Muskogee Patch Inward Trust
Sustainability, conservation in addition to preservation possess got been trends inwards gardening for several decades in addition to many gardeners brand an seek to role best practices such equally fewer chemicals to meliorate the chip of public they possess got to function with. 
Imagine existence the environmental steward of 170-acres of natural landscape alongside stone formations, native plants, waterfalls in addition to a manmade lake. Over the past times 30-years, Ken Laubenstein has worked to sustain the legacy of his land, making improvements that give-up the ghost on the progression toward sustainability for wildlife.
Laubenstein’s property, Forest Lake Preserve is inwards Muskogee’s Gooseneck Bend. He is professionally retired simply is an active Oklahoma State University, Muskogee County, Master Gardener. The province he lives on is permanently protected from devastation in addition to evolution because he seat it into trust alongside the Land Legacy which is a regional version of the Nature Conservancy. Land Legacy has 30,000 acres inwards trust inwards OK.
The 6.5 acre lake was on the belongings when Laubenstein purchased it thirty years ago, simply he has consistently improved in addition to upgraded it to attract in addition to back upward wildlife. In add-on to pulling out trash, he built iv islands where H2O foul nest in addition to brand their homes. The pond is brimming alongside fish in addition to turtles.
Four-wheeler trails run throughout the belongings for maintenance in addition to at that topographic point are several strategically placed benches where he tin sit down in addition to lookout adult man wildlife. He said that every twelvemonth he observes to a greater extent than in addition to to a greater extent than aeroplane species equally the province becomes to a greater extent than established equally a refuge.
On a recent tour, nosotros observed native trees such equally Pine, Cedar, Ash, Bald Cypress, Sassafrass, Locust, several Oak varieties, Ash, Elm, Redbud, Dogwood, etc. Native wildflowers are introduce all along the paths in addition to walkways.
The belongings is busy alongside regional wildlife, including beaver, skunk, deer, lizards, roadrunners, raccoon, armadillo, possum in addition to rabbits. Since it is protected, hunting is non allowed.
Preserving a identify for wild fauna is a gift to hereafter generations that few volition possess got on. Laubenstein hopes that his Forest Lake Preserve volition last used for query in addition to instruction also equally environmental recreation.