Conservation News

Woodbine Farm is an equine event center owned and operated by Sari Clapperton. The first equine center in the county to be verified in any system, Woodbine Farm was recently verified in its Farmstead and Livestock operations.

Carol Caplan uses organic practices on her farm. A member of the member of the Michigan Flower Growers’ Cooperative, the farm joins other area farms in providing flowers for wholesale. But there is more happening at The Farm on Jennings then just this.

Morley Stevenson, whose farm was verified in its Cropping and Forest, Wetland and Habitat system, has been a great asset to the WCCD for many years. He has assisted during WCCD’s tree and native plant sales.

Tom and Marti Burbeck were recently verified in their Farmstead and Cropping systems. They have established a cascading orchard with apple, pear and cherry trees along the slopes near their home.

This past month, Pat Garrett of Scio Township was able to have her habitat veried in the Forest, Wetland and Habitat system under MAEAP. Though the habitat is just a few acres it contains unique features such as a small vernal pool which is extremely important to the breeding of amphibians.

The WCCD is happy to announce our 2020 Conservation Awardees! This year three individuals are being celebrated for their efforts and commitment to conservation and tree planting in Washtenaw County.

Last year during my internship at the Conservation District, I was reading a watershed management plan in order to research a potential grant application. I came across one very interesting sentence. It said that native grasses, like switchgrass, could be used as biofuel material, and that they would produce more biomass per hectare than corn.

Over 100 residents attended the Washtenaw County Conservation District (WCCD) 72nd Annual Meeting on Thursday, January 16th at 6:30 p.m. Each year the WCCD presents three conservation awards to farmers, landowners and residents for their ongoing commitment to applying conservation on the ground.