Annual Plant and Garden Sale on May 21 supports water protections
by Carol Westfall
Residents in Freedom Township have a history of protecting local land, lakes, and streams. That’s why neighbors banded together over 15 years ago to challenge the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality over its leniency on research, timing, and oversight of gravel pits to assure there would be no excavating below the water table before a permit was issued.
The neighbor group called itself Citizens Protecting Our Waters (CROW) and voiced serious concerns about the potential damage to the area’s water supply — i.e., deep excavation could have a negative impact on Pleasant Lake’s water level, along with potential damage to individual homeowners’ wells. CROW mobilized area residents (with help from experts and organizations like Sierra Club). Through hearings and a court case, they were eventually able to get the excavating restrictions changed for the better, and a compromise was negotiated with the gravel company to install a First Alert Monitoring Plan. These successful results eventually became best-practice models for other townships facing similar problems. The downside: CROW was left with a $50,000 bill.
Residents kicked in to help pay that $50,000 bill but more fundraising was needed to both pay off the bill and to fill the coffers in case of a future water challenge. The first CROW yard sale at Freedom Township Hall was conducted about 15 years ago and became a popular annual event, eventually adding perennials to the sale. For a while, neighbors also sold flower bulbs in early spring to earn money for CROW. And about 10 years ago, a Valentine’s Day sale of flowers and baked goods was added. When COVID hit in 2020, the previous sales were replaced by a safer, outdoor alternative: a perennials sale with wonderful plants from the beautiful gardens in Freedom Township.
Fast-forward to May 21, 2022. The annual perennials sale has expanded to now include plants, garden supplies, and yard décor — a little something for anyone interested in gardening and sprucing up their yard. Seasoned Freedom Township gardeners donate healthy plants and garden items to support the sale that now benefits the Pleasant Lake Property Owners Association, the volunteer organization dedicated to advocating on behalf of residents for local water safety and water protections.
Popular items at this sale include perennials like columbine, salvia, forget-me-not, larkspur, iris, and hosta; also, red buds, lilacs, paper bark maples, and more. Plenty of garden pots, tools, and fun yard art round out the variety of items to be found. The sale will run Saturday, May 21, 9 am–1 pm at the Freedom Township Hall, 11508 Pleasant Lake Rd., Manchester. For more information or to donate items to the sale, contact Beth Heuser at 434-428-8040.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login