August 2026 Washtenaw County Conservation Update 🍂- Events and Information

Washtenaw County Conservation Update 🍂

Ready, Set, Plant! Shopping is open for the Fall Tree & Native Plant Sale, on Friday, September 25th, 2026. Our largest yet with plenty of discounts to go around! Pre-order online now until September 13th.
Announcing the Michigan First-Generation Farm Mentors program – launching its first pilot cohort in October 2026. Before the mentorship program begins, we’re hosting a series of on-farm tours.
WCCD implements the Ottawa-Stony North Education and Demonstration project: stormwater management, septic system care, and rain garden workshops will take place throughout the watershed.
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development awarded a Regenerative Farmer Network Grant (RFNG) to the newly formed, farmer-led Washtenaw Agroecology Network.
Registration is now live for the rescheduled date for the Washtenaw TOPP Farm Tour. It’ll take place at three farms Tuesday, August 25th.

Featured WCCD Events

Upcoming WCCD Sales

2026 Fall Tree & Native Plant Sale

Our largest offering to date! Find your favorite native plants including bare-root conifers, garden kits, wildflowers, and potted trees & shrubs.

Shop the 2026 Fall Sale

2026 DISCOUNTS

“Planting Trees Cleans Water” price drop on large potted trees & shrubs. No discount codes, the price is reduced!

A2Zero Pollinator-Aware Yard Care – Get 50% off, up to $20, on pollinator plants.

A2Zero 10K Trees Initiative – Get 50% off, up to $20 on native bare-root trees.

WCCD Program & Project Updates

Ottawa-Stony North Education & Demonstration Project

Washtenaw County Conservation District began work on its first implementation project based on recommendations in this recently approved Watershed Management Plan. Funded by a Nonpoint Source Implementation grant, we began the implementation of the Ottawa-Stony North Education and Demonstration project. With this funding, several projects will be going on within the watershed.

Questions? Contact Nick Machinski at Nick@washtenawcd.org or Alex Caccari at Alex@washtenawcd.org

Michigan First-Generation Farm Mentors Program

The Michigan First-Generation Farm Mentors program will launch its first pilot cohort in October 2026.

Through this program, ten first-generation farmers (those who did not grow up on or inherit a family farm) will be matched with experienced mentors for one-on-one guidance tailored to their farming goals.

Applications for this inaugural cohort will be accepted through late September.

Learn more about program

Submit application

MCSFP

The Michigan Conservation Stewardship for Farmers Project is an incentive program to help farmers hedge the financial risk of trying new and innovative conservation and marketing practices.

Open enrollment has moved to waitlist status for Washtenaw County farmers.

We are still accepting applications for waitlisted spots. Waitlisted applications will be considered in the order they are received, as funds are re-allocated throughout the project, likely in late Fall 2026.

Spots are still open for enrollment in Wayne, Monroe, Lenawee and Hillsdale counties for this project.

Questions? Contact Alex Caccari at Alex@washtenawcd.org

Learn more about MCSFP

Upcoming WCCD Events

Mushroom 102

Wednesday, September 2nd 2026, 6:00pm-8:00pm

Washington Street Education Center
500 Washington Street
Chelsea, MI 48118

In this class go beyond the basics and dive deep into cloning mushrooms, taking spore prints, and creating your very own liquid cultures. This class will teach you how to sustainably cultivate mushrooms at home using professional techniques. Registration required through Jackson County Conservation District, the event cost is $50.

Register Here

Living Soils Workshop

Tuesday, September 8th 2026, 4:30 – 7:30pm

MSU Extension Classroom (Floor 1)
705 N. Zeeb Rd. #201
Ann Arbor, MI 48103

Join us to learn how living soil works is foundational to understanding regenerative farming. Practices like composting, mulching, reduced-tilling, and cover cropping are meant to protect the life in the soil. But what is the “life in this soil?”

Register here

Local Government Meetings: Your Voice Matters!

public meetings calendar

The public is welcome at our Monthly Board of Directors Meeting.

Community Updates: Local events, programs, and happenings.

Ann Arbor Local Food Festival

Thursday, August 27, 2026

The Local Food Festival brings together growers, producers, chefs, artisans, and food lovers from across Washtenaw County and beyond to celebrate the harvest and showcase Michigan food and farming. Features prepared food and drinks for purchase, produce sampling, games and activities, live music, and educational demonstrations.

Ann Arbor Farmers Market, 315 Detroit St., 5–8pm

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Beyond Honeybees: an Introduction to the Astonishing Diversity of Native Pollinators

Wednesday, September 9th, 2026

In this presentation David Cappaert, a local entomologist, educator, and photographer, will introduce some of the common floral visitors that you can expect to see in your Ann Arbor garden. He will also report on what was learned in the 2026 citizen science study of pollinator ecology in Washtenaw County.

Matthaei Botanical Gardens – Great Lakes Garden, 6:30-7:30pm

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Master Composter Class

Tuesdays, September 15 – October 13, 2026

Learn everything there is to know about compost! Which you can then use to build your rain garden. Or make your veggies thrive. Offered by Project Grow Gardens in partnership with MSU Extension.

Ann Arbor Senior Center and Leslie Science and Nature Center, 6-8:30pm

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