realized I like to see the peaceful flight of a butterfly among flowers in the afternoon and the flashes of lightning bugs deep into a summer evening. 

I’d rather enjoy a morning cup of coffee on my porch, surrounded by the fragrance of common milkweed and watching a robin feed its young than cut grass with a noisy lawn mower, inhaling fumes. My husband has the same view. 

This is why we killed our lawn and created a native garden in its place.

Replacing Our Yard with a No-Mow Garden of Native Species

Our desire to become part of the solution to the loss of native biodiversity and habitat began in 2016 when we stood in our quarter-acre suburban lot in Southcentral Pennsylvania and took stock of what we had.

Our yard had pretty much everything that had originally been there when we purchased our home: turf grass, barberry bushes, burning bushes, hosta, English ivy, daylilies, two dying dogwood trees, and some eastern hemlocks. 

Of these, only the dogwoods and hemlocks were native species. 

We committed to replacing the grass and non-native plants with native plants, shrubs, and trees.

While our interest level was high, our knowledge base was not! So from the start of the project, we sought information and advice from local native plant nurseries, the local Penn State Extension Master Gardener program, and friends who had established native plant gardens. 

We also found the U.S. Department of Agriculture plant database very helpful. Accessing it through our phones on native plant shopping expeditions, we were able to make informed decisions on the go.  

We even scored some clearance plants at a box store when I thought I recognized the plant name as a native species and used the USDA site to confirm it. 

The site allows you to search using the scientific name as well as the common name and has photos of the plants in various stages of growth.  

Our first step was to plant trees. 

After assessing our property size and the proximity of utility poles and buried lines, we decided on clumping river birch. We placed them where they get rooftop stormwater via rerouted rain spouting. 

As the trees have grown, the lack of sunlight under them has helped eliminate turf grass. We also allow leaf litter to accumulate, since it’s vital habitat for many species and we avoid spending time and money to remove it. 

Removing the daylilies and hostas took more than one growing season. As I researched what plants would do well in our yard, I kept my eyes open for native plant sales and kept in touch with friends who had plants to share.  

As plants became available, I removed hostas and daylilies to make room.

Six years later, we are turf grass free, and our quarter-acre lot is a biodiverse ecosystem of mainly native plants, trees, and shrubs, along with the birds and pollinators and other insects that depend on them.

Positive Results 

Here are some of the benefits we’ve experienced from replacing our yard with a no-mow native garden:

-- We’re seeing more butterflies and bees than before, helping to sustain pollinators, and providing food and habitat for birds and other wildlife.

-- We’re decreasing stormwater runoff and the chemicals and other pollution it carries to our local stream.

-- With trees near the house, we’re reducing heating and cooling costs.

-- We save money by not buying fertilizers, herbicides, or insecticides.

-- We decreased noise pollution, because we don’t use a lawn mower or weed whacker.

-- Our neighbors have responded favorably to the change, and we enjoy opportunities to share our knowledge with them. One neighbor asked for suggestions for their yard and asked, “could we make our yard a forest too?” 

In addition, we simply enjoy our outdoor space more. Sitting outside and from every window in our home, we can see the results of our efforts. 

The changes in the garden throughout the year are inspiring and fascinating. 

In the summer, it’s like an amusement park for wild creatures, with constant activity. Summer is also the season when we see holes in the leaves and know we’re providing food sources for insects. 

In autumn, the colors of the trees, asters, sunflowers, and goldenrod create an illusion of warmth as the temperatures drop.

In the winter, the stems and branches laden with snow and ice look like sculptures. Spring is a time for discovery, as we see which plants have spread to a new yard area. 

Tips for Going No-Mow Native 

In the past 10 years, there’s been an explosion of information on planting native species, including online resources and many books. I highly recommend any book by Doug Tallamy. 

Here are a few tips from my own experience:

-- If you have neighbors close by, let them know in advance what you’re planning for your yard. Offer them plants when you have an abundance. Be respectful of property lines. One of our neighbors was concerned about twigs in her yard from our trees but was satisfied when I told her she could simply throw them over the fence and we’d take care of them.

-- Your yard doesn’t have to be 100 percent native species. Not all non-native plants are invasive.

-- Find fellow native plant enthusiasts and trade plants. Some will be happy just to give you some without a trade. There are groups on social media, Master Watershed Stewards are a great resource, and county and state parks often have native plant sales. I’ve never met a native plant enthusiast who wasn’t thrilled to share their knowledge.  

-- Don’t tackle the entire yard in one season or year. Break it down into manageable portions.

-- Remember that perennials take about three years to establish. The first year, they sleep. The second year, they creep. In the third year, they leap.

-- Realize that the space you choose for a perennial might not be where it’s happiest. The plant will move to the space best for it.

-- Keep in mind that young trees will grow and create new shaded spaces.

-- Although you won’t need to mow, you’ll likely have to pull weeds occasionally. I’m selective and often identify a plant before I consider it a “weed” that has to be removed. For example, dog bane and pearly everlasting are two “weeds” that I allow in my yard.

-- There should be holes in the leaves. There should be nibbling on the stems. If you don’t see evidence of something eating your plants in your garden, you’ve planted the wrong plants.

-- Document your progress with photos. You’ll be amazed at the transformation.

-- Several organizations offer backyard habitat certification programs, if you’re interested. 

In 2020, we had our yard certified by the Nurture Nature Center and Penn State Extension Master Watershed Stewards Watershed-Friendly Property Certification Program [and Penn State’s Pollinator-Friendly Certification Program].

Resources Links:

-- WeConservePA 2-Part Lawn Conversion And Green Infrastructure Why & How Webinars

-- DCNR ‘Let It Grow’ Educational Video

-- Pollinator Gardens: Help Encourage Ecological Diversity In Your Own Backyard [Videos]

-- Gardening For Butterflies: Penn State Extension

-- Planting For Pollinators: Penn State Extension

-- Penn State Extension Master Gardeners

-- Penn State Pollinator Garden Certification

-- Audubon PA: Bird Habitat Recognition Program

-- Chesapeake Bay Sustainable Landscape Professional Directory

-- Manada Conservancy In Dauphin County Offers Pollinator/Native Plant Landscape Design Service [Recommended]

Related Articles:

-- Audubon Society Of Western PA Offering Pollinator Seed Mix At 50-70% Savings For Agricultural Properties In PA  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Master Watershed Steward Native Tree & Shrub Sale Now Taking Orders For Pickup At 22 Locations  [PaEN]

-- Manada Conservancy Highlights Upcoming Events: Native Plant Sales, Education Programs In Dauphin County  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Blog: Bring Life To Your Yard With Native Plants - Start With These; Garden Templates; Where To Buy

-- DCNR Blog: Growing Native Plants To Thwart Invasive Species

-- DCNR Blog: Good Weeds (Native Plants)

-- DCNR Blog: Be Aware - Don’t Be Fooled By These Common Look-A-Likes

-- DCNR Highlights Benefits Of Trees In Communities; TreeVitalize, TreePennsylvania, Keystone Tree Fund Can Help 

-- Senate Hearing: Non-Native, Invasive Plant Species Ecologically Castrating The Landscape, But There Is A Solution

-- Feature: Recognizing The Value Of Native Plants For Pollinators - Dr. Doug Tallamy

-- Penn State Extension: Planting Pollinator-Friendly Gardens

-- PennDOT Launches New Pollinator Habitat Plan; Adopt And Beautify For Pollinators Program For Citizens Who Want To Help

[Posted: August 1, 2022]  PA Environment Digest

Pennsylvania's Penncrest High School Team Places 10th In International Envirothon Competition!

On August 1, the 2022 National Conservation Foundation-Envirothon, an international environmental and natural resources education competition for high school students, announced Pennsylvania's Penncrest High School Team from Delaware County placed 10th in the international competition.

Forty teams from across the U.S. and Canada traveled to this year’s competition, from July 24-29, hosted in partnership with the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, at Miami University in Oxford, OH. 

Throughout the week-long competition, students demonstrated their knowledge on soils and land use, aquatic ecology, forestry and wildlife management through written tests and interactive stations featuring Ohio’s natural resources. 

The teams were also tested on and then prepared oral presentations on this year’s current issue, “Waste to Resources.”

Scholarships were awarded to members of each of the top ten teams thanks to financial donations from Smithfield Foods, Inc., NCF, National Association of State Conservation Agencies (NASCA), Nebraska Association of Resources Districts (NARD) Foundation, and the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) President’s Association.

Envirothon History

The first-ever Envirothon competition was created in Pennsylvania in 1979 by the Fulton, Luzerne and Schuylkill conservation districts and by 1984 the program expanded to a statewide competition and then nationally and internationally.

Now more than 15,000 high school students across the state compete in 67 county Envirothons.

Pennsylvania has won the International Envirothon competition in 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2009 and 2017 and frequently places in the top 10 finishers.

For more information on the Envirothon program, contact your county conservation district or visit the Pennsylvania Envirothon website, call (570) 837-3000, or email paenvirothon@gmail.com. 

(Photo: Penncrest High School Team winning the PA Envirothon in May.)

Related Article:

-- Penncrest High School Team, Delaware County Took Statewide Honors At PA Envirothon

[Posted: August 1, 2022]  PA Environment Digest

Sustainable Communities Network SW PA: PA Solar Center G.E.T. Solar Program; Community Energy Webinars; Sustainable PA Website

The latest newsletter from the Sustainable Community Development Network of Southwestern PA includes features on--

-- Visit new Sustainable PA website to help municipalities statewide move to the next level of sustainability and gain national recognition. 

-- September 2 Deadline To Apply For PA Solar Center G.E.T. Solar Program: To help communities identify the solar feasibility of municipal, commercial, and nonprofit properties in their communities and then engaging those property owners to go through the entire solar procurement process, using streamlined, simple steps. 

-- September 15 Deadline To Apply For Urban Sustainability Directors Network Mini Grants to build collaborative local partnerships to advance sustainable climate action and green stormwater infrastructure projects.

-- American Council For An Energy Efficient Economy Educational Webinars:

     -- August 4: New Federal Funding Opportunities for Affordable Housing Retrofits

     -- September 20: Taking Advantage of Federal Funds: Local Energy Efficiency Policies & Programs To Consider

     -- September 29: ACEEE’s Self-Scoring Tool: Results From The Community Energy Challenge

For more information, visit the Sustainable Community Development Network of Southwestern PA webpage and the Sustainable Pittsburgh website.

Questions should be directed to Jim Price, 412-259-5331, jprice@sustainablepittsburgh.org. 

[Posted: August 1, 2022]  PA Environment Digest