Here's What We're Doing
Propagating Trees to Remediate Climate Change and Ground Water Contaminants
The Portage Lake Garden Club, Onekama Consolidated Schools and Archangel Ancient Tree Archive (AATA) work together to teach tenth grade students how to remediate climate change and ground water contaminants by propagating and planting appropriate trees and shrubs. The Portage Lake Garden Club is the lead agency for this project and purchases the stakes, weed barrier and protective tubes needed for planting.
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Classroom education focuses on how trees remove carbon dioxide from the air, biodiversity and the importance of native trees, plants and insects to our food supply. While at AATA, the students propagate dogwood and black willow trees, and see thousands of previously propagated trees, including very young giant sequoias. Dogwood and black willow trees are native to Manistee. They are known for their flood resilience and erosion control. Both are able to clean contaminates such as mercury from the soil. Several studies have confirmed that planting willows and dogwoods are successful cost-efficient methods for restoring contaminated soils in mining areas and landfills. Working with PLGC and AATA gives OCS students hands-on experience propagating, growing and planting trees that are well-suited for the Portage Lake area.
Beautification Award
The 2024 Beautification Awardee is Dala House, owned and operated by resident Greg Carlson . The award recognizes a business establishment that has been the most improved by landscaping. Greg hoped that the renovation of the former apartment on Main Street would “create a spark in Onekama” that would lead to further improvements in the Main Street area. Greg stated “Onekama offers such a beautiful opportunity. I was hopeful that others would see this as a beginning of something exciting in the Village.”
Harvest Garden Award
Onekama resident Fred Pries received the 2024 Harvest Garden Award The award recognizes individuals with out- standing floral and/or food gardens. Fred and his wife Sherry moved to Onekama forty-six years ago. The three things that Fred values about his garden are food independence, freshness and the taste of the food. One aspect of the garden that has always made Fred happy is the “miracle of watching things grow and sharing my harvest with others.”
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Flower Show in September 2025
Plan to attend an extraordinary Flower Show in September 2025. The Portage Lake Garden Club (Onekama), the Spirit of the Woods Garden Club (Manistee) and the Periwinkle Garden Club (Frankfort) are co-hosting a flower show that will have entries from 24 clubs representing more than 1, 000 members in Northern Michigan. More details to come!
Farr Center Gardens
Located at the Farr Center (home to Onekama Village offices and Onekama Library), our club members maintain all of the gardens and landscaping around the building. The Butterfly and Native Plant gardens were created by the club. They are educational as well as being a lovely backdrop for events held at the Center. The Butterfly Garden is a recognized Waystation for butterflies and other migratory species. The Memorial Brick Patio gives the community an opportunity to honor or remember people.
Farr Center Mural
Working with a local artist and students from Onekama Consolidated Schools, the club had a mural painted on the east side of the Farr Center in Onekama. The mural features the 150th anniversary of “the Cut”, a key point in Onekama's history and directs the public to our gardens.
Civic Gardens
The club maintains the areas underneath the Welcome to Onekama signs along M-22, as well as the underneath the Onekama Consolidated Schools sign.
Onekama Village Park Fountain & Garden
The club recently completed a four year restoration of the 135 year old cast iron fountain. In 1887, the fountain was installed at the Manistee County courthouse. Fire destroyed the courthouse in 1950. Soon after, the club acquired the fountain and moved it to Onekama Village Park. The fountain is listed as both a Michigan Historic Site and in the National Register of Historic Places. It is the last surviving 19th century cast iron fountain in the state. It is unique because it features a merman, not a mermaid. The restoration work received national and state level awards. The club maintains the garden surrounding the fountain.
Environmental School
Portage Lake Garden Club and Manistee’s Spirit of the Woods Garden Club partnered to host a National Garden Club Environmental School consisting of 40 hours of study divided into four courses. Open to the public, Environmental School emphasizes action for sustainable development, the interrelationship of all living things and environmental literacy.