AFFEW is excited to share a variety of in-person presentations during the Earth Day Celebration! This is a monumental year as AFFEW celebrates its 35th and Earth Day’s 55th anniversaries! This years theme is Our Power, Our Planet. This all day event will include many topics of interest. The keynote speaker, Dr. Erik Nordman, will discuss ”The Power of Working Together” and Jim McGrath from Nature Discovery will bring his interactive show featuring reptiles and amphibians. In addition they’ll have many organizations and groups represented at the information booths. 

We plan to have a staff member attending, so stop by and say hello!

Join us for a fun, family-friendly event as we celebrate spring and the exciting upcoming 2025 Pure Markette season! It's the perfect time to connect with nature, learn about planting, and discover local products and resources.

Event Highlights:

• Pick up your MLCD preorder spring trees (Deadline: 3/7/25 - visit our website to order)

• Planting, care, and safety tips

• Spring treats from local farmers and makers

• Sneak peek of the 2025 Pure Markette season and programs

• Free seedling giveaway (1 per family – plant it at home or gift it!)

• Vendors offering farm-fresh produce, baked goods, artisan products, and more

If you placed a pre-order for tree seedlings and selected Baldwin as your pick-up location, your order will be ready for you!

📅 Pick-Up Details:
✔ Check in with your name, and we’ll have your pre-packed order ready.
✔ Staff and volunteers will be available to assist.

⚠ Need to change your pick-up location? Call our office by Thursday, April 24, at 4:30 PM to request a change. If you’re unsure of your selection, contact us to confirm.

Please note: Extra stock will not be available for purchase at this location. Pre-orders only.

While you're in Baldwin, be sure to stop by Pure Markette from 10 AM to Noon to celebrate Mother Earth, spring, and the upcoming 2025 market season! They’ll be offering free seedlings to plant or gift, planting and care instructions, spring treats from local farmers and makers, and more. Pure Markette is also helping promote our tree sale pick-up—so swing by and enjoy the festivities!

If you placed a pre-order for tree seedlings, it’s time to pick them up! Orders will be available at the Community Center Barn at the Mason County Fairgrounds. Please enter from the U.S. 10 entrance, take the first right, and park along the south side of the barn.

📅 Pick-Up Details:
✔ Check in at our pick-up table with your name, and we’ll grab your pre-packed order.
✔ Staff and volunteers will be available to assist.
✔ Didn’t pre-order? A limited selection of extra trees, shrubs, and other products will be available for purchase, including tree tubes, stakes, birdhouses, and nature activity books for kids!

⚠ Need to change your pick-up location? Call our office by Thursday, April 24, at 4:30 PM to request a change. If you’re unsure of your selected location, give us a call to double-check.

Stop by and see what’s available—while supplies last!

If you placed a pre-order for tree seedlings, it’s time to pick them up! Orders will be available at the Community Center Barn at the Mason County Fairgrounds. Please enter from the U.S. 10 entrance, take the first right, and park along the south side of the barn.

📅 Pick-Up Details:
✔ Check in at our pick-up table with your name, and we’ll grab your pre-packed order.
✔ Staff and volunteers will be available to assist.
✔ Didn’t pre-order? A limited selection of extra trees, shrubs, and other products will be available for purchase, including tree tubes, stakes, birdhouses, and nature activity books for kids!

⚠ Need to change your pick-up location? Call our office by Thursday, April 24, at 4:30 PM to request a change. If you’re unsure of your selected location, give us a call to double-check.

Stop by and see what’s available—while supplies last!

Monthly meetings have been scheduled on the 2nd Monday of the month, beginning at 4:00 PM at the Scottville Branch of the Mason County Library, located at 204 E State Street in Scottville. Public is welcome to attend.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88921332369?pwd=gzIyfhbbOpQXfSaOaD4D8doCGWf0RV.1

Meeting ID: 889 2133 2369
Passcode: 390670

March Topic - Agroforestry with Nathan Ayers

We will cover topics related to carbon markets, agroforestry and regenerative agriculture. Webinars will be held on the third Wednesday of each month at noon, so grab your lunch and learn with us as we dive into these emerging topics in conservation. If you'd rather join in person instead of online, we'll gather at the same time at the Scottville library and attendees can watch and participate that way as well. 

To register:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/znP_Yf-hRqqkWivjXYWYWA

DATE CHANGE: Our board meeting normally held on the second Monday of the month has been rescheduled and will now be held on Friday, March 14th

Monthly meetings have been scheduled on the 2nd Monday of the month, beginning at 4:00 PM at the Scottville Branch of the Mason County Library, located at 204 E State Street in Scottville. Public is welcome to attend.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88921332369?pwd=gzIyfhbbOpQXfSaOaD4D8doCGWf0RV.1

Meeting ID: 889 2133 2369
Passcode: 390670

We will be celebrating community conservation over the past year. Our staff and partners will have booths to share information on our recent projects and accomplishments and will be ready to help you with any questions regarding natural resources issues for your property. Come for the open house between 5-6pm to mingle and talk conservation!

A banquet dinner will be provided at 6pm and our guest speaker will be Michelle Carter, who completed an internship with Hamlin Lake Preservation Society this past summer. Michelle will share her insights on the “Health of Hamlin Lake” and the water quality monitoring that she helped conduct. The evening will conclude with recognition of Conservation award winners and raffles of conservation-themed prizes.

Elections: Board of Directors election to be held until 6:30 pm, with results announced following dinner

RSVP: The dinner reservation list is full but you are welcome to attend, check out our raffle and vote. We look forward to seeing you there!

This 2-hour presentation, given by the Manistee and Mason-Lake Conservation Districts, Forestry Assistance Program (FAP), and Michigan State University Extension, is designed for landowners AND professionals such as foresters, ecologists, and loggers, interested in planting trees and shrubs.  Numerous topics will be discussed by Josh Shields, FAP forester, wildlife biologist, and arborist with the Manistee and Mason-Lake Conservation Districts, and Emily Lavely, Tree Fruit Educator with Michigan State University Extension.  Topics will include:

• matching tree and shrub species to the proper site conditions

• selecting fruit tree cultivars based on desired use of fruit, susceptibility to disease, and other factors

• site preparation and planting techniques

• pruning methods for fruit trees

• proper handling and care of seedlings and fruit trees

• containerized versus bareroot stock

• spring versus autumn planting

• protecting trees and shrubs from white-tailed deer and other animals

• the use of tree and shrub planting for timber production, wildlife habitat conversion and enhancement, planting of under-represented species, erosion control, and other conservation purposes

• tree planting experiments using seedlings from conservation district tree/shrub sales 

This is a great presentation to attend to help you choose the correct trees and shrubs to purchase from the conservation district tree sale!

 There is no cost for attending this event.  Snacks will be provided free of charge.

  Donations at the door are appreciated, but not required, to help offset costs of the event.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS February 7th, 2025.  To register, visit the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/hbsiJ7eJ55 or call the Mason-Lake Conservation District office at 231-757-3707 ext. 5.

PLEASE NOTE THAT SPACE IS LIMITED!

Monthly meetings have been scheduled on the 2nd Monday of the month, beginning at 4:00 PM at the Scottville Branch of the Mason County Library, located at 204 E State Street in Scottville. Public is welcome to attend.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88921332369?pwd=gzIyfhbbOpQXfSaOaD4D8doCGWf0RV.1

Meeting ID: 889 2133 2369
Passcode: 390670

Monthly meetings have been scheduled on the 2nd Monday of the month, beginning at 4:00 PM at the Scottville Branch of the Mason County Library, located at 204 E State Street in Scottville. Public is welcome to attend.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88921332369?pwd=gzIyfhbbOpQXfSaOaD4D8doCGWf0RV.1

Meeting ID: 889 2133 2369
Passcode: 390670