Topics This Month -

• This Week: Local Grain Learn-and-Bake with MSU and Upstart Bakery

• September Scrap Tire Collection - How did it go?

• October Adopt-a-Stream - How did it go?

• Haehnle Sanctuary Monthly Workdays

• Invasive Species Spotlight

• …and more!!

Upcoming Events -

• Each Friday in October- Grand River Farmers Market, in the old Grand River Brewery Parking lot, from 9am to 2pm.

• Each Saturday in October- Grand River Farmers Market, at the River & Rail Food Hub, 137 W North St, from 9am to 2pm.

• October 15th - THIS THURSDAY! - Kernza Education Event at Upstart Bakery, 8605 Lansing Avenue, Rives Junction, 49277, from 6pm - 8pm, Free - registration is required, email josh@upstartbakery.com to register.

• November 7th - Recycling Jackson, 1401 N Brown Street, open from 9am to 1pm. Visit their Facebook or website for more information.

• Keep an eye on our events page on our website for the most up-to-date information!

Local food grain farming is making a comeback in southern Michigan! Come learn about a unique wheat-hybrid, Kernza®, that is a perennial, meaning it grows back to harvest for multiple seasons.

Are you interested in baking with healthy, whole grains or connecting your food with local, sustainable agriculture? This Thursday, October 15th, join Korede Olugbenle of MSU Extension and Josh Palmer of Upstart Bakery to explore Kernza®, a new perennial grain with many promising environmental benefits.

Kernza® is not only a sustainable grain, but also delicious! You’ll have a chance to mill your own sample of Kernza® flour, bake a grain stalk Kernza® bread, and sample a variety of snacks and treats.

This event is free, but registration is required, email olugbenl@msu.edu and ask to be signed up. The event is at Upstart Bakery, 8605 Lansing Avenue, Rives Junction, 49277, from 6pm - 8pm.

This event made possible by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Regenerative Farmer Network Group grant!

September 19th was our annual scrap tire collection and it was a very bad weather day! As we lined people up, the rain filled tires with water just ready to splash all over us!

Despite the weather, we did manage to fill two truck loads with scrap tires and didn’t have to turn anyone away this year.

If you still have tires you need to dispose of, please check with your local township office to see if they will have an event. We’ve partnered with most townships to provide a single trailer for township specific collections.

Thank you for attending and making this event a success, despite the weather!

Last Saturday, were able to have two groups operating simultaneously to cover four sites across Jackson County. One group sampled the stream behind the Townsend Medical Center and the stream off of High Street. The other tackled a small (but teeming with life) stream at the Dahlem Community Gardens and took a small hike to get to the stream at the Kate Palmer Sanctuary.

We’re planning to have our Bug ID session towards the end of the month or in early November - if you are interested in helping to ID some of the macroinvertebrates we’ve collected, feel free to let me know by email at colten@macd.org and I will keep you in the loop! It will likely be during working hours and on a weekday.

Thank you to our volunteers!! We had an amazing turnout; you helped us to increase information on the ecological quality of Michigan rivers!

Our next collection will be a species-specific hunt. We will be looking for stoneflies in particular, later in the winter! If this sounds interesting, and you want to volunteer, please email colten@macd.org!

Monthly workdays continue in support of habitat restoration and general maintenance. These are scheduled for the 3rd Thursday of each month. Chad Machinski from Michigan Audubon and Steve Jerant from Jackson Audubon will lead the work. Volunteers can assist from 9am to 12pm in the warm seasons and 1pm to 4pm in the cool seasons. Tools and materials are provided. Wear sturdy work boots.

Registration is required so we are able to plan work type and location in the sanctuary. To register for the upcoming workday on October 22nd, from 9am to 12pm, email jacksonaudubon@gmail.com.

Haehnle is located at the intersection of Seymour Rd & Fairlane Dr, Grass Lake. Meet at the Wing Overlook kiosk on Seymour Road.

What is it?  Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) is a sap-sucking insect that infests eastern hemlock trees and is originally from East Asia. It is hard to see as they are very small (1.5 mm) but can be easily identified by the white woolly masses they form that resemble tiny cotton balls. There are two overlapping generations per year, with eggs hatching around April/May, and the second generation around July. Each adult deposits about 75 eggs.  Second generation nymphs will feed during the winter and mature in spring.

How did it get here?  HWA was thought to have been introduced to Virginia around the 1950s via contaminated nursery stock from Japan, and quickly spread along the coast.  HWA is easily spread when they are not attached to the tree (during the egg and crawler stage) by wind, birds, wildlife, and people. Once a crawler finds a spot to feed, it will generally stay there for the rest of its life.
 
What does it do? During the feeding stage, HWA will search for a suitable place to attach itself to the tree (generally near the base of the needles).  Once a place is found, it will insert its mouthpiece into the tree and begin feeding on the stored tree starch. This feeding activity will disrupt the flow of nutrients throughout the twig resulting in needle loss, twig and branch dieback, decreased occurrences of new shoots, and discoloration of foliage.  If left untreated, death of the tree may occur within 4 to 10 years. 

What can you do?  Prevention is the best strategy!  Due to the occurrence of HWA in the western part of Michigan and in Washtenaw County, residents are urged to avoid placing bird feeders near hemlock trees, stay on trails, buy firewood where you will burn it, and avoid parking under trees near contaminated sites.  Residents are also strongly urged to buy local trees and check for any quarantine restrictions before transporting trees from one region to another. If you have hemlock trees, please check for HWA and report suspected cases quickly via email (MDA-Info@michigan.gov), using the MISIN online reporting tool,  or calling the MDARD Customer Service Center at (800) 292-3939. Treatment options are available for homeowners or you can contact a qualified arborist for assistance.

Photo courtesy of Shikha Singh, JLW CISMA.

If you find this invasive in Michigan, note the location and take photos to aid in verification. Report your find to:

• Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, MDA-Info@Michigan.gov.

• Or - the Midwest Invasive Species Information Network (MISIN) online reporting tool.

• Or - download the MISIN smartphone app and report from your phone.

Check out these sites to learn more about invasive species:

• Michigan Invasive Species Program

• MISIN

If you have a smartphone, download the MISIN (Midwest Invasive Species Information Network) App. This will allow you to learn about invasive species and report them on your phone. 

If you have any questions about invasive species, contact the JLW CISMA Coordinator Shikha Singh via email (shikha.singh@macd.org) or call the office at 517-395-2089. Don't forget to check out the official JLW CISMA website here.

Click here to sign up for the JLW CISMA monthly newsletter.

Michigan's Hunting Access Program (HAP) was originally created in 1977 to increase public hunting opportunities in southern Michigan where 97 percent of the land base is privately owned. It has now expanded to include the Northeast Lower and Eastern Upper Peninsulas. HAP is one of the oldest dedicated private lands public access programs in the nation.  

HAP provides access to quality private hunting lands with a focus on agricultural regions and disease management areas. Providing more hunting opportunities is critical for attracting new and retaining current hunters and supporting Michigan’s strong hunting tradition. Click here to find a list and maps of HAP properties around the state.

HAP provides financial incentives to private landowners who allow hunters access to their lands. Using funds from a USDA/VPA-HIP federal grant, the DNR has significantly expanded the number of acres and properties available within the HAP program.  Click here if you are interested in finding out more information on how to enroll your land in the Hunting Access Program.

The Jackson County Conservation District participates in HAP, if you are interested in learning more about the property, please email colten@macd.org.

This information was taken directly from the Michigan.gov website. 

Recycling Jackson provides recycling drop-off on the first Saturday of every month from 9 am-1 pm. They are located one block behind Home Depot next to the Jackson Public Schools Bus Garage at 1401 N Brown St. Find out more information on their Facebook page or website.

See this Facebook post for further details and materials they do not accept.

Plantskydd is a 100% all-natural animal repellent for use around your trees, shrubs, garden, or farm. The active ingredient is blood (recognized by the EPA as a safe ingredient exempt from pesticide registration).

How does it work? Plantskydd repels by emitting an odor that browsing animals, such as deer and rabbits, associate with predator activity. The odor is not unpleasant to applicators or planters.

Is it safe? Plantskydd contains no synthetic additives, is non-toxic, and is not harmful to animals or the environment when used as directed. 

Powder Concentrate  
1.1 pound - $32
2.2 pounds - $53

Pre-mixed
1 quart - $23
1.3 gallons - $64

Granular
3-pound shaker jug - $33

Mosquito Barrier is effective against mosquitoes, ticks, and black flies. It is safe for humans, plants, and pets and lasts up to a month with each application. The effective ingredient is garlic, and the odor dissipates immediately after application. 

Mosquito Barrier - back in stock!
1 quart - $26.50 (covers 1.25 ac.)
1 gallon - $100 (covers 5 ac.)

Please call 517-395-2082 or email colten@macd.org to schedule an appointment to purchase and pick up your Plantskydd or Mosquito Barrier!

Soil testing information can help you develop a proper fertilization strategy and prevent over-fertilizing. Test results will include lab recommendations and consultation with JCCD staff, if needed, to answer questions you may have.

Soil sample materials and information are available at the district office at 211 West Ganson Street, Suite 200 in Jackson. The cost is $25/sample for one to four samples or $20/sample for 5 samples or more. Free soil probe rental is also available by appointment.

Contact Joselyn via email at joselyn.ralph@macd.org or call 517-395-2082 with questions. You can also visit our website or Facebook page for more information about the Conservation District. 

Check out our website and Facebook to stay up to date with our latest news and events!!