What are the opening hours?

Monday 8am - 4:30pm Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm Thursday 8am - 4:30pm Friday 8am - 4:30pm

Crow Wing Soil and Water Conservation District

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Brainerd, MN
Crow Wing Soil and Water Conservation District

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Fostering healthy lands and clean water through voluntary conservation. Vision: Clean water, productive lands, and vibrant communities.

Mission: Fostering healthy lands and clean water through voluntary conservation. Values: Stewardship, Support, Integrity, Leadership, and Partnerships

11/02/2026

Got open land? We want to help you reforest it!

The Field to Forest cost share program helps reforest historically forested open land. Eligible landowners can receive:

💰 Up to 75% reimbursement on tree planting costs.
🌳 An additional $500 per acre payment after planting is complete.

Reforesting former crop fields and pastures helps slow runoff and reduce erosion. It can also add property value, future income, and recreation opportunities. Project should be at least 3 acres and include at least three species.

Contact your DNR stewardship forester today: mndnr.gov/woodlands/cost-share.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=field-to-forest-2026

10/30/2026

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10/30/2026

10/29/2026

🍂 Leaves may be falling, but don’t rush to clear them away!

Burning or bagging and hauling away leaves means removing valuable nutrients that help keep soil healthy. It also removes important winter habitat for some bees, butterflies, moths and fireflies. 🐝🦋

Here are some tips for “leaving the leaves”:

✅ Keep them onsite: Rake as many leaves as possible into existing garden beds and around trees. Leaves can also be added to a compost pile for nutrient-rich soil in spring.

✅ Expand garden beds: If you still have leaves to spare, this is a great opportunity to expand your garden area! Thick piles of leaves can smother grass and leave you with garden beds to plant native plants next year.

✅ Mow mindfully: In areas you don’t want the lawn smothered, mulch-mow and leave shredded leaves in place for the winter to break down naturally and give your yard those beneficial nutrients.

✅ Create a leaf refuge: Avoid mowing your entire lawn at once. If possible, leave one-third to half of the area unmowed as habitat for overwintering pollinators and insects, or stagger mowing times to reduce habitat disruption.

These tips will help you maintain your yard to support backyard biodiversity while keeping leaves away from places we don’t want them - like storm drains and lakes. Pick the approach that works best for your yard!

10/27/2026

Congratulations to our Outstanding Conservationist, Lee Sundmark! Lee’s dedication to the Ross Brook culvert replacement project helped eliminate a recurring road washout while improving stream connectivity and wildlife passage. His commitment to finding the most environmentally beneficial solution will support healthier wetlands, lakes, and wildlife habitat. Thank you, Lee, for being an outstanding steward of our natural resources!

10/27/2026

The deadline to submit photos to our photo contest is THIS Saturday (Oct. 31). Photo categories are:

🌸 Trees, shrubs, flowers and plants that are native to Minnesota.
🦋 Minnesota wildlife. This includes animals, insects, birds, etc.
🌅 Minnesota natural landscapes. Scenic shots of lakes, rivers, forests, etc.

👉 Learn more and upload photos here: cwswcd.org/photo-contest

10/23/2026

Featured Plant: Prairie Alumroot

A hardy, early flowering native perennial that supports butterflies, hummingbirds and native pollinators, prairie alumroot’s distinctive curly leaves and slender flower stalks make it an attractive addition to sunny, dry gardens and rock gardens.

👉 Learn more: bwsr.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/2026-09/featured_plant_october_2026_prairie_alumroot.pdf

10/21/2026

Mark your calendars! Ordering for the 2027 tree sale will begin January 5. Trees, shrubs, plants, and seeds can be ordered online starting January 5, and will be available for pick up April 29-30. More info coming soon!

Address

322 Laurel Street, Suite 22
Brainerd, MN
56401

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	8am - 4:30pm
Thursday	8am - 4:30pm
Friday	8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

(218) 828-6197

Website

http://www.cwswcd.org/

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