Huron-Clinton Metroparks

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

"Buy, Sell, Trade!"

Photo courtesy of http://sustainablenorthflorida.org/

Yes, it is true that the call "Buy, Sell, Trade!" is most often associated with America's Wall Street--not the Chippewa, Shawnee, nor the Maya.

After all, the discussion during the "Three Sisters Planting" homeschool program here at Stony Creek Nature Center was focused around planting the "three inseparable sisters who only grow and thrive together", not the procurement of the sisters: corn, beans, and squash. Styrofoam cups, a little dirt, and some seeds were all that we needed to discuss planting and growing crops that have nourished humanity for thousands of years.

Instead of starting our program with planting, the attendees decided to ask questions first:

"Is it time to explore something deeper than putting seeds in a cup?"

"Yes, corn tastes good. Especially when it has been made into delicious, sugary frosted flakes!"

"Yummy! I love baked beans with hot dogs on a picnic."

"Speaking of picnics, a picnic isn't a picnic without watermelon*!"

"I love to put seeds in a cup and to watch them sprout."

"Wait! Where did we get the seeds?"

Four year old Johnny knew where they came from: "We bought the seeds at the store!"

In our modern world, sometimes it is easy to believe that we get seeds from a seed packet that we purchased at the store.

Yes, Johnny, today we can purchase many things at the store.

However, thousands of years ago, when the first Americans (tribes like the Chippewa, Shawnee, and the Maya) were settling this continent there were no modern stores that sold packets of seeds.

Instead, there were wild plants growing everywhere. Over time, native people were able to breed a wide variety of wild plants into edible foodstuffs.

These domesticated foodstuffs allowed "feast-or-famine" nomadic groups to settle in hospitable environments, and to maintain reliable sources of sustenance. It is no wonder that extensive trade networks were formed to trade valuable objects such as copper, flint, and leather, for "potential" plants--seeds!

"How extensive were these trade networks?"

The networks were so extensive that copper mined in Michigan's Upper Peninsula has been found as far south as Mexico!

In fact, Mesoamerica (which encompasses modern Mexico and several other Central American nations) is where corn, beans and squash were first bred by humans. No wonder the trade networks criss-crossed the American continents--each region had its own natural resources that could be traded for the most important investment of all: seeds!

One seed represented an infinite source of return in the form of annual crops that could yield many times its own singular source. The next generation of seeds could be eaten, preserved, traded, or re-invested (re-planted), making it a truly "liquid asset!"

This concept of investment in future value was understood even in the farthest-flung reaches of trade: coastal peoples as far north as Maine were farming the three sisters at least one thousand years ago.

"Buy, Sell, Trade!" may not be the first thing a person thinks of when planting a traditional Three Sisters Garden, but it is the necessary first step in obtaining seeds.

Oh--yes, four-year-old Johnny planted his seeds in his styrofoam cup.

Three Sisters: Corn, Beans, Squash Growing!

Photo courtesy of http://sustainablenorthflorida.org/

*NOTE: Watermelon is a member of the cucurbit family, but it is not likely that it was domesticated in the Americas first--Africa holds claim to that honor.

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Spring is finally here at Stony Creek, or at least that's what the salamanders tell us! Every spring blue-spotted, tiger, and spotted salamanders embark on a "salamander migration." They wait for the first warm rainy night in spring to emerge from their underground home, whereafter they travel to the same vernal pond (temporary fishless pond that dries up by mid-summer) where they were born to begin courship and lay eggs. Chorus, spring peeper, and wood frogs also joined in the festivities last night, heralding the unofficial start of spring. Below is a spotted salamander in our Landscape pond looking for a mate!

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

The Nature Center is hosting CURIOUS CRITTERS, a traveling photo exhibit featuring photos from the Award-winning book "Curious Critters" by David FitzSimmons. The twenty four, 2 by 3 foot print photographs feature animals against a white background that highlight their unique shapes, colors and textures.

Come and see if an animal you would normally shy away from becomes your favorite photo.

The exhibit will be on display from March 26 through April 24. To go along with this photo exhibit, Chris Schlaf, a Romeo resident and avid semi-professional photographer for over 12 years, will be sharing his stories and expertise during a two-hour indoor/outdoor workshop on April 13 at 10am (cost: $5/person). Registration is required. We will also be presenting the program Curious Critter: Creature and Craft on Saturday, April 13 and Sunday April 14 at 2pm. Registration is required. Call the nature center at 586-781-9113 for more information or to register.

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Saturday, March 23, 2013

The egg scramble was enjoyed by many. Though it was chilly in the morning the Easter Bunny was still able to come out to visit.

Children enjoyed visiting with the Easter Bunny....

Getting their faces painted...

Playing games...

Making ears...

and viewing the animals in the nature center.

(They even met a new friend!)

After everyone finished with the activities and visiting with the Easter Bunny, we were ready to start the egg scramble.

The scrambles were split by age groups. For some of them it was their first egg scramble!

As the ages got older, the time it took for the eggs to disappear got shorter.

Hope to see you out for Stony Creek Metropark Nature Center's Annual Egg Scramble next year!

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Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Though cold and dark, beneath a gunmetal gray sky a tiny yet cold hardy creature clambers across the icy stream bank. The winter stonefly has just emerged from its watery lair we call Stony Creek, where it had spent its wingless larval stage feasting on algae it blithely scraped from aquatic substrate. Equipped with a brand new set of delicate wings, and above water for the first time, this stonefly is looking for love in all the right places. Scarcely noticed by passersby, the winter stoneflies commence mating on the snowy banks of Stony Creek. This timeless dance of stonefly love warms even the coldest of winter days.

Thursday, Jan 24, 2013