Eastbrook Homes Extends Green Building Practices to Landscape Surrounding its Saddle Ridge Neighborhood

West Michigan Residential Builder/Developer's Commitment to Conservation Included Wildflower Restoration In Rockford Community

Grand Rapids, MI (PRWEB) April 26, 2007 -- Eastbrook Homes, west Michigan's largest builder and developer, recently used the centuries-old practice of a controlled burn to spur wildflower growth and curb invasive plant escalation in a "green" approach to landscape development.

The burn was successfully performed by trained professionals under strict containment processes Friday, April 20 at the community located near Rockford, off Edgerton Avenue between 11 and 12 Mile Roads.

The Saddle Ridge community, opened in August 2004, features a rough-hewn post and rail-lined entry drive bordered by deciduous and coniferous trees, and signage reminiscent of the old west. In keeping with the natural beauty of the community Eastbrook staff and landscape partner Katerburg Verhage began a wildflower restoration and conservation project, augmenting the native plants in the open areas and creating an environment in which they could thrive.

This controlled burn is a typical step 2 ½ years into the project and is an environmentally-friendly way to manage the project's growth. The burn is necessary to perpetuate the fire-dependent species and kill the fire-intolerant woody plants and weeds which left unchecked will choke out the wildflowers. The process - which originated with Native Americans and North American settlers' foray into farming - will enrich the soil and allow for diverse, native plant and animal communities, including grassland birds such as bobolinks, savannah sparrows and bobwhite quail, to thrive post-burn. Fire blackened soil also absorbs more solar radiation, increasing the ground temperature and lengthening the growing season for native plants.

Where alternatives such as chemical or mechanical treatments are expensive and have associated environmental risks to animal habitats and soil quality this traditional fire-based approach to landscape maintenance is not only environmentally sound but economically wise.

"This natural approach to entryway landscaping maintenance will save the Saddle Ridge community homeowners from much higher costs associated with alternative landscaping - including fertilizer, watering and mowing, making this practice one everyone can be proud of," says Ed Pynnonen, President of Eastbrook Homes. "In fact, as a company we've been applying more of the "Green Built" principles to the construction of our homes over the past few years and this is a great example of how we can apply some of those same key principles - resource efficiency, indoor/outdoor water use, and global impact - to our landscaping as well."

The landscape philosophy at Saddle Ridge is but one example of Eastbrook's commitment to responsible land development over the past 40 years.

"My staff and I feel that it is our duty to preserve as much of the land's natural beauty as possible when we create our communities," says Mick McGraw, CEO of Eastbrook Homes. "We design our communities around existing trees, wetlands and sight lines. Not only does this create attractive, green communities for our homeowners today, but it ensures that these resources will be around for future generations to enjoy."

Eastbrook Homes has received two national awards for their efforts in the conservation arena. In April of 2003, Eastbrook Homes received an Award of Excellence in the Building With Trees competition sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation for its Bailey's Grove community design. McGraw was then awarded the 2003 Conservationist of the Year Award by the local Dwight Lydell Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America (IWLA).

The annual award recognized him for being a developer with a bold vision and innovative leadership in protecting the environment. The Izaak Walton League of America was founded in 1922, making it one of the oldest conservation organizations in the United States.

The mission of the IWLA is "to conserve, maintain, protect and restore the soil, forest, water and other natural resources of the United States and other lands; and to promote means and opportunities for the education of the public with respect to such resources and their enjoyment and wholesome utilization." The Dwight Lydell Chapter of the IWLA is located in Belmont and was established in 1928.

Eastbrook, whose corporate offices are in Grand Rapids, has built many communities in west Michigan throughout its 40-year history. The company continues to apply the same conservation philosophy to all of its new communities in the Grand Rapids and Lakeshore area including Ada Moorings, Arbor Hills, Bailey's Grove, Cook's Crossing, Hathaway Lakes, Lowing Woods, the Meadows of Cannon Farms, Pine Meadows, Saddle Ridge and Windflower Bay, as well as the Michael McGraw community of Stoneshire in Ada.

###