The Dirt on Conservation

Conservation efforts are working

Thursday, May 10, 2012 by Michelle Wood

I’m not much of a “joiner,” but I do belong to a couple conservation-minded organizations. It has become obvious to me that one of these organizations recently sold my contact information to every other conservation organization in the United States, and possibly the world. I have been invited to save the rainforest, the whales, tigers, [...]

It’s official: Medina County is the ‘Pond Capital of Ohio’

Wednesday, May 2, 2012 by Jeff Van Loon

We have always known we have had lots of ponds in Medina County. You see them everywhere. People who fly over the county have told us that they seem to see more here than anywhere else in Ohio. So, are we the pond capital of Ohio? Yes, we are! It’s official! The Medina SWCD Board [...]

Soil and Water Stewardship Week: A time to stop and think

Thursday, April 19, 2012 by Jim Mizik

Each day of your life, you pick up a fork or spoon and eat. Most all of us eat at least three times a day, but do you ever think about where all of your food — and the food everybody else eats — comes from? For some, the answer may be from my freezer [...]

Conservation starts in your backyard

Thursday, April 12, 2012 by Deb Bigelow

COSHOCTON, Ohio — Do you ever remember mowing your lawn in March? Due to the warm weather this year many of us did just that. I don’t remember starting this early and I have spent many hours of my life on a lawnmower. Before moving to Coshocton, I mowed several acres of yard that took [...]

The ins and outs of Ohio dam safety

Thursday, April 5, 2012 by Cathy Berg

More than 95 percent of Ohio’s dams are owned by local landowners or other entities other than the state of Ohio. And, if you are the owner of a dam, the responsibility for maintaining a safe dam rests with you.

Anyone remember cyclone seeders? The early years of drills and related planting equipment

Thursday, March 29, 2012 by Sam Moore

When I was a kid, my father’s crop rotation was corn, oats, wheat and hay. The wheat was planted in the fall after the oats stubble was plowed and, in order to have a crop of hay in the year following the wheat, grass seed had to be sown either with the wheat, or the [...]

Get your land ‘buff’ and in shape

Thursday, March 22, 2012 by Kelly Riley

To get in shape, or “buff” as the slang term implies is to have good muscle tone, be physically fit, and trim. Well, I’m not talking about you and your body, what I’m talking about is your land and property. Whether you own a half acre, five acres or hundreds of acres, your land is [...]

Oil and gas pipeline easements — the next phase of the leasing process

Thursday, March 15, 2012 by Wendee Zadanski

Phase I If you live in Carroll or Jefferson counties, the frenzy of the leasing process is beginning to slow up somewhat, and drill sites are popping up all over the horizon. Ahhh, finally, we can let out a slow sigh of relief and wait to see what unfolds. Unfortunately, just when you thought it [...]

OASWCDE — What the heck is it?

Thursday, March 8, 2012 by Tammy Jones

The OASWCDE is the Ohio Association of Soil and Water Conservation District Employees. The organization is open to employees of all 88 districts as official members. District board members and partners from other agencies are welcome to join as associate members. Purposes The OASWCDE has three main purposes: To promote the professional development of district [...]

Signs of spring … and the Envirothon

Thursday, March 1, 2012 by tracy-haney

As I sit and look at the weather outside, the sun is shining and it is almost 40 degrees in February in Ohio. Wow, what’s next? Spring, and along with spring comes Envirothon. What is the Envirothon? It is a competitive outdoor environmental education event for area high school students. Area III Envirothon will be [...]