Everybody needs a bit of magic in their lives now and then. Over and over, throughout this spring, I’ve sought a place where delicate pink fairies, accented with blue, hovered ethereally while many-tentacled hydras somersaulted across the soil below as cyclops wander among them. I wanted to find sea creatures happily going about their business in a woodland meadow. I even hoped to encounter bouncing fleas and dancing worms, as they might feed the fire-dwelling lizards of myth

"What if I told you that aliens have been spotted nearby? They can grow up to fifteen feet tall. They release special chemicals that prevent other things from living nearby. They are so strong that they can break through the foundation of your house and come right in. They have incredible regenerative powers and can survive being ripped apart. They can even clone themselves from a chunk as small as your fingernail. They have come from a far away land with an inhospitable, roc

I’m craving adventure. How about you? And I don’t just mean that I want to sit here at my computer and look wistfully at pictures of the far-flung places I had hoped to visit this spring/summer. I mean that I want to actually get out into the world and experience something new. But, when we’re confined to our own houses/yards, how adventurous can we really be? I propose that we enlist the help of our local expert adventurers to answer that question: our children. I don’t have

They’re calling! Have you heard it? I’ve heard it, the chorus of tiny voices trilling from the woodland edges near my home. Every year as the snow melts, I hold my breath each time I step outside and strain my ears to catch their magical announcement on the wind: spring is here at last. Chorus frogs, though less well-known by name than spring peepers (even if they are likely to be more frequently heard) are usually the first frogs to begin calling in the spring. Their call is

Bringing economic and environmental resources to Genesee County to help both people and the environment grow together There are many ways for all of us to do our part in protecting our planet and the precious natural resources that are all around. However, protecting natural resources can feel like a lot of work, time, and could potentially cost a lot of money. We offer incredible opportunities for landowners and land managers interested in planning and implementing conservat

This year we are happy to have spent time reflecting in one of our favorite spaces in the City of Flint--Max Brandon Park. Together with the Friends of Max Brandon Park, we have had many wonderful opportunities in 2019 to host guided nature walks through this 107-acre piece of Flint History. Last night we had hoped to attend the Black History Month Celebration and Candle Walk through our beloved park, but weather (insert Michigan Joke here) has postponed this event. This park

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is today! "Plant a Tree, Save the World." Sounds too good to be true, right? It isn't. Planting trees is a great and easy way to improve our community and also create a more resilient neighborhood. Trees offer a whole myriad of benefits to the people and wildlife that collectively live in, around, among, and under their majestic canopy. Street trees add to the value of your home and to the livability of your

..and being thoughtful of that which is threatened. "Losing a species of animal is like losing all the masterpieces of a great artist." - Teddy Roosevelt If you were asked to define what "conservation" is, what would you say? One of the first things that many people think of is the protection of endangered species. And they definitely have a point-- protecting endangered species is an important part of overall conservation efforts. But what, exactly, is an endangered species?

“Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.” - Mister Rogers Plastic is almost unavoidable in today’s world. Plastic is everywhere and it impacts every aspect of our environment, from water, air, wildlife, to our own well-being and everything else in between. We are constantly told we need to recycle our plastics. As a society, we are doing our best to recycle properly. What if you are one of many who do not have curbside r

When I think action I think of an Adam West type figure actively combating some sort of flamboyant foe while bright colorful fight scene words flash on the TV screen. *ZOK!* *WHAM!* *KABLAMO!* *MITIGATION!* *REMEDIATION!* *INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT!* Ok, so those last few may have never been in an action scene and they might not align with what you envision when you hear the term "action word". Let there be no mistake though, conservation encompasses a wide variety of action

Are you a fan of gardening or farming? How much work do you put into getting your plants to grow? Fertilizing, tilling, weed control, watering, pruning, the list of activities seems to go on and on and on! Have you ever thought of ways that you can make it just a little bit easier? Maybe cutting some corners on the maintenance? There is actually one really great way to help lighten the load that you might be carrying. Want to know what it is? LET YOUR SOIL WORK FOR YOU! "How

Nothing, it just WAVED! WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE Water. Few things are as important to all life on the planet as is this wondrous compound. Did you know that our bodies are roughly composed of 60-70% water? We Michiganders are particularly lucky. Our Great Lakes hold about 22% of the world's fresh water. This equates to about 95% of the usable freshwater in the United States! Have you ever taken a step back to truly appreciate its complexity and beauty? By witnessing the vast

Conservation does not have to be complicated. In fact, there are many things you most likely already do every day that you may not realize are conservation efforts. Reusing, recycling, and repairing are common activities we hear all the time that lessen our impact on the planet, but beyond these there are many convenient ways your normal everyday routine can be environmentally friendly. CHECK IT OUT! Switching from paper to online billing. This not only makes life easier, but

Earth Day Every Day “Save the Earth!” “Save the Planet!” “Protect the Earth!" All of these slogans are popular among groups that work to promote environmental friendliness. Unfortunately, though, all of these slogans focus on the negative outcomes that are possible if we don’t do things the “green” way. What about the positives? What drives people to be good stewards of the Earth? Here at the Genesee Conservation District, we are gearing up for a year full of positivity: EART