2020 Community Conservation Education
The Backyard Education Series is designed to increase the conservation skills and knowledge base of all landowners from small city lots to larger rural properties. The Backyard Series introduces Washtenaw residents to a broad series of topics including planning for conservation, building healthy soils, landscaping with native plants, water conservation and rain catchment systems, tree planting and maintenance and more. Topics for Backyard Workshop Series are gathered through input from the WCCD Education & Community Outreach Committee made up of residents and volunteers as well as through the Annual Meeting.
2020 Workshops
Naturalized Landscaping
CANCELLED *stay tuned for 2021*
May, Day and location TBD
$10 per person, $5 for students and seniors
Join us for a workshop on Naturalized Landscaping with Native Species led by Rick Meader, landscape architect for the City of Novi, where he will show you how to manage nutrients in your soil, eco-friendly approaches to pest management, how to use mulches and mowing to control unwanted plants, and how to choose the right native species for your plot. This workshop will give you the grounding you need to get the best selection for you at our Native Plant Expo in late May! RVSP
Tree Planting 101
CANCELLED *stay tuned for 2021*
Wednesday April 8th from 6-8 p.m.
Growing Hope Urban Farm (922 W Michigan Ave, Ypsilanti, MI 48197). $5-10 per person.
Join landscape architect Wade Lehmann for our “Tree Planting 101” workshop, so that you can learn how to plant and take care of all kinds of trees, from planter contained to bare root stock – and it’s a perfect primer for anyone buying plants at the WCCD’s tree and shrub distribution later in April! This workshop will involve hands-on planting at Growing Hope’s Urban Farm in downtown Ypsilanti. SPACE IS LIMITED! Pre-purchase your tickets here to guarantee your spot!
Pollinator Gardens
Tuesday, March 3rd from 6-8 p.m.
Saline Liberty School in the Board Room ( 7265 N. Ann Arbor St. Saline, MI 48176). $10 per person.
Vern Stephens of Designs By Nature LLC and the Washtenaw County Conservation District (WCCD) will be hosting an Pollinator Gardens Workshop. During the workshop, Vern will discuss the benefits of pollinator gardens, site selection, site prep, species selection, installation, management and maintenance. RSVP.
Naturalized Landscaping
CANCELLED *stay tuned for 2021*
May, Day and location TBD
$10 per person, $5 for students and seniors
Join us for a workshop on Naturalized Landscaping with Native Species led by Rick Meader, landscape architect for the City of Novi, where he will show you how to manage nutrients in your soil, eco-friendly approaches to pest management, how to use mulches and mowing to control unwanted plants, and how to choose the right native species for your plot. This workshop will give you the grounding you need to get the best selection for you at our Native Plant Expo in late May! RVSP
Tree Planting 101
CANCELLED *stay tuned for 2021*
Wednesday April 8th from 6-8 p.m.
Growing Hope Urban Farm (922 W Michigan Ave, Ypsilanti, MI 48197). $5-10 per person.
Join landscape architect Wade Lehmann for our “Tree Planting 101” workshop, so that you can learn how to plant and take care of all kinds of trees, from planter contained to bare root stock – and it’s a perfect primer for anyone buying plants at the WCCD’s tree and shrub distribution later in April! This workshop will involve hands-on planting at Growing Hope’s Urban Farm in downtown Ypsilanti. SPACE IS LIMITED! Pre-purchase your tickets here to guarantee your spot!
Pollinator Gardens
Tuesday, March 3rd from 6-8 p.m.
Saline Liberty School in the Board Room ( 7265 N. Ann Arbor St. Saline, MI 48176). $10 per person.
Vern Stephens of Designs By Nature LLC and the Washtenaw County Conservation District (WCCD) will be hosting an Pollinator Gardens Workshop. During the workshop, Vern will discuss the benefits of pollinator gardens, site selection, site prep, species selection, installation, management and maintenance. RSVP.
2019 Workshops
Planting and Maintaining Trees
Tuesday, October 22nd from 5-6:30 PM.
8778 Eiseman Rd, Manchester, MI 48158. Cost is $10 per person.
Topics will include: site selection and preparation, proper planting techniques, what to look for in the first year of growth and how to care for your trees for long term health. Featuring Ivich Fraser, Entomologist with the U.S. Forest Service and hosted by Vic Mann, WCCD "Tree Conservationist of the Year 2017" award winner.
Rainwater Harvesting System Design for ALL Buildings
Thursday, July 25th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m
Scio Township Hall (827 N Zeeb Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103). $10 per person.
Eddie Van Giesen III, national Sales Manager at Raincycle and Celeste Allen Novak FAIA, LEED, co-author of Designing Rainwater Harvesting Systems: Integrating Rainwater Into Building Systems.
Introduction to Beekeeping
Wednesday, March 27 from 6-8 p.m.
Scio Township Hall (827 N Zeeb Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103). $10 per person.
Join longtime beekeeper, John Dohner, in this beginning workshop designed for the newbie.
Dohner has a small farm in Lima Township where he raises bees and sheep. He actively assists his son and daughter-in-law, Jill Dohner, with their beehives (Rustic Root Farm). He also serves and the president of the Chelsea Area Beekeepers.
Participants will be introduced to critical beekeeping equipment with examples and resources for where to find and purchase equipment.
He will give an overview of the workflow of beekeeping over the course of one full season as well as what to consider if you plan to sell products from your beekeeping.
Introduction to Native Planting
Wednesday, March 6th from 6-8 p.m.
Scio Township Hall (827 N Zeeb Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103). $10 per person.
Vern Stephens of Designs By Nature LLC and the Washtenaw County Conservation District (WCCD) will be hosting an Introduction to Native Planting Workshop. During the workshop, Vern will discuss why we choose natives, site selection, site prep, installation, species selection, management and maintenance. Participants will learn to identify various native plants.
