November has arrived and we’re already celebrating the season of gratitude 🧡 We are truly thankful for supporters like you that allow us to continue our mission of promoting the protection and improvement of Berrien County’s natural resources through education, management, and technical assistance.

As we embrace the season of giving, we’re excited to share several November events and a few ways to celebrate Nation Native American Heritage Month!

Free JazzReach Concert in Three Oaks

• November 5th - 7p

• Hosted by The Acorn

• An Evening with JazzReach’s Metta Quintet

Free Common Ground Screening at Loma Theater

• November 12th - 1p

• Hosted by Berrien County Conservation District

• Engaging documentary on Regenerative Agriculture

• Panel Discussion to follow screening

A Drink with History: The Birch Bark Books of Simon Pokagon

• November 13th - 6p

• Hosted by Berrien County Historical Association

• Celebrating National Native American Heritage Month

• 21+ $50 per person ($65 with book purchase)

Embossed Native Bird Ornaments

• November 15th - 1p

• Hosted by Fernwood Botanical Garden

• Teens - Adults $35 per person

National Take a Hike Day

• November 17th - Dawn to Dusk

• Visit the link above for Berrien County hiking trails

• Spend time in nature and soak up the fall season

DIY Bird Feeder Workshop

• November 26th - 2p

• Hosted by Berrien County Conservation District

• All ages $25 per person

Small Business Saturday

• November 29th - hours will vary

• Visit locally owned shops from Coloma to Niles & invest in our community

• Shop tribal owned businesses with this directory

• Small Business Saturday at JLN Studios - free crafts for all ages

Michigan Potawatomi villages occupied ca. 1820 to 1900. Shaded areas indicate the range of Potawatomi territory prior to early-nineteenth-century American settlement. a. Rush Lake; b. Paw Paw; c. Brush Creek; d. Silver Creek; e. Pokagon Reservation; f. Niles Nadowesippe Reservation and Athens. Image & Caption Source

ReLeaf Michigan hosted the 16th Biennial Michigan Big Tree Hunt Awards in late October. Berrien County’s winner was Kenny Karmerer who submitted this gorgeous Sycamore that measured 291.6" in circumference. Sadly our county’s submissions lost to the Michigan State winner, a 327" Weeping Willow from Shiawassee County!

Check out each county's winner and all the fun photos via the button below.

On October 22nd, we hosted our first ever Native Seed Ball Workshops at Sodus Library. Both afternoon and evening sessions included a brief overview of native seed planting and how seed balls can help our county support local flora and fauna health.

Mid November is still a great time to disperse seeds for spring! If you’re interested in learning more click the button below to read our recap for recipes and native seed information!

Our team is incredibly excited to host this event and hope everyone finds this documentary as inspiring as we do!

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 above to register now!

Common Ground explores how regenerative agriculture can help heal the soil, our health and the planet while providing hope for future generations with concrete solutions.

This documentary is a follow up to 2020’s ‘Kiss the Ground’. Directed by Josh and Rebecca Tickell, Common Ground is an important new documentary film featuring: Laura Dern, Jason Momoa, Woody Harrelson, Ian Somerhalder, Donald Glover, Rosario Dawson, Mark Hyman, Gabe Brown, and many impactful farmers.

Join us on November 26th for our DIY Bird Feeder Workshop! You’ll be walked through assembly with Watervliet’s Industrial Technology teacher and given the skills to repeat as needed for your own future feeders! Since we’ll be providing and prepping the supplies, this workshop does have a fee per person and requires registration in advance.

• Wednesday November 26th at 2pm

• 3334 Edgewood Road Berrien Springs, MI 49103*

• Registration is $25 per person and seating is limited.

• Refunds will not be issued if you are unable to attend due to the purchase of materials in advance.

• With the use of hand drills as part of the session, each registrant will be required to sign a waiver in order to participate.

*Location is subject to change depending on the availability of our offices during the government shutdown. If we are not able to return to the office by mid-November we will reserve a nearby location and contact you with updated location details.

If you have property and are interested in creative ways to give back, this program is a great way to help out with very little lift on your end! Hunter's Feeding Michigan is a program in which a refrigerated trailer is dropped off at your farm to collect deer for processing. Once processed, the meat is donated to area food banks. And after the season is over, the trailer is then removed from your property. Simple as that :)

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. You can order now by clicking the image above! Please note shipping is unavailable and all orders must be picked up at our office; weekdays 8a-4:30p.