Part II: Why the Newaygo Conservation District?

By Lori Larsen

Our Newaygo Conservation District (NCD) is a unique and valuable resource for the residents of Newaygo County. Our NCD provides valuable opportunities for all landowners, from the agriculture community to individual property owners, as well as the students of our county.
The NCD consults with landowners to educate them in the planning and use of their land.  The district’s mission is to be the primary contact for natural resource information, support and leadership and thereby provide guidance in conserving, maintaining, and improving the natural resources in our county.

The NCD has a long and stable history. It was organized in 1949 with the purpose of improving and maintaining soil productivity and obtaining efficient, appropriate and economical use of the land.  In 1950 the NCD established the only conservation supported nursery in Michigan, which has produced and distributed literally millions of tree seedlings over the last 72 years.

That’s not all. The following is a brief description of the programs available through the NCD, with more detailed explanations available at the website:

• A spring and fall native tree sale
• Educational programming at the Kropscott Environmental Center
• Astronomy exploration for the public at the S.F. Wessling Observatory
• An annual Native Plant Sale
• The rental of two different no-till drills.
• In house testing for nitrates and nitrites
• The Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP), a proactive program that helps farms minimize agricultural pollution risks 
• The Michigan Safe Food Risk Assessment educational tool provides on-farm technical assistance
• Forestry Assistance Plan (FAP) provides education and one-on-one technical assistance to private landowners and communities regarding local forest health issues
• Qualified Forest Program (QFP) assists landowner's holding between 20 to 640 acres of forested land. 

As stated before, the NCD is a unique community resource, but we need your help. 

Note to the retirees of Newaygo County:
We want you; your experience, your knowledge, your talent and your time. The physical and financial resources of the NCD can only be realized with the input of our human resources. You are a valuable human resource for the development and expansion of the programming that can reach all audiences and extend well into the future. 

Please join us on March 12th from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm for a tour of the nursery and an introduction to this valuable resource. The NCD nursery is located at 1725 E. Walnut Street, Newaygo. 
Or, attend the open house at the Kropscott Farm Environmental Center (KFEC) on April 16th from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm to do the same. The KFEC is located at 6523 W. Baseline Road, north of Fremont.

If you are interested in a part time commitment, either paid or volunteer, please put these dates on your calendar and over the next few weeks we will offer a more in-depth look at the facilities and the programs that are conducted through the Newaygo Conservation District. Hopefully you will want to join us.
We will provide the coffee and the donuts, and the smiling faces!
We will chat more about the nursery in the next article.
If you would like more information before the open houses, call Luke Cotton at (231)349-4455.

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