Van Buren Conservation District

06/12/2026

Our office is currently experiencing issues with our landline. We can still be reached at 269-657-7055 ext. 5.

Contact info for individual staff members can be found at https://vanburencd.org/about/ by clicking on "Staff"

Michigan’s Conservation Districts are “unique” local units of State Government, established to carry out programs for conservation. Conservation Districts utilize county, state, federal and private sector resources to assist people with the wise use and protection of the natural resources on t...

06/11/2026

We planted nearly 200 new native trees and shrubs on six lakes in southwest Michigan this spring! This project offers landowners the opportunity to plant native trees and shrubs to reduce runoff, improve the quality of water in our lakes and streams, and provide valuable wildlife habitat. This great project is a partnership with the Van Buren Conservation District, Michigan Lakes and Streams Association, and many other partners!

Landowners on or near Round, Gravel, and Eagle Lakes in Van Buren County and Harwood, Birch, and Baldwin Lakes in Cass County who would like to participate are encouraged to fill out an online interest form (see link in first comment).
This project is made possible by a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant through the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

[Special thanks to the exceptional crew from the who did the planting!]

06/11/2026

🌞 Farms, Food & Fun in June! 🍓

Summer is almost here - get outside, enjoy fresh food, and check out some local events! 👇

What’s have you enjoyed so far this season?
🍓 Strawberries
🥬 Rhubarb
🌱 Asparagus
🫓 Fresh fruit baked goods
🥦 Spinach, onions, chard, broccoli, herbs
🥚 Farm-fresh eggs

Remember to use the "Product Search" section of the Guide to find local sources for all your favorite foods.

Farmers markets are opening, and lots of libraries are kicking off their summer programming, so don't miss out! 📚

Nearby water and land trails are great places to see all that's coming to life and changing throughout the summer. 🌳🛶

And our communities are working hard to put together fun festivals and events all summer long! 🎽🚜🎉

👉 Explore local farms, food, & fun - head to the link in our profile 📲

06/09/2026

Don't miss us in the City of Bangor, Michigan for electronics recycling!

❗Look out Bangor, here we come❗

On Wednesday, June 10, Kalli will be set up and ready to go at the Bangor Fire Department (417 Arlington St., Bangor, MI 49013) from 1:00 PM until 5:00 PM.

💻📞We will be accepting electronics for recycling from any Van Buren County resident or landowner.

Come learn more about recycling and gather information from our Materials Management Project Manager for all your disposal needs.

Can’t make the event? Find our trailer at the Bangor Township Waste and Recycling Center at 41559 63th St, Bangor during their open hours, June 13 & 20 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM.

06/08/2026

The June VBCD News is in! ☀
Summer is almost here! Check out all we got up to in this month's newsletter.

Get the scoop:
♻ Recycling collection events and facility tour
🌟 Attend our annual meeting July 17
🍓 Food, Farm, & Fun coming up
🗓️ Important dates June-August

Are you signed up for our newsletter? This once-a-month email is your quick-and-easy guide to resources, fun, education, and events! Go to the bottom of our website to subscribe.

06/04/2026

Don't forget to bring your "stuff" to us this Saturday for our Recycle Roundup Event!

06/03/2026

Kyle has been working with a group designing a drone capable of measuring soil moisture to help farmers better use irrigation. As part of that work, Kyle needed to install soil moisture monitoring tubes in participating fields so that drone data could be compared to actual soil moisture measurements.

Drones are already being used for many tasks on farms, but this would allow farmers to make better decisions for irrigation which would conserve water, energy and time.

In July, a team of grad students and professors will be conducting flights to test their drone.

06/03/2026

Attention farmers! 📣

Get rid of old, expired, and/or unusable pesticides at the upcoming Clean Sweep Collection event. Clean Sweep events are free to anyone in Michigan.

This year's events are hosted by Berrien County on June 17 and July 22.

You must pre-register at least two weeks prior to the event. Find the registration form in our office or on our webpage Agricultural Recycling - click the link in our profile! Send us a message if you have any questions.

06/02/2026

Trail Education Day is about connecting students with the back yard we all share, fostering appreciation for nature, and inspiring the next generation of stewards to care for the trails and outdoor spaces that make our community, and our great state! (quoted from Visit South Haven )

On May 22nd, the Van Buren Conservation District hosted a stop on the Kal-Haven Trail for the participating 5th grade students. Kim Sinclair and Lia Will shared the Black River Watershed Map, explaining what a watershed is and how contaminants can impact water quality throughout the watershed.

Macroinvertebrate sampling for water quality was explained. They displayed 18 different macroinvertebrates collected during sampling. Kids love bugs! They also explained how the sensitivity of different macros help tell how healthy the water is!

Thank you for including us in this event!