Bi-CAN Invasive Species Workshop

Join us at this unique private property that is seldom seen by the public!

This workshop will cover a variety of invasive species in woodland, wetland, and prairie habitats.
There will also be sessions on control methods, identification, and native alternatives. 
Participants should dress for the outdoors, as this workshop will not have any indoor access.
A buffet style lunch will be provided. Please bring a reusable water bottle if you have one.

Species of Concern and the Home Landscape

For many gardeners, growing new and unusual plants is thrilling. For others, durability, diseases and pest resistance, or cultural tradition are reasons to incorporate non-native plants into a landscape. Despite recent landscape trends emphasizing the use of native plants, non-native plants are not inherently problematic, but a few bad actors can cause an outside amount of damage to local ecosystems. In this session, Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator Emily Swihart will explore plant species that possess characteristics that cause conservationists to be concerned, are still available for purchase in the nursery industry, and offer suggestions for alternative plant species.

Plant ID Hike

In this session, we will ID native and non-native plants, discuss native alternatives to non-native species, and discuss overall strategies for Midwest ecosystem restoration.

Tips, Tricks, and Tools for Managing Invasives

Do you know how many GPA your 2 gallon sprayer is applying? If not, we can show you how to properly calibrate your sprayer to ensure you are following the labeled rates.

We will have a large variety of the tools on hand that they use to combat and control invasive species, along with instruction on the proper tool use. They will discuss what methods of control, products, and timing work best for specific species, such as honeysuckle and Japanese knotweed.

Restoration on Private Lands

Focus will be on contacting a qualified forester, developing a forest management plan, using that plan to apply for conservation programs, and how to implement the plan to receive cost assistance.

Woodland Management

In this session we will discuss a variety of woodland management practices that can help promote recreation, water quality, wildlife habitat, wood products, and other uses in your woodland.