Plant Sale Pre-orders Open Now!
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Pre-orders for our 2022 Native Plant Festival & Sale are open now through Janurary 2022! This is a great opportunity for you to begin planning your spring planting projects. Order now to ensure you get the quantity of plants you desire.
To add to the excitement this year, we have new native plants like false lily of the valley, Western goldenrod, and tufted hairgrass available for purchase. In addition, we have the option to order native plant seed for species like Western columbine, Douglas aster, and showy Oregon sunshine.
Here's how to order:
- Visit our online store at store.thurstoncd.com
- Look through available plants on the 'Products' page - plants can be sorted into multiple categories or viewed alphabetically by common name.
- Use the online planting guidelines and resources if you're not sure what would thrive in your yard or planting area.
- Make an online payment via our PayPal portal- please note you do not need to have a PayPal account to do this and you can check out as a 'guest'.
- Pick up your plants March 3rd - 5th! You will receive detailed information about pick up and care prior to March 3rd.
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Hay, What's the Big Deal?
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The fall and winter brings lower temperatures and higher nutrient requirements for livestock. Properly storing and distributing hay is an important part of your animals' winter health. Check out the following tips to help minimize hay loss and ensure you are feeding your livestock the correct amount this winter:
1. Protect your hay from being trampled. Using feed bags, hay nets, and hay troughs can help minimize loss. These can be found in local farm and feed stores. Whether it's horses, sheep, goats, llamas or cows there is a hay feeder designed for them! This can significantly reduce the amount of hay wasted and therefore the amount of hay you need to purchase this winter.
2. Protect your hay from winter weather. Storing your hay in an outbuilding is the best way to protect it from moisture and wind. If you don't have a storage building, you can use heavy duty tarps. Tarps should be placed under the hay as well as over it. This methods minimizes moisture contact with the bales and keeps it mold free. It is still a good practice to monitor the hay for any discoloration or mildew smells. Moldy hay should not be fed to animals as it may cause serious health issues.
3. Purchase bulk hay locally. Buying your hay in bulk from local producers can significantly decrease cost. Check out our resource list to find nearby producers who sell bulk hay.
4. Calculate your livestock's winter hay needs. Every animal will require a minimum amount of feed per day. This is dependent on the type and use of livestock. A horse that is worked daily will require more feed then its counterpart who stays in a heavy use area and does not exercise heavily. Knowing your animals nutrient needs will also help you decide on what type of hay to purchase. Most of the time a mix of grass hay and higher nutrient hay such as alfalfa or timothy will be sufficient. Your veterinarian will be able to give you specific diet requirements for your individual animals. Use the OSU Extension's Calculating Livestock Winter Hay Needs to help determine your animal's needs.
Interested in learning more? Contact Emily Landrus, Natural Resource Technician at elandrus@thurstoncd.com or 360-999-0635. |
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We're Hiring!
Join our Veterans Conservation Crew.
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Are you a veteran interested in meaningful outdoor work? There are multiple Veterans Conservation Corps paid internship positions available with the Thurston Conservation District!
This position will work on a 4-person field crew under the supervision of the Thurston Conservation District Habitat Team. The crew will work on meaningful habitat restoration projects in rural areas within Thurston County to serve their community by improving water quality, enhancing wildlife habitat, and prevent the spread of invasive weeds. The crew will work on public and private properties, such as farms and conservation lands, to achieve individual, local and regional resource conservation and restoration goals in Thurston County. Field work activities will include planting native trees and shrubs along rivers and streams, controlling or removing invasive vegetation, implementing erosion control techniques, and participating in salmon recovery projects.
Learn more about this positions here.
Questions about the Veterans Conservation Corps? Contact:
Kim Pham
Veterans Conservation Corps Program Specialist
kim@dva.wa.gov
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News from South Sound GREEN
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Teachers participating in Stream Bug Monitoring training at Pioneer Park.
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The new school year is here and SSG has hit the ground running! As with every school year, our first education session is not for the students, but the teachers. We offered our water quality monitoring training and stream bug training for Thurston County teachers in preparation for our flagship programs this fall. We couldn’t imagine how much we had missed seeing our teachers face to face!
And finally, after a year and a half of all virtual learning, SSG was back leading in-person water quality monitoring! In coordination with Nisqually River Education Project, we have started new programs to offer water quality and stream bug monitoring for every fifth grader throughout the North Thurston Public Schools. Immediately, we’ve been able to see the positive effect these programs have on students, who have been missing hands-on experiences (not to mention how delighted we are as well!).
If that wasn’t exciting enough, this month saw the first ever meeting of Teens in Thurston (TnT), a new student volunteer group at TCD. This was an introductory meeting to get to know one another, discuss the group’s priorities and goals, and, of course, enjoy some pizza. Our next meeting will be Orca Recovery Day on October 16th, 10 am in Watershed Park, which is a volunteer opportunity for all ages! If you’re interested, please reach out to Kiana Sinner at ksinner@thurstoncd.com.
If you are interested in volunteering for any of South Sound GREEN’s programs, or want to learn how to get your own school or class involved, contact Sam Nadell, snadell@thurstoncd.com or (360)754-2588 ext.102
South Sound GREEN has their own social media and website.
Check out the links below.
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From Our Community
A snapshot of other great events, programs, and services available from throughout our community.
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Haki Harvest Parties
Haki Farmers Collective
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Saturdays in October, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Victory Farm (7027 Martin Way E Lacey, WA 98516)
Questions? Contact hakifarmerscollective@gmail.com
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Join Haki Farmers Collective on the farm to harvest and celebrate the food and plant medicines grown together as a community. During the harvest parties you will be pick fresh veggies to be delivered to the food bank, and for you to share with your loved ones! You will also spend time harvesting a drying herbs for medicine making.
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Native Plants to Enjoy All Year
Washington Native Plant Society
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Tuesday, October 12th 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Free online workshop.
Register here.
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Whether you’re hiking, gardening, or looking out the window of the bus, Washington’s native plants provide a palette of joy twelve months of the year. This talk by Sarah Gage will cover twelve plants (at least!) to watch for: spring beauties, summer wildflowers, fall foliage, and winter berries. We’ll take a run through the seasons, calling out favorites and learning their secrets.
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School Garden Tours
Thurston County Food Bank
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Saturday, October 16th 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
RSVP to Michaela Winkley, schoolgardens@thurstoncountyfoodbank.org
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Are you interested in utilizing or starting a school garden? Do you already?
Join the Thurston County Food Bank and partners for a tour of local K-12 school gardens and gain tools and resources to bring your classroom into the garden. Share best practices and network with other community members!
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Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan Webinar Panel Q&A
Thurston County Stream Team
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Thursday, October 21st 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Online Zoom Event
Learn more and register for the event here.
Questions? Contact Michelle Stevie, mstevie@ci.olympia.wa.us or 360-753-8336
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There is a lot we can do to combat climate change. See what strategies and plans for actions we can all take. Join Stream Team for a multijurisdictional presentation and panel for follow up questions and answers.
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Conservation News
Interesting news, articles, and studies on conservation issues from around the world.
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It’s Time to Start Planning for Fall Cover Crops
By Kym Pokorny for The Seattle Times
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"Legumes, such as commonly used crimson clover, Austrian field pea and common vetch, are nitrogen “fixers.” Beneficial bacteria in legume root nodules take nitrogen from the air and supply it to the plant. When the cover crop decomposes, some of the nitrogen becomes available to other plants." Read more here.
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Using Electricity to Assess Soil Health
By James Hoorman for Ohio's Country Journal
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"A new break-through in soil health testing has occurred which may allow researchers and farmers to instantly measure soil health and microbial activity. A group of Washington State University researchers are using small electrical currents to assess soil microbes and soil health impacts." Read more here.
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Farmers Restore Native Grasslands as Groundwater Disappears
By Tammy Webber for AP News
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"For decades, the Texas Panhandle was green with cotton, corn and wheat. Wells drew a thousand gallons (3,785 liters) a minute from the seemingly bottomless Ogallala aquifer, allowing farmers to thrive despite frequent dry spells and summer heat." Read more here.
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