Fall Tree & Native Plant Sale |
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Friday, September 30th, 2022 from 1-6 pm at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds
Each spring and fall the Conservation District sells a variety of trees, shrubs, wildflowers and prairie grasses which are intended for conservation uses. Both individual species and plant packets or garden kits are offered, in addition to planting aids to support your planting efforts.
This fall sales will include a selection of six conifer trees, 26 native potted plants, and four native plant garden kits. The preorder period is from August 12th to September 18th, with paper forms due earlier on September 9th. Orders can be made on the WCCD online store: store.washtenawcd.org or by paper form, available as PDF or at the WCCD office.
The pre-order pick-up date is Friday, September 30th, 1-6 p.m. at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds: 5055 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd, Ann Arbor, MI, 48103. Limited extra plants will be available for sale between 5-6pm, first-come first-serve.
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Thursday, September 8th, 2022 from 8:00 am to 11:30 am at Brines Farm (6384 Walsh Rd., Whitmore Lake, MI 48189)
The Washtenaw County Conservation District will host an educational MAEAP Field Day at the farm of Shannon Brines, 6384 Walsh Road, Whitmore Lake in Webster Township. Shannon Brines is a Lecturer at the Sustainable Food Systems Initiative at the University of Michigan, and at the field day he will discuss and demonstrate several regenerative agriculture techniques.
In particular, he will discuss the benefits of keyline water management to conserve water and build topsoil as well as alley cropping – where rows of trees and/or shrubs are planted to create alleys within which agricultural crops can be produced. In addition, John Cox of nearby Baseline Farm will discuss the potential for grazing cattle between the alleys as well as the benefits that cattle and other grazers can have on pasture health. Registration required.
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Earlier this year, we launched a hand tool and herbicide application tool rental program, for planting, invasive species removal, and soil testing. We've since improved the online reservation process, and are excited to announce that these will be cross-posted with the Ann Arbor District Library!
Additionally, we're getting closer to launching the rental program this fall for our Truax No-Till Drill, used for cover crops, filter strips, and restoration seeding. We'll be hosting a Demonstration of the drill in October, so stay tuned!
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Thursday, September 15th, 2022 from 9:00 am to 10:30 am at Washtenaw County Conservation District (705 N Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103)
Join us for a cup of joe and good conversation. This is an opportunity for Washtenaw County farmers to sit down with us and talk about land use, loss of farmland, development, and land access. There are multiple dates to choose from throughout the year, but please register here so we can keep you informed.
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Fall Native Plant Swap
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Sunday, October 16th, 2022 from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm at Ypsilanti District Library (5577 Whittaker Rd, Ypsilanti, MI 48197)
The Washtenaw County Conservation District (WCCD), with support from the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commission’s Office and Ypsilanti District Library, will host a free native plant swap on October 16th, 2022 at the Ypsilanti District Library Whittaker Branch. Everyone is welcome to come to this potluck style event whether or not you bring a plant to "pass". If bringing native plants from your yard to share, please label them.
If you are looking for a few native plants to add to your yard, please investigate your site conditions (sun exposure, soil type, soil moisture) to ensure a good match. Feel free to attend if you’d like to learn more about native plants, practice your identification skills, help others select appropriate plants for their sites, or socialize with native plant enthusiasts! If you would like to help weed and/or install “leftover” plants (starting at 2:15 pm) along the edges of the detention basin and/or pollinator garden at the Ypsilanti District Library, please bring gloves and a trowel. Register to attend.
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The second year of the grant program received eleven amazing applications, and our grant committee chose four to award including:
- Trinh Pifer Intergenerational Garden, Chelsea - Pollinator Preservation Project
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We the People Opportunity Farm, Ypsilanti - Educational Rain Garden and Pollinator Habitat
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Pittsfield Township, Community Center Native Plant Garden
- Ypsilanti Community Middle School - Wildlife Habitat Courtyard
We thank all those who applied. We will be provide resources and guidance. We look forward to continue working with these four projects for them to receive consultation support and plant materials to make their project visions a reality.
We've also posted reports from 3 more of our 2021 grant awardees! See how the grant and plants are growing!
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MAEAP Field Day |
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Thursday, September 8th from 8:00a.m. to 11:30a.m.
Brines Farm (6384 Walsh Rd., Whitmore Lake, MI 48189)
Learn about the benefits of keyline water management to conserve water and build topsoil as well as alley cropping – where rows of trees and/or shrubs are planted to create alleys within which agricultural crops can be produced. In addition, we will discuss the potential for grazing cattle between the alleys as well as the benefits that cattle and other grazers can have on pasture health. Registration required.
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Coffee & Conservation |
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Thursday, September 15th from 9:00a.m. to 10:30a.m.
Washtenaw County Conservation District (705 N Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103)
Join us for a cup of joe and good conversation. This is an opportunity for Washtenaw County farmers to sit down with us and talk about land use, loss of farmland, development, and land access. There are multiple dates to choose from throughout the year, but please register here so we can keep you informed.
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Fall Tree & Native Plant Sale |
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Friday, September 30th from 1:00p.m. to 6:00p.m.
Washtenaw County Farm Council Grounds
Pre-orders are now open through September 18th on the WCCD online store or September 9th for all paper order form. Wish to volunteer? Click here!
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- Salem Township Land Preservation & Conservation Board will be meeting on Tuesday, August 16th at 7 p.m. at the Salem Township Hall, 9600 Six Mile Road, Salem, MI 48175
- Ann Arbor Township Farmland and Open Space Preservation Board will be meeting on Monday, September 26th at 7:30 p.m. at the Ann Arbor Township Hall, 3792 Pontiac Trail, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
- Dexter Township Open Space and Land Preservation Committee will be meeting on Thursday, September 1st at 7 p.m. at Dexter Township Hall, 6880 Dexter-Pinckney Rd, Dexter, MI 48130.
- Northfield Township Land Preservation Committee will be meeting on Monday, September 12th at 6 p.m. at Northfield Township Hall, 8350 Main St., Whitmore Lake.
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