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Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the Washtenaw County Conservation District’s October 2025 Conservation Update and is being republished with permission.
by Kristen Sutter, Natural Resource Technician, Washtenaw County Conservation District
The Schoens’ 20-acre forest in Manchester reflects a strong commitment to sustainable forest management. Enrolled in the EQIP program through NRCS (editor’s note: see below), the site has undergone years of dedicated brush management and now stands as a model for oak regeneration. Once overrun with dense undergrowth, the property now offers a rare glimpse into the region’s once-common oak-hickory forest ecosystem. This transformation is the result of the hard work, dedicated stewardship, and thoughtful ecological restoration efforts of Pat and Pam Schoen…