Washtenaw County Conservation District

11/05/2026

Aspiring farmer? Applications are open for the MSU Organic Farmer Training Program! They are now accepting applications for the Detroit, Flint, East Lansing and Grand Rapids learning sites!

East Lansing applications are accepted on a rolling basis until early February or when the cohort is full, but Detroit, Flint, and Grand Rapids typically fill soon after the scholarship applications are due (November 15th)

Learn more:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/organic_farmer_training_program/about/apply-now

11/04/2026

Leaving your leaves is often a good option. They provide nutrients to the soil, and habitat for insects and microbes. However, leaves can also harbor tree diseases and should be managed accordingly.

Read the full article by WCCD Community Forester Matt DeJonge:
https://washtenawcd.org/news/should-we-leave-leaves

11/02/2026

Removing woody invasive species without herbicide? Rent our pulling tools to get the job done (for FREE)!

Theses "wrenches" grip woody stems, and use leverage to pull them out of the ground.

They work best in soft ground (after rain), on plants with single stems, and plants under 3" in diameter.

🔎Browse the variety of light-->heavy duty pulling tools on the website:

https://tools.washtenawcd.org/

You can choose a pickup location, either at the Washtenaw County Conservation District office on Zeeb rd. or at the Washtenaw Food Hub Sunflower Farm Market on Whitmore Lake rd, or at Growing Hope in Ypsilanti!

10/30/2026

Tractor Tire Drive 2026 is happening on November 7th!

Tractor tires are being collected at Freedom Township Hall. There is no cost for this service but a donation is suggested.

🚜You must register for this event and space is limited so sign-up today!

https://washtenawcd.org/events/tractor-tire-drive

We partner with Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner's Office Materials Management Division to collect agricultural tires from all over Washtenaw County. Since its inception, this tire drive has collected over 500 tractor tires from the agricultural community, preventing them from leaching chemicals into groundwater and reducing the breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

10/29/2026

10/29/2026

💪 Got muscles? Love a little manual labor? Trade your gym session for some good old-fashioned community service! Join us at the Tractor Tire Drive 2026 Saturday, November 7 from 9 AM to noon to help load tractor tires for recycling. 🚜 💪🚜

If interested in this volunteer opportunity, please email: [email protected]

10/26/2026

Did you know Michigan has over 460 native wild bees? They are excellent pollinators for farms, gardens, and orchards. These native bees evolved alongside the crops domesticated by Native Americans like tomatoes, blueberries, and squash. As most wild bees overwinter in plant stems or in the soil, fall garden care can either eliminate them or encourage their abundance. With a few small changes, you can invite these gentle guests to visit and stay awhile.

Read the full article by Shawn Severance, Naturalist with Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation Commission, edited by entomologist David Cappaert, on our website.
🐝

10/23/2026

Washtenaw Farmers: Your fields and compost piles are critical to turning organic resources back into healthy soil!

The Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner's Office Materials Management Division, in partnership with the Washtenaw County Conservation District, want to learn more about composting on local farms.

🪱Whether you already manage a compost system or are just curious about how to do more, we want to hear from you!

Washtenaw County is developing goals to reduce the amount of food scraps going to landfills. One of the goals is to develop a county-wide compost program. Your voice is needed to help guide the next steps on how farms are involved.

Thank you for your input on this 5-10 minute survey!
🚜https://washtenawcd.org/news/composting-farms-survey

10/22/2026

On October 10th, community members gathered for the Washtenaw Conserved Farm tour to celebrate two historic 6th-generation family farms protected by permanent easements. These lands represent generations of dedicated farming families whose stewardship has sustained both rich agricultural traditions and essential local ecosystems.

Over 25 people attended the event, connecting directly with the land and the inspiring individuals who keep our region's heritage alive. Preserving these multi-generational farms ensures that their legacy, working soil, and open green spaces endure for the Washtenaw County community.

This vital work is made possible through a true team effort with Legacy Land Conservancy, Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation, and Washtenaw County Conservation District and others. All who partnered to plan this event, and showcase the critical work of preserving these important spaces. Thank you to everyone who joined us in honoring the farmers and public investments that safeguard the preservation of these spaces.

And a big thank you to the farms that made this day possible. The Irwin and Doll properties are beautiful examples of the positive impact local conservation efforts have.

10/20/2026

Two upcoming workshops for identifying and trapping the invasive Spotted Lanternfly!

Tuesday October 27th:
3:30-4:30pm at County Farm Park, Ann Arbor
5:30-6:30pm at Wilson Park, Milan

Learn more and register:
https://pears.io/events/msuext/?page_size=20&q=spotted+&page=1