This year’s Clackamas County Fair is themed “Grow it… Sew it… Show it…,” and the Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District is geared up to engage children of all ages! Join us August […]
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.
Conservation Insight for June 2018
This posting of Outreach Insight is the monthly report of the Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District’s Outreach and Education Program. Collection Gathers 9.75 Tons of Pesticides The first of June was a […]
Soil Health and the Cotton Brief Challenge – Part 3
Last week I watered my briefs. Really! I used a bucket and well water to irrigate the soil where I am conducting our soil health assessment with the Cotton Brief Challenge (See Part […]
Soil Health and the Cotton Brief Challenge – Part 2
This is the continuation of a web post from last week explaining how to test the health of your soil by burying a pair of cotton briefs. Catch up and learn how you […]
Soil Health and the Cotton Brief Challenge – Part 1
Are you curious about the health of your soil? Join a group of local farmers and home gardeners who are burying cotton underwear to assess the biological activity of their soil and the […]
Register NOW for Small Farm School July 2018
Small Farm School will be held this year in July! Get the word out and sign up now. Classes are filling up! This year’s Small Farm School will be held on Thursday, July […]
Pesticide Collection Totals Continue to Rise
On June 1, 2018, a pesticide collection event was held at Bolander Field in Molalla, OR. Pesticide applicators from around the North Willamette Valley dropped off their old, unusable, or restricted pesticides for […]
Join Us in Supporting Local Farmers Markets!
Farmers market season is upon us! Another wonderful summer filled with fresh, local produce and hand-crafted agricultural products guarantees something for everyone. The Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District is proud to be […]
Protect Spring Pastures: Grazing Guidelines
The weather is beginning to warm and spring pasture grasses are growing, but wait! Don’t turn those horses out too early! While your horses may have been hanging out in a sacrifice area […]