AFFEW Friends for the Environment

Help protect our species by gardening with native plants! AFFEW is taking Preorders April 10-May 23 for Garden & Single Species Flats. All preorders can be picked up at our Native Plant Sale sale on June 12. These important plant species provide nectar, pollen, and seeds that serve as food for insects, birds and animals. They also require minimal maintenance and water. AFFEW will partner with Birdsfoot Native Nursery to bring these amazing plants to YOU!

Learn more about this event on our Native Plant Sale page!

Go for a Walk…Learn more about a local park environment…Celebrate Earth Day – all at the same time!

Participants will at their leisure walk about 1.40 miles following numbered signs placed along the Cartier Park pathway. The signs provide answers to specific questions that will increase your awareness and appreciation for Cartier Park, increase your understanding of Earth Day and offer suggestions on individual efforts we can all take to protect our local environment.

Do you have an interest in exploring the possibility of having solar panels installed at your home? Well then this is the right session for you! Greg Oliver will discuss the benefits of solar and options for homeowners. He’ll also outline the different types of installations, explain Net Metering and the many incentives currently available.

Sign up for the Solar 101 presentation!

Learn about unique plants, trees, animals and birds close to town with local author and botanist Dave Dister! He’ll point out the variety of species found in the wetland, open field and hiking trails found behind Ludington United Methodist Church. In January 2020 Dave self-published “The Birds of Mason County, Michigan.” He’ll have copies of his book available for sale the day of the hike.

Registration required! Maximum 10 per hike. Masks and proper social distancing is mandatory! 

Sign-up for 1 pm Hike

Learn about unique plants, trees, animals and birds close to town with local author and botanist Dave Dister! He’ll point out the variety of species found in the wetland, open field and hiking trails found behind Ludington United Methodist Church. In January 2020 Dave self-published “The Birds of Mason County, Michigan.” He’ll have copies of his book available for sale the day of the hike.

Registration required! Maximum 10 per hike. Masks and proper social distancing is mandatory! 

Sign-up for 2:30 pm Hike

Instead of pulling Garlic Mustard we encourage you to attend our Zoom presentation, Mr. Natural’s Organic Gardening for the Homeowner.

Depending on Garlic Mustard growth, we may meet on Wednesday, April 28 at 6:30 pm to pull this aggressive plant, more information to follow.

Help treat and remove a variety of invasive plant species at Cartier Park. We’ll be pulling Garlic Mustard. A discussion to help identify these plants will take place before we start. Meet at the dog park by at the end of Rath Ave. Bring water, gloves and wear long pants, long sleeved shirt and closed toed shoes. Event will be held in fair weather, and sometimes wraps up early, depending on site conditions.

This session will focus on organic gardening and the benefits of composting. Learn how to turn everyday food scraps (non-meat) into a rich soil for your garden. Introducing this “black gold” into your soil will help produce higher yields for your gardening season. Composting is an economical way to enrich your soil while reducing the amount of kitchen waste in landfills. A win-win for you and our planet!

Sign up for the Organic Gardening presentation!

Learn more about the Ludington State Park with Park Interpreter Alan Wernette. This hike will focus on plant diseases, invasive pests and deer herd issues.

Registration required! Maximum 25 per hike. Masks and proper social distancing is mandatory! 

Sign-up for 1 pm Hike

Learn more about the iconic endangered Piping Plover bird and the changing weather patterns that have caused water level issues in our state Ludington State Park with Park Interpreter Alan Wernette.

Registration required! Maximum 25 per hike. Masks and proper social distancing is mandatory! 

Sign-up 230 pm Hike

Join us for an informative presentation on the benefits of adding native plants to your landscape. These amazing plants have adapted over centuries, making them easier to grow and beneficial for the birds, animals and other critters in your yard. They are better suited to handle extreme temperatures, diseases and pests in their local environment. They also adapt well to a variety of soil conditions with limited water. The best part, these beautiful plants continue to add to your landscape over time!

Sign up for the Native Gardening presentation!

Help treat and remove a variety of invasive plant species at Cartier Park. We’ll be pulling Garlic Mustard. A discussion to help identify these plants will take place before we start. Meet at the dog park by at the end of Rath Ave. Bring water, gloves and wear long pants, long sleeved shirt and closed toed shoes. Event will be held in fair weather, and sometimes wraps up early, depending on site conditions.

Help treat and remove a variety of invasive plant species at Cartier Park. We’ll be pulling Garlic Mustard. A discussion to help identify these plants will take place before we start. Meet at the dog park by at the end of Rath Ave. Bring water, gloves and wear long pants, long sleeved shirt and closed toed shoes. Event will be held in fair weather, and sometimes wraps up early, depending on site conditions.