Charles Murray, Sec 23, Oronoko Township. Checking his wildlife cover along one of his ponds.

Conservation Practice Agronomic Min. Tillage Berrien County May 1977

Galien River Soil Conservation District

Come celebrate our 20th Anniversary and get ready for an exciting event featuring our special guest speaker, Jarod Reibel, the Director of Physical Resource at the Edward Lowe Foundation, he will deliver an inspiring presentation on land conservation titled, "From Litter Box to Land Conservation at Big Rock Valley".

For only $25 per person or free* for government and municipal representatives:

• Enjoy dinner catered by renowned John Brydack of TVB Catering

• Vote in board elections

• Hear the latest district updates

• Participate in our silent auction

• Celebrate land conservation excellence with the 2025 Conservation Award

• Honor environmental leadership with the 2025 Award for MAEAP Environmental Stewardship

When: Wednesday March 18th, 2026 from 5-8p

Where: Lake Michigan Gardens 2584 E. Napier Ave. in Benton Harbor

Follow the link below for the official event page and to register now!

*Contact our offices for government discount code

Join Emily, our talented MAEAP Tech, for a brief presentation about the benefits, use, and maintenance of these documents.

• Thursday February 26, 2026

• From 2 - 3p

• Berrien County Conservation District:

  • 3334 Edgewood Rd. Berrien Springs, MI 49103

This workshop will have limited seating due to the nature of personalized plans and one on one assistance, so make sure you sign up today!

Our January AND February workshops sold out in a matter of days!! So we’re excited to offer a THIRD session of the Hands-On Mushroom Workshop in March:

• $35 per person

• Saturday March 7th at 1pm

• Love Creek County Park - Trillium Room

  • 9292 Huckleberry Road Berrien Center, MI, 49102

Hosted by Great Lakes Mushroom Company and focused entirely on mushrooms, you’ll get all the details on cultivating your own fungi and even a free grow kit! This immersive and educational experience is the perfect way to spend a winter weeknight. Check out the link below for more info and to reserve your seat today.

A few snapshots from our first workshop in January!

Written by John Wolski, Soil & Sediment Inspector

As an avid trout fisherman I care greatly about the health of our nation’s trout waters. So much so, that after retiring from a 30+ year career in the environmental remediation business I accepted a job as a Soil and Sediment Inspector with the Berrien County Conservation District. My role is primarily to help reduce man-induced soil erosion with the goal of preventing sediment (resulting from eroded soils) from entering into waters of Southwest Michigan.

Why does this matter…

Our annual spring Reforestation Tree Sale is a vital resource for Berrien County residents seeking to plant trees for conservation, wildlife habitat, and aesthetic enhancement. By purchasing trees through our sale, you'll be supporting sustainable forestry practices and helping to improve the health of our local environment.

Every year, we offer a diverse selection of trees and shrubs for sale, including fruit trees, evergreen, deciduous, and small trees and shrubs. But that's not all - we also provide a range of products and resources to support your planting and conservation efforts, such as flags, planting stakes and shelters, rain barrels, composters, planting materials, educational resources, and more. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting, we've got everything you need to help your trees and shrubs thrive and make a positive impact on the environment.

Our pre-sale season is open, allowing you to reserve your preferred trees and shrubs. We highly recommend pre-ordering to ensure the availability of your favorite species. If you prefer to browse in person, we'll also have a "browse and buy" option on sale day, featuring any remaining inventory.

Plant with us and help create a greener Berrien County!

Pre-order Deadline = Friday April 4th

2026 Pickup Dates:

• Friday April 24th from 10am to 6pm

• Saturday April 25th from 9am to 1pm.

Location Details: 

• Berrien County Youth Fairgrounds

• 9122 US Hwy 31, Berrien Springs, MI 49103

• Use the Office Gate across from United Federal Credit Union on US HWY 31

• Do not use the Shawnee Road Entrance

All trees, shrubs and items purchased must be picked up at the sale. We do not ship for this Tree Sale Event.

Please note, our liability for the viability of plant material ceases when plants are picked up.

Written by Lisa Kuntz, District Manager

Berrien County Conservation District will be celebrating The 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer by featuring spotlight stories of our women farmers here in Berrien County through the year.  We will dive into the impact on women in global food security, address critical gender gaps in agriculture and promote equitable access to land, technology and financing.  While we are lining up some great women around the county to share their stories lets dive into some of the issues surrounding women farmers.  

In this month’s topic let’s dive into addressing the global gender gap which requires overcoming systemic barriers, including the severe limitations on women's access to credit, ownership of land, and technical education. Globally, less than one in five landholders are women, a 16-percentage-point gap in account ownership exists, and patriarchal norms often limit access to education and training. 

Equipment Rentals

Currently available for rent: 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 here or contact us at : 269-471-9111 EXT. 3