MCCD Monthly Newsletter
It's Tree Sale Time!
Hello! Hoping 2024 is off to a good start for everyone! It was great to finally have some snow in January, even though it doesn't seem to be sticking around. Things have been ramping up at MCCD as we get ready for our annual tree sale, annual meeting, seasonal hiring and other events. We also recently launched our new website, which is a great resource to find out about district events and programs, NRCS programs, how to set up a site visit and how to contact our staff. You can take a look at the new MCCD website by clicking here!
Just a reminder that our office is open Monday-Friday and we welcome you to stop by anytime! We have lots of free brochures and information and a great selection of books and field guides for sale, as well as our friendly, knowledgeable staff that are happy to talk about your natural resource concerns.
Thanks for your support,
Maddie, Landen, Elise, Sara, Erica & Christy
Women's Snowshoe Hike Series
Join the Marquette County Conservation District and Michigan State University Extension for their 2024 Women in the Woods snowshoe series! Come be a part of a community of women who appreciate and care for the forests around them! Kids are welcome. This free event is a guided hike full of casual conversation. Reach out to Sara Kelso, MCCD Forester, to register, for more details about the event, or if you need to borrow snowshoes! sara.kelso@macd.org or (906) 251-3071
MCCD Annual Meeting
We hope you will join us for our Annual Meeting on Thursday, February 29th from 6PM-8PM at Barrel + Beam. Chat with district board & staff, learn about our butterbur restoration project, eat some delicious food and celebrate conservation and stewardship with us. This is a FREE event! We hope to see you there!
2024 Annual Tree Sale
That's right, our 2024 tree sale has arrived! We have a great selection of native deciduous trees and shrubs, conifers and variety of fruit trees, berries and other produce items! You can view this year's tree sale offerings and order online by clicking on the graphic below - or call our office to request a paper catalog and order form. Please keep in mind that we have limited stock, so get your orders in early!
2024 Ag for Tomorrow Conference
This is a great opportunity for UP farmers, homesteaders and landowners to learn from local experts about a variety of topics, from growing vegetables and regenerative agriculture to compost systems and water management. Our own Produce Safety Technician, Landen Tetil will be hosting a session on Michigan Produce Safety! Lots of educational exhibits and breakout sessions and lunch is included! More details in the link below.
Compost 101 Workshop
Thank you to everyone who attended our “Compost 101” workshop on January 20th at the Ishpeming Carnegie Public Library! We had over 20 attendees join us for a lively conversation about all things compost – from starting a compost system and vermicomposting to compostable materials and commercial composting opportunities, as well as other troubleshooting topics like how long waste takes to break down, stinky compost and how to keep the critters out. A big thank you to Phil and Ali from Partridge Creek Compost for partnering with MCCD to educate our local community on the benefits of composting! And thanks to Carnegie Library for the great space and being so accommodating!
Stay tuned to for more events in our Compost 101 Free Workshop Series! If you have questions in the meantime, you can always call or stop by the MCCD office or reach out to Partridge Creek Compost: HOME | Partridge Creek Comp (partridgecreekcompost.org)
NRCS News
NRCS in Michigan Announces Conservation Stewardship Program Signup
USDA is accepting applications from agricultural producers and forest landowners from Michigan for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). Agricultural producers and forest landowners looking to build on conservation efforts while strengthening their operation can apply for technical and financial assistance through CSP.
While USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) accepts CSP applications year-round, Michigan producers and landowners should apply by February 16th to be considered for funding in the current cycle.
State Technical Committees, composed of conservation and agricultural-related agency and organization representatives, work with NRCS to identify resource priorities and how best to address them. NRCS then sets state-specific, ranking dates to evaluate applications for funding that account for producer needs, staff workload and ensure potential participants have ample opportunities to apply. Find Michigan’s ranking dates for CSP and other conservation programs at nrcs.usda.gov/ranking-dates.
NRCS offers CSP in all 50 states and the Pacific and Caribbean areas through continuous signups. The program provides many benefits, including increased crop yields, decreased inputs, wildlife habitat improvements and increased resilience to adverse weather. CSP is for working lands, including cropland, pastureland, rangeland, nonindustrial private forest land and agricultural land under Indian tribe jurisdiction.
Additionally, existing CSP participants may have an opportunity to renew their contracts in the first half of the fifth year of their five-year contract through a competitive application process.
Special provisions are available for historically underserved producers, which include those considered beginning, socially disadvantaged and limited resource as well as military veterans. These producers are targeted funds.
To apply for CSP, contact the Alger County and Marquette County NRCS at (906) 251-3088 or email
Produce Safety
Lake 2 Lake CISMA
L2L CISMA IS HIRING!
We are now accepting applications for the 2024 Field Season!
We are hiring for multiple positions - the full job descriptions and instructions on how to apply can be found on the Lake to Lake CISMA website at the link below:
The deadline to apply is Friday, February 23rd by 4pm Eastern time. We will not accept applications through social media.
American Bird Conservancy RCPP
Applications being accepted for American Bird Conservancy’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program
Private forest landowners interested in managing their property to benefit wildlife habitat are invited to apply for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program. This program is intended to create young forest habitat that’s beneficial for declining songbird populations. Landowners with aspen, tag alder, or jack pine have the best opportunity to take advantage of this program.
American Bird Conservancy and the Natural Resources Conservation Service work together to provide this technical and financial assistance to help the Golden-winged warbler and the Kirtland’s Warbler. The Golden-winged warbler likes young aspen or tag alder and the Kirtland’s warbler like young Jack pine forests. The same habitat types can provide great habitat for other wildlife as well, such as the ruffed grouse and white-tailed deer.
Landowners interested in learning more about the program should reach out to American Bird Conservancy’s Forester, Michael Paling. Paling will work directly with the landowner to develop a Conservation Plan for the habitat management projects and will guide landowners through the program process. Applications are accepted all year round, but the final application deadline for landowners who would like funding for the 2024/25 winter season is March 8th, 2024. To submit an application or find out more information, Paling can be reached at 906-251-3065 or mpaling@abcbirds.org.
Plant Native! For the Birds
How do birds survive the cold, sometimes frigid winter temperatures? For many species, it is a combination of things, but really boils down to staying warm and finding food, and food sources can be scarce during the winter months. Fully stocked bird feeders with high fat & protein seeds and nuts are a great way to help our feathered friends, but there are also things you can do when planning your spring plantings that will help birds and other wildlife through the winter months and encourage natural behavior.
Planting fruit bearing shrubs and trees is a great way to provide for overwintering critters, and there are several species with berries that persist throughout the winter months. You can often find flocks of cedar or Bohemian waxwings, pine grosbeaks, chickadees and even cardinals in trees and shrubs feeding on winter berries. Some great options for our ecoregion include, American mountain ash, chokecherry, serviceberry, arrowwood, high bush cranberry and winterberry holly. Not only will these native shrubs support wildlife year-round, they will also bring structure, beauty, and year-round interest to your landscape. We are offering a variety of native shrubs at our annual tree sale this year. Click here for tree sale!
Planting native wildflowers and native grasses will also benefit birds and other wildlife over the winter. The tall, dead stalks of native flowers, like goldenrod and coneflowers stick out above the snow allowing birds access to their seeds. Asters are another great seed source, enjoyed by American goldfinch and pine siskin. Dormant grass provides high-quality, carbohydrate rich seed in winter months, great for dark-eyed juncos, snow buntings and American tree sparrows! MCCD will also offer native wildflowers and grasses for your planting needs, this spring at our Native Wildflower Sale, opening mid-April.
Share Your Stories with Us!
If you have any conservation related stories or photos, we would love to share them in future newsletters! This is a great way to share all of the great conservation work being done locally and initiate stewardship within our community! You can send them to christy.foye@macd.org