Forestry Assistance Program Workshops & Events
Serving: BENZIE, GRAND TRAVERSE, AND LEELANAU CONSERVATION DISTRICTS
FORESTRY EVENTS 2021
Spring Planting Workshop
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PRESS RELEASEBEULAH - The Benzie Conservation District is sponsoring a Spring Planting Workshop on Thursday, March 11, 6:30-8:00 pm virtually via Zoom. It's time to start planning for your spring planting projects! Join BCD staff to learn about the bare-root native tree and shrub seedlings available through the Conservation District this spring. Gain understanding on matching the right tree to the right site for the right reason with District Forester, Kama Ross. Advanced planning, preparing the site, amending the soil, proper planting techniques and follow-up care will all be discussed to help you have good success with any sized planting project.
New species that are available through our Assisted Range Expansion Project, ATREP, will be presented by Maddy Baroli, Project Manager. Planting species that are native to central and southern Michigan hopes to help mitigate the challenges of climate change and help keep our forest landscape diverse and vibrant. Visit www.atrep.net for more information. Conservation Districts across the country have been offering quality, affordable trees and shrubs for decades. This workshop will help landowners make good decisions as they make planting decisions. There is no cost to attend the workshop, but registration is required to receive the Zoom link, and can be done by contacting Aimé Merizon, at the Benzie Conservation District at aime@benziecd.org, by March 10. Visit the District’s website for more information about the Spring Seedling Sale and native trees and shrubs available: www.benziecd.org/seedling-sale. |
FORESTRY EVENTS 2020
EYES ON THE FOREST: HOW TO BE THE BEST STEWARD OF YOUR TREES AND FOREST
- September 01, 2020
- 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
- Location
Zoom Meeting
- MGANM Member
current year member of MGANM - Public – $5.00
Suggested $5 donation for non-member attendee.
Kama will share some of the major forest stresses facing our trees- how to correctly identify them, how to mitigate their impacts through seasonal inspections and how to implement management practices based on science so that we can preserve this valuable natural resource, our forests, for future generations. Being the "Best Steward" of your property means being well-informed, getting out there and noticing changes and working with qualified local tree professionals to help keep your trees and shrubs healthy, vigorously growing and providing all the benefits that we need every day.
Kama Ross has been the Forestry Assistance Program (FAP) Forester for Leelanau, Benzie and Grand Traverse Conservation Districts since October 2013. Prior to this position, Kama was the FAP Forester for Wexford and Missaukee Conservation Districts. She also enjoyed a career as an outdoor and environmental educator at Kettunen Center, Michigan’s 4-H Conference Center in Tustin. She is very glad to be sharing her passion for forestry with area landowners.
Kama is a co-owner of two Northern Michigan Certified Tree Farms since 1990. After receiving her forestry degree from Michigan State University, she served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Paraguay.
“Our forests today face many stresses, but there is a lot we can all be doing to protect our beautiful forests. Kama does a great job of educating us all” says Michele Worden, President of the Master Gardener Association of Northwest Michigan.
The Master Gardener Association of Northwest Michigan (MGANM) furthers the horticulture education activities of MSU Extension through monthly educational presentations. Meetings are held monthly on the first Tuesday of the month and are open to the public. A $5 donation from non-members is appreciated. For certified master gardeners meeting attendance earns credits toward volunteer and education hours. For more information visit mganm.org.
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Painting: "Metamorphosis" by Tom Ford, local naturalist and wildlife artist. Copyrighted.
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Planting Workshop: Balance Your Backyard with Trees, Bees & Expertise!
The Benzie Conservation District is sponsoring a spring Planting Workshop on Wednesday, March 11, 6:30-8:30 pm at the Almira Township Hall, 19639 Maple St, Lake Ann, MI 49650.
This is a great workshop to kick-start spring planting projects! Learn about new species to add to yards or acreage through our Assisted Tree Range Expansion Project, ATREP, with Maddy Baroli, Project Manager. Planting species that are native to southern Michigan hopes to help mitigate the challenges of climate change and help keep our forest landscape diverse and vibrant. Visit www.atrep.net for more information, or check out Benzie CD’s Spring Seedling catalog for species information at www.benziecd.org. Participants will gain understanding on matching “the right tree to the right site for the right reason” with District Forester, Kama Ross. She will provide information about the native tree and shrub species that the Benzie Conservation District is offering this spring through the annual bare-root seedling sale. Advanced planning, preparing the site, amending the soil, proper planting techniques and follow-up care will all be discussed to help landowners succeed with any sized planting project. Finally, enjoy a presentation by Tom Ford, locally renowned naturalist and wildlife artist. A lifelong Audubon member and avid gardener, Ford will offer guidance for planning and growing a wildlife-friendly yard. This workshop has been approved by the MAEAP (Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program) Phase I Credit. There is no cost to attend the workshop, but registration is appreciated, and can be done by contacting Aimé Merizon at the Benzie Conservation District at 231-882-4391, or by emailing aime@benziecd.org. |
Forestry Events 2019
- Small Farms Conference, Friday January 25—Saturday January 26th Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, Acme. Great sessions and information booths throughout the two-day event. The Forestry Assistance Program will be manning a booth—come join us! For more information visit: www.smallfarmconference.com/
- "American Chestnuts Today" by Dr. Carmen Medina Mora, Tuesday, February 5, 6:30 - 8:00 pm, Grand Traverse Conservation District, 1450 Cass Road, Traverse City. Join Dr. Medina Mora, from Michigan State University’s Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, as we discuss the return of the American Chestnut. Contact the Leelanau Conservation District at 231-256-9783 for more information.
- Gaylord Ultimate Hunting Expo, March 15-17, FAP Foresters will hold a booth, for more information visitwww.gaylordhuntingexpo.com/
- Spring planting workshops in all three counties:
- Leelanau CD—Wed. March 20, 6:30-8:30 pm, 8527 E. Government Center Drive, Suttons Bay. Emphasis on invasive species removal techniques with and without the use of chemicals by Liana May, Borealis Consulting and Katie Grzesiak NW Michigan Invasive Species Network Coordinator. LCD staff with recommendations on the native plants to replace them with.
- Benzie CD—Thurs. March 21, 6:30-8:30 pm, Homestead Township Hall, Honor, "Remove Invasives; Plant Natives!"
- Grand Traverse CD—date tbd
- Hands-on Pruning Demonstration with Fritz Girrbach of Brothers Tree Service, Saturday, March 23, 10:00 am to noon, GTCD, 1450 Cass Road, Traverse City. Before the trees leave dormancy, learn how to do corrective pruning on all types of trees and shrubs. $5/person. Contact the Leelanau Conservation District at 231-256-9783.
- "Forest Mushrooms," presentation by Linda Schribner, Wednesday, April 3, 6:30-8:30 pm, Mills Community Room, Benzonia. Linda is a certified forager who can commercially harvest and sell wild mushrooms in Michigan, $10/person. Contact the Benzie Conservation District at 231-882-4391; aime@benziecd.org.
For more information or to register, contact Kama Ross, District Forester, Leelanau, Grand Traverse and Benzie Conservation Districts
at 231-256-9783, or kama.ross@macd.org.
Forestry Events 2018
Contact District Forester, Kama Ross, for more information:
kama.ross@macd.org or call 231-256-9783
[To enlarge, double-click on flyer and open in new window or save to desktop.]
kama.ross@macd.org or call 231-256-9783
[To enlarge, double-click on flyer and open in new window or save to desktop.]
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Public Input Welcomed!
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Safety & Woods Worker (SAWW) Chainsaw Safety Training
SAWW Training is an umbrella organization that promotes safe and efficient chainsaw use, for both professionals and backyard chainsaw operators. The four full-day course begins January 24, 2018, and is designed for both professionals and backyard chainsaw operators. The program is limited to 10 participants and we would like to offer the opportunity to tree professionals, as well as to area landowners. Click on link to download flyer. 
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Forestry Field Day at Interlochen Center for the Arts!
Saturday, September 9, 2017; from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Interlochen Center for the Arts, 4000 Highway M-137, Interlochen
"Ties to the Land": Family Forest Planning Workshop
Saturday, September 16, 2017; from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Grand Traverse Conservation District, Boardman Nature Center Community Room, 1450 Cass Road, Traverse City Got spring fever? Click here for info on our Planting Workshop!
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2016 Events
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DNR Public Meeting for Forest Planning
Wed, July 12, 2016, 4 pm, TC Center, 2122 M-37 |
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