Friends and neighbors, we are in the midst of harvest season 🍂 Apples are at their peak! Late season pears are thriving! Pumpkins are picked and ready to join your favorite fall recipes! Support local by stopping at those farm stands and choosing local at the grocery store. Show our farmers how much you love Southwest Michigan’s bounty 🤎

Berrien County Fall Festivities

Late Season Farmers Markets:

Buchanan: In the Common, 122 Days Ave. | May to Mid-October 11th | Sat. 8a to 1p

Bridgman: Open Air Market, 4509 Lake St. | May to Mid-October | Sun. 9a to 3p

St. Joseph: Lake Bluff Park, 400 Lake Blvd. | May to October 4th | Sat 9a to 2p

(Farmers Market information from swmichigan.org)

Hands on Harvest & More:

Dinges Fall Harvest - Three Oaks

P&M Pumpkins - Berrien Springs

Stovers Farm U-Pic - Berrien Springs

Shafer Farm Apple Picking - Baroda

Twin Maple Orchard - Galien

Lehman’s Orchard - Niles

Events at Berrien County Fairgrounds:

October 3rd - Trunk or Treat

October 4th - Chapel Hill Craft Show

October 11th - Mom2Mom Sale

October 26th - Simply Unique Market

Check out their event calendar for more details!

You’re always hearing about everything we’re up to with the programs and services available through BCCD. But, have you ever wanted to know what you can do? Conservation efforts always go further with more boots on the ground.

Thanks to our patrons, the first ever Fall Native Plant Sale was a roaring success!

The sale opened at 10 am and within hours the plants had nearly sold out. We were able to provide over 20 varieties with Michigan genomes in an effort to boost native planting success in our area.

Thank you to everyone that visited us on Saturday!! We’re already looking forward to our Spring Sale 💚

Calling all photographers! Do you have stunning photos from Berrien County's farms, waterways, or countryside? We are now accepting submissions for our newest plat book. The photo above was a submission from last year by Kait Lemon and a perfect example of the work we’re looking for. Read on for additional details and how to submit:

• Photos must be at least 400dpi and be accompanied by the copyright release found here.

• Images must be your own originals.

• Submissions should be sent to berriencd@macd.org on or before November 1st, 2025 for consideration.

Register now for a FREE screening of Common Ground at the Loma Theatre on Wednesday November 12th.

From the filmmakers of ‘Kiss the Ground’ comes the follow-up documentary ‘Common Ground’ directed by Josh and Rebecca Tickell. Common Ground is an important new documentary film featuring the following: Laura Dern, Jason Momoa, Woody Harrelson, Ian Somerhalder, Donald Glover, Rosario Dawson, Mark Hyman, Gabe Brown, and many others.

Common Ground provides hope for future generations with concrete ways to fix a broken planetary system. The film explores how regenerative agriculture can help heal the soil, our health and the planet.

• Loma Theatre is located at 221 Paw Paw St. Coloma, MI 49038

• Doors open at 12:30 p.m.

• Panel discussion at 2:30 p.m.

• Seating is limited

• Pre-Registration is required - click the image to register now!

As of October 1st, 2025 MIFarmLink will officially join the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts (MACD). To learn more about this exciting addition, MACD will be hosting a virtual Lunch & Learn on November 13th from 1-2pm via Zoom. Learn more from the full press release attached below.

Berrien County Parks Department has just one remaining recycling event for 2025. See the details below to take advantage of this local resource.

Saturday, October 4th:

• 8a - Noon

• Southeast Berrien County Landfill Recycle Center

  • 3200 Chamberlain Rd., Buchanan

• Items Accepted at This Event:

  • Household Chemicals

  • Electronics: some fees apply, payment due at event

  • Foam/Polystyrene

  • Personal Documents for On-Site Shredding

Hunter's Feeding Michigan has a program where they drop off a refrigerated trailer at your farm, process the deer(s), and donate the meat to food banks. After the season is over, the trailer is then removed from your property.

If this sounds like something you’re interested in please contact David Laing at laingd4@michigan.gov or 269-858-8167 and help Michiganders in need!

Want to help in other ways? Monetary donations can be sent to: 330 Marshall St. Ste 103, Lansing, MI 48912. Checks payable to Food Bank Council of Michigan with "Hunters Feeding Michigan" in the memo line. You can make a difference!

Sizes are getting limited! Be sure to grab one of our two plant native t-shirt designs by artist Elizabeth Newman. This design is exclusive to the Conservation Districts in Michigan.

• Order online by clicking the image above ⬆️

• Pick up only at our District Office: weekdays 8a - 4:30p

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is conducting a survey to gather feedback on interest and or barriers for their invasive-free certification program. We encourage you to participate in this short survey to share your thoughts on the program and why you would or wouldn't get involved. Your input will be valuable in shaping the future of invasive species management in our state.