- Welcome to "In Wisconsin."
I'm Frederica Freyberg in for Patty Loew.
This week, people who live in tune
with environmentally friendly values
can now choose a green burial,
but it's not without controversy.
Plus a look at a new recreational area near Waterloo.
- The property has a beautiful topography.
I've been up on it, great views.
- See why it's described as "pearls on a string."
And the inspiring story of Andy Janicki
as he explores the wilds of Wisconsin.
- No one from the shore would realize I have a disability.
- Those reports next on "In Wisconsin."
- Major funding for "In Wisconsin" is provided by:
the people of Alliant Energy who bring safe, reliable
and environmentally friendly energy to keep homes,
neighborhoods and life in Wisconsin running smoothly.
Alliant Energy, we're on for you.
And Animal Dentistry and Oral Surgery Specialists
of Oshkosh, Milwaukee and Minneapolis,
a veterinary team working with pet owners
and family veterinarians providing care for oral disease
and dental problems of small companion animals.
- We begin this week with a controversy.
For most people, dealing with death can be uneasy,
uncomfortable and now unconventional.
There's a new option to consider when you
or a loved one passes away.
"In Wisconsin" reporter Liz Koerner shows you how
green burials are changing the funeral business in Wisconsin.
- Consumer options for going green keep expanding,
from hybrid cars to canvas grocery bags.
There's another green option that admittedly
not everyone is comfortable talking about.
It's called natural burial.
- So what we're talking about is, you know, a body,
it's un-embalmed, it's shrouded or in a seagrass type casket,
or in an unvarnished low- metal-content wooden casket
that will-- all those products and the body
will disintegrate with time, will go away.
- Waukesha's Prairie Home Cemetery is one of the few
cemeteries in the state that allows natural burial.
They avoid the use of traditional caskets
because many are made of metal.
It's estimated that in the United States every year
90,000 tons of steel are used in caskets.
And 1.6 million tons of concrete
goes into the ground as burial vaults.
Although there's no law that mandates
the use of a burial vault, most cemeteries require one.
- Were you not to do that, that casket would
deteriorate over time and collapse
and when it collapses that can create some cosmetic,
as well as safety issues in a cemetery.
- Prairie Home just added an even greener burial option,
a four-acre prairie with no lawn chemicals
and no mowing allowed.
- So that was completed earlier this year.
We started selling earlier this year.
Reception has been outstanding.
- Some feel that burial in traditional cemeteries
is an unsustainable use of land,
citing the 300 million plus population
in the United States alone.
Cremation is one answer, but even this option uses
nonrenewable resources for combustion.
Now there's another option for natural burial in Wisconsin,
one that protects the undeveloped character of rural land.
It's a wooded nature preserve north of Barneveld
on land owned by the Circle Sanctuary, a Wiccan church.
- We founded Circle Cemetery as part of our
nature preservation work in order to combine
an intentional focus on conservation
with greening the end of life.
- Circle Sanctuary was granted a county zoning permit
for full body burials in the summer of 2010,
but has had a permit for cremation burials since 1995.
- I can tell you when you have people
gathered around a grave in a beautiful setting
and the body of that loved one is lowered in,
that brings a kind of closure for some people.
- The cemetery at Circle Sanctuary may be
the first burial ground on a nature preserve in the state,
but more of them are on the way.
Like the one proposed by Dr. Gene Farley in rural Verona.
Farley and his adult sons decided to pursue this option
on their property after losing their wife and mother, Linda,
to cancer in the summer of 2009.
Farley and his late wife had worked as physicians
and hoped to donate their bodies
to the university medical school.
- Because she had had cancer and had organs removed,
they didn't want her body for a cadaver
and they didn't want it for the organs
because of the cancer.
So obviously we thought, natural burial
and feeding a tree or feeding plants
was the next thing that we would do.
- When Linda died, after checking on the legality
of home burial, the family worked together
to dig her grave on their land.
- And as they were digging, you know,
they had the joy of sharing, the joy of working together,
the tears over their mother,
times when they'd stand silently and hold hands.
- Tillman is one of the Farley's four sons.
- She came back from the funeral home,
was wrapped in a sheet,
and we just lowered her down in the sheet
and then we had a blanket that had a picture
of all of the four boys on it
and we threw that down in there
and it really felt right.
Even a pine box seemed like too much.
- The Farley family wants to create a natural burial ground
along the paths of their 25-acre woods.
Some neighbors spoke in opposition to this proposal
at the county zoning meeting in August of 2010.
One concern is that the resale value
of their homes would go down.
- We're talking about people's buying habits
and the stigma of it.
We don't like to sound like-- we're not against progress,
but we're the ones who are paying the bill in a way,
and we didn't have any -- we didn't ask for that.
- It's taken away from my lifestyle
and I think it's taken away from a lot of lifestyles
of the neighbors around me.
- After a site visit and a consultation
with the board of health, the county granted
a permit to the Farleys' natural cemetery.
Because natural burials cost less,
you might assume there would be opposition
from funeral directors who offer embalming
and options for high end products.
- Right now because it's a change from what we're used to,
I think you may see a little bit of resistance,
but yet they need to realize
that this is really what's coming down.
Funeral service is ever changing.
So I think they need to--
I think everybody needs to realize that,
open your minds and everything will work out.
- A number of funeral directors offer
some aspects of natural burial.
- When they call us, they're asking us
to provide a service for them,
and we try and take care of them any way we possibly can.
*
- In times of deep sorrow,
choices like this can be difficult.
And while natural burials will not appeal to everyone,
having this choice may help.
- Burials should be whatever a person feels comfortable with,
because in life and death, we have to worry about
the psychological comfort of people.
And this gives me great comfort
and our sons great comfort.
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- The Farleys' Natural Path Sanctuary is only one aspect
of the Linda and Gene Farley Center
for Peace, Justice and Sustainability.
As part of its sustainability mission,
the center provides 40 acres of land
to organic gardeners and small commercial growers.
Proceeds from the cemetery will help fund
the center's activities.
Well, exactly one year ago,
the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board
approved funding for a unique $125 million project
described as "pearls on a string."
"In Wisconsin" reporter Art Hackett shows you why
this recreational property between Milwaukee and Madison
is so valuable to Jefferson County.
- I'm told it's the third highest hill
in Jefferson County.
- Dalhart Holzhueter is talking about
a 170-acre parcel of land southeast of Waterloo.
- My birthplace was right behind the hill here,
and my folks moved down along the Crawfish River.
My grandfather's owned land in the area since 1916.
- Holzhueter rents out part of the land
and maintains a grass course on the property
for Lakeside Lutheran High School's cross-country team.
- I purchased it probably about 20 years ago.
This was my retirement fund.
- Holzhueter decided to tap that fund
when his strawberry crops on nearby land,
along the Crawfish River, were flooded.
- I had an offer on the property up here
from a developer for a million dollars.
And I thought it would be much nicer if more people
could have the view that's seen from up here
than just a couple people.
- And so the Wisconsin DNR is buying the property.
- The property has a very beautiful topography.
Been up on it. Great views.
It really fits a concept of a park property.
- But the purchase of Holzhueter's land
in Jefferson County may be just the beginning
of a much larger effort, an effort which began
more than a year ago, and which could continue
over 30 years into the future.
- The state legislature said to the DNR,
you're not going to own the entire state.
You need to do a plan and you need to identify
the highest priority areas in Wisconsin
for conservation, preservation and recreation.
- The result was the Land Legacy Report.
- It really is a greenprint for looking
ahead in Wisconsin to what ought to be protected.
- Jefferson County began the first major effort
to build from that greenprint.
The result is the Glacial Heritage Area.
- We said, we think we have some unique opportunities here
in the Jefferson County area
to meet the needs of Wisconsin residents.
We are basically the last green space
between Milwaukee and Madison, so as I like to say,
it's not that we're necessarily that good,
but it's where we're at.
- The Glacial Heritage Area defies description.
It's not a county facility.
It's not a state facility.
It's not a bike trail.
It's actually all of the above
working in conjunction with each other.
The project actually begins in southern Dodge County,
where the DNR already owns the Mud Lake
and Waterloo wildlife areas.
There are nearly a dozen other public conservation areas
extending down into Rock County.
The plan identifies half a dozen more properties
to be considered for acquisition in the future.
All would be tied together with a network
of bike and pedestrian trails.
The cluster is described as pearls on a string.
- The pearls are our valuable natural resource areas
here in Jefferson County, as well as Dodge,
Dane and Rock counties.
The string is the connection with the trail.
You connect one natural resource area to another
and connect our communities with the natural resources areas.
- Jefferson County already has the Glacial Drumlin trail crossing it.
The Wild Goose trail comes down from Fond du Lac,
but dead-ends in southern Dodge County.
The plan is to eventually extend it
all the way to Fort Atkinson.
- Countywide, we'd have a big system of trails
that would be great for off-the-road,
for many people who don't want to ride on the road.
- And paddle support enthusiasts
like John McKenzie of Fort Atkinson hope the plan
will help organize a waterway which runs from Mud Lake
all the way to Lake Koshkonong.
- We've got some great paddling here
and some great put-ins and take-outs, but nobody knows where they are.
And they don't know how long it takes to get
from one to the other, and they don't know what the amenities are.
That's what this is going to do.
- The Jefferson County board endorsed
the Glacial Heritage area by a lopsided 20-6 vote.
Supervisor Jim Mode of Fort Atkinson
was among the dissenters.
Mode says his constituents, especially farmers,
are concerned it would drive up the price of land.
- I think appraisers appraise it
and come up with a fair value,
but when they're paying up to $4,000 for some land
that really isn't prime farmland,
that tends to run the price of the prime land up even higher.
- DNR Director of Lands, Steve Miller, disputes this.
- It's not a result of buying land
for conservation or recreation purposes.
It is the urban, suburban development, rural development.
- Mode says it's also a problem of timing.
- I think they're more opposed to the fact
that the state might be spending money on something like this
rather than taking care of obligations
that are with us at the present time.
- The project would be funded from the $60 million a year
the legislature has earmarked for the Stewardship Program.
The Glacial Heritage Project is currently estimated to cost
about $125 million.
But it's something that will happen over many years.
- All the department can do is lay a vision for the future.
If the money is there, we can move ahead.
If for some reason the funding to implement this
dries up because some other decisions are made
about stewardship and future legislators,
we can't control that.
- But the designation of the area makes it possible
to buy properties like Holzhueter's hilltop
when they're available, to make them available to all.
- It would be fairly easy
when that moves in the public ownership
to just put up a parking lot and sign, how to use it,
and people can get out there almost overnight.
In fact, Mr. Holzhueter wants us to buy him the gas
so he can keep mowing the trails,
which would be great, we need the help.
- Money for the project will come from the
Knowles-Nelson stewardship fund.
It's named for two former Wisconsin governors.
The fund provides $60 million a year to purchase
and preserve land for parks, wildlife areas and watersheds.
Exploring Wisconsin doesn't have to end at the water's edge.
There are those two Great Lakes,
the mighty Mississippi and thousands of inland lakes.
Our next report is about a new way to enjoy
those waters as "In Wisconsin" reporter Jo Garrett
discovers in Iron County.
- This is the Turtle Flambeau scenic waters area.
- There's an eagle right there, oh, way up there.
- It includes 19,000 acres of water.
212 miles of shoreline.
And 195 islands.
A great place for kayaking.
- When the three of us paddle together,
no one from the shore would realize that I have a disability.
- Andy Janicki of Madison, is kayaking
with his dad, Bob Janicki, of Crystal Lake, Illinois.
(laughter)
- Tip you over.
- And his good friend and fellow kayaker,
Phil Peterson of Washburn.
- Oh, yeah. That would be cool.
- It's dad's first time out in a kayak.
Andy and Phil have paddled together many times.
- I don't feel like I'm disabled being out here.
- Janicki is a quadriplegic.
A spinal cord injury left him paralyzed
from the collarbone down.
His hands, his triceps are paralyzed.
He has full movement in just his shoulders.
- It feels a lot better than it did last night.
Coming in with my wheelchair on the back
and both my hatches full.
- Yes, Janicki and company paddle to their campsite,
1.5 miles, with gear stowed in their kayak
and in Janicki's case, carting a wheelchair.
- Probably between my chair and everything,
I'd say it was a good 60 pounds.
- Janicki works as an accessibility coordinator
for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
- It works out. I make it work.
And I think a lot of people could.
And that's the whole idea behind getting more kayaks around
that people can just kind of rent out
if they don't have their own.
- Part of Janicki's job is to spread the word around the state
about this kind of kayak that makes it all possible.
It's called an adaptive kayak and through a program
called Open the Outdoors.
- Oh, boy. Here we be.
- People with disabilities can check out an adaptive kayak
at a very nominal cost at four different state parks.
Janicki shows us how the boat is adapted.
- This is the basic setup
that's all of our state parks as well.
This seat is the main part of keeping someone stable,
basically who doesn't have much trunk stability.
So, for example, me being a quadriplegic,
I'm paralyzed from about the collarbones down,
so for me to be in a regular boat,
I'm kind of flying all over the place.
Depending on the level of your injury
or the level of your disability, basically,
this part, as you can see, folds back,
so it's easier for transferring into.
so, basically get my feet in there first.
- Come on foot. - Yeah, right.
Nice. That was smooth.
- Man, it's really easy with two people. - Yeah. (laughter)
- Normally, we drop him in the water first. -Yeah. (chuckles)
There's the outriggers, the pontoons in the back here.
These are the beef of the boat.
It's basically foolproof as far as tipping over goes.
Virtually untippable.
I can lean over as far as I can
and this thing's not going over.
Yeah, it's pretty--
This is about as far as I can lean over, you know.
This thing isn't going to tip. (laughter)
Basically I can't move my fingers at all.
I can-- through moving my wrists, I can move my wrists
so I can grab stuff a little bit,
but I don't have enough of a grip to really hold onto a paddle very well.
When you've got the blade of your paddle in the water
you basically don't have to rely on grip anymore,
because you just have the back of your hand
holding on to this guy.
- Janicki was an active outdoorsman before his injury
in college and he was determined to return to the outdoors.
- Doing good. - Yeah.
- And he has, with trips to Lake Powell
and the sea caves of the Apostle Islands, the Rio Grande
and Glacier National Park, with his fiancée.
The adaptive kayak changes the playing field.
- Before I was in a chair, I didn't think twice
about curb cuts or anything like that.
Now, obviously I'm real cognizant of where
I'm going to roll next.
And it's something that's constantly on my mind, you know.
If I'm, you know, on a street, it's like, how steep is this hill going to be?
Is there going to be access, you know, up to this building?
Am I going to be able to get through this door?
That's all a factor of being in a wheelchair.
So to get out of that, you know, to get away from all that
and be out on the water, it's an amazing feeling.
When you're out here, you can get anywhere you want to.
It's just a whole different level of freedom.
- Janicki's paddling partner, Phil Peterson:
- It's a great equalizer. When you see Andy in the boat,
you don't see the man in the wheelchair, you see the man in the boat.
And I think that's a powerful image.
- It's an image most of us aren't used to.
Janicki recounts a paddling story from Lake Powell.
- When we got next to the houseboat
that picked us up on Lake Powell,
was, ah, we got next to the boat
and we're slamming against it with those waves,
and they're like, "All right! Get up, man!" - (laughter)
- I was like, "I can't, I'm paralyzed."
They're like, "What the hell are you doing out here?" - (laughter)
- Janicki and Peterson may have smooth sailing
on these waters, but what about when they get on shore?
- We were in the Apostle Islands.
It was just Phil and I for five days,
just looked like he was dragging a dead body around.
(both laughing)
- The Bernie's vacation or whatever.
- Yeah, yeah. - (laughter)
- Got me under the shoulders, and just dragging me to the tent
through the sand, it was hilarious.
- This crew had an easier time on this trip.
Andy's dad, Bob Janicki: - We got in last night.
It was almost dark and we found the site.
And got him onto the shore
and we were wheeling him right to the spot, right away. It was easy to get here.
I mean, the state did a great job here.
- Here is one of six campsites in the Turtle Flambeau
that have been adapted to be handicapped accessible.
- This is the Taj Mahal for accessibility.
- Janicki was involved through his job
as an accessibility coordinator for the DNR
in advising on the design.
- Really, what we tried to do here is keep the primitive feel,
but make it accessible at the same time,
and I think we've done a pretty good job of doing that.
- And it didn't break the bank.
- There really isn't a whole lot that goes into
making a site accessible.
- First up, the bathroom.
It's certainly not palatial, but it's also
not as primitive as those at other Flambeau campsites.
- Most of these sites are kind of just dig a hole,
or there's a pit out in the middle of nowhere,
but these are actually an enclosed building,
meet standards with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
It's perfectly set up for various disabilities, basically.
- Campsites need campfires.
This site has the traditional ground-based variety and one more.
- But this is more an accessible fire pit and grill.
As you can see, it's raised up to a higher height,
which is nice, and the grill, you know,
is basically at the height for someone in a wheelchair
can adjust the thing if they have to.
You know, you do it one side at a time.
But, I'm doing this as a quadriplegic without much
grip in my hand, without triceps,
so it's a nice setup. It's very cool.
So basically, it's like someone in a wheelchair could operate this grill.
- But one of the most important modifications
isn't obvious. Look down.
The grade on the trails is never more than 5%.
- Me as like a quadriplegic,
this really isn't too bad to motor around on.
There are 100 some sites on this flowage
and why not make a few accessible?
- It's important to note that these accessible campsites
aren't limited to people with disabilities,
their friends and family.
Anyone can camp here.
It's run on a reservation system.
First come, first served.
- People ask me about him, how he's doing.
And some people have an idea in their mind
that he's sitting in a room looking out a window.
- Wow. Yeah, look at those trees.
- And I tell them what he's doing and they're amazed
and they realize, boy, he's doing more than a lot of people.
For the disabled, they just have to know that
all this stuff is out there for them
and just get out there and do it.
- Oh, man, the water's awesome right now.
- Awesome indeed.
As we mentioned, there are four state parks
that have adaptive kayaks.
They are Mirror Lake, Devil's Lake, Buckhorn
and Perrot state park.
For more information, just go to our website, wpt.org
and click on "In Wisconsin."
Time now for a look at some of the reports
we're working on for the next edition of "In Wisconsin."
- I'm "In Wisconsin" reporter Jo Garrett.
It was called Camp Madison.
It was part of the Civilian Conservation Corps.
And they made history.
- It's an incredible undertaking,
and it was one that had never happened before.
- Find out how Camp Madison
saved a precious part of Wisconsin's legacy.
- This is "In Wisconsin" reporter Frederica Freyberg.
The DNR is launching a multi-year study
on whitetail deer.
- This is a way to involve hunters directly
in the field research alongside of us
and that's exactly what we want to do.
- Find out what's needed and how you can help.
- This is "In Wisconsin" reporter Andy Soth.
Who was Increase Lapham?
- He's been described as a universal genus.
He's been described as being a botanist,
a geologist, a meteorologist, an antiquarian.
It's really hard to come up with a handle for what this man was.
- We'll try, as we go looking for Lapham.
- Those "In Wisconsin" reports on Thanksgiving night
at 7:30, right here on Wisconsin Public Television.
Finally this week, we leave you with
one of the last impressions of summer,
from high above Maiden Rock on the Mississippi River.
The valley below provides shelter and wetlands
for thousands of birds on their yearly migration.
Enjoy the view from Pepin County
and have a great week in Wisconsin.
*
- Major funding for "In Wisconsin" is provided by:
the people of Alliant Energy who bring safe, reliable
and environmentally friendly energy to keep homes,
neighborhoods and life in Wisconsin running smoothly.
Alliant Energy, we're on for you.
And Animal Dentistry and Oral Surgery Specialists
of Oshkosh, Milwaukee and Minneapolis,
a veterinary team working with pet owners
and family veterinarians providing care for oral disease
and dental problems of small companion animals.