Conservation News

If you’ve picked up native plants, rain barrels, or compost bins from WCCD this spring or summer, chances are Walker Whitehouse helped get them into your hands. As the Conservation District’s seasonal staff member, Walker plays a vital role in executing conservation resource programs across Washtenaw County.

Logsdon writes out his love and history with the groves he knows in folksy anecdotes: probably best read while falling asleep in a cabin warmed by wood fire's light. Borrow this book and planting tools from the Washtenaw Tool Bank Collective, and don't forget to order some Fall Sale trees to plant your own future groves!

"For as long as expensive equipment has existed in farming, so have communities who have joined together to jointly own, lease, or otherwise share that equipment." Rogue Farm Corps (Oregon) put together an amazing set of resources on equipment sharing for in various collaborations. Bonus, included is their recent webinar, with a flower farmer sharing a soil steamer and the WCCD staff sharing about the Washtenaw Tool Bank Collective.

A must read for the sake of life on the planet.
Tallamy provides a convincing argument for native plant landscaping to restore our ecosystems' productivity and curb climate change. Also he gets to the points with some attitude in the FAQ at the end, love it.

Borrow this book, tools, and more from the Washtenaw Tool Bank Collective website!

If you've ever picked up a native plant, a rain barrel, or a no-till drill from the Washtenaw County Conservation District (WCCD), chances are Doug Reith was involved. As WCCD's Resource Specialist, Doug supervises and coordinates a wide array of programs that help residents conserve soil, water, and wildlife—right in their backyards and communities.

A huge thank you to The Stewardship Network for providing us with these brand new HexArmor gloves! Dozens of pairs available in a range of sizes. These professional-grade gloves offer excellent protection for a range of tasks. Snag a free pair with your next tool rental!

Our new soil tester from Kelway can measure a pH range from 3.5 to 8 with an accuracy within +/- .2 of a pH number. Get accurate readings in as little as 2 to 3 minutes. Available for loan today!

We've added a portable bag seeder to our tool rental program! Ideal for planting cover crops, native grasses, and wildflowers, this lightweight seeder is perfect for small-acreage projects. Visit the Washtenaw Tool Bank Collective website to learn more or reserve.

The latest addition to the Washtenaw Tool Bank Collective arsenal is the "Kick-type sod cutter", the perfect tool to transform the lawn into more gardens for native plants, flowers, or vegetables! This tool is more nimble than the power options, and very effective and efficient. Reserve it in advance!