Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric R. Hayes Jr. and Eric D. Metcalf. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Eric R. Hayes Jr. and Eric D. Metcalf founded Keeping it Native Land Management (officially) in 2021, but they have been operating for much longer – doing land management projects on the side while working at their day jobs. Their expertise and the impact they had on the environment set them apart quickly among local property owners and soon enough, they were able to transition to KINLM full-time.
Hayes and Metcalf are the owners and operators of the business and can be seen in the field alongside their workers putting in the time, effort, and knowledge to revitalize the natural environment and meet their client’s goals for their projects.
Hayes: It all started with us developing a passion for the outdoors when we were children. That passion has only grown with time, taking us further down the rabbit hole to do right by the land that provides the life we live. While going through college for forestry and wildlife management, it started to take me into the deeper meanings of true high-quality habitat and resource management.
Then when I started working in the field for the Forest Service, OSU, ODNR-DNAP, Athens SWCD, and ODNR-DOW it all started to come together. The passion, the knowledge, and the implementation. During this time, I met my partner Metcalf on the job, quickly becoming friends and growing tired of the constant red tape or limiting factors holding back even the state/feds from implementing sound management practices.
This inspired us to push for a way to continue to be good land stewards and increase our impact on not only the environment but those we serve. Our true goal is to let our passion bleed onto others in hopes to just spark their interest in being a good steward, the rest falls into place. Ultimately it’s our passion for the outdoors and willingness to work hard that got us standing where we are today.
Metcalf: I’ve maintained a lifelong passion for the outdoors since first swinging on grapevines as a young child and catching minnows and crawfish out of the local creek. That desire to hike to the next ridgeline, make just one more cast, or look around the next big oak tree has only grown as I’ve grown older.
After a career in the military, the outdoors provides solace in a hectic world. Partnering with Eric Hayes and establishing Keeping it Native Land Management has expanded my knowledge and appreciation of nature while allowed to share that excitement with others.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Hayes: One of the biggest struggles in my eyes is getting people on the team that want to consistently work hard multiple days a week through ALL weather conditions. This type of work can tax the mind and body especially when you throw yellow jackets, wasps, ticks, chiggers, stinging caterpillars, mosquitos, multiflora rose thorns, humidity, and several other factors into it.
Another struggle has been to get folks to want to take the proper steps in management. Which in most cases involves spending $ before you can ever earn $ if you can. It might be your children or their children that earn the $. Trying to see the greater good can be a real struggle when tempted by wants and desires.
Metcalf: The establishment of Keeping it Native Land Management (KINLM) has not been without its challenges, but we’ve been fortunate to have a strong network that we’ve been able to leverage along the way. Some of our challenges have included: First, funding our startup throughout the first year was tough as there were a lot of unforeseen costs. As we have begun to establish ourselves, the company has become self-sustaining and it has been exciting to watch the business grow.
The second has been time management, KINLM has grown so fast that setting aside the necessary time has been challenging. At the same time, it has been a remarkable journey to see our idea grow and be able to share it with so many others. Finally, scaling will be our next challenge. Our growth rate has outpaced our expectations so we have begun exploring options for expansion, once again leveraging our network.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Hayes: We are a land management business, most people say yea I get that part but what do you do? We do anything outdoors that can make us money, help someone, and most importantly, enhance the land. From native landscaping and junk removal/habitat restoration to what we are known for which is forest and wildlife habitat restoration.
Specifically specializing in non-native invasive species (NNIS control). What we are most proud of and what sets us apart from others is our ability to communicate, educate, and walk away from a job that won’t be for the greater good. We will not do a job in the wrong succession or if it negatively impacts the ecosystem especially just to earn a dollar. We try to educate you why we would not do so and will kindly decline the job, as well as provide alternative resources.
We are most proud of knowing that the management we did yesterday or today could still be impacting the ecosystem in a positive way 50, 100, 200 + years from now. What sets us apart is the way we come onto a property as if it were our own, we aren’t there just to earn money, we have plenty of work that is working toward the greater good. We look at your property from ¼ acre inner city to hundreds of acres in the deepest of the outdoors.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Hayes: The crisis led people back to the outdoors when they couldn’t be around others. We saw an exponential increase in people’s desire to not only walk or enjoy whatever sized slice of heaven they had but also started wanting to do better by the land. Even public land use increased exponentially for those who didn’t have a slice of heaven to enjoy themselves.
Metcalf: Due to the nature of our profession, COVID-19 has not had a substantial impact on our day-to-day operations. If we were to point to one thing, much like a lot of other businesses, material availability and supply chain impacts have been our biggest challenges.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.keepingitnativelandmanagement.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KeepingitNative
Image Credits
Milton Lindsay
