$22,000 , 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 0 half baths, 1,577 square feet     Matt Mulder | Keller Williams Realty | (269) 207-4712 212 Cass St, Augusta, MI www.findkalamazoohomes.com 3BR/2BA Single Family House   offered at $22,000 Year Built 1890 Sq Footage 1,577 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 2 full, 0 partial Floors 2 Parking Unspecified Lot Size 16,552 sqft HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION HUD Home Sold As is by electronic bid only at www.HUDHomestore.com Farmhouse in the quaint village of Augusta located on a large lot. Over 1500 sq ft of living space in addition to large basement that is perfect for storage and laundry. 203k financing available - you can make this home is exactly what you are looking for. The spacious yard has mature trees that offer shade in the hot summer days. Garden area'... 11/01/2013

Today I drove into the Fort Custer Recreation Area outside of Augusta, Michigan to do a little bit of hiking with my dog.   When I pulled in there was a new sign greeting visitors.  It was a painted sign featuring a black bear and bigfoot. Apparently in the 1980's there was a bigfoot sighting here near one of the lakes, and I guess they are trying to capture some of the attention. Anyway, I thought the sign was funny and took this photo. 09/24/2013

$185,000 , 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 1 half baths, 1,594 square feet     Matt Mulder | Keller Williams Realty | (269) 207-4712 7906 N 43rd St, Augusta, MI Two Story Traditional-Great Location-Formal Dining Room-Bay Windows-Backyard Deck-Master Suite-Walk In Closet-Walkout 3BR/2+1BA Single Family House   offered at $185,000 Year Built 1998 Sq Footage 1,594 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 2 full, 1 partial Floors 2 Parking 2 Car garage Lot Size 1.3 acres HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION This Two Story Traditional home has a prime location near Gull Lake Cheff Center, Kellogg Forest and Golf-Nice sized Living Room with a Tiled Entry that opens to Formal Dining Room which features Bay Windows and Sliding Glass Doors that lead to the Backyard Deck-Kitchen has beautiful Oak Cabinets that offer plenty... 07/08/2013

Perhaps one of the most beautiful flowering trees is the dogwood.  I came across this one in a forest here in Michigan last Spring, and took this photo.  Years ago when I lived in Georgia, I remember having purchased my first home in the winter.  When Spring came I was pleasantly surprised to find that I had nine dogwood trees on my property, as my whole yard came alive with these beautiful blooms.  I simply love the natural artistry of these blooms and the trees themselves. 05/17/2013

This morning it is snowing in Southwest Michigan where I live.  Rather than write about the snow, I thought I would write a blog about a tree that has facinated me since the first time I ever laid eyes on one.  It is the Dogwood tree.  I first saw these in Georgia when I moved there in 1984.  My sister introduced them to me, and showed me the unique flower when it was in bloom.  I always associate Dogwoods with Georgia, as if one is lucky to be there during the precise time in spring, the region is blooming with them.  I had forgotten about the Dogwood tree after I moved to Michigan, as I had not seen one in quite awhile.  They do grow here, but there are so many other flowering trees in the area, that it is easy to overlook them.  I was out in the woods last year just doing a nature hi... 01/20/2013

I spend a lot of leisure time (when I can find it) taking walks through the woods.  One of the local places I like to venture off to is the Fort Custer Recreation area between Battle Creek and Augusta, just inside Kalamazoo County off Dickman Road. There are hiking, biking and horseback riding trails through approximately 6000 acres of forest land.  There are lakes, fields, and all sorts of wildlife.  There is a public beach, canoeing and great places to fish.  Whenever you go, depending on the time of year, there is always something interesting to photograph. Here are some photos I took of a recent hike I went on a few weeks ago: 07/15/2012

In April I went for a walk at Fort Custer State Recreation area which is a forest in Kalamazoo County Michigan, just outside of Battle Creek.  It is a great place to go mountain biking, hiking and horse back riding.  I went there a lot on weekends in 2011, and have not been able to get away as much as I would like this year.  Here are some photos I took from earlier this year that I thought would be nice to share.  The beauty in the forest is one of the things that makes a walk in the woods special.  I like to go on long hikes and take my camera with me. Sometimes I capture some photos that when I look at them later really surprise me.  I hope you enjoy these. 06/24/2012

This past weekend I went to the Fort Custer Recreation area to do some hiking.  I had not been able to get out there in several weeks, and since that time the leaves have changed and fallen.  The seasons have shiften from late summer to autumn, and so of course, took my camera with me for some photography.  Here is a collection of photos I took this past Saturday from some of the hiking trails there.  The weather was beautiful, and you could not have asked for a better day. 10/26/2011

I have been going hiking (and sometimes mountain biking) a lot on weekends in the Fort Custer Recreation area between Battle Creek and Augusta, Michigan.  It is a nice way to get out and get some exercise and see a little of what Mother Nature has to offer.  Here are some samples of some of the photos I have taken, mostly in August of this year.  I thought I would share these on a Friday afternoon.  Have a great weekend everyone! 09/16/2011

I know I have written a lot about the Fort Custer Recreation Area recently on my blogs.  It is something that I consider as a valuable local resource for Southwest Michigan, and the park is located between Battle Creek and Augusta Michigan. I have gone on many summer hike there this year to get outdoors, and get some exercise.  It has been a great escape for me.  When you spend a great deal of your year as a Realtor always on the phone, or out showing houses or braving the winter elements it is nice to excape now and then when summer is here. I love hiking on trails, and I enjoy it when I am out there and there is no one else percievably around and it is just me and the woods.  Recently I started creating some videos of my adventures. Here is the first one if you want to come walking wi... 08/16/2011

One of my favorite forms of excercise it to go hiking on the trails of the Fort Custer Recreation Area located between Augusta and Battle Creek, Michigan.  The park contains over 25 miles of trails that are used for mountain biking, hiking, jogging, and horse back riding.  In the winter the trails are used for cross country skiing, snow mobiling and bob sledding.  I primarily use the trails for hiking because I enjoy the exercise, and like to take my time.  I guess it comes from all my training as a boy scout when I was a kid in Arizona, because I love to hike and also occasionally go off trail through the woods.  The trail system at the Fort Custer Recreation area is maintained by volunteers from state biking associations, and also with State funds from entry fees.  Michigan residents ... 08/08/2011

I was out in the Fort Custer Recreation Area hiking some of the trails this past weekend and paused for a drink of water, and took this photo.  I thought this tree has such character, and decided to include it here.  This one happened to be right off the trail, and easy to see.  The forest is quite thick at points along the various trails, and there is such a mix of interesting trees that as a photographer I simply never run out of things to take photos of.  This tree looked like it could tell some stories. 08/08/2011

This past weekend I decided to spend some time outdoors exploring.  I went to the Fort Custer Recreation Area located between Battle Creek and the village of Augusta, Michigan.  It consists of 3,033 acres of land that was originally acquired and developed by the federal government to establish Camp Custer, a military induction and training facility during WWII.  The land was later deeded over to the State of Michigan to be used as a park under the Nixon Presidency in 1972.  Fort Custer Recreation Area is a fabulous place to go hiking, mountain biking or even running.  The trails span over 28 miles interweaving through the park, and there are three lakes and even a 1000 foot beach to enjoy.  It is quite an impressive and well maintained park, and it is a great place to take the family.  ... 07/25/2011

This past weekend I decided to take some time alone and return to one of my long forgotten joys in life which is hiking.  I have not found many places to hike in the last few years, and oddly enough, there was a place very close to Battle Creek that I had not explored.  The Fort Custer State Park or also known as the 'Fort Custer Recreation Area'.  A few years ago the Michigan Department of Natural Resources changed all the names of State parks to 'Recreation Areas' which was the result of legislation passed.  I prefer the name State Park myself, as it seems more traditional. I first drove into this place a few weeks ago when my wife were out for a Sunday drive.  It is located between Battle Creek and Augusta, Michigan off of Dickman Road in Kalamazoo County. Fort Custer Park has so muc... 07/25/2011

 The W.K. Kellogg Experimental Forest in Augusta, Michigan has a unique quality that combines forestry research and also provides a setting that is conducive to forest recreation.  Once abandoned agricultural land, the W.K. Kellogg Experimental Forest is known worldwide for research on tree breeding and genetics, planting techniques, plantation establishment and management.  That is right! The entire forest was planted on abandoned agricultural land. Kellogg Forest was established in 1930 by Cereal Magnate, W.K. Kellogg, who during his many drives between his home and cereal factory in Battle Creek, saw farmland that was abandoned and badly eroded.  He had a vision: to make a difference by planting trees.  He purchased the original 285 acres that soon became known as the Kellogg Refores... 05/10/2010

The Kellogg Bird Sanctuary in Augusta, Michigan is a great excursion for nature lovers.  The Sanctuary, which also serves as a biological station, is located at: 12685 East C Avenue in Augusta, Michigan, just a 20 to 25 minute drive from Battle Creek.  It is a wonderful place to bring your binoculars and camera!  There are several waterfowl that make their home at the ‘Winter Green' Lake, which adjoins the grounds of the Sanctuary.  Throughout the year the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary hosts bird walks they call ‘Birds & Beans' where you can walk with a guide around the Sanctuary, and enjoy a cup of organic coffee at the conclusion made from beans grown right there!  There is also field ornithology courses held right at the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary, so students and bird lovers can learn from exp... 04/14/2010