Monroe Conservation District

06/15/2026

Thank you to everyone who attended our native plant sale on Friday! We loved seeing so many community members stop by to shop, learn, and chat with other gardeners. Happy planting!

06/10/2026

🌱🚜 FIELD DAY SERIES FOR MICHIGAN PRODUCERS 🚜🌱

Looking for opportunities to learn, network, and see conservation practices in action? Check out these upcoming Eaton Conservation District Field Days!

🌾 **Cropping Systems Field Day**
📅 August 14, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
📍 Hickey Farms, Vermontville

Join Shane and Nicole Hickey, Eaton Conservation District's 2025 Legacy Conservation Farmers of the Year, as they showcase conservation practices on their 4,200-acre MAEAP Verified operation. Topics include:
✔️ Cover Crops
✔️ No-Till
✔️ Soil Health
✔️ Pollinator Plantings
✔️ Grass Waterways
✔️ Conservation Crop Rotation

🌻 **Specialty Crop Field Day**
📅 September 13, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
📍 Titus Farms, Leslie

Learn from Rebecca Titus and see regenerative specialty crop production in action. Topics include:
✔️ Compost & Natural Fertilizers
✔️ Irrigation Management
✔️ Cover Crops
✔️ Soil Health
✔️ Wildlife Habitat
✔️ Diverse Crop Production Systems

Both events include:
🍽️ FREE Lunch
🎁 Giveaways
🤝 Networking with fellow farmers and conservation professionals

These hands-on field days are a great opportunity to exchange ideas, explore conservation practices, and strengthen the future of agriculture in Michigan.

Space is limited—register today!

05/27/2026

Join fellow farmers, practitioners, researchers, and community members at Michigan's 2026 State of the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) Conference, which will focus on tri-state progress, ongoing project updates, and community resilience in reducing nutrient pollution in Michigan’s watersheds that drain into the Western Basin of Lake Erie.

The conference will include a mix of plenary, concurrent sessions, and posters where attendees will learn about DAP updates, program and project outcomes, new research findings, and more. Come to learn, meet new people, and ask questions!

📅 Date: June 23rd, 2026
🕑 Time: 8:30am-6pm
📍Location: Adrian Tobias Center, Adrian, MI
✅ Registration: https://graham.umich.edu/event/2026-state-western-lake-erie-basin-conference

05/20/2026

Happy World Bee Day!

Today we’re recognizing the essential role that bees and other pollinators play in keeping our ecosystems healthy, supporting biodiversity, and helping us grow the food we eat everyday. Bees are small yet mighty players in keeping our food system running.

Pollinators around the world are being threatened by habitat degradation, pesticide exposure, and environmental changes. Protecting these important pollinators starts in our own communities through planting native and protecting their habitats!

05/08/2026

Ever wanted to learn how to create a Rain Garden on your property? Join us in June for a FREE Rain Garden Workshop at the Maybee Branch Library! Register here: bit.ly/myraingard

05/08/2026

Join the Western Lake Erie Basin Conference this summer to hear TNC Farmer Advocate Matt Burkholder deliver the keynote speech, The Future of Farming!

Hear from Matt as he shares farming history and mentorship journey through Farmer Advocates and delivers insight on the three key themes to conservation success: generational knowledge, community collaboration and solidarity, and better soil health.

🗓️June 23rd, 2026
🕜Conference: 8:30am - 6pm Keynote Address: 12:45pm
📍Adrian Tobias Center, Ritchie Marketplace, Adrian, MI 49221, USA

Register here: https://graham.umich.edu/event/2026-state-western-lake-erie-basin-conference

04/16/2026

🍄 Morel Mushroom Season is Here in Berrien County! 🍄

Spring in Berrien County, Michigan means one thing for many outdoor enthusiasts—morel mushroom hunting season! Whether you’re a seasoned forager or just starting out, there’s nothing quite like the thrill of spotting these elusive forest treasures.

Here are a few quick tips to help you on your hunt:
🌱 Look around dead or dying hardwood trees (especially elm, ash, and apple)
🌡️ Head out when soil temps warm up after spring rains
🧺 Bring a mesh bag so spores can spread as you walk
👀 Move slowly—morels are great at hiding in leaf litter!
🚫 Always be 100% sure of your identification before eating any wild mushroom

We’d love to see what you find out there! 🌿 Drop your photos in the comments and show off what Berrien County has to offer this season. Let’s celebrate the beauty, abundance, and excitement of spring in our local forests together!

Happy hunting—and stay safe! 🍄💚

04/15/2026

Register here! https://connect.intuit.com/t/scs-v1-1e852f9bf2c4494da77739a54b1a27d7b5a6b84be7ee417d94f4503aefd41edf8afd9c90de4c4136a9cc52d00e68354a?locale=EN_US&utm_source=qrcode

04/15/2026

12/22/2025

Wishing a holly jolly holiday season to all this year!

As a reminder, the Monroe Conservation District office will be closed Wednesday, Dec. 24th, and Thursday, Dec. 25th in observance of the federal holiday.