Local landowners plant tens of thousands of trees each year. They plant trees around their homes and farms for shade, windbreaks and reforestation.

Ausable Bayfield Conservation is now taking fall tree orders and a common question comes up; “Is it better to plant trees in the spring or the fall?” The answer depends on the type of tree and your location.

“Spring and fall are both good times to plant trees,” said Ian Jean, Forestry Specialist at Ausable Bayfield Conservation.

Thousands of people have taken part in popular turtle release events in the area. Conservation groups have brought back Local Turtle Week, a week of online education and at-home activities, for a second year. 

This is a fun way for people to learn about protecting Ontario’s freshwater turtles even though the turtle release event can’t take place in person in 2021.

During #LocalTurtleWeek Huron Stewardship Council (HSC), and community partners including Ausable Bayfield Conservation, are using photos, videos, and at-home activities to educate the public about turtles in 2021.

The public learns about ways to protect turtles and the wetlands and natural habitat that they call home and that they need to survive and thrive.

The local turtle week partners are to share photo and video posts on their social media channels and activities on their web pages including this turtle page: 

“The goal is to keep dirt on the land.” This was the response from Bayfield-area farmer Rick Kaptein Jr., when asked about why he farms the way he does. 

Rick uses no-till, cover crops and permanent pasture on his rolling farm, Tulip Lane, to help keep the soil on his land. The math is simple, he says. The more soil that stays on his farm, the less he has to spend on nutrient inputs. These practices help maintain a profitable agricultural operation but, at the same time, they keep valuable soil and nutrients out of the nearby Bayfield River and, ultimately, Lake Huron. 

Rick started to use cover crops to feed his cattle but he soon saw the benefits of having something growing in the ground for the long term, both in terms of weed control and erosion control. He noticed that even a bad catch of Rye was able to slow down the weeds. And, when it comes to storm events with heavy rains, he is relieved to see his soil is not washing away.

“You have got to have a root in the ground in the winter,” he said. 

“The no-till really helps keep the soil in place with those unexpected rains that might come in July and August.” 

Rick admits he is continually learning when it comes to his farming practices and he is keen to see how a new pollinator cover crop mix benefits his soil.

Pollinators will most certainly benefit from the Buckwheat and Crimson Clover he planted but Rick is hoping the mix also adds some nitrogen and loosens the soil using the roots. 

One thing he has learned is that if he spends a little money (on cover crop seed) he can save a lot of money and this helps both his pocketbook and the lake.  

Whether you are an agricultural producer, a rural non-farm resident, or an urban resident there are actions you can take to keep your Great Lake great. 

Thousands of visitors to Arkona Lions Museum and Information Centre will know more about watersheds, and protecting them, thanks to the installation of a piece of art called A Watershed of Clay.

“We all need to work together to protect soil and water and we are all a piece of the puzzle,” said Nina Sampson, Conservation Educator with Ausable Bayfield Conservation. “Art moves us and inspires us to look at our landscape in a new way. Visitors to the museum will learn about local watersheds through this artwork and we hope it will inspire them to take positive actions to protect them.”

Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) staff installed the art, at the museum located in Rock Glen Conservation Area (RGCA) in Arkona, in August. Artist Andrea Piller created the ceramic sculptural piece. The artwork is 57 inches (almost five feet) wide and 36 inches (more than three feet) tall. It weighs about 100 pounds. Piller’s ceramic sculptural artwork is inspired by Ontario’s land, sky, and shorelines.