September has the largest variety of fruits and vegetables ready for harvest! This means our farmers are incredibly busy bringing best foods to farmers markets and farm stands around the county.

Keep supporting local Berrien County Farmers Markets:

Benton Harbor: Dwight P. Mitchell City Center Park, 184 E. Main St. | Mid-June to September | Wed 10a to 3p

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

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

New Buffalo: Market Pavilion, 107 N Whittaker St. | May to October | Thur 4p to 8p 

Niles: Homegrown Market, 2nd Street | Jun -September 21st | Sun. 11a - 3p

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

(Farmers Market information from swmichigan.org)

Harvest time also delivers peak preserving conditions. Whether your pickling, freezing, or pressure canning be sure to date those containers. Typical storage conditions can provide up to a year shelf-life and it’s best to have a handle on those . Besides, no one wants to be the lucky contestant on “When did I make this? If you’re curious about food preservation or brand new to the concept, MSU offers a low-cost course that can be attended virtually.

While we’re still reaping the benefits of this year’s bounty, it's never to early to start thinking about cover crop. Did you know that fall is the best time to start cover crop for your spring soil health? Our Regenerative Agriculture page has information on cover crop, but you can also reach out to Sam, our Regen Ag Technician, with questions about specific plants for your land and financial assistance.

Happy Harvesting!

If you visited the Berrien County Youth Fair, you probably saw some of our team! Despite the heat, we were out in force from August 11th - 16th. It was another successful year spreading knowledge and information about conservation efforts and how everyone can get involved. Thank you to everyone that stopped by and visited with us!

Kiki is our Community Engagement Coordinator and is proud to call Southwest Michigan her home. A 2021 transplant from the cornfields of Indiana, she’s a Purdue graduate with a background in residential, commercial and industrial construction. Across her career she’s been passionate about sustainability and community development. She’s had the honor of connecting many companies with renewable resources, responsible reuse practices, and diverse recycling programs. It is her hope to bring this same excitement and bridge building to Berrien County Conservation District.

In her free time she enjoys photography, exploring nature, volunteering, and spending time at home with her 4 pets (2 dogs & 2 cats). When she’s not pursuing hobbies or working, you can often find Kiki at Watervliet High School helping her husband attempt to keep the wood shop clean and organized for his students. 

We are delighted to welcome her to our team!

Farmers and motorists can work together to prevent traffic collisions involving farm equipment.

According to the Michigan State Police, between 150 and 212 traffic collisions involving farm equipment have occurred in the state each year since 2005. On average, 174 collisions involving farm equipment have occurred causing 63 injuries and three fatalities each year in Michigan. An alarming trend is that number of collisions involving farm equipment appears to be increasing in recent years. Over the past 10 years, 2014 ranked number one with 212 crashes, 2013 ranked number two with 207 crashes and 2012 ranked number four with 181 crashes.

Some counties have more of these types of events than others due to the intensity of the agriculture, the number of motorists and the terrain. Annual collision statistics for individual counties can be obtained online at the Michigan State Police Traffic Crash Statistics webpage.

Traffic collisions involving farm equipment and the injuries and fatalities they cause can be prevented. Whether you are a motorist or a farmer, please do your part to make our public roads safer by implementing the practices listed below. This is a shared responsibility for everyone.

Continue reading this MSU Extension article here...

Join us for a FREE screening of the film Common Ground at Loma Theatre, 221 Paw Paw St., Coloma, MI 49038, 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.

• 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!

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.

Make Your Voice Heard in Conservation!

We're calling on passionate individuals to join our Board of Directors! We're seeking an Appointed Director (who would then run for full election next year) and Associate Directors to help shape the future of conservation in our community.

Want to learn more? Attend one of our board meetings (2nd Monday of each month at 12 pm) and see what we're all about. Get involved, share your ideas, and join our team!

Interested in joining us? Email our District Manager, Lisa.Kuntz@macd.org, for more information. We want to hear your voice and work together to make a difference!

Mark Your Calendars! We’re having a Fall Native Plant Sale this year: 

🌼 Saturday, September 27, 2025

🌼 10 am - 4 pm

🌼 3334 Edgewood Rd., Berrien Springs, MI 49103.

🌼 Browse & Buy Only

🌼 No Pre-orders

Come explore our selection of native plants and get ready to beautify your garden while supporting local conservation.

Environmental Awareness is all about giving some much needed air time to topics like climate change, pollution, and conservation. It’s a great time to focus on creating more sustainable habits and ways to protect natural environments.

Here are some ways you can participate in Environmental Awareness Month here in Berrien County:

• Volunteer:

  • Individuals needed for Beach Clean Up with Berrien County Parks (Active through mid September)

  • Help with the roadside clean up via Berrien County’s Adopt-A-Road Program (Current clean up window is September 1st-15th)

  • Contact your local parks department for clean up days in your neighborhood

• Get your hands dirty:

  • Plant cold season veggies, fall blooming annuals, or perennials and bulbs for next year!

  • Weed out some invasive species.

  • Take a “litter walk” and pick up any trash you find in nature.

• Learn about conservation:

  • Explore the new website and learn about our programs and services in Berrien County

  • Find out what’s happening on a national scale with NRCS - Natural Resources Conservation Service.

  • Learn through observation by wandering the many hiking trails in one of our county’s parks. Please note that some Berrien County Parks have a small admission fee.

• Participate in Zero Waste Week September 1st-5th!

This year, we are offering two plant native t-shirt designs by artist Elizabeth Newman. These tees are exclusive to the Conservation Districts in Michigan. We have a limited supply, so you won't want to miss out!

• Order online by clicking the image above ⬆️

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

Did you know we have equipment available for rent? We do! We have a Truax No-Till Drill, Brillion Grass Seeder, Holland Tree Seedling Transplanter, a Japanese Knotweed Herbicide Injector, and our newest addition, the Pullerbear Tree & Invasive Weed Puller.

Learn more at berriencd.org/equipment-rentals or contact us at 269-471-9111 x 3.

Exciting news for Michigan farmers! Did you know about MI Farm Link? This valuable resource connects farmers looking to buy, sell, or lease land, and can help with farm transition planning.

Their mission is to: 

🌾 Connect landowners with passionate farmers

🌾 Preserve Michigan's precious farmland for future generations

🌾 Provide valuable resources and education

🌾 Support transition planning for a smooth handover

Through their program and MI Farm Link website you can:

Farmers, do you have deer causing crop damage? We’ve got a solution for you! Hunter's Feeding Michigan has a refrigerated trailer program that allows them to drop off and pick up a refrigerated trailer at your farm, process the deer(s), and then the meat is donated to food banks, helping Michiganders in need!

Sounds like something you're interested in? To get started, contact David Laing at laingd4@michigan.gov or 269-858-8167.

Not a farmer but want to help? 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. Let's make a difference!

Did you know you can get paid for allowing hunters to use your property? Our Hunting Access Program (HAP) is now accepting enrollment for the upcoming season until September 30. 

By participating in HAP, you'll not only earn money, but you'll also be supporting responsible and safe hunting practices. Get paid for hunters to hunt on your land - it's a win-win!

Click the image above or here to learn more!

Berrien County Parks Department has many recycling events coming up this year, with various items of collection.

Saturday, September 13th:

• 9a - 1p

• Silver Beach County Park

  • 101 Broad St., St. Joseph

• Items Accepted at This Event:

  • Household Chemicals

  • Electronics: some fees apply, payment due at event

  • Foam/Polystyrene

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