In an Upper Peninsula town, there’s a 10-year tradition of betting when this structure will fall through the ice.
(Ed. Note: This story was originally published by Bridge Michigan, a nonprofit and nonpartisan news organization. Visit the newsroom online: bridgemi.com.)
By Laura Herberg
Bridge Michigan
In one small Michigan Upper Peninsula town, the first sign of spring is not necessarily a robin’s call or a budding flower, it’s when a mock mining structure breaks through the ice on Teal Lake.
As part of a 10-year tradition, people purchase tickets to guess when the metal structure will go down. The person with the closest guess wins roughly half the pot, usually thousands of dollars. After covering the costs of the contest, the rest goes to charity.
In past years, the structure has broken through as early as March 16 and as late as May 3.
This is the Teal Lake Melt-Down, a fundraiser started by the Lions Club in Negaunee, about 10 miles west of Marquette.
A ticket to guess costs $5 and can be bought in person from a Negaunee Lions Club member or online before 11:45 p.m. April 1. The winning ticket must be purchased 48 hours before the structure breaks through the ice.
The Teal Lake Melt-Down “is an authentic celebration of winter’s unofficial end,” Susan Estler, CEO of Travel Marquette, the county’s visitors and convention bureau, said in an email to Bridge.
Some residents do see the break-through as marking the transition to spring.
“The days get longer and the temperatures get higher and the ice gets thinner and there is some anticipation and definitely some, I guess you could say, relief when the structure does finally break though,” said Negaunee Lions Club member Neil Lynch, the chair for the Teal Lake Melt-Down.
At a brainstorming session more than 10 years ago, Negaunee Lions Club members came up with the idea of having people submit entries for when an object would fall through the ice. The Iron Mountain-Kingsford Rotary Club had been running a similar competition, except they used an old car.
The Negaunee Lions Club decided to put atop Teal Lake a replica of three mine shaft headframes, towers used to raise and lower miners, supplies and materials. The structure was designed and assembled for free by UP Fabricating Co., a company owned by Negaunee Lions Club member Rick Kauppila.
“Mining is such a big part of our history and culture here in Marquette County,” Lynch said.
The club will know exactly when the structure breaks through because Range Telecommunications, one of the contest’s sponsors, has a camera set up on a city of Negaunee building that monitors the lake.
“More often than not, it’s pretty, I’ll just use the word ‘violent,’” said Lynch. “When it goes, it goes.”
Except for the time when they had accidentally put the structure on a shallow part of the lake where the structure was taller than the depth below. After that incident, the club made sure to say people are betting on when it “breaks through,” not when it “sinks.”
When the structure does go down, it’s recovered for free by the Marquette County Sheriff’s Office, which uses pulling it out of the lake as a training exercise.
“It’s a great opportunity for us because if we have cars going through the water, or other vehicles or anything that’s larger, it’s a great way for the Sheriff’s Office to have some real-world experience,” said Marquette County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Alex Gill.
They have divers locate the structure and then they use special deflated air bags, called lift bags, that are secured to the structure and then pumped with air through a hose.
“It essentially turns it into almost like a life jacket for the structure,” Gill said.
As of March 9, more than 1,400 tickets had already been purchased.
Negaunee resident Mike Guenette thinks he’s bought tickets every year since the contest began in 2016.
“I kind of pick the same way every year,” Guenette said. “I pick a week that I think will be the week and then I usually pick 1:01 p.m., 2:02 p.m., 3:03 p.m., 4:04 p.m. and 5:05 p.m.”
He picks five days in a row.
“I figure it’s always going to go in the afternoon, when the sun is high and melting things,” he said.
The strategy paid off in 2021 when the metal structure broke through on April 5 at 3:01 p.m. and Guenette had the closest guess. He got $2,188, which he thinks he mostly spent on sports-related costs for his five kids. He also recalls donating a portion back to the Lions Club.
Lynch, the Melt-Down chair, said “there’s really no end to the needs” in Negaunee, a small town of around 5,000 people. The Lions Club supports youth sports, provides eyesight screenings and gives out cash prizes at a bingo night it runs at a local nursing home.
Past winner Guenette recommends ticket buyers “not really think of it like you’re potentially going to win, and more of a donation to a really great organization that puts a lot of that money — if not all of it — right back into our community.”
By Laura Herberg
Bridge Michigan
In one small Michigan Upper Peninsula town, the first sign of spring is not necessarily a robin’s call or a budding flower, it’s when a mock mining structure breaks through the ice on Teal Lake.
As part of a 10-year tradition, people purchase tickets to guess when the metal structure will go down. The person with the closest guess wins roughly half the pot, usually thousands of dollars. After covering the costs of the contest, the rest goes to charity.
In past years, the structure has broken through as early as March 16 and as late as May 3.
This is the Teal Lake Melt-Down, a fundraiser started by the Lions Club in Negaunee, about 10 miles west of Marquette.
A ticket to guess costs $5 and can be bought in person from a Negaunee Lions Club member or online before 11:45 p.m. April 1. The winning ticket must be purchased 48 hours before the structure breaks through the ice.
The Teal Lake Melt-Down “is an authentic celebration of winter’s unofficial end,” Susan Estler, CEO of Travel Marquette, the county’s visitors and convention bureau, said in an email to Bridge.
Some residents do see the break-through as marking the transition to spring.
“The days get longer and the temperatures get higher and the ice gets thinner and there is some anticipation and definitely some, I guess you could say, relief when the structure does finally break though,” said Negaunee Lions Club member Neil Lynch, the chair for the Teal Lake Melt-Down.
At a brainstorming session more than 10 years ago, Negaunee Lions Club members came up with the idea of having people submit entries for when an object would fall through the ice. The Iron Mountain-Kingsford Rotary Club had been running a similar competition, except they used an old car.
The Negaunee Lions Club decided to put atop Teal Lake a replica of three mine shaft headframes, towers used to raise and lower miners, supplies and materials. The structure was designed and assembled for free by UP Fabricating Co., a company owned by Negaunee Lions Club member Rick Kauppila.
“Mining is such a big part of our history and culture here in Marquette County,” Lynch said.
The club will know exactly when the structure breaks through because Range Telecommunications, one of the contest’s sponsors, has a camera set up on a city of Negaunee building that monitors the lake.
“More often than not, it’s pretty, I’ll just use the word ‘violent,’” said Lynch. “When it goes, it goes.”
Except for the time when they had accidentally put the structure on a shallow part of the lake where the structure was taller than the depth below. After that incident, the club made sure to say people are betting on when it “breaks through,” not when it “sinks.”
When the structure does go down, it’s recovered for free by the Marquette County Sheriff’s Office, which uses pulling it out of the lake as a training exercise.
“It’s a great opportunity for us because if we have cars going through the water, or other vehicles or anything that’s larger, it’s a great way for the Sheriff’s Office to have some real-world experience,” said Marquette County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Alex Gill.
They have divers locate the structure and then they use special deflated air bags, called lift bags, that are secured to the structure and then pumped with air through a hose.
“It essentially turns it into almost like a life jacket for the structure,” Gill said.
As of March 9, more than 1,400 tickets had already been purchased.
Negaunee resident Mike Guenette thinks he’s bought tickets every year since the contest began in 2016.
“I kind of pick the same way every year,” Guenette said. “I pick a week that I think will be the week and then I usually pick 1:01 p.m., 2:02 p.m., 3:03 p.m., 4:04 p.m. and 5:05 p.m.”
He picks five days in a row.
“I figure it’s always going to go in the afternoon, when the sun is high and melting things,” he said.
The strategy paid off in 2021 when the metal structure broke through on April 5 at 3:01 p.m. and Guenette had the closest guess. He got $2,188, which he thinks he mostly spent on sports-related costs for his five kids. He also recalls donating a portion back to the Lions Club.
Lynch, the Melt-Down chair, said “there’s really no end to the needs” in Negaunee, a small town of around 5,000 people. The Lions Club supports youth sports, provides eyesight screenings and gives out cash prizes at a bingo night it runs at a local nursing home.
Past winner Guenette recommends ticket buyers “not really think of it like you’re potentially going to win, and more of a donation to a really great organization that puts a lot of that money — if not all of it — right back into our community.”
Family Fun With the Reliable Sucker
Tom Maat holds a sucker he caught while Dan Boss tries to catch one in the background.
Photo credit Jack Payne
By Jack Payne
If it weren’t for the ringing of the bell, the sucker might not have been caught. We were standing around the fire, wiener sticks in our hands as we were cooking the hot dogs.
Sucker fishing can be fast and furious. Can be! The issue at hand is the weather. Looking back at my log books, I see a pattern. Half of the good sucker days are wiped out due to flooding and swollen rivers. But those good days are very good.
A few clothing tips to share: first, skip the tennis shoes and penny loafers. My friend was wearing penny loafers when he netted my double of suckers on one rod. As he turned, the slimy bank sucked the slick penny loafers, and both legs were in the river. If not for one of us grabbing him and the other friend scooping out his loafers, Dan would have been soaked, and his loafers would most likely have been gone for good.
Second, leave nylon jackets at home. Anglers will be connecting with briars, bushes, and tree branches. Some grab clothing, some grab your fishing line. If you are really good, like me, a tree branch will snag your hat, and as you turn, your rod tip will get stuck in a branch.
Take it with a grain of salt; it could still be snowing.
Sucker fishing is simple. A few sinkers, a dozen hooks, and a can of worms. Sure, canned sweet corn will work, and some days it's the best bait.
Three simple rigs to pick from. The simplest is to tie on a sinker and then a snelled hook. Or tie on a snelled hook, leaving a foot of tag line, and then tie on your sinker. Simple, a pack of sinkers and a pack of snelled hooks.
We get a bit fancier. We use a plain hook and a bell sinker. Rod one will have a plain hook tied onto a short loop knot. A second hook is tied in the same manner, a foot lower, and then six inches lower, I tie on a bell sinker.
The second rod will have a hook tied onto a loop knot, then a bell sinker will slide onto the line. Then I will tie on a barrel swivel. A foot or 18-inch leader is tied on to the swivel. At the other end, a hook is tied on.
What you end up with is a rod with two hooks and a fixed sinker, with the baits having minimal free movement. The second rod, the sinker, slides on the line, allowing the bottom hook some free movement.
The rods are placed into the homemade rod holders. My rod holders are made with a metal rod. A piece of plastic tubing is attached to the rod with a radiator clamp. This type of rod holder works well along a muddy bank or the crevices of a pier.
We are picky about the location where we fish. My favorite spot is wherever a creek or a drainage culvert dumps into the river. The next best spot is behind a bridge support pillar.
A deep hole is good, and most of the better holes will be on a bend of the river. Fairly easy to spot. Any current break will hold fish. A current break can be a fallen tree, chunks of concrete in the river, or any obstacle that diverts the current.
One last area that could benefit is the river's last mile before a dam. Suckers can't jump a dam.
Sucker fishing is simple. The kids can play along the bank until a bell rings. We use bells whenever we are eating or after dark. Once again, rod holders work great. A branch will suffice, but these homemade rod holders are killer.
We need a half-dozen suckers each spring. More would be nice. Cut suckers make the best bait for channel catfish. And if your friends or kids enjoyed suckers, they will love catfish and bullhead fishing. More on that in a future article.
In the meantime, dust off that old rod and stop in at Bob's Gun and Tackle Shop.
If it weren’t for the ringing of the bell, the sucker might not have been caught. We were standing around the fire, wiener sticks in our hands as we were cooking the hot dogs.
Sucker fishing can be fast and furious. Can be! The issue at hand is the weather. Looking back at my log books, I see a pattern. Half of the good sucker days are wiped out due to flooding and swollen rivers. But those good days are very good.
A few clothing tips to share: first, skip the tennis shoes and penny loafers. My friend was wearing penny loafers when he netted my double of suckers on one rod. As he turned, the slimy bank sucked the slick penny loafers, and both legs were in the river. If not for one of us grabbing him and the other friend scooping out his loafers, Dan would have been soaked, and his loafers would most likely have been gone for good.
Second, leave nylon jackets at home. Anglers will be connecting with briars, bushes, and tree branches. Some grab clothing, some grab your fishing line. If you are really good, like me, a tree branch will snag your hat, and as you turn, your rod tip will get stuck in a branch.
Take it with a grain of salt; it could still be snowing.
Sucker fishing is simple. A few sinkers, a dozen hooks, and a can of worms. Sure, canned sweet corn will work, and some days it's the best bait.
Three simple rigs to pick from. The simplest is to tie on a sinker and then a snelled hook. Or tie on a snelled hook, leaving a foot of tag line, and then tie on your sinker. Simple, a pack of sinkers and a pack of snelled hooks.
We get a bit fancier. We use a plain hook and a bell sinker. Rod one will have a plain hook tied onto a short loop knot. A second hook is tied in the same manner, a foot lower, and then six inches lower, I tie on a bell sinker.
The second rod will have a hook tied onto a loop knot, then a bell sinker will slide onto the line. Then I will tie on a barrel swivel. A foot or 18-inch leader is tied on to the swivel. At the other end, a hook is tied on.
What you end up with is a rod with two hooks and a fixed sinker, with the baits having minimal free movement. The second rod, the sinker, slides on the line, allowing the bottom hook some free movement.
The rods are placed into the homemade rod holders. My rod holders are made with a metal rod. A piece of plastic tubing is attached to the rod with a radiator clamp. This type of rod holder works well along a muddy bank or the crevices of a pier.
We are picky about the location where we fish. My favorite spot is wherever a creek or a drainage culvert dumps into the river. The next best spot is behind a bridge support pillar.
A deep hole is good, and most of the better holes will be on a bend of the river. Fairly easy to spot. Any current break will hold fish. A current break can be a fallen tree, chunks of concrete in the river, or any obstacle that diverts the current.
One last area that could benefit is the river's last mile before a dam. Suckers can't jump a dam.
Sucker fishing is simple. The kids can play along the bank until a bell rings. We use bells whenever we are eating or after dark. Once again, rod holders work great. A branch will suffice, but these homemade rod holders are killer.
We need a half-dozen suckers each spring. More would be nice. Cut suckers make the best bait for channel catfish. And if your friends or kids enjoyed suckers, they will love catfish and bullhead fishing. More on that in a future article.
In the meantime, dust off that old rod and stop in at Bob's Gun and Tackle Shop.
Fly Fishing Film Tour Coming to Hope’s Knickerbocker Theatre
The Hope College Knickerbocker Theatre is hosting the 20th annual Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T) on Wednesday, April 15 at 7 p.m.
Part of a national tour, the evening features several short movies revolving around fly fishing. Doors open at 6 p.m. and attendees can expect exclusive giveaways, a cashless bar and the kind of camaraderie that only fly fishing can inspire.
F3T marks its 20th anniversary in 2026, casting two decades of unforgettable stories, breathtaking landscapes, and a community bound by a passion for fly fishing. Anglers, explorers and outdoor enthusiasts are invited to experience this special edition of the tour.
This year’s lineup dives deeper than ever — spotlighting wild places, inspiring conservation stories and the dedicated individuals who live and breathe fly fishing. Lifelong anglers or those new to the sport can expect the 2026 tour to deliver an impressive cinematic journey. The films are presented with the support of Skwala, Yeti and Costa.
F3T is the premier cinematic event for the fly fishing community, celebrating 20 years of showcasing world-class films that capture the beauty, adventure and soul of the sport. Each year, the tour travels to cities across the U.S. and beyond, offering a platform for talented filmmakers and a gathering place for anglers to connect, celebrate and be inspired.
Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door, available at the ticket office in the Events and Conferences Office in the Anderson-Werkman Financial Center, 100 E. Eighth St.. The ticket office is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be reached at 616-395-7890. Tickets are also available online at hope.edu/tickets.
The Knickerbocker Theatre is located in downtown Holland at 86 E. Eighth St., between College and Columbia avenues.
Part of a national tour, the evening features several short movies revolving around fly fishing. Doors open at 6 p.m. and attendees can expect exclusive giveaways, a cashless bar and the kind of camaraderie that only fly fishing can inspire.
F3T marks its 20th anniversary in 2026, casting two decades of unforgettable stories, breathtaking landscapes, and a community bound by a passion for fly fishing. Anglers, explorers and outdoor enthusiasts are invited to experience this special edition of the tour.
This year’s lineup dives deeper than ever — spotlighting wild places, inspiring conservation stories and the dedicated individuals who live and breathe fly fishing. Lifelong anglers or those new to the sport can expect the 2026 tour to deliver an impressive cinematic journey. The films are presented with the support of Skwala, Yeti and Costa.
F3T is the premier cinematic event for the fly fishing community, celebrating 20 years of showcasing world-class films that capture the beauty, adventure and soul of the sport. Each year, the tour travels to cities across the U.S. and beyond, offering a platform for talented filmmakers and a gathering place for anglers to connect, celebrate and be inspired.
Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door, available at the ticket office in the Events and Conferences Office in the Anderson-Werkman Financial Center, 100 E. Eighth St.. The ticket office is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be reached at 616-395-7890. Tickets are also available online at hope.edu/tickets.
The Knickerbocker Theatre is located in downtown Holland at 86 E. Eighth St., between College and Columbia avenues.
Outdoor Truths: Eighteen Hundred
By Gary Miller
As I look back on this last deer season, it seems that bad news could be the theme. I hunted hard but my effort only produced minimal results. If I had to compare the hours in the stand to my harvest ledger, I would definitely be in the red.
What makes it even worse is I knew I was in a place where some big bucks lived. In fact, I missed my opportunity at one of those bucks because I couldn’t get my crossbow up before said buck left.
Another bummer was when I arrowed a 10-pointer but was never able to find him. I think he’s still alive. At least I hope he is.
When I think about it however, I can’t remember a year that was marked by more successes than failures. The truth is bad news is a lot more normal than good news, and it’s easier to find. It’s certainly that way in most areas of life.
One of my favorite evangelists of times past was a black man by the name of E.V. Hill. The way he preached could make me confess sins I’d never committed. He tells a story about a woman in his church who always sat in the front row. Her nickname was Eighteen Hundred. It was given to her because she was so old that everyone thought she must have been born in the 1800s. Everyone loved Eighteen Hundred.
Author Shane Claiborne tells how E.V. Hill shared the story with him. Every Sunday old Eighteen Hundred would sit in her usual spot in the front row. As Pastor Hill started preaching, she would start muttering, “Get to the good news, Pastor: get to the good news”. And her commentary would get louder and louder as the sermon progressed. The longer he talked, the louder she got.
He would be talking about how Jesus died on Friday, and she’d yell back, “Don’t leave him there. Get to the empty tomb on Sunday.” He’d be talking about how hatred, sin, and racism are still alive today. And she’d shout back, “Move on, Pastor. Get to the good news!” Eventually he would get to the good news, and she would shout “Amen!” at the top of her lungs.
I think about all that Eighteen Hundred went through in her life. Racism, slavery, poverty, and the likes. If anyone ought to wallow in the bad news it ought to be her. But Eighteen Hundred had not only found a story of bad news that ended in good news, but she also wanted to make sure it always ended the right way. It was this good news that overcame all the bad news she had endured in her life.
Friend, I know the world is full of bad news. But it always has been. The gospel, however, is good news, and it is good news for everyone who hears it. So, don’t forget, it’s alright to recognize all the bad things that may be going on, but don’t end the story on Friday. Sunday is coming.
—————
Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 23 years. He has also written five books which include compilations of his articles and a father/son devotional. He also speaks at wild-game dinners and men’s events for churches and associations. Write to him at gary@outdoor truths.org.
As I look back on this last deer season, it seems that bad news could be the theme. I hunted hard but my effort only produced minimal results. If I had to compare the hours in the stand to my harvest ledger, I would definitely be in the red.
What makes it even worse is I knew I was in a place where some big bucks lived. In fact, I missed my opportunity at one of those bucks because I couldn’t get my crossbow up before said buck left.
Another bummer was when I arrowed a 10-pointer but was never able to find him. I think he’s still alive. At least I hope he is.
When I think about it however, I can’t remember a year that was marked by more successes than failures. The truth is bad news is a lot more normal than good news, and it’s easier to find. It’s certainly that way in most areas of life.
One of my favorite evangelists of times past was a black man by the name of E.V. Hill. The way he preached could make me confess sins I’d never committed. He tells a story about a woman in his church who always sat in the front row. Her nickname was Eighteen Hundred. It was given to her because she was so old that everyone thought she must have been born in the 1800s. Everyone loved Eighteen Hundred.
Author Shane Claiborne tells how E.V. Hill shared the story with him. Every Sunday old Eighteen Hundred would sit in her usual spot in the front row. As Pastor Hill started preaching, she would start muttering, “Get to the good news, Pastor: get to the good news”. And her commentary would get louder and louder as the sermon progressed. The longer he talked, the louder she got.
He would be talking about how Jesus died on Friday, and she’d yell back, “Don’t leave him there. Get to the empty tomb on Sunday.” He’d be talking about how hatred, sin, and racism are still alive today. And she’d shout back, “Move on, Pastor. Get to the good news!” Eventually he would get to the good news, and she would shout “Amen!” at the top of her lungs.
I think about all that Eighteen Hundred went through in her life. Racism, slavery, poverty, and the likes. If anyone ought to wallow in the bad news it ought to be her. But Eighteen Hundred had not only found a story of bad news that ended in good news, but she also wanted to make sure it always ended the right way. It was this good news that overcame all the bad news she had endured in her life.
Friend, I know the world is full of bad news. But it always has been. The gospel, however, is good news, and it is good news for everyone who hears it. So, don’t forget, it’s alright to recognize all the bad things that may be going on, but don’t end the story on Friday. Sunday is coming.
—————
Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 23 years. He has also written five books which include compilations of his articles and a father/son devotional. He also speaks at wild-game dinners and men’s events for churches and associations. Write to him at gary@outdoor truths.org.
Raise Your Garden to New Heights for Easier Maintenance
Raised bed gardens make planting, weeding and harvesting easier.
Photo courtesy MelindaMyers.com
By Melinda Myers
Elevated and raised bed gardens can expand your planting options and make planting and maintenance easier and more convenient. You’ll be able to plant, weed and harvest with minimal bending or even from the luxury of a chair or bench.
Elevated gardens are basically containers on legs. You can find plans to make your own or purchase one from your local garden center or garden supply retailer. Consider one on wheels or add your own for ease of moving. You’ll be able to move your garden into the sun or shade as needed each day or out of the way when you entertain.
Set the garden in place first. Once filled with soil, it will
be very heavy and difficult to move unless you have added wheels. Those who garden on a balcony should confirm the space will hold the weight of the elevated garden bed once it is filled with moist soil and mature plants.
Including raised beds in your gardens and on or near your patio is another way to increase planting space and easier access. Purchase a prefab raised bed or make your own from a long-lasting material such as interlocking block, fieldstone, plastic lumber or naturally long-lasting wood. Consider the available space, your gardening goals and one that provides a comfortable height for gardening. Select one with corners or edges suited for sitting or narrow sides to allow easy access from a garden bench.
Line the bottom of your raised bed with hardware cloth to reduce the risk of animals burrowing into your garden. Lay the hardware cloth over the ground and bend it up along the inside of the raised bed walls. Add a liner of landscape fabric to keep the soil in place when placing your raised bed on a patio.
A 3-or-4-foot width makes it easy to reach all parts of the garden for planting, weeding and harvesting. Raising your planting bed at least 8 to 12 inches improves drainage and provides an adequate space for most plants to root and grow. If you want to minimize bending, go higher or add benches to increase your gardening comfort and ease.
Once your raised bed is complete or elevated garden is in place, fill it with quality planting mix. You can calculate the volume of soil that is needed yourself or use one of the many soil calculators available online.
Check the soil moisture regularly as the limited soil mass and increased exposure to wind, heat and sunlight make raised beds dry out more quickly than in-ground gardens.
Reduce the need for frequent watering by incorporating a certified organic and sustainable soil amendment, like Wild Valley Farms wool pellets (wildvalleyfarms.com). Research found adding these pellets made from 100 percent wool waste helps reduce watering by 25 percent and increases air space in the soil for better plant growth. You’ll only need a one-pound bag of these wool pellets to cover about 30 square feet if you add the pellets as you plant or it is enough to amend 12 gallons of soil when mixing thoroughly in your mix, following label directions.
Further boost your gardening success by selecting the best plants suited to the growing conditions and your gardening goals. In no time, you’ll be enjoying the flavor and beauty these gardens provide.
—————
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” streaming courses and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Wild Valley Farms for her expertise to write this article. Myers’ website is MelindaMyers.com.
Elevated and raised bed gardens can expand your planting options and make planting and maintenance easier and more convenient. You’ll be able to plant, weed and harvest with minimal bending or even from the luxury of a chair or bench.
Elevated gardens are basically containers on legs. You can find plans to make your own or purchase one from your local garden center or garden supply retailer. Consider one on wheels or add your own for ease of moving. You’ll be able to move your garden into the sun or shade as needed each day or out of the way when you entertain.
Set the garden in place first. Once filled with soil, it will
be very heavy and difficult to move unless you have added wheels. Those who garden on a balcony should confirm the space will hold the weight of the elevated garden bed once it is filled with moist soil and mature plants.
Including raised beds in your gardens and on or near your patio is another way to increase planting space and easier access. Purchase a prefab raised bed or make your own from a long-lasting material such as interlocking block, fieldstone, plastic lumber or naturally long-lasting wood. Consider the available space, your gardening goals and one that provides a comfortable height for gardening. Select one with corners or edges suited for sitting or narrow sides to allow easy access from a garden bench.
Line the bottom of your raised bed with hardware cloth to reduce the risk of animals burrowing into your garden. Lay the hardware cloth over the ground and bend it up along the inside of the raised bed walls. Add a liner of landscape fabric to keep the soil in place when placing your raised bed on a patio.
A 3-or-4-foot width makes it easy to reach all parts of the garden for planting, weeding and harvesting. Raising your planting bed at least 8 to 12 inches improves drainage and provides an adequate space for most plants to root and grow. If you want to minimize bending, go higher or add benches to increase your gardening comfort and ease.
Once your raised bed is complete or elevated garden is in place, fill it with quality planting mix. You can calculate the volume of soil that is needed yourself or use one of the many soil calculators available online.
Check the soil moisture regularly as the limited soil mass and increased exposure to wind, heat and sunlight make raised beds dry out more quickly than in-ground gardens.
Reduce the need for frequent watering by incorporating a certified organic and sustainable soil amendment, like Wild Valley Farms wool pellets (wildvalleyfarms.com). Research found adding these pellets made from 100 percent wool waste helps reduce watering by 25 percent and increases air space in the soil for better plant growth. You’ll only need a one-pound bag of these wool pellets to cover about 30 square feet if you add the pellets as you plant or it is enough to amend 12 gallons of soil when mixing thoroughly in your mix, following label directions.
Further boost your gardening success by selecting the best plants suited to the growing conditions and your gardening goals. In no time, you’ll be enjoying the flavor and beauty these gardens provide.
—————
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” streaming courses and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Wild Valley Farms for her expertise to write this article. Myers’ website is MelindaMyers.com.
Muskegon River Walleye Egg Collection Underway Through April 17
Planning to fish the Muskegon River this spring? Be on the lookout for Michigan Department of Natural Resources personnel collecting walleye eggs below Croton Dam in Newaygo County.
Egg collections with electrofishing boats started earlier this week and will conclude by April 17.
Four days of egg collections are planned this spring. The date those collections will begin depends on water temperatures and the presence of ripe fish (fish that are ready to spawn); the schedule may change based on conditions.
The egg-take zone runs from Croton Dam downstream to the Pine Street Access Site, so anglers who wish to avoid the walleye collection activities should fish downstream from the Pine Street Access Site. Anyone fishing near the egg-collection zone should use caution when fishing near the electrofishing boats. For safety, anyone wading will be asked to exit the water when electrofishing boats approach.
Electrofishing usually begins at Croton Dam each day at 8 a.m. and proceeds downstream to the Pine Street Access Site. If more eggs are needed, additional collections may occur downstream to the Thornapple Avenue (High Rollway) Access Site.
The DNR plans to collect approximately 35.4 million walleye eggs from the Muskegon River this year. Some of the fry (fish that have just hatched) from these eggs will be directly placed in waters throughout the Lower Peninsula and some will be sent to rearing ponds. Walleye fry transferred to ponds will be raised to fingerling size (approximately 1.5 to 2.5 inches) and stocked in late spring or early summer in lakes and rivers throughout the state. A smaller number of fish will be reared through the summer months in select ponds and stocked as fall fingerlings (approximately 6 to 8 inches).
Lake Michigan and many inland lake walleye populations in the Lower Peninsula depend on the fingerlings produced from Muskegon River eggs. The number of spawning walleye in the Muskegon River has been estimated at 40,000 to 50,000 fish. DNR crews will collect milt (sperm) and eggs from approximately 520 adult fish on-site this spring. These fish are immediately returned to the river — except for 60 fish, which will be collected for routine, annual health and disease surveillance testing at Michigan State University.
The Muskegon River has the largest run of walleye in the Lake Michigan watershed, south of Green Bay, and its adult walleye population is primarily stocked fish. These walleye contribute to populations in other areas, based on fish tags that are returned to the DNR by anglers. Walleye from the Muskegon River have been recaptured in Lake Macatawa, Spring Lake and Pigeon Lake (Ottawa County), Manistee Lake (Kalkaska County) and the Grand, Kalamazoo, Pere Marquette and White rivers.
Learn more about how the DNR manages walleye at Michigan.gov/Walleye.
Egg collections with electrofishing boats started earlier this week and will conclude by April 17.
Four days of egg collections are planned this spring. The date those collections will begin depends on water temperatures and the presence of ripe fish (fish that are ready to spawn); the schedule may change based on conditions.
The egg-take zone runs from Croton Dam downstream to the Pine Street Access Site, so anglers who wish to avoid the walleye collection activities should fish downstream from the Pine Street Access Site. Anyone fishing near the egg-collection zone should use caution when fishing near the electrofishing boats. For safety, anyone wading will be asked to exit the water when electrofishing boats approach.
Electrofishing usually begins at Croton Dam each day at 8 a.m. and proceeds downstream to the Pine Street Access Site. If more eggs are needed, additional collections may occur downstream to the Thornapple Avenue (High Rollway) Access Site.
The DNR plans to collect approximately 35.4 million walleye eggs from the Muskegon River this year. Some of the fry (fish that have just hatched) from these eggs will be directly placed in waters throughout the Lower Peninsula and some will be sent to rearing ponds. Walleye fry transferred to ponds will be raised to fingerling size (approximately 1.5 to 2.5 inches) and stocked in late spring or early summer in lakes and rivers throughout the state. A smaller number of fish will be reared through the summer months in select ponds and stocked as fall fingerlings (approximately 6 to 8 inches).
Lake Michigan and many inland lake walleye populations in the Lower Peninsula depend on the fingerlings produced from Muskegon River eggs. The number of spawning walleye in the Muskegon River has been estimated at 40,000 to 50,000 fish. DNR crews will collect milt (sperm) and eggs from approximately 520 adult fish on-site this spring. These fish are immediately returned to the river — except for 60 fish, which will be collected for routine, annual health and disease surveillance testing at Michigan State University.
The Muskegon River has the largest run of walleye in the Lake Michigan watershed, south of Green Bay, and its adult walleye population is primarily stocked fish. These walleye contribute to populations in other areas, based on fish tags that are returned to the DNR by anglers. Walleye from the Muskegon River have been recaptured in Lake Macatawa, Spring Lake and Pigeon Lake (Ottawa County), Manistee Lake (Kalkaska County) and the Grand, Kalamazoo, Pere Marquette and White rivers.
Learn more about how the DNR manages walleye at Michigan.gov/Walleye.
