Tea & Topics: Winter Prairie Plant ID

January 11 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Tea & Topics Winter Prairie Plant ID with Matt Smith

Wish you knew more about the native plants at Riveredge Nature Center… and maybe even in your own backyard? Join Matt Smith, Riveredge’s Director of Research and Conservation, to learn about winter plant identification and their pollinator importance.

Enjoy lunch or a snack while you learn in person with us, or on Zoom.

Coming in person? Meet in the Barn!

Tea & Topics are always free to join! | Ages 16+

Pre-registration is not required.

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January 11 @ 1:00 pm 2:00 pm

Agroforestry Field Day

May 19 @ 11:00 am – 5:00 pm

Agroforestry Field Day

Riveredge welcomes anyone interested in planting native species for landscaping, wildlife restoration or agriculture at Agroforestry Field Day! This year’s Field Day will focus on the care and maintenance of native crops grown at the Sandhill Lake silvopasture project (hazelnut, elderberry, heritage apples and prairie). As these species are grown in residential, agricultural and natural systems, there is relevant information for land owners, managers, municipalities, farmers, students, and anyone interested in landscape diversity.

Increase your success by better understanding the care and management truly needed to yield good planting establishment for native fruits, nuts and prairie. Enjoy light refreshments at check-in and catered lunch through Cedarburg’s Out & Out! See the itinerary, read session descriptions, and learn more about the speakers below.

Ages 18+

Members*: $55 | Non-members: $65 | Student: $30 | Farmer: $30

Register Here

*MEMBERS: Riveredge has a new registration system. Please login (for the member discount) by following these instructions.

AGROFORESTRY FIELD DAY is sponsored by

Compeer Financial

Fleet Farm


  • Registration

    Ages 18+
    Members: $55 | Non-members: $65
    Student: $30 | Farmer: $30

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  • FREE Outdoor All-terrain Wheelchairs Available

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Itinerary:

11:00 am Registration and refreshments
11:15 am Presentation: Agroforestry, Wildlife Conservation, and Food
11:45 am Catered Lunch from Out n’ Out
12:30 pm Transit to Riveredge’s Sandhill Agroforestry Site
1:00 pm How to Hazelnut
1:45 pm How to Heritage Apples
2:45 pm How to Prairie
3:30 pm How to Elderberry
4:30 pm Social hour with local beer + Tree and Plug Giveaway!

Session Descriptions:

Agroforestry for Wildlife Conservation, Connection and Food: Matt Smith will share how agroforestry crops meld agriculture and ecological restoration to create more wildlife habitat and access to new food systems. Highlights include funding sources for land owners, the wildlife benefits of adding native cover, and Riveredge’s plans for a future community orchard.

How to Hazelnut: Savanna Institute will discuss the planting of native vs. new hybrid hazelnuts for production and enjoyment. Session includes how-to’s on plant selection, site preparation, establishment, pruning, harvest, and disease management.

How to Heritage Apples: Dan Bussey will help us better understand how to care for existing or inherited apple trees in disrepair, or those that we are planting new. Session includes how-to’s on ‘when to throw in the towel’, grafting applications, plant selection, site preparation, establishment, pruning, harvest, and disease management.

How to Prairie: Matt Smith will showcase planting and seeding strategies for acreages as small as a backyard corner to “back 40” acres. Session includes how-to’s on site preparation, seed and plug selection, installation timing, cover cropping, maintenance mowing, weed management, and burning.

How to Elderberry: Mike Breckel, owner of Ocooch Mountain Elderberries, will speak on elderberry propagation for a bountiful harvest. Session includes how-to’s on plant selection, site preparation, establishment, to pruning, harvest, and disease management.

Speaker Profiles:

Dan Bussey: Dan is widely known for his expertise as the author of The Illustrated History of Apples In the US and Canada and his previous work as Orchard Manager for Seed Savers Exchange. Dan has been dedicated to preservation and management of heirloom species, bringing many back from the brink of extinction.

Matt Smith: Matt has over 22 years of experience as a restoration ecologist. He is the Director of Research and Conservation at Riveredge, leading project planning, monitoring, reporting, and implementation. Matt has worked on projects throughout the Great Lakes region, covering a wide range of disturbance and habitat type.

Mike Breckel: Mike is the owner of Ocooch Mountain Elderberries, an agricultural cooperative. Mike has 20 years of experience propagating elderberry varieties in the upper midwest. In addition to mentoring elderberry enthusiasts, he is the inventor of a unique elderberry destemmer.

Members:

Follow the instructions using the button below to login to your member account for member discounts on programs and events. You can use this login to check your membership status, see your expiration date, and renew your membership as well.

If you don’t see the member price after logging in, need help checking your membership status, or you are unsure what email address we have on file, please reach out to our Membership Manager, Renee Buchholz at rbuchholz@riveredge.us or call the Riveredge office at 262-375-2715.

To become a member, click here

May 19 @ 11:00 am 5:00 pm

4458 County Hwy Y (Hawthorne Dr)
Saukville, WI United States
+ Google Map
(262) 375-2715

Restoration Field Day: Agroforestry

Rescheduled for October 16

Restoration Field Day: Agroforestry

This program has been resceduled for October 16

Go to Restoration Field Day Page

The 2023 Restoration Field Day is a series of field demonstrations and workshops on agroforestry and ecological restoration. Participants will tour Riveredge agroforestry operations and speak to regional experts on topics ranging from native crop production to wildlife management. The Restoration Field Day is a gathering for ecological practitioners, vendors, property owners, naturalists, and students of all ages. This full-day workshop will make ecological management accessible to everyone.

Ages 18+

Members: $55 | Non-members: $65

Enrolled College Students: $30

Members:

Be sure to sign in to your account in the upper right corner to activate your membership benefits. Membership discounts on programs will be applied to your cart at checkout. If you haven’t created an account with our new system, be sure to create one using the email address associated with your membership.

If you need to check your membership status or you aren’t sure what email address we have on file, please reach out to our Membership Manager, Renee Buchholz at rbuchholz@riveredge.us.

To become a member, click here

August 21, 2023 @ 9:00 am 2:30 pm

4458 County Hwy Y (Hawthorne Dr)
Saukville, WI United States
+ Google Map
(262) 375-2715

Growing Green: Native Landscaping Design for the Novice

February 4 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Growing Green: Native Landscaping Design for the Novice

Would you like to beautify your back yard and improve habitat for wildlife and pollinators but don’t know where to start? This course is for you!

Join the conservation department for a morning of learning and planning. We will spend approximately an hour reviewing different principles of native landscape design and a broad sweep of plant profiles and their attributes. Most of the class will be spent working on your own design for your personal landscape with one on one help from guest consultants and experts in the field. By the end of the class you can walk out with a rough map and layout, a list of plants, trees and shrubs, a budget, timeline and the sense of confidence you need to get your design started!

Ages 14+

All Access Household: $30 | Trail Pass Household: $35 | Non-member Household: $40

Registration closes 9am on 2/3.

Register Here

  • Registration

    Ages 14+
    All Access Household: $30
    Trail Pass Household: $35
    Non-member Household: $40

    Register Here
  • Become a Member

    Take advantage of member benefits and discounts!

    Join Now
  • More Events

    Explore other upcoming events!

    Event Calendar

Members:

Be sure to sign in to your account in the upper right corner to activate your membership benefits. Membership discounts on programs will be applied to your cart at checkout. If you haven’t created an account with our new system, be sure to create one using the email address associated with your membership.

If you need to check your membership status or you aren’t sure what email address we have on file, please reach out to our Membership Manager, Renee Buchholz at rbuchholz@riveredge.us.

To become a member, click here

February 4, 2023 @ 9:00 am 12:00 pm

4458 County Hwy Y (Hawthorne Dr)
Saukville, WI United States
+ Google Map
(262) 375-2715

Become a Member

Take advantage of all the benefits of a Riveredge membership year round!

Learn More