By: Isabelle LaPapa

On the morning of Saturday, April 27, Blackford County residents and Taylor University’s football team worked together to eradicate invasive species at Wilderness Park with the help of Build a Better Blackford (BBB) and the State of Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management (SICIM).

Initiatives assisted by SICIM known as Weed Wrangles® allow volunteer groups to come together and clear away harmful plants in their own community. 

Invasive plant species refer to non-native plants that cause some sort of harm to the environment, economy, and humans. Often, invasive plants will rapidly spread and overgrow, destroying the natural forest undergrowth and native plants.

BBB Director Jon Creek expressed excitement at the opportunity of working with both SICIM and groups of Taylor students. In years past, students from nearby Taylor University have come out to participate in Weed Wrangles®, including students from the women’s basketball team, Crossfit Club, and freshmen Community Plunge groups. 

Student volunteers removed invasive species from the Wilderness Park. Photos courtesy of Jon Creek.

Scott Fenstermacher, an Assistant Professor of Kinesiology at Taylor University and resident of Hartford City, helped connect students with BBB and SICIM. 

“One of my desires being a resident of Hartford City but also a professor at Taylor is to connect those communities through service projects,” Fenstermacher said. 

This wrangle focused on removing three species of invasive plants: Asian Bush Honeysuckle, Winged Burning Bush, and Garlic Mustard. The students and community members divided into two teams of 11-12 people to dig up invasive shrubs and weeds. 

While volunteers removed these plants, the Weed Wrangle® leaders from SICIM pointed out native plants helpful for the environment. The Weed Wrangles® don’t just involve removal either as the teams planted native oaks in open spaces to bring biodiversity back to the area. 

“By improving the habitat, we’re not only improving it for the community, but it also improves those little pockets of habitat for wildflowers, for songbirds, for native animals, as well,” Liz Yetter said. Yetter works at SICIM as the Regional Specialist of East Central Indiana. 

Much of the progress toward encouraging natural growth and weeding out invasive species comes from efforts by BBB. This past year, SICIM has connected with BBB to bring their resources to Blackford County. Monthly meetings allow Blackford residents with a passion for the outdoors to engage with their community and volunteer at events like the Weed Wrangle® in April.  

Workers planted native trees to replace the plants that were removed. Photos courtesy of Jon Creek.

“They really have hit the ground running,” Yetter said of the locals involved. 

SICIM hosts upwards of 200 Weed Wrangles® in Indiana a year, having hosted over 800 events in the state in the past five years. The organization operates nationwide with 476 Weed Wrangles® in 2023 alone. 

At every SICIM Weed Wrangle®, there is always an educational component. The events are friendly for people of all ages and accommodate for the different skill levels of volunteers while taking safety and the abundance of invasive species into account. Garlic mustard is an excellent plant to start weeding as it is an herbaceous plant with soft stems and can be easily pulled fully from the ground after a rainy day. 

The pervasive nature of invasive species can seem daunting when plants continue to grow and spread, but when many hands pitch in, change can be made.  

“It seems overwhelming,” Fenstermacher said. “But with just a little bit of effort, you can make a big difference.” 

While it takes effort and time, anyone can volunteer to help their community, and the environment, and enjoy the beauty of the natural world. 

The next Weed Wrangle in Blackford County will take place on Saturday, May 18. For more information, contact SICIM or BBB for details. 

SICIM is a non-profit with a mission to “protect, restore, and enhance Indiana’s landscapes by coordinating efforts to identify, prevent, and control invasive species.” Click through for more information on the origin, identification, and alternatives of and for Asian Bush Honeysuckle, Winged Burning Bush, and Garlic Mustard.