Let's go on a Hügel Hunt!
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Community Volunteers
De-Pave Paradise
On June 23rd more than 45 volunteers from Turner Construction and the neighboring community pitched in to remove 12,000 sq ft of asphalt from a parking lot at Hillside Church in Kent. The area will be transformed into a community garden for recent immigrants and refugees. Melissa Tatro, KCD Outreach Coordinator, is helping facilitate development of the garden in collaboration with World Relief Seattle.
Click HERE to view a powerful video about the project by Alison Morrow, KING 5 Environment Reporter. Follow development of the garden on the Hillside Paradise Parking Plots Facebook page. |
Join Us at the
King County Fair
July 13-16
The KCD pavilion will be a beehive of activity once again at the King County Fair in Enumclaw. This year's theme is " Celebrate and Educate."
The fair is fun and informative for the entire family. Learn about resource conservation programs and services from KCD staff, and get photos taken with Bert the Salmon and Scoopy Doo. We look forward to seeing you there! |
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Port of Seattle Launches
Community Ecology Fund
In late June representatives from Port of Seattle, Forterra, and local cities dedicated the new Airport Community Ecology Fund with a tree planting at Highline-SeaTac Botanical Garden. Nancy Tosta, City of Burien Deputy Mayor and KCD Associate Board Member, participated in the dedication. The new $1 million fund will fund environmental projects in neighborhoods impacted by Sea-Tac Airport. For details see the the Airport Community Ecology Fund webpage. |
Landowner Cost-Share Funding Available
Property owners with King Conservation District farm or technical assistance plans are eligible for 50% to 90% cost-share assistance from the Landowner Incentive Program to implement one of 15 conservation practices. The first step in the application process is to submit a Request for Assistance.
If you have questions about the KCD Landowner Assistance Program contact Rachel Konrady at 425-282-1907; or email: rachel.konrady@kingcd.org. |
Register Now for Preston
Coached Forestry Class
August 26th is the early registration discount deadline for the Forest Stewardship Coached Planning Course at the Preston Community Center. The seven-week series includes Tuesday evening webinars from September 12th through October 31st, with a field trip on Saturday, October 21st.
The course provides resources for everyone with trees on their property. See the WSU Extension Forestry page for details and online registration.
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Volunteer with the
King Conservation District
See the Volunteer Opportunities page on our website to learn about upcoming events and to join the KCD Outreach Team. This month we will host the following volunteer events:
Native Plant Nursery: July 8 & 21 |
July 8: KCD Native Plant Nursery Volunteer Event, Renton
Get hands-on experience with native plants for stream and wetland restoration.
July 8: WildBeeSense Biodiversity Project, Seattle
Participate in citizen science pollinator conservation.
July 8: 21 Acres Farm Walk, Woodinville
Learn about this innovative center for sustainable agriculture.
July 10: SnoValley Tilth Potluck & Tour, Snohomish
Visit with neighbors and tour Skylight Farm.
July 12: Knotweed Control Workshop, North Bend
In-depth training on invasive knotweed management.
July 13-16: King County Fair, Enumclaw
Bring your family and join us at the fair!
July 17-21: Garden Educator Summer Intensive, Seattle
Incorporate garden education in school curricula.
July 18: Buy & Sell Equestrian Real Estate, Redmond
Tips from experts on considerations for horse properties.
July 19: Cultivating Resilient Communities, Bellevue
Enhancing urban forests to safeguard cities.
July 19: Puget Sound Nutrient Dialogue, Auburn
Strategies for reducing harmful nutrients in Puget Sound.
July 20: Managing Mud, Dust, Bugs & Weeds, Maple Valley
Free workshop on ecological small farm management.
July 21: KCD Native Plant Nursery Volunteer Event, Renton
Get hands-on experience with native plants for stream and wetland restoration.
July 21: Tour Soggy Bottom Farm, Renton
See the latest innovations at Jay Mirro's family farm.
July 22: Marine Shorelines Workshop, Seattle
Learn from experts how to protect bluff and shoreline properties.
July 22: Wipe Out Plastics Workshop, Covington
Tips for reducing plastics in your life.
July 22: SnoValley Tilth Table to Farm Dinner, Carnation
First in a series of summer farm dinners.
July 23: Family Horse Farm Tour, Renton
Environmentally sound horse management.
July 29: Taste of the Valley, Carnation
Snoqualmie Valley Preservation Alliance annual fundraiser.
July 29: Big Sky at Matsuda Farm, Vashon
Fundraising dinner for Vashon-Maury Land Trust.
July 29: Kent Stewardship Training, Kent
Volunteer orientation at Morrill Meadows Park.
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Historic Agreement Signed
to Protect Farms & Fish
in the Snoqualmie Valley
On June 12th members of the Fish, Farm, Flood Advisory Committee met to sign a landmark agreement culminating three years of planning to balance the interests of Snoqualmie Valley farmers and salmon recovery.
Dow Constantine, King County Executive, attended the signing ceremony to thank the local farmers, community residents, and fish and wildlife advocates for their efforts to restore salmon habitat, support the agricultural economy, and reduce flood risks in the Snoqualmie Valley. See our Facebook page for photos and click HERE to read the historic agreement.
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Emmett Wild Honored as
State Employee of the Year
In mid-June Emmett Wild, KCD Resource Planner, was presented with the Employee of the Year award at the annual conference of the Washington Association of District Employees. Emmett was nominated for the honor by KCD staff members who noted his "adaptive, patient communication style and impressive scientific expertise.”
Emmett provides technical assistance and resource conservation plans for King County farmers and dairies. He also manages the KCD Equipment Loan Program, which rents out a manure spreader, no-till seeder, poultry processing equipment, and soon a drop spreader. See our Farm Management Services page to learn more about KCD’s Equipment Loan Program: |
NW Farm Credit Services
Helps KCD Expand
Equipment Loan Program
Brett Cheney, Northwest Farm Credit Services (on the right), presented KCD staff members Liz Clark and Emmett Wild with a $1,000 Rural Community Grant to expand our farm equipment loan program.
The grant will go toward the purchase of a Drop Spreader, which landowners can use to spread soil amendments such as lime and fertilizer. We are currently seeking additional funding for the spreader, which we hope to have available this fall. |
Anna Teachman
Crowned Washington State
Dairy Ambassador
Anna Teachman fell in love with animals on childhood visits to the Puyallup Fair. She grew up in SeaTac, but with the full support of her parents Anna pursued an interest in dairy farming, attending two WSU Cougar Youth Weekends, joining the Barn Buddies 4-H Club in Everson, and purchasing her own Jersey heifer.
On June 24th Anna was crowned 2017-2018 Washington State Dairy Ambassador in a competition hosted by the Washington State Dairy Women. During her one-year reign Anna will make up to 400 appearances across the state at schools, county fairs, and athletic events. She will also speak before the Washington State Legislature to promote the health and nutritional benefits of dairy products.
Click HERE to see photos of Anna's remarkable journey from city girl to Washington State Dairy Ambassador.
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AmeriCorps Positions Open
- Join the KCD Team -
We are recruiting for two AmeriCorps individual placement positions to start this fall: Volunteer & Restoration Projects Coordinator and Education Projects Coordinator. For information about these positions contact Nikki Wolf at AmeriCorpsJobs@KingCD.org |
Tips on Buying & Selling
Equestrian Real Estate
July 18th
Alayne Blickle of Horses for Clean Water and Teri Herrera, equine real estate specialist, will inform horse lovers about considerations for purchasing and selling property, July 18th at Farrel-McWhirter Farm Park in Redmond. |
Manage Mud, Dust,
Bugs & Weeds on the Farm
July 20th
Free workshop with Alayne Blickle on how to naturally manage mud, weeds, insects, and odors on the small farm, July 20th at Cedar Grange in Maple Valley. |
Tour Soggy Bottom Farm
with Jay Mirro
July 21st
Jay Mirro, KCD Senior Resource Planner, will host a tour of his 34-acre family farm to see how he manages wetlands and raises pigs, chickens, cattle, goats - as well as wildlife and people. He will also cover the basics of rotational grazing and pasture management. As an added bonus, stay afterward the tour for an old-fashioned pie and ice cream social. 6:30-8:30 PM, Friday, July 21st, Maple Valley. |
Reducing Plastics
in Your Life
July 22nd
Meet the Bag Monster and get take-home tips on ways to wipe out plastics in a fun, family workshop. 10:00 AM-Noon, Saturday, July 22nd, Covington. |
Marine Shorelines Workshop
Discovery Park
July 22nd
Owners of Puget Sound bluff and shoreline properties are encouraged to attend our free workshop to learn about the ecological, geological and vegetation management issues associated with living "Where the Water Begins." Following the workshop, participants will have access to free KCD technical assistance with designing and installing recommended practices. Saturday, July 22nd, Discovery Park, Seattle. |
Tour Family Horse Farm
July 23rd
Join Alayne Blickle for an early afternoon tour of small horse farm that has been owned by a family for nearly 40 years. See how being eco-sensitive doesn’t have to be grandiose or expensive. Learn about chore-efficient mud, manure, and pasture management in a real-life, working situation. Also learn about wildlife enhancement techniques you can employ . Sunday, July 23rd, Renton. |
Like Us on Facebook!
Link with our Facebook page to keep up with the latest news from King Conservation District. |
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