Muskogee Country Inward Trust
Sustainability, conservation in addition to preservation possess got been trends inwards gardening for several decades in addition to many gardeners brand an try to piece of occupation best practices such every bit fewer chemicals to ameliorate the flake of public they possess got to piece of occupation with. 
Imagine beingness the environmental steward of 170-acres of natural landscape amongst stone formations, native plants, waterfalls in addition to a manmade lake. Over the yesteryear 30-years, Ken Laubenstein has worked to sustain the legacy of his land, making improvements that proceed the progression toward sustainability for wildlife.
Laubenstein’s property, Forest Lake Preserve is inwards Muskogee’s Gooseneck Bend. He is professionally retired precisely 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 position it into trust amongst 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, precisely he has consistently improved in addition to upgraded it to attract in addition to back upwards wildlife. In add-on to pulling out trash, he built 4 islands where H2O foul nest in addition to brand their homes. The pond is brimming amongst fish in addition to turtles.
Four-wheeler trails run throughout the belongings for maintenance in addition to at that spot are several strategically placed benches where he tin sit down in addition to scout wildlife. He said that every twelvemonth he observes to a greater extent than in addition to to a greater extent than aeroplane species every bit the province becomes to a greater extent than established every bit a refuge.
On a recent tour, nosotros observed native trees such every bit 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 amongst 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 accept on. Laubenstein hopes that his Forest Lake Preserve volition hold upwards used for inquiry in addition to didactics likewise every bit environmental recreation.