Our commitment to environmental stewardship extends beyond our jobsites into the communities where we live and work. A new butterfly garden in rural Wisconsin is the latest example of how Michels puts this Core Value into action.
The butterfly garden, designed for the Theresa Learning Community in Southeast Wisconsin, will help preserve native plant species and attract a variety of pollinators, contributing to a more biodiverse ecosystem.
Preparing the site outside the school started last autumn, while further cultivation continued this spring with the help of the students. Michels developed the plan for the garden space, selecting 30 native pollinator species for local soil and temperature conditions. Our volunteers removed turf grass, added weed-free topsoil, and provided straw mulch for stabilization and moisture retention. Stones from one of Michels’ local quarries complete the design, providing the students and teachers with a place to sit and enjoy the garden.
As the garden grows, the students will witness the lifecycle of butterflies, learn how native plants support many butterfly species and the importance of conservation. The students also received native pollinator seed packets to attract butterflies at home as well.
Depending on how well the butterfly garden at Theresa Learning Community flourishes, it could prove to be the first of many across the United States.
Michels’ Core Values guide all our actions, including our approach to environmental stewardship. Our Environmental department not only guides and supports our operations and jobsites to mitigate the impact on areas where we work, but also helps to preserve the environments of the communities where we work and live.
