Chad Hughson from Hidden Savanna Nursery will be joining us to talk about native plants of Michigan. Chad’s workshop will offer beautiful pictures of our native grasses and wildflowers as well as great information regarding each species. Chad is a wealth of knowledge and you won’t want to miss his presentation at the Van Buren Conservation District office.

The fee for this workshop is $5/person. Space is limited; please register by calling 269-657-4030 x5 or register online here.

This workshop should also get you excited for our Native Plant Sale!

How to order:

• Call the Van Buren Conservation District Office at (269) 657-4030 x5 and order over the phone with a credit card
• Download, print and mail in the order form below
• Browse our new online store: http://shop.vanburencd.org/

2012 Native Plant Sale Order Form

Native Plant Sale flyer: Native Plant Sale Spring 2012

Sarett Nature Center
2300 Benton Center Rd.
Benton Harbor, MI 49022   

What is a fen? Find out with a walk and talk led by staff of the Van Buren Conservation District and Sarett Nature Center. After a brief presentation on efforts to protect and restore wetlands in southwest Michigan, we’ll take a walk through Sarett’s fen.  This unique wetland is home to several rare plants and animals and is at its fullest bloom in fall. We’ll look for plants like Joe Pye weed, boneset, swamp milkweed, pitcher plants and fringed gentians. Trails and a raised boardwalk should keep us out of the mud, but wear comfortable walking shoes.

For more information, contact the Van Buren Conservation District at 269-657-4030 ext. 5 or Sarett Nature Center at 269-927-4832.

You are cordially invited to join us for our 2011 Annual Meeting, Farm Day & Picnic. Join us to celebrate our “District of the Year” award for 2010, mingle with friends, enjoy great food, and hear about our recent accomplishments.

The picnic will be held at Cronenwett Farms, 70121 28^th Street, Lawton, Michigan. Please RVSP by July 1 by calling (269) 657-4030 x5, or by registering online here.

2010 Farm Day & Picnic

The Van Buren Conservation District will be conducting a natural shoreline homeowner workshop on Saturday, July 16 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Van Buren Youth Camp in Bloomingdale, Michigan.

Lakefront homeowners are encouraged to attend this unique workshop which will explore natural shoreline landscaping using ecological principles and practices to reduce erosion and achieve the stabilization and safety of shorelines. Natural shorelines enhance habitat for fish and wildlife, improve lakefront aesthetics, and save lakefront homeowners money. A recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency assessment of Michigan inland lakes indicated that poor biological health is three times more likely in lakes with poor lakeshore habitat.

Workshop attendees will receive a detailed and well illustrated natural shoreline homeowner manual, educational brochures and other useful literature regarding natural shorelines as part of their participation in this event. The workshop will be taught by Van Buren Conservation District staff who are members of a statewide network of natural shoreline educators supported by the Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership.

The registration fee for this natural shoreline workshop is $10.00 per person. Lakefront homeowners interested in registering should contact A.J. Brucks at the Van Buren Conservation District at (269) 657-4030 x 5 or alison.brucks@mi.nacdnet.net. Online registration is also available here.

“There are 79 Conservation Districts in Michigan, so this is a great honor. It is easy to have outstanding accomplishments when you have an amazing staff,” said AJ Brucks, Executive Director of the Van Buren Conservation District.  “The employees at our District are not only knowledgeable in their positions but are also passionate and dedicated to protecting our county’s natural resources.”

The Van Buren Conservation District (VBCD) promotes the conservation of natural resources, provides educational programs and events, and is the gateway to Farm Bill programs and funding through a close partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Other programs include the Michigan Water Stewardship Program, the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP), and the Paw Paw and Black Rivers Wetland Protection and Restoration project. Project partners include The Nature Conservancy, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment and the Michigan Department of Agriculture.

 In 2010, VBCD provided NRCS with technical assistance and support that helped bring over 1.5 million dollars in Farm Bill funding to Van Buren County agricultural producers. Technicians worked with landowners on environmental risk reduction and best management practices, promoted the MAEAP program (a voluntary program that helps farms of all sizes prevent and minimize agricultural pollution risks) and worked to preserve existing wetlands and restore preexisting wetlands.

Over 25,000 trees were planted in Van Buren County in 2010 through VBCD’s  annual Tree Seedling Sale.  The District also holds an annual Native Plant Sale which has resulted in the establishment of a variety of native habitat types in the county. Educational programs offered by the District included topics such as cover crops, rain barrels, best management practices on the farm, wetlands, and much more.  Over 2,000 children and 1,300 adults were reached with the VBCD’s programming in 2010.  The VBCD also held a River Rescue clean-up event in August in which 77 volunteers picked up over 2,000 pounds of trash from 33 miles of shorelines and waterways throughout Van Buren County.

The VBCD was founded in 1944 with a mission to promote the conservation of natural resources through partnerships by providing public education, demonstrations and technical assistance while working together for future generations.  To learn more about the Van Buren Conservation District please visit www.vanburencd.org or call (269) 657-4030 x5.

6:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 21, 2010

Wetlands are crucial for water quality protection and habitat, but many of our original wetlands have been drained or filled over the past century. The Van Buren Conservation District invites land owners, land managers and concerned citizens to attend a “Techniques of Wetland Restoration” workshop, which will provide details on overseeing a successful wetland restoration project.  Topics will include determining a suitable site, restoring hydrologic conditions, and establishing wetland vegetation. The workshop will be held Thursday, October 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the Van Buren Conference Center (located at 490 s. Paw Paw St. in Lawrence, MI). 

“Wetlands play such an important role in protecting our water quality.  We want people to understand how wetland restoration works so they can implement a project on their property or help us promote wetland restoration to their neighbors,” said Matt Meersman, Watershed Coordinator for the Van Buren Conservation District.

Speakers at this workshop will include professionals from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Van Buren Conservation District. 

The workshop is free and open to the public, but registration is recommended. The workshop is being made possible thanks to a partnership including the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the Stewardship Network and the Van Buren Conservation District. For more information or to register click here or call (269) 657-4030 x 5. 

Techniques of Wetland Restoration Brochure

With no-till farming, crop residue from the previous year’s harvest is left on the soil surface over the winter and during planting operations.  No tillage is performed prior to or during planting.  The crop residue shelters the soil from the erosive impact of raindrops as well as slows the overland flow of surface water.   The residue also shades the soil, keeping moisture available to plants longer.  Since the residue is larger than it would be if it was disked into the soil, it takes longer to break down and nutrients aren’t lost to leaching as quickly. The nutrients are available for the crops longer and the organic matter increases soil humus.

Common misconceptions say that the ground needs to be worked each season for good seed to soil contact and quality crop production.  This doesn’t have to be the case.  When done properly, and as part of a complete farm management system including pest and residue management, no-till can achieve the same yields with lower costs than conventional tillage.  With three tillage passes, one after harvest in the fall and two in the spring prior to planting, the average total fuel consumption is about 3.7 gal/acre.  At July 2010 diesel prices of $2.80 per gallon, switching from conventional tillage to no-till would save around $10.36 per acre.  Assuming the yield is comparable, that’s an incredible savings.  There are many studies, as well as local examples, stating yields to be roughly the same and net profits to be considerably higher when comparing no-till to conventional till with a chisel or moldboard plow. 

Farmers that make the switch to no-till or want to increase their no-till practices may be eligible for cost-share funds through EQIP or CSP.  Those funds can be used to offset any costs incurred from learning new methods, buying new equipment or any other factor.  Cost-share payments range from $9 to $16 per acre, depending on the practice installed, and recur for three years.

Cover crops are live vegetation planted between production crop cycles or between rows of fruit crops.  They are an amazingly cost-effective way to increase the health and production of your land.  Not only does the live vegetation hold top soil in place against wind and water erosion, the cover also provides valuable nturients and humus to the soil for a cash crop.  Depending on the specific cover, a farmer can add nitrogen to soil depleted by the previous crop or scavenge nitrogen if it’s left in excess.  Other nutrients, such as potassium and phosphorus, can also be managed by using specific covers.

In addition to fertilizing, cover crops aerate soil with natural tillage by their roots.  Some radishes, for example, are capable of producing over a 12” x 2” root mass and can grow in a variety of soils.  If used in clay soils, radishes can provide the aeration and organic matter necessary to build the soil enough for a successful cash crop the next season.  They also provide excellent forage, as do many other covers.  Along with the aeration, infiltration is increased, keeping more water in the soil and less running off the surface carrying sediment and nutrients.  

Cost-share funding for cover crops is also available through EQIP.  A one-year payment of $33 per acre is available for non-legume covers and $45 per acre for legume covers.  Cost-share can be used to purchase seed, pay for installation, equipment rental or any other expense deemed necessary by the farmer.  The benefits of cover crops are fantastic and, with the added incentive of cost-share payments, the initial attempt carries little risk or out of pocket investment.

Contact the Van Buren Conservation District or the local NRCS field office in Paw Paw for more information on setting up a conservation plan or to learn more about cover crops and no-till.

~ Volunteers Needed ~

Help clean up our local waterways

Saturday, August 7th, 2011; 9AM – 1PM

Various sites across Van Buren County into Berrien County. We supply everything you need to have a successful clean up, we just need you! Volunteer for environmental health, wildlife habitat, and a better community. Sign up at a site near you ~ Call 269-657-4030 x5.

??Do you know of a site that needs to be cleaned up?? Report any dump sites or trashy areas on or near our local waterways.

Do your part and help water quality. 269-657-4030 x5.

Phosphorous, along with Nitrogen and Potassium is an essential nutrient needed for plant growth.  These nutriends can be found naturally in the soil as well as in fertilizers, pesticides, animal waste and detergents.

What’s the big deal about phosphorous?

Phosphorous is important for seed development, root growth and for maturation of your lawn.  It is, however, a primary water quality concern in Michigan.  An excess of fertilizer on lawns, sidewalks and driveways can make its way into lakes and streams by storm drains or over land when it rains.  As phosphorous adheres to soil particles, erosion can carry it directly into surface waters.  This can cause nusiance aquatic weed growth and algae blooms, effectively choking area waters.  Please, NEVER apply phosphorous fertilizers on lawns adjacent to lakes, rivers, streams or wetlands.  Just one pound of Phosphorous can support the growth of about 750 pounds of algae!

 Most soil in our area carries enough phosphorous to support a healthy lawn.  You can have your soil tested to see if your lawn, garden or fields need additional phosphorous.  If additional phosphorous isn’t needed, you can purchase zero phosphorous fertilizer.  Fertilizer bags carry numbers giving the proportion of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium in the mix.  For example, a 22-0-15 mixture has 22 percent nitrogen, 0 percent phosphorous and 15 percent potassium.  Always look for Zero in the middle!

Tips for applying fertilizer:

• Always leave a minimum three foot buffer area around lakes and connecting waterways (including ditches and drains!) to ensure fertilizer does not come into direct contact with the water.
• Use a slow release fertilizer.  This type releases small amounts of nutrients over time to ensure that all are absorbed properly and utilized by the plants.  Liquid fertilizer quickly infiltrates the surface and groundwater supplies when lawns and gardens are irrigated, or during a rainstorm.
• Slow release fertilizers generally need to be applied only once during a growing season.  No reapplication is necessary, especially when you incorporate native vegetation into your landscape.

Did you know that Van Buren County, along with other Lake Michigan shoreline counties has adopted an ordinance that requires the use of phosphorous free fertilizers on all lawns including residential, commercial and golf courese?  For more information and to view the ordinances, click here.

To read about how Phosphorous can contribute to the Death of a Lake, click here.

Phosphorous Frequently Asked Questions

About the Phosphorous Fertilizer Ordinances