Conservation Starters

On this month's episode of Conservation Starters, we are joined by Lindsey Swardz, owner of Four Ginger Farm, and Marguerite Abplanalp, Thurston Conservation District's Agricultural Program Manager. Together, we discuss how the changing weather can negatively impact an agricultural landscape. We also talk about cost-effective ways farmers and home gardeners can prepare their landscape for the winter rain. Lindsey breaks down the projects she and TCD have implemented on her property and shares how these have benefited her operation!


Resources:
Visit www.thurstoncd.com to reach out to our staff to learn about ways you can improve your wintertime agricultural operation.
Learn more about the Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP) here.

On this month's episode of Conservation Starters, we are joined by Shina Wysocki, owner of Chelsea Farms and Chelsea Oyster Bar, and Stephanie Bishop Thurston Conservation District's South Sound GREEN Program Manager. Together, we dive into the effects of ocean acidification on our local shellfish population. We also discuss the importance of our local shellfish farms for both our economy and the health of our environment. Both Stephanie and Shina share ways local community members can support shellfish farmers and help improve our region's water quality.

This month on Conservation Starters, we're joined by Dr. Pamela Braff, Director of Climate Programs at the City of Olympia, Linsey Fields, Climate and Sustainability Coordinator at the City of Lacey, and Alyssa Jones Wood Sustainability Coordinator at the City of Tumwater. Together, we go over climate change basics and highlight why climate change is a topic of discussion in our growing community. We talk about Thurston County's Climate Mitigation Plan and how multiple jurisdictions, partners, and community members came together to create a comprehensive plan. Pamela, Linsey, and Alyssa also discuss how this plan is beginning to be implemented and give tips on how listeners can be more climate-resilient in their day-to-day lives.

Resources:
Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan
Annual Climate Mitigation Collaborative Retreat Summary
Climate Action Venn Diagram
Learn more about becoming a Climate Advisory Workgroup Member (Coming soon)
Energize Olympia
Olympia Climate Program
City of Lacey Sustainability & Resiliency Efforts
City of Tumwater Sustainability Efforts
Thurston County Climate Change Efforts

This month on Conservation Starters, we're joined by Jae Townsend, TCD's Education & Outreach Assistant, and Jennifer Coe, Department of Natural Resource's Western Washington Community Resilience Coordinator. We delve into why wildfire is something communities on the west side of the State should be preparing for. We also talk about DNR's Wildfire Ready Neighbors program and the impact it's making in our local community. Jae and Jennifer break down simple actionable steps listeners can take to protect their homes from the threat of wildfire and discuss how working together as neighbors can have a lasting impact on the Thurston County community. Tune in to learn more!

Resources:

• Jae Townsend, [email protected]
• Jennifer Coe, [email protected]
• Wildfire Ready Neighbors (WFRN)
• WFRN Home Assessment Sign-up
• Firewise
• DNR Community Wildfire Resilience Resource Library
• OSU Fire-resistant plant guide

This month on Conservation Starters, we're joined by TCD staff, Nora Carman-White, Karin Strelioff, and Marguerite Abplanalp. Together, we sit down to answer our listener's questions! We break down a few of the best ways to create healthy salmon habitat on streamside property, how to successfully make compost, and when it's the right decision to get your soil tested. We also discuss the answers to a few of our most frequently asked questions like, "How does TCD's financial assistance program work?" and  "I just moved to Thurston County, where do I begin ?". This episode is a run-down of the many ways TCD is here to help YOU! Tune in to learn more. 

Resources:

• Nora Carman-White, [email protected]
• Karin Strelioff, [email protected]
• Marguerite Abplanalp, [email protected]
• Thurston CD's Online Resources
• Thurston County Master Gardeners
• Burke Herbarium
• Book Recommendations: Weeds of the West, A Field Guide to Grasses of Oregon and Washington, Plants of the Pacific Northwest

This month on Conservation Starters, we're joined by Becca Anderson, Natural Resources Conservation Service's (NRCS) Small Farms & Urban Ag Specialist. Together, we discuss how urban agriculture differs from "big ag" and how folks in our community are coming up with innovative ways to grow food on small tracks of land. Becca also talks more about NRCS and what type of technical and financial assistance they are able to offer producers, big and small! We also talk about how NRCS is prioritizing working with and supporting historically excluded and underserved populations. Tune in to learn more!

Resources:
Becca Anderson, [email protected]
NRCS Service Center Locator
NRCS Urban Agriculture
NRCS WA Environmental Quality Incentives Program
NRCS WA Conservation Stewardship Program
Limited Resource Farmer/Rancher Self-Determination Tool

Submit your "Ask the Expert" questions to Kiana Sinner, [email protected]

On this month's episode of Conservation Starters, we chat with TJ Jenkins, Thurston Conservation District's (TCD) Habitat Restoration Field Crew Lead. Together, we discuss the exciting and impactful projects our habitat restoration field crew has been working on. TJ gives us the rundown on TCD's field crew and Veteran Conservation Corps internship programs and shares how folks can learn more and get involved with hands-on habitat restoration work. During this episode, TJ expresses his passion for this kind of work and his excitement for TCD's upcoming projects.

Submit your ask-the-expert questions to Kiana at [email protected].

Resources:
Contact Tj Jenkins, [email protected].
Check out TCD's Facebook and Instagram to keep up with our field crew.
Stay up to date with TCD's internship opportunities here.
Learn more about the WDVA's Veteran Conservation Corps program.

On this month's episode of Conservation Starters, we chat with Paul D'Agnolo from the Office of Farmland Preservation at the WA State Conservation Commission and our own Nora Carman-White. They provide context and information about the state of farmland loss in Washington, why saving farmland from development is essential, and some of the tools for doing that preservation that support farmers, families, and communities. We specifically explore programs that support farmland preservation at the state level and TCD's own South Sound FarmLink program. 

Resources:

• Nora Carman-White, [email protected]
• Paul D'Agnolo, PD'[email protected]
• South Sound Farmlink
• Washington State Conservation Commission Office of Farmland Preservation
• Planning for the Future of Your Farm: Part 1 and Part 2

On this episode of Conservation Starters, we're joined by Ecostudies Institute Director of Science, Sarah Hamman and WSU Thurston County Extension Director, Stephen Bramwell. Together, we discuss the ecological and cultural importance of our South Sound Prairies. We delve into a recent study Sarah, Stephen, and their teams produced that looked at the ecological and economic benefits of grazing prairie land in Southwest Washington. Sarah and Stephen share how their impactful results are being used to implement more sustainable farming and conservation practices along Thurston County prairies.  Listen in to learn more about this exciting work and how you can get involved!

Resources:

• Sarah Hamman, [email protected]
• Stephen Bramwell, [email protected]
• Ecostudies Institute 
• WSU Thurston County Extension
• Southwest Washington Grazing Association Facebook Group
• Ecological and Economic Benefit-Cost Comparison of Grazed and Ungrazed Prairie Land for Critical Species Protection in Western Washington Report
• Economic Impacts Report
• SARE Trials Partner Summary

On this episode of  Conservation Starters, we're joined by WSU Extension Forester, Patrick Shultz. Together, we discuss the new threat the emerald ash borer, an invasive wood boring beetle brings to Western Washington. We talk about the importance of our native and ornamental ash trees. Patrick also breaks down practical ways Thurston County residents can help slow the spread of this invasive beetle. Listen in to learn more about the emerald ash borer, why there's a growing concern, and how you can help be a part of the solution!

Resources

• Patrick Shultz, [email protected]
• Learn more about Emerald Ash Borer here.
• Oregon ash tree identification.
• Emerald ash borer identification.