The Nature of Business
AriensCo published a 24-page corporate conservation report that documents much of its effort to restore the 200 acres near its Brillion manufacturing facilities.
According to the report, more than 75 acres of the property have been planted with bur oak and white oak as well as a diverse prairie seed mix that includes grasses and flowering plants.
Since 2014, the company has planted more than 130 native species of flowering plants and grasses in an effort to create a continuous bloom from early spring to late fall to support more than 200 animal species that have been identified on the property.
The company has managed 35 existing acres of upland forest and planted more than 40,000 seedlings in an effort to establish one continuous forest corridor on the site. The seedling mix consists of 22 species, including five different species of oak, sugar maple, white pine, shagbark hickory and tamarack.
The full report can be found at ariensco.com.
About a decade ago, Dan Ariens looked at the 200 acres of vacant land between the two AriensCo plants in Brillion and realized it had suffered from being ignored.
There were some trails on the property that had been created as a safe place for his dad Michael to exercise, but overall it had been used as a place to store or dump concrete debris, fill and other materials from previous construction projects.
There were invasive plants, poor drainage and decaying buildings on the site, which borders the Brillion State Wildlife Area.
Ariens decided it was time to develop a plan for its restoration.
In the Nature of Business, released by AriensCo, he wrote: “Protecting nature and biodiversity is a long-term goal that will likely require generations of commitment. However, beyond the impact of local biodiversity, businesses may find any number of additional reasons to get involved with corporate conservation efforts. For us it was community engagement, talent acquisition, employee engagement and wellness.”
There also was an opportunity to create a rare oak savannah habitat by removing unwanted trees — including ash, which are threatened by the emerald ash borer — and planting native species.
The site had some existing upland forest and some wet areas, but two ponds have been created and the existing forest has been managed and connected to create more native habitat.
The outdoor power equipment manufacturer initially employed a naturalist who led volunteers to catalog and document existing plants and wildlife.
The efforts have paid off, as the endangered rusty patch bumblebee has been documented in Calumet County for the first time. They also have been able to attract wood ducks, bluebirds, kestrels and purple martins, as well as manage honeybees, at the site.
Although a downturn in the outdoor power equipment business led AriensCo to lay off its naturalist, volunteer efforts continue. Ariens says they receive help from beekeepers, birders, prairie and wetland enthusiasts, and even students from Fox Valley Technical College.
“There are people that this is a hobby for them now,” Ariens says. “This is part of what our culture is all about. It starts with our core values and who we are — how we treat each other and how we want to work together — and then it goes to the greater good.”
Working toward the greater good for Brillion and Calumet County has benefits for the business, according to Ariens. He says Brillion has the same population today as it had when he graduated high school in 1977.
“It tells me we need to figure out a way to grow,” says Ariens, who has fueled additional investment in the community. “The whole purpose of Ariens Hospitality is to bring more people into the community. We are trying to build the community so that I have a base of employees who are living close to where our plants are.”
The Ariens Nordic Center also reflects the company’s desire to be a responsible land steward. Ariens explains that it helped preserve land that was hard to farm by creating purpose and value for it.
That also is the reason the Ariens family became involved with redevelopment of the Brillion Iron Works site. Ariens says it would be easier for the business to just focus on building outdoor power equipment, but they realize they have resources and an interest in investing in the community that can move projects forward.
“We want to help the community, help themselves,” Ariens says.
