The Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District offers a wide range of support for horse owners in Clackamas County. The following horse pasture video gives you a good idea of some of the […]
Archive | Soil health
From the Natural Resources Conservation Service:
Soil health, also referred to as soil quality, is defined as the continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans. This definition speaks to the importance of managing soils so they are sustainable for future generations. To do this, we need to remember that soil contains living organisms that when provided the basic necessities of life – food, shelter, and water – perform functions required to produce food and fiber.
Only “living” things can have health, so viewing soil as a living ecosystem reflects a fundamental shift in the way we care for our nation’s soils. Soil isn’t an inert growing medium, but rather is teaming with billions of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes that are the foundation of an elegant symbiotic ecosystem. Soil is an ecosystem that can be managed to provide nutrients for plant growth, absorb and hold rainwater for use during dryer periods, filter and buffer potential pollutants from leaving our fields, serve as a firm foundation for agricultural activities, and provide habitat for soil microbes to flourish and diversify to keep the ecosystem running smoothly.
Now is the Time to Prepare Fall Pastures
As dry summer days give over to autumn rains, pasture grasses experience new root growth and work to store carbohydrates in the lower 3-4 inches of the stem. Anything that hinders these two […]
Small Farm School 2024 – Registration is Open!
Registration for Small Farm School 2024 is now open. Click here to register! Small Farm School is a one-day educational event for beginning and intermediate small-scale farmers and rural land stewards. This year […]
Spring Pasture Management Video
The Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District offers a wide range of support for horse owners in Clackamas County. The following horse pasture video gives you a good idea of some of the […]
2024 Native Plant Sales
The 2024 Native Plant Sales are in full swing. While the Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District doesn’t host a native plant sale, many of our local districts do. And if you don’t […]
Equipment Rental Program Adds New No-Till Drill
The Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District has added a new no-till drill to it’s collection of farm implements available to local agricultural producers through the Equipment Rental Program. The District had two […]
Now is the Time to Prepare Fall Pastures
As dry summer days give over to autumn rains, pasture grasses experience new root growth and work to store carbohydrates in the lower 3-4 inches of the stem. Anything that hinders these two […]
Horse Pasture Management Video
The Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District offers a wide range of support for horse owners in Clackamas County. The following horse pasture video gives you a good idea of some of the […]
Soil Health Principles that Improve Farm Operations Workshop
Healthy soils are essential to the success of every agricultural operation. Our new workshop, Soil Health Principles that Improve Farm Operations, will provide you with the information you need you need to know […]