Berrien County Conservation District

Native Wildflowers & Grass Sale!

"Browse and buy" on May 24 from 12-4pm. This is the same time as order pickup.

 Wednesday, May 24th, from 12-4pm.  

 Location is the Berrien County Youth Fairgrounds,                  9122 US Hwy 31, Berrien Springs MI. 

Quantities are limited. No Plant guarantees: our liability for plant viability ends when plants are picked up.

Farmland Preservation Workshop to be held in Berrien County on November 17th, 2022

A workshop: “Agricultural Preservation: Options to Protect Your Farmland” will be held from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm Thursday, November 17th at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center, 1791 Hillandale Road, Benton Harbor, MI. The meeting is free, but space may be limited. Please register by either calling the Berrien County Conservation District at 269-471-9111 x3, or, emailing Nancy.Carpenter@macd.org by November 11th. A free lunch sponsored by the Berrien County Farm Bureau will be provided after the presentations and during a panel discussion.

Doors open at 9:30 am with presentations to start promptly at 10:00 am.

This workshop for farmers and landowners will provide the latest information regarding county and state programs on easements and farmland preservation.

Speakers are:

• Jarrod Thelen from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development who will present on the state Farmland       Preservation Program             also known as PA 116
• Elizabeth Brost will discuss the State of Michigan Purchase of Development Rights Program,
• Katie Montoya from Berrien County Community Development will talk about the Berrien County Purchase of Development         Rights Program; 
• Ryan Postema from Chikaming Open Lands will discuss options and resources available to preserve farmland with a land         conservancy
• Ed Kretchman will give a landowners perspective.
• A panel discussion will follow.

Virtual option meeting link: https://fbinsmi.webex.com/fbinsmi/j.php?MTID=m6ab9ca2dc920675a9e33e4354bf13f28

Or, join by phone: 1-877-668-4493, use Meeting number/access code 2317 388 0162, and meeting password mUwfpYGW623

NATIVE PLANT SALE: 
Wildflowers and Grasses

May 25 from 12pm noon to 4pm. 

Location Berrien County Youth Fairgrounds.  9122 US Hwy 31, Berrien Springs, MI. Quantities are limited. No plant guarantees; our liability for plant viability ends when plants are picked up. 

REFORESTATION TREE & SHRUB SALE:

Friday, April 29 from 10am to 6pm, and Saturday, April 30 from 9am to 1pm. There will be a good selection to choose from if you missed the deadline to order. 

Our seedlings come in bundle sizes from a quantity of five or more except for fruit trees which are sold as singles.  Deadline to order was April 15, 2022. Pick up only. New Pickup times! Friday April 29th from 10am to 6pm and Saturday April 30th from 9am to 1pm. Location of pickup is the Berrien County Youth Fairgrounds, 9122 US Hwy 31, Berrien Springs, MI 49103. Use the Office gate across from United Federal Credit Union. Do not use the Shawnee Road Entrance, use the US Hwy 31 Entrance.

No plant guarantees. We order only from top quality tree nurseries. Because of weather and other factors our liability for the viability of plant material ceases when plants are picked up, or left beyond the pickup date. 

NATIVE PLANT PRESENTATION

MARCH 16, 2022  from 2-4 PM

LOCATION: LOVE CREEK NATURE CENTER, 9292 HUCKLEBERRY ROAD, BERRIEN CENTER, MI 49102

RESERVATIONS REQUIRED

Vern Stephens of "Designs by Nature" will present on native grasses and wildflowers. Learn how these plants are important to native pollinators, butterflies, other insects, and honeybees. He will show you how different plants work in different locations.

Seating is limited, pre registration is required. Reserve your seat by calling 269-471-9111 x3 and leave a message, or email the manager at nancy.carpenter@macd.org. Deadline to register is March 15 by 4:30pm

Volunteer Stream Monitoring: Macroinvertebrate Aquatic Insect Collection. 

Volunteers are needed to help us collect macroinvertebrates (aquatic insects) at specified stream sites. The number and types of species found helps to better understand water quality and habitat.  For this event we need volunteers to be Assistants, Pickers, and we also need people willing to be trained as Collectors for future events. 
Collectors serve as team leaders and capture insects with a special net in the water. 
Assistants wade into the stream with a bucket to hold whatever has been collected. The assistant also helps the Collector measure water depth and length of the site under study. 
Pickers pick and sort the insects--it is fun!  For this event, pickers will not go streamside but instead will meet at a park pavilion to pick and sort and learn to identify them also. 

9 am: Those wishing to be trained as a collector for a future event and those interested in being an assistant now please meet at 9 am. If you own chest waders please bring them. 
10:30 am. Pickers please come at 10:30 am.

Liability waivers will need to be signed. If a person is under 18, a parent will need to sign the waiver. 
Location: Baroda Village Park, 1500 West Lemon Creek Road, Baroda. Two ways to enter the park: Just west of the tennis courts on Lemon Creek, or from Lemon Creek turn on Third Street and take a right on South Street and then a right on Fourth Street and you are there. For  questions contact the manager at Nancy.Carpenter@macd.org or call 269-471-9111 x3. Please call if you wish to be trained as a collector so we know to expect you.

Free Drinking Well Water Screening!!

The Berrien Conservation District and the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) will sponsor a free well water screening day on Thursday, September 16th and Friday, September 17th from 8:00am-4:00pm. Anyone who wishes to have their well water tested free of charge can bring water samples to the Berrien Conservation District office at 3334 Edgewood Road, Berrien Springs.

Samples from drinking water wells will be screened for nitrate and nitrite. The screening is open to everyone who uses a personal well for drinking water. Forms should be filled out in advance and are available at the Conservation District office, and online at www.berriencd.org. The service is for private drinking wells only. Public water supplies are regularly tested. Please do not bring samples from public water supplies or non-drinking water sources. Only drinking well water samples will be tested. You do not have use a special bottle for this screening. Any small clean jar will work—one ounce of water is enough. You will not receive your water collection device back.

Please follow the directions below to sample your well. Collect samples just before taking them to the sample drop-off. Samples must be less than 48 hours old for a valid nitrate and nitrite result.

1. Fill out the water sample information sheet.
2. Pick a tap that supplies water that has not run through any treatment devices (water softener, carbon filter, etc.)
3. Run the water 20-30 minutes before collecting the sample. This will give the pump time to flush the water pressure tank and plumbing so you can collect a valid sample. Disconnect any hoses before collecting the sample; do not sample through a hose. Rinse the sample bottle and lid thoroughly in the water to be sampled; then fill the bottle.
4. Label the bottle clearly with your name, sampling date, and the well name (cottage well, Moms well, house well, etc.) using a waterproof pen.
5. Keep the sample dark and cold (on ice or refrigerated) until it is dropped off.
6. When you arrive at the Berrien Conservation District office place the sample in the cooler filled with cold packs located in the entrance way for contactless drop-off.

All results are confidential. You will get your results as well as information on what to do should nitrite or nitrates show up in your drinking water.

Please fill out the sample information sheet completely and bring it with your water sample. You can get more information from the Berrien Conservation District office at 269-471-9111 ext. 3, online at www.berriencd.org, or email dylan.armstrong@macd.org.

2021 Native Plant Sale!

Now accepting orders for Native Wildflowers and Grasses!  Order deadline is Thursday, May 20th. Pick up for orders is Thursday, May 27th. Location of pick up is the Love Creek County Park and Nature Center at 9292 Huckleberry Road, Berrien Center, MI. Flats & Quarts can be ordered.  Park fees will be waived day of sale/order pick ups.

(Some varieties in quarts will be available to purchase day of pick up - nursery choice. Flats must be ordered)

Note: Some varieties may not be available; we will notify customers of available substitutions.  

We are not responsible for plants once they are picked up, or left past May 27th. 

Join the Berrien Conservation District, MSU Extension, and Guest Speaker Milan Kluko for an all-day Educational Hemp Seminar on Tuesday, May 21st from 8:30-4 at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center - 1791 Hillandale Road, Benton Harbor, MI 49022. The cost is $35 and includes snacks and lunch.

Join us for an all-day conference on hemp that will cover various topics. These will be presented by Milan Kluko, an established grower in Oregon and a vertical farmer in Southwest Michigan along with Eric Anderson, Field Crops Educator, from Michigan State University Extension.

A list of potential topics include: Industrial Hemp Uses, Licensing, Production and Equipment for Industrial Hemp, Markets for Industrial Hemp, Seed Selection - to Maximize CBD in the Hemp, Nursery and Seedling Development for Mother Plants, Cloning of Seedstock (from Mother Plants), Lighting and Nursery Procedures for Seedstock, Hardening of Seedstock Prior to Planting, General Procedures for Transplanting of Seedstock, Growing Hemp for CBD, Harvesting Hemp to Maximize CBD Potential, Post-harvest Drying and Sizing, Post-harvest Storage, Processing for CBD Oil - "Extraction 101,” Post Extraction "Value Added" Oil vs. Distillate, Distillation Process, and CBD Market Consideration. Time permitting all topics will be covered.

Registration can be done at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/educational-hemp-seminar-berrien-conservation-district-tickets-61099841270 .

Space is limited to 65 attendees and tickets are only available online at the link above. RSVP's will be taken until May 15, 2019 or until attendance limit is reached. SOLD OUT

Think Spring! Order Tree & Shrub Seedlings Now! 

The Berrien Conservation District is offering a variety of evergreens, deciduous trees and shrubs for purchase. There are also fruit trees and berries available. All orders are due by April 12th. Pick up of all orders are April 26 from 3pm in the afternoon to 8pm in the evening, and on April 27 from 9am until noon. No early pickups. Location is the Berrien County Youth Fairgrounds, 9122 Old US 31, Berrien Springs, MI 49103. 

Most seedlings are an average of 18 inches tall and are bundled in quantities from 5 to 100. Fruit trees are sold individually. All sales are final.

Author who walked 1000 miles around Lake Michigan to present at Berrien Conservation District Annual Meeting!

Author, adventurer, and Great Lakes expert, Loreen Niewenhuis, will be the guest speaker at the Berrien Conservation District’s Annual Meeting on Thursday, February 21st, 2019, at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center, 1737 Hillandale Road, Benton Harbor, MI 49022. 

In her presentation, Niewenhuis will take you along the shores of the lake with photos and video from her journey showing the geology, natural history, and biology of the lake and also what threatens this massive ecosystem: invasive species, pollution, and destruction of wetlands.

The evening program will include dinner, updates by the Berrien Conservation District, election of directors, awards for Conservation Farmer of the Year and MAEAP Environmental Stewardship, and a silent auction with items donated from local businesses and partners.

Doors will open at 5:30 pm with dinner to start at 6:00 pm.

The cost is $10 per person. Payment can be made at the door, but reservations are required; call 269-471-9111 x3 or email Nancy.Carpenter@macd.org by Friday, February 15th.

Sponsors for this event include Wolverine Pipeline Company, Greenstone Farm Credit Services, and Upcycle Products. 

Sponsors for the event include Wolverine Pipeline Company, Upcycle Products, Inc., and Greenstone Farm Credit Services

Oak Wilt, a fungal disease affecting oak trees is moving through Michigan at an alarming rate. While the disease can impact all oaks, the red oak family is most susceptible, often dying within 30 days of becoming infected. 

To help homeowners, arborists, and tree service providers identify and prevent the spread of oak wilt, a FREE educational presentation is bing hosted by Releaf Michigan - a non-profit tree organization, and the Berrien Conservation District-the Local Natural Resource Agency, along with support by the SW X SW Corner CISMA-Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area. Respected plant pathologist, Dr. David Roberts, Ph.D at Michigan State University's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources will provide an overview of the disease and outline it's biggest concerns so homeowners can protect the long-term health and vitality of their trees.

Oak trees make up a significant percentage of Michigan's forests. The image of Michigan's landscape without oak trees is not a good one! It is important to know how to spot oak wilt and what actions to take.

Presentation topics will cover the disease, how it affects oak trees, and how it is transmitted via sap beetles to fresh wounds and through root grafts. Other topics will include how to manage oak wilt once identified, important dates and restrictions, what to do with diseased wood, and guidelines for hiring a tree service or arborist.

Location: Southwestern Michigan College, Niles Campus Room 134 38890 US Hwy 12 Niles, MI 49120

Date and Time: Wednesday October 10 Check-in 6:00-6:30pm Seminar 6:30-8:30pm

Seating is limited Please RSVP by October 9. RSVP to Nancy Carpenter, nancy.carpenter@macd.org or call (269) 471-9111 x 3 

Native Plant Presentation and Sale

Planting native wildflowers and grasses in your landscape increases the diversity and can lead to greater variety and abundance of wildlife on your property. Over 95% of our upland bird species feed their young exclusively on insects and spiders. If your landscape cannot provide the required quantities of insects and spiders, birds will not be able to successfully raise their young to the fledgling stage. Every caterpillar living on a host plant in your native planting increases the odds of your local birds being able to produce a new generation.  Do you want more butterflies and birds? Do you want an increase in the wildlife in your landscape? Plant natives! Native plantings generally do not require fertilizer or insecticides. Natives will require little to no watering ONCE established. Additionally, the deep roots of many natives filter water as it flows through the soil. Many native species are quite beautiful and some are simply stunning. Native plants are available in a wide range of colors, textures, and sizes to suit your landscaping needs.

Annual Tree & Shrub Seedling Fundraiser

A variety of bare root seedlings of evergreens, deciduous trees, shrubs, and fruit trees are being offered. Rain barrels and composters are also available. Orders may be placed at the website store, or order forms may be obtained from the office at 3334 Edgewood Road, Berrien Springs, MI. You may also print from the website or request one to be mailed to you by calling 269-471-9111 ext. 3. Orders are due by April 6th. Quantities are limited and some varieties will be available to purchase during order pickup/sale days.

Where: Berrien County Youth Fairgrounds, 9122 US Hwy 31, Berrien Springs, MI 49103 

When: Order pickup days and sale days are Friday, April 20 from 3:00 pm in the afternoon to 8:00 pm, and Saturday, April 21 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Cost: Please refer to prices at the store tab on this website 

Wildlife & Pollinator Workshop

 Looking to attract deer, songbirds, pheasants and butterflies onto your property, at the same time improving air, water, and soil quality?

Grassland habitats provide significant value to our natural resources in Michigan. Grasslands provide filtration to water, collect carbon to help clean our air, and hold down soil to prevent erosion. They also provide homes and food for a variety of wildlife including deer, songbirds, butterflies, turkeys, pheasants, and much more. Pollinators are being threatened, and their greatest need are grassland habitats with vibrant native wildflowers. Without pollinators, we face a threat of food shortages as pollinators allow food to grow.

This workshop will provide an overview of the value grasslands provide on a landscape. It will also provide information on where to find seed and how to plant it, what financial and technical resources are available to assist you in creating and managing grassland habitats, and will showcase the great organizations who are here to help improve our habitats.
There will also be a short presentation on invasive species of concern for SW Michigan.

Where: Camp Friedenswald, 15406 Watercress Way, Cassopolis
When: Tuesday, April 24, 2018 at 5:30 pm
Cost: Free
Pre-Registration required: For more information and to register to attend, please visit www.mucc.org/pollinators. Please contact Anna Mitterling at amitterling@mucc.org or 517-346-6454 with additional questions. In addition, if you would like a short guided hike of Camp Friedenswald before the program, please call Korie at the Cass Conservation District at 269-445-8641 x5.
Sponsored by Berrien, Cass, & St. Joseph Conservation Districts, and the SW X SW Corner CISMA

Protect Your Oak Trees From Oak Wilt Disease 

Oak Wilt, a fungal disease affecting oak trees, is moving through Michigan at an alarming rate. While the disease can impact all oaks, the red oak family is the most susceptible, often dying within 30 days of becoming infected. To help homeowners, arborists, and tree services identify and prevent the spread of oak wilt, a free educational presentation is being hosted by ReLeaf Michigan, a non-profit tree organization, the Three Oaks Parks and Recreation Board, the Berrien Conservation District and the SW X SW Corner CISMA. Respected plant pathologist, Dr. David Roberts, Ph.D. at Michigan State University’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, will provide an overview of the disease and outline its biggest concerns, so homeowners can protect the long-term health and vitality of their trees.

Oak trees make up a significant percentage of Michigan’s forests. The image of Michigan’s lake areas without oak trees is not a good one! It is important to know how to spot oak wilt and what actions to take.Presentation topics will cover the disease, how it affects oak trees, and how it is transmitted via sap beetles to fresh wounds and through root grafts. Other topics will include how to manage oak wilt once identified, important dates and restrictions, what to do with diseased wood, and guidelines for hiring a tree service or arborist.

RSVP to Nancy Carpenter nancy.carpenter@macd.org 269-471-9111 x 3 

Invasive Species Presentation

Lean about invasive plant species affecting this area and new ones to watch out for on the horizon. Identification and management of some of the most troublesome yard invaders will be covered including Japanese Knotweed and Honeysuckle. 

Where: Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve, 13988 Rangeline Road, Niles, MI 49120

When: Sunday, March 11 from 1pm to 2 pm 

Cost: Fernwood members $8, non-members $10

Register here: http://bit.ly/fwInvasiveSM 

“Helping Family Farmers Thrive”

A FREE soil health seminar will be held at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension center located at 1791 Hillandale Rd. Benton Harbor, MI 49022 on March 20, 2018. Registration with coffee and donuts is from 8:30 am to 9:00 am and the seminar is from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.

Dr. Ray Smith, owner of Phase II Inc., will present information on nutrient interactions and soil health, and how nutrients in the soil become available to plants. Dr. Smith has over 50 years of experience as a certified agronomist and soil consultant. He has developed a fertilizer formulation that is environmentally friendly to maximize crop quality and yields.

Speakers Ryan Smith will talk about economic farming challenges and Keith Morris will explain application of the Phase II fertilizer system in different crops.

The event is sponsored by the Berrien Conservation District, for questions call 269-471-9111 x3.

No pre-registration required 

Sponsored by the Berrien Conservation District and Phase II 

‘How Homeowners Can Protect Their Trees from Oak Wilt Death’

Free Homeowner/Arborist Educational Presentation

Oak Wilt, a fungal disease affecting oak trees, is moving through Michigan at an alarming rate. While the disease can impact all oaks, the red oak family is the most susceptible, often dying within 30 days of becoming infected.

To help homeowners, arborists, and tree services identify and prevent the spread of oak wilt, a free educational presentation is being hosted by ReLeaf Michigan, a non-profit tree organization, and by the Berrien County Conservation District. Respected plant pathologist, Dr. David Roberts, Ph.D. at Michigan State University’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, will provide an overview of the disease and outline its biggest concerns, so homeowners can protect the long-term health and vitality of their trees.

Oak trees make up a significant percentage of Michigan’s forests. The image of Michigan’s lake areas without oak trees is not a good one! It is important to know how to spot oak wilt and what actions to take.

Presentation topics will cover the disease, how it affects oak trees, and how it is transmitted via sap beetles to fresh wounds and through root grafts. Other topics will include how to manage oak wilt once identified, important dates and restrictions, what to do with diseased wood, and guidelines for hiring a tree service or arborist. The presentation is interactive and attendees are encouraged to bring questions. Free handouts will be available.

Please join us and protect your trees!

Invasive Species Education Presentation

Monday August 21st 5:30-6:30 pm Sodus Township Library Presentation 

3776 Naomi Rd, Sodus, MI 49126

Invasive Species Workshop Watervliet District Library

Monday August 7th from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm

333 N. Main Street Watervliet, MI 49098

Wednesday, July 26th  -  Pesticide Container Recycling Event in Benton Harbor and Buchanan

No registration needed

Recycle Agriculture Pesticide Containers (jugs, drums, and mini bulks - removed from cages) free of charge.

Wednesday, July 26, 2017, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

LOCATIONS

• Berrien County Road Commission, 2860 E. Napier Ave., Benton Harbor, on the corner of Napier and Yore Ave.
• Co-Alliance, 16724 Bakertown Rd., Buchanan.

REQUIREMENTS

Containers Must:

• Be Rinsed of all residue after use. A triple rinse is a good rule of thumb.
• Be Dry
• Be Cut to smaller size if larger than 55 gallons

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Pick up large bags to use for collection and storage of the containers in the time leading up to the July 26th event.  Get free bags at your local Conservation District in Berrien, Cass, or Van Buren Counties, and at Co-Alliance in Buchanan. 

QUESTIONS?

Call Jill Adams at 269-983-7111 x8234 or call the Conservation District at 269-471-9111 x3.

Benton Harbor Invasive Species Mobile Boat Wash

Friday July 14th from 10 am to 3 pm 

700-, 1098 Riverview Dr, Benton Harbor, MI 49022

Wednesday, June 21st  "Working with Wetlands" Field Day

WILDFLOWERS & GRASSES! NATIVE PLANT PRESENTATION!

Wednesday, May 31st, 2017
Bridgman Public Library, 4460 Lake Street, Bridgman, MI 49106
1:00 pm: Presentation by Vern Stephens, owner of "Designs By Nature"
3:00 pm to 6:00pm: Sale is open to the public; large variety of plants in quart pots.

Friday, April 21, 2017 from 3pm to 8pm and Saturday, April 22, 2017 from 9am to 12 noon.

Annual Tree and Shrub Seedling Fundraiser.
Pre-Orders are being accepted now through April 7th.   A variety of bareroot evergreens, deciduous trees, shrubs, and fruit trees are being offered.  Rain barrels and composters are also available.  Orders may be placed on-line  or, order forms may be obtained from the office at 3334 Edgewood Road, Berrien Springs, MI, from the website, or you may request one to be mailed by calling at 269-471-9111 ext. 3.  Information about each item can be found on the website store.
The location for picking up orders, or to just come to the sale, is the Berrien County Youth Fairgrounds. Pickup & sale date/time is April 21st in the afternoon from 3-8pm and April 22nd from 9am until 12 noon. 

Tuesday, March 21, 2017 check in 8am, Start time 9am and ends at 3pm.

Japanese Knotweed Symposium
A workshop for land managers & concerned citizens

 Knotweed is a major problem in southwest Michigan.  This invasive plant can damage roads, pipes, sewer lines, and building foundations. It also chokes out native vegetation, increases erosion, degrades water quality, and hurts habitat for fish and wildlife. At this workshop you will learn how to identify and  control  it on your property or property you manage.
This is Free and a lunch will be provided! Please RSVP by March 13th.

Friday, September 23, 2016 from 10 am - 2 pm

Japanese Knotweed Symposium offered in St. Joe

The Southwest by Southwest Corner Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) is hosting a symposium about the invasive plant Japanese knotweed. The symposium will bring together experts to discuss how this plant grows and spreads as well as control and prevention techniques. The symposium will be held on Friday, September 23 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at The Heritage Museum & Cultural Center at 601 Main Street, St. Joseph, MI. The event is free and lunch will be provided if attendees RSVP by September 15.

The event is targeted to road commission staff, municipal staff, land managers, landscapers, homeowners, environmental organizations, and anyone who owns or manages property that might be affected by Japanese knotweed. This non-native invasive plant (also known as Michigan Bamboo or Mexican Bamboo) is spreading explosively in parts of southwest Michigan. It can damage roads, pipes, sewer lines and building foundations. It also chokes out native vegetation, increases erosion, degrades water quality and harms habitat for fish and wildlife. Common control techniques like over-the-counter herbicides, pruning or mowing can actually stimulate its spread. Effective treatments for Japanese knotweed involve a combination of community education and using the right herbicides at the right time. 

The featured speaker will be Dr. Leslie Kuhn, Field Projects Coordinator and Co-founder of the Mid-Michigan Stewardship Initiative, which works with private, commercial and municipal landowners on regional invasive species control projects. Dr. Kuhn is also a Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at Michigan State University, where she has combined her involvement with invasive species issues with her research interests.  Other presenters will include partners of the SW x SW Corner Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area, the City of Kalamazoo, Native Landscapes, and the Michigan Department of Transportation.

People interested in attending are asked to RSVP for this free event by calling the CISMA Coordinator Erin Fuller at (269) 657-4030 x 5 or registering online at www.vanburencd.org/event/japanese-knotweed/. Three Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP) credits will be available for attendees. This symposium is hosted by the SW x SW Corner CISMA, the City of St. Joseph and The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center and funded in part with funds from the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program through the Departments of Natural Resources, Environmental Quality, and Agriculture and Rural Development.

The SW x SW Corner Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area is a partnership of federal, state, and local government agencies, individuals, and various interested groups that manage (or have a stake in managing) invasive species  in Berrien, Cass and Van Buren Counties. Partners include the Berrien, Cass and Van Buren Conservation Districts, Chikaming Open Lands, Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy, The Stewardship Network and many others.

September 8th, 2016

Hey! What’s up with my tree?
Michigan Trees: 12 Things You Need to Know

FREE presentation on the value of trees to our landscapes and society and issues that threaten
their health. Diagnosis and management of major tree problems such as the lethal Oak Wilt Disease,
Colorado Blue Spruce Decline, Anthracnose diseases, Boring Insects, and herbicide toxicity from our
lawns represent a few among many issues that will covered during this enlightening program.

Presented by: Dr. David L. Roberts, Senior Academic Specialist with the College of Agriculture at
Michigan State University.

Location: Lincoln Township Public Library, 2099 W. John Beers Road, Stevensville, MI 49127
Date:  Thursday, September 8 Time: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Questions? Contact Nancy Carpenter at the Berrien Conservation District 269-471-9111 x3 or email
nancy.carpenter@macd.org

No reservations required, however seating limited to 75 people.
Bring your tree questions!

Sponsored by: The Berrien Conservation District, DNR -Urban and
Community Forestry Program,  and ReLeaf Michigan