Thanks to a grant from John C. Bock Foundation and a group volunteers, we were able to build deer exclosures along our forest trail on our farm. We have a severe overpopulation of deer on Washington Island which is harming the regeneration of the understory of trees. Inspired by the research of Karl Martin and other conservationists, we wanted to build small-scale exclosures in our forests to study the regeneration of our forests in the absence of deer. The purpose of this project is to learn how to best manage our woods, teach students about deer exclosures and as well as forest life-cycles, biodiversity and deer pressure. 

In the fall of 2024, a group of volunteers from Sts. Cyril and Methodius in Milwaukee and St. Matthews in Green Bay joined us on Washington Island for a weekend retreat. That Saturday they got a tour of the Grounds, helped us build a chestnut nursery for next season’s planting AND they helped us install the deer exclosures, using t-posts and cattle panels. 

We are so grateful the good spirits of the volunteers and the grant from John C. Bock Foundation that made this research possible. We are excited to see what grows in the understory when deer are not permitted to graze. Stay tuned for updates.  

If you’d like to plan a field trip or work day for your organization, please reach out to Gathering Ground.