The Winnebago Waterways program is working to start a volunteer led native plant program for the Winnebago Waterways Recovery Area.
During the 2019 Wisconsin Lakes Convention, a workshop led by the Dane County LCD showed how easy it can be to grow native plants from seeds. All you need to accomplish it is native plant seeds, a milk jug, duct tape, soil, and something to poke some holes. More information on Dane County LCD’s program can be found here: https://lwrd.countyofdane.com/Native-Plants-for-Schools-and-Community-Projects
Since 2019, this project has been used in Shawano and Menominee Counties with the Connecting Our Waters program with success. Since Emily Henrigillis came on board with the Winnebago Waterways program, we knew that this project would also occur throughout the system. Shoreline restoration projects are a high priority in the area and cheap plants make it affordable for anyone to do a shoreline project.
This method has been shown to be relatively toddler and dog proof. The milk jugs can be picked up, slammed on the ground, and shaken with good growth still occurring.
The success of this method is offering the native plants their natural conditions but in a low-cost greenhouse. Seeds are generally collected from July to October/November. The milk jugs get holes drilled in the bottom of them and are cut almost completely in half. From there the soil and seeds are added and the milk jug is then taped shut. Labeling the milk is very important. Once taped shut, the milk jugs are left outside over winter into the spring. The seeds experience the overwintering process they need to germinate this way.
Come spring, the milk jugs can remained taped shut for as long as you’d like. The plants can be left to grow in the milk jugs for as long as you’d like. Dane County offers the plants to the public during a fall plant sale.
We are always looking for people interested in collecting seeds, creating and housing milk jugs at their house, or purchasing plants for use at their home. Contact Emily Henrigillis (emily@fwwa.org 920.851.6472) if interested.
