KCD Initiates New
Discovery Farm Project
Josh Monaghan, KCD Food & Farm Programs Director, contracted with Kedija Awole, PhD, to initiate planning for our new Discovery Farm Project, which is one of the District's four Working Land Initiatives. Project updates will be posted on our website.
Dr Awole has years of agricultural research experience, including serving as the Head of the Department at the Holeta Agricultural Research Center in Ethiopia, where she worked with farmers on agronomic research and promoted better crop management methods through field days, on-farm research, and educational symposiums.
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Agricultural Drainage Program Continues
to Expand
The King County Flood Control District recently awarded a $215,298 grant to the KCD Agricultural Drainage Program. To date we have received at total of $820,000 in Flood Control District grants, which have been matched by $500,000 in KCD funds and $110,000 in landowner funds, for a total investment to date of $1.43 million to reduce the impact of flooding on farms.
Ben Axt, Agricultural Drainage Program Coordinator, said this year's projects are underway on eleven properties, with a goal of clearing an additional 2.8 miles of drainage channels on farms across King County. |
Neighbors Pitch in to
Restore Habitat Adjacent to
Deadhorse Canyon
The KCD Urban Forestry Program is partnering with the City of Seattle to assist property owners with restoring backyard habitats adjacent to Deadhorse Canyon in the Rainier Beach neighborhood.
Landowners participating in the Deadhorse Canyon Stewardship Project receive professional habitat restoration in exchange for participation in hands-on workshops and tours to share backyard stewardship practices with neighbors.
Join us Wednesday, September 13th from 5:00-7:30 PM for the first in a series of volunteer events to help restore the perimeter of Deadhorse Canyon. Click HERE for details. |
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Figuring Out Footings
in Paddocks
September 21st, Issaquah
Join Alayne Blickle from Horses for Clean Water to discover footing options, sub-surface mediums, french drains, and more. Footing material is useful for paddocks and high traffic areas to help with drainage and reduce erosion — all part of mud control. Prepare for winter by finding out how you can set up a chore-efficient, horse healthy confinement area. Register for the free workshop HERE. |
Small Farm Equipment for
Horse & Livestock Owners
September 23rd, Enumclaw
If you own horse or livestock property, then you need small farm equipment. Join us for this free, on-farm class September 23rd from 9:00 AM-Noon at Trinity Ranch to learn about different types of equipment and their uses, as well as operation and maintenance tips.
Learn about manure spreaders and spreading compost -- important fall activities. Get ideas for planning and budgeting for future equipment purchases. Register HERE. |
Land & Water Stewardship
Series Starts
October 19th, Issaquah
Kickoff for KCD's four-part series of free workshops covering all aspects of managing livestock to ensure animal health and protect the environment. For the full schedule click HERE. |
Stink Bug Invasion!
If You See It, Report It
The Washington State Department of Agriculture is requesting the public's help in tracking the spread of Southern Green Stink Bugs in the Puget Sound area. The invasive insects feed on a wide spectrum of fruit and vegetable crops, and are threats to both commercial farms and home gardens.
To monitor the insect's spread, WSDA created an online Southern Green Stink Bug Report Form for uploading photos and reporting the locations of this destructive new pest. |
September 9: 21st Annual Frog Frolic, Renton
Celebrate the end of summer in style!
September 9: Saltwater Park Habitat Restoration, Shoreline
Join with friends in restoring Richmond Beach Saltwater Park.
September 9: Community Farm Work Party & Plant Sale, Renton
Prepare for deer fence and greenhouse installation; buy winter vegetable starts.
September 12: The Holistic Orchard, Vashon
Practical advise on organic fruit production in Western Washington.
September 13: Deadhorse Canyon Stewardship Project, Seattle
Assist neighbors restoring native habitat adjacent to Lakeridge Park.
September 14: Washington Food Bill Launch, Seattle
Initiate planning for statewide Food Bill.
September 16: CREP Farm Stream Buffer Showcase, Carnation
See the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program in action.
September 16: SnoValley Tilth Farm Faire & Pig Roast, Carnation
Annual fall celebration and fundraiser for SnoValley Tilth.
September 18: Cultivating Success, Renton
Kick-off for 12-week course on small acreage farming and ranching.
September 18: FSA Loan Workshop, Everett
Review options for financing your farm.
September 21: Figuring Out Footing in Paddocks, Issaquah
Learn from Alayne Blickle about caring for horses.
September 21: Introduction to Water Monitoring, Everett
First in a series of classes for water watchers.
September 23: Small Farm Equipment for Horse and Livestock Owners, Enumclaw
Expert advice on buying equipment for your operation.
October 4: Taste Washington Day
Celebrate locally grown food in schools.
October 6-7, Managing Red Alder Workshop, Arlington
Make the most of alder woodlots.
October 19-November 9: Land & Water Workshop Series, Issaquah
Free workshop series for horse and livestock owners.
October 21: Beautify & Care for Your Streamside Property, Burien
Techniques for preserving and enhancing urban streams and wetlands.
October 29: Horses & Salmon Farm Tour, Redmond
Care for horses while protecting salmon streams.
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Annual Report & Program
of Work Presented to
King County Council
On August 15th John Stokes and Brenda Fincher, KCD Advisory Committee members, reported to the King County Council on the District's activities to date and submitted our 2018 Program of Work. Their presentation included a survey of KCD projects across the county, with a focus on our primary program areas—local food, healthy forests, and clean water.
Copies of the KCD Annual Report and our 2018 Program of Work are linked on our website. In addition, a video of the presentation to the King County Council is archived HERE.
John Stokes, Chair of the KCD Advisory Committee, is Bellevue City Mayor, and Brenda Fincher, Advisory Committee Vice Chair, serves on the Kent City Council. KCD was honored by their presentation and we greatly appreciate their support. |
WSU Cultivating Success
Program Comes to Renton
As part of our expanded local food system support, KCD is helping facilitate WSU’s 12-week Sustainable Small-Acreage Farming and Ranching Course, featuring practical information on ways to create, sustain, and grow viable small farm enterprises. The course will run from September 18th through December 4th at WSU King County Extension in Renton. The registration fee is $300 per farm.
Weekly presentations will include local growers, organizations, and university specialists with expertise in direct marketing, value-added processing, production planning, agronomy, and livestock production. In addition, there will be a Saturday field trip to nearby farms to learn about different styles of successful small farm enterprises. |
Register Your Team for
the 2018 Envirothon!
King County high school students are forming teams to participate in the 2018 Northwest Regional Envirothon.
The Envirothon is a hands-on, outdoor environmental science competition. High school student teams work together to demonstrate their knowledge in Forestry, Soils/Land Use, Wildlife, and Aquatic Ecology.
The 2018 Envirothon date hasn't been set yet, but now's a great time to start planning. Learn about the program and see photos from this year's event via the Envirothon page on our website. |
Help Tell the KCD Story -
Full-Time Communications Position Open
The King Conservation District serves landowners in urban and rural communities across King County. We are seeking a communications professional to inform the public about KCD's remarkable range of events, programs and services. See the Employment Opportunities page on our website for the Communications Coordinator job description and application process. |
See Salmon Spawning in
King County Watersheds
This fall watch the remarkable journey of native salmon as they return to local streams and rivers. The Salmon SEEson program identifies 15 sites across King County that are accessible viewing locations for salmon runs.
Check the Salmon SEEson webpage to learn where to spot spawners, and click on the Calendar of Events to learn about daily tours and other activities. |
Encourage Your School
to Participate in
Taste Washington Day
Taste Washington Day is an annual celebration of local food in schools. This year's statewide event will be October 4th, and more farms and schools are needed to make the day a success. See the Taste Washington Day page to learn how to sign up your farm or school. |
Meet Lindsey Davidson,
KCD Accounting Coordinator
Lindsey Davidson joined the KCD Finance Team in the spring of 2017 and currently serves as an Accounting Coordinator. Previously, Lindsey worked in the film industry in Los Angeles for six years as a freelance coordinator and accountant, handling all the paperwork and budgeting for projects such as music videos, movies, and commercials. Having earned her Bachelor’s degree from Gonzaga University in Journalism and Broadcast Studies in 2009, Lindsey decided to move back to the Pacific Northwest in 2016 after missing the fresh air and friendly people.
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Stream Buffer Showcase
September 16th, Carnation
The USDA's Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) compensates farmers for restoring their stream buffer to improve salmon habitat.
Saturday, September 16th, 10:00 AM-1:00 PM, join us for a free tour of active CREP projects in the Carnation area and meet landowners who have restored streamside habitat and made money! Learn from experts about how to restore your stream's health through the CREP program and speak with other farmers about their experience. Click HERE for tour details and online registration.
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Farm Tour:
Horses & Salmon
October 29th, Redmond
Visit Two Horse Ranch near Redmond to learn how to care for horses while protecting a salmon spawning stream. See healthy horse shelters with great ventilation, large mud-free turnouts with sand piles for rolling in, drainage techniques, fencing to protect trees and for people pass-throughs, a horse urinal with wood chips, composting in small compost barrels, winter horse pasture management — and of course salmon!
To RSVP for the free farm tour click HERE. |
We're Having Fun Now!
21st Annual Frog Frolic
September 9th, Renton
The 21st Annual Frog Frolic is this Saturday, 1:00-5:00 PM. Hop over to Shadow Lake Nature Preserve for an afternoon of fun family activities, an art exhibit, silent auction, live music, and guided tours of a 5,000-year-old peat bog. See you there! |
Like Us on Facebook!
Link with our Facebook page to keep up with the latest news from King Conservation District. |
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