​What is compost?
Compost is simply recycled organic matter that is used to improve soil and therefore, plants. 
​
Why should you compost?
One reason is that it cuts down on waste going to the landfills.  Now, there are a lot of numbers out there but let’s just say the vast majority of food in the United States is thrown in the garbage. Most of that is sent to landfills where, over time, it releases greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide.

Some other reasons for composting include saving you money because you won’t need to purchase as much, if any, fertilizer.  It can also cut down on pesticide use.  After all, healthy soil leads to healthy plants and the healthier the plant, the better they can resist insect damage.  In fact, there are those that say insect pests are attracted more to struggling plants than to healthy. 

Compost also feeds beneficial soil organisms which further break down the organic matter into components that can be used by the plants.  Fortunately, compost will typically have a wide spectrum of nutrients. And finally, compost improves your soil’s ability to retain the correct amount of water.  So, whether you have sandy soil or clay soil, it will help retain the right amount of water for your plants.
 
How to compost:
First, you will need space in your yard.  The minimum size of a bin or pile should be 3ft in each direction.  The maximum size is around 5ft in each direction. You will also need access to organic plant material.  These fall into two groups: browns and greens. The browns are high in carbon while the greens are high in nitrogen.  The ideal ratio is two to three parts brown to one part green. The following is a list of brown vs green material. It’s important to note that the smaller you chop your material, the faster it will compost.
 
Combine the material in the above ratio. Some people layer the materials and some don’t. If you are the layering sort, try to put the browns on the bottom, then the greens on top, then more browns… you get the point.  If you haven’t been saving up materials, your pile might look measly and that’s to be expected at this point.  Over time, keep adding material until it’s about 3' x 3'.  

As many of you may now know, we moved into a new office in January 2023 and that new office came with 10 acres of greenspace. In partnership with the building owner, Lott Industries, we began to envision all the ways to transform that greenspace into an educational, demonstrational, and ultimately, a fully-functioning urban farm and natural area for the community.

For the first year, we knew we wanted to focus on creating a native garden near the office doors and also begin to transform the grassy hill into a native prairie to attract pollinators, birds, and other wildlife. For both of these projects, we did not want to use chemical herbicides to remove the grass, as this is something we are often asked how to do from members of the public. Each of those projects are explained in greater detail below with then and now photos.

August-November 2023: For the hill prairie, we again wanted to prepare the area for planting without using chemicals. For the first test-strip, we tried out solarizing. Solarizing is the process of laying down and securing plastic over top of an area of grass with the purpose of depriving it of water, oxygen, etc. The plastic we used was old, greenhouse plastic covering that was donated to us. After a few months, the plastic was removed in November and then seeds were distributed across the test-strip. 

The second test-strip was prepared using the cardboard and mulching method. This was done in late November of 2023. We seeded the second test-strip with the same seed mix in December.

May 2024: Things are happening on the hill prairie, and we have learned a few things throughout this process! Both test-strips have plants coming up, but the solarized one is doing much better. We attribute this partially to the fact that we did not get very much rain/snow this past winter and the cardboard did not break-down/decompose as intended. As a result, test strip #2 has been slower to germinate. Both test-strips do need some TLC in terms of weeding. We also think in different circumstances, the cardboard/mulched test-strip might have done just as well if we had gotten more precipitation.

Next steps for this project include installing a third test-strip that will be tilled and seeded later this year. Stay tuned!

Thanks for reading!
We hope you will stop by the office soon to see our greenspace and gardens! 
​
If you are interested in learning more and/or volunteering in the gardens this summer, please contact Penny Bollin for more information at (419) 377-0065.

The Lucas Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) has been serving Lucas County citizens for the last 60 years. Ever since it was founded on this day, May 8, in 1964 as the last of the 88 SWCDs to be created in Ohio, Lucas SWCD has been evolving and growing, currently working with more than 80 local partner agencies.

The mission of Lucas SWCD is to provide leadership for conservation of our soil, water, and other resources in Lucas County through education, information, and technical assistance. As a result of the Dust Bowl Storm in 1934, Soil and Water Conservation Districts were created, leading to a new era in soil conservation for our Country. Like today, much of the work at that time was completed by technicians and engineers working with farmers on best management practices to reduce erosion and ultimately, protect our nation's precious soil resource.

In the ever-changing landscape of our society, Lucas SWCD focuses not only on soil but also on water and strives to help farmers and landowners make choices that will protect and preserve this equally precious resource. While conservation districts are a subdivision of government, there is no mandated public budget for Lucas SWCD. Our conservation work depends on voluntary funding from the Lucas County Commissioners, local townships and municipalities, acquiring grants, and private donors.

Today, our staff of seven employees and Board of five publicly-elected officials, aim to serve the over 400,000 citizens of Lucas County. We provide free educational programming for citizens of all ages on a wide range of environmental topics. We also promote best management practices for soil and water quality through our work alongside farmers and landowners on agricultural fields, drainage ditches and suburban yards. Lucas SWCD also offers convenient and affordable ways to buy native trees and plants, rain barrels, soil test kits, fish, and more through our annual sales.

Unique for 2024, Lucas SWCD, along with several other local agencies, is hosting the first-ever Lucas County Farm Connection on July 20th at MacQueen Orchards in Holland, where all are welcome to come celebrate what is "Home Grown" right here in our County.

​You can learn about Lucas SWCD, our upcoming events and programs, current projects, and more on our website or on Facebook @LucasSWCD.

For the first time in several years, Lucas County has a new plat book to offer as a resource for landowners or any interested individual. Lucas SWCD, working with Mapping Solutions, sponsored the 2024 edition. 

This spiral-bound book features the standard landownership map pages showing townships and ranges within Lucas County, including property boundaries for all rural parcels. Along with landownership maps are the new enhanced LiDAR aerial view maps that show a 3D-like topographical look at the local land.
 
This new edition also includes an updated Lucas County government directory, a county-wide soils map, a watershed map, and much more.
 
This information is valuable to anyone interested, particularly those who own land in Lucas County. Prospective or adjoining property owners, hunters, foresters, timber and petroleum industry personnel, emergency services and many others could benefit from this valuable information.
 
The 2024 Lucas County Plat Book is available for purchase for $25 (plus sales tax) at our office located at 3350 Hill Avenue, Suite K  Toledo, OH, 43607 or online (pick-up only). 
 
Those interested can also register for a chance to win a free premium wall map or a SmartMap. For more information, please contact the office at (419) 893-1966.
 
Wall maps, a smart phone friendly SmartMap, and an eBook version are all also available for purchase by visiting www.mappingsolutionsgis.com. 

Many of you have probably heard of the three R's of recycling: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Well we are going to add a fourth - Repurpose! Let's look at a few ways that we can abide by these 4R's this Holiday season.

Reduce: If you are hosting a meal or party over the Holidays, consider using reusable tableware and cups to reduce the amount waste entering the landfill. Also, as an alternative to a physical gift, consider gifting someone an experience like a dinner outing, class/workshop, or a show! 

Reuse: One of the easiest things you can do to reuse during the Holidays is to save your gift bags, boxes, and bows to use again next year. As you likely know, these items can get expensive and if kept in good condition, can be used year after year! 

Recycle: With gift-giving comes a lot of waste like wrapping paper, Styrofoam, cardboard, and tissue paper. Knowing what can and cannot be recycled as well as where to recycle certain items properly is key! Luckily for us in Lucas County, we have many great resources available to help us recycle right. 

• Most wrapping paper and tissue paper, especially the kind with metallic stripes or glitter, is not recyclable so do not put it in your bin. Next year, consider using newspaper or buying a roll of 100% recyclable wrapping paper from Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful.  
• It is important to flatten all cardboard boxes to save space in your recycling bin and also in the trucks. 
• Thanks to a few area businesses and agencies, you can recycle broken or unused string lights at any local Genoa Bank location now through January 14th. Learn more.
• Styrofoam practically lasts forever in the landfill. To make matters worse, many cities do not have the ability to recycle it and so it cannot/should not go into your recycling bin. That is why it is even more amazing that Lott Industries offers a Styrofoam recycling program! Learn more. 

Repurpose: Many materials used during the Holidays can be repurposed and given a second life! For example, you can take your flattened cardboard boxes (with all tape removed) and lay them down in an area of your yard where you plan to put in a new garden. Cover the boxes with mulch or organic material and leave over winter. The cardboard will kill any grass or weeds underneath without the use of chemicals, and as it breaks down, you will have a new area to plant in the spring. 

You can also repurpose food scraps in your compost pile. If you don't have a compost pile and if you live in the City of Toledo, you can now drop off food scraps to three area locations through the new Food Waste Drop-off Program.

If you decorated a live Christmas tree, you can repurpose this tree in several ways rather than sending it to the landfill. Once all the decorations and lights are removed, you can leave it out in the yard for birds and other wildlife to use as shelter during the cold winter months. If you have a pond, you can simply toss your tree in along the edge and it will add beneficial habitat for fish. City of Toledo is also offering their Christmas Tree Recycling Program again December 27-January 31 at various parks where the trees will eventually be ground into mulch. Learn more. 

Hopefully you found this helpful to you this Holiday season! If you do one, two, or all of these ideas, know that you are making a positive difference and doing your part to help the Earth.

Happy Holidays! 

Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA), in partnership with local Soil and Water Conservation Districts like Lucas SWCD, is encouraging farmers in the Maumee River watershed to enroll, or reenroll, in the H2Ohio Phosphorus Reduction Program now through December 31, 2023. 

Through ODA's No Farmer Left Behind initiative, staff either mailed a postcard or made a phone call with the goal of reaching every farmer in the 14 counties within the Maumee River watershed who are eligible for H2Ohio to inform them of the program. 

On November 8th, ODA Director Brian Baldridge traveled north from Reynoldsburg and spent the day in Lucas County. He called local farmers and spoke to them personally about the significance of the H2Ohio program and why it is so important to participate and ultimately, contribute to the collective effort to improve water quality in our great Lake.

Director Baldridge also met with area politicians and representatives at the Lucas SWCD office and visited a farm to see first-hand some of the best management practices (BMPs) that are incentivized through the H2Ohio program. Lastly, as another tool to reach farmers, Director Baldridge and SWCD staff filled H2Ohio goody bags for local farmers to show them our appreciation during harvest time and to let them know about the program. 

Through this collaborative outreach effort, we asked high school students from the Anthony Wayne Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter to help deliver the goody bags to local farmers and they took some great pictures to capture those moments! 

To enroll in H2Ohio, producers must first work with the SWCD to get registered into the 'MyFarms' platform, which will facilitate the administration of the H2Ohio program.  Once registered and the basic field information is uploaded, farmers will work with the SWCD or a consultant to develop an approved Voluntary Nutrient Management Plan (VNMP) in order to qualify for other BMPs being offered in 2024 and 2025.  Available BMPs include overwintering covers (such as wheat, hay, or cover crops), subsurface phosphorus placement, and manure incorporation and utilization.​

​Local Soil and Water Conservation Districts work directly with each producer to review and approve VNMPs, assess the compatibility of implementing additional BMPs, and provide conservation education.

If interested in learning more about H2Ohio and the current enrollment process, contact Matthew Browne, Lucas SWCD's H2Ohio Technician, at (419) 377-0901 or [email protected]. You can also learn more about the program by reading the flier linked below or visiting our website's H2Ohio page. 

It's autumn and the growing season is winding down. Many of the native plants in your gardens and prairies may look spent but don't be fooled by the scraggly appearance -- there are hundreds of seeds on each of your plants that are ready to be dispersed out into the landscape to grow elsewhere. While natural distribution is important, you can also collect some of those seeds to further expand your garden without spending any more money! 

It is easy to do and requires only a few materials you likely already have. You will need: garden snippers, paper bags (ones with handles are helpful) and a permanent marker. You may also want an identification guide for native plants if you're like me and might not remember all that you have planted over the years. 

From there, it is fairly simple by following the step-by-step process below.

1. Identify what plants have seeds that are ready. Late-blooming natives like New England Aster and Goldenrod are still likely blooming and not ready for seed collection.
2. Find the seed head. It should be dark brown and dry. 
3. Either hand-pick or use the snippers to remove the seed head. A rule of thumb is to leave at least 1/3 of the seeds/seed heads on the plant for natural dispersal. 
4. Place the seeds/seed heads in a paper bag and label with the marker the plant species. 
5. Store bag in a cool, dry place until ready to sow later this fall.

Each fall, Rick Bryan, former Lucas SWCD Board Supervisor (2002-2013) and member of the Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Commission, volunteers his time to help with the District's seed collection efforts and then processes/stratifies the seeds to make seed packets for our annual Tree, Shrub and Garden Sale. While collecting seed this month, he shared some helpful tips in the video below!

Some seeds come off the plant ready to sow. Others come inside pods in which case you should open the pods to remove the seeds. And with smaller seeds that are more difficult to see or are inside the flower head, it is easiest to just break up the flower head in your hand and plant everything, hopefully with seeds included. Check out this article from Wild Ones in St. Louis that shares other ideas for separating out the seeds after collecting. 

If you have questions about collecting seed in your garden, contact our office or stop by and we can talk with you more about the process. We can also show you some of the areas that we are preparing for native prairie plantings later this fall! 

A new iteration of the H2Ohio Phosphorus Reduction Program is now underway in the Maumee River Watershed. This updated version of the program has been reworked to be more efficient and easy to use for area agricultural producers, all while maintaining the original goal of reducing the risk of nutrient runoff into the lake.

​The H2Ohio program began as a plan put forth by Governor Mike DeWine to improve
water quality across Ohio. The Ohio Department of Agriculture’s portion of the program was to
lead efforts to reduce phosphorus runoff. This effort has largely focused on the Maumee River
Watershed and Western Lake Erie basin, due to the effects of phosphorus runoff contributing
towards the harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie. ODA’s H2Ohio program incentivizes farmers to
implement proven, science-based, and cost-effective best management practices (BMPs) by
providing financial and technical assistance. Agricultural producers work with their local Soil &
Water Conservation District to determine which BMPs work best for their operation and provide the information to verify the practice’s establishment.

Over 1 million acres were enrolled into the program for the original version of the program in the 14 counties that make up Ohio’s portion of the Maumee River Watershed. With the expansion of the program to include the 10 counties in the Western Lake Erie Basin, the enrolled acres rose to 1.5 million. While each producer can add or subtract additional practices based on what fits their operation, all 1.5 million acres enrolled in the program are required to have a Voluntary Nutrient Management Plan (VNMP). The VNMP is a producer’s ‘ticket’ into the H2Ohio program and helps show the farmer the amount of nutrients in their soil and determines how much (if any) fertilizer needs to be applied. This allows for the producer to maintain their yields while eliminating the over-application of phosphorus and thus reducing their risk of phosphorus runoff from their fields.

Now that the original program contracts for those enrolled in the Maumee Watershed are
coming to an end, ODA has prepared a new iteration of the H2Ohio program for producers to
enroll in. This updated version of the program keeps many of the key details that were
successful in the original version, while re-working those that weren’t, all in the hopes of making the program more stream-lined and easy to use. A major change in this new version is the use of an online portal called ‘MyFarms’. ‘MyFarms’ will be used to manage all the enrollment, VNMP development, contracting, and verification of practices for the H2Ohio program. This is expected to make things easier for everyone involved and should allow us to verify practices quicker and with more precision.

Working with their SWCDs, area producers are working hard to reduce the phosphorus load in
our watersheds by implementing these conservation practices. The Lucas SWCD and the other 13 counties in the Maumee River Watershed are now accepting applications for the H2Ohio program for Crop Years 2024 and 2025. We greatly appreciate all the farmers that have participated in the H2Ohio program and we encourage them and anyone else who is interested to enroll into this next iteration of the program.

Please contact me to learn more and to get started on your enrollment for the program.

Learn more about the H2Ohio program.
Visit our website page. 

We know you are out there. Those of you who have, or are planning to, put conservation on the ground in your backyard. Whether it is installing a rain barrel, composting food and yard waste, planting natives, transitioning lawn to native plants or no-mow grass, bee-keeping, raising chickens, or growing food in traditional garden beds or raised beds -- we want to hear your story! 

Our Backyard Conservation Success Story program is an opportunity to learn from each other's successes and struggles while implementing conservation practices. It is also an opportunity to create a network of people who are good stewards of the land. 2022 was the inaugural year for this program and we are back again, asking you to share your story. It can be as simple as filling out the survey on our website, or as involved as having Lucas SWCD staff visit your property to see and learn about your conservation projects. 

Last year, we heard from 22 Conservation Champions and visited three properties. It was amazing to hear about and see examples of all the amazing work being done by landowners and residents in the area who care deeply about "leaving it better than they found it". 

Here are some excerpts from the 2022 survey from Conservation Champions in our community: 

"We have so many native pollinators visiting daily and at night too. The native plants seem to like the rain barrel water instead of city water."

"I'm learning over time and making yearly changes. Adding clover and drought-tolerant grasses to the yard, adding native plants, and this year no-till vegetable gardening."

"We have reduced the lawn to a minimum. We have a combination of natives and non-natives. Our gutters deposit water into our garden beds. We use a rain barrel and compost our vegetables, grass and leaves. We leave leaf litter for pollinators."

"We pulled ~15 acres out of farmland and converted it to native prairie with trails to walk or horseback-ride. Struggling with non-native invasive plants but seeing lots of pollinators and other native wildlife."

"It's been a somewhat slow process since moving into my house. Overall I think the wildlife are very happy. All improvements have been DYI, sometimes those need upgrades or rethinking if not working as planned. Of course plants and gardening are an ongoing labor of love. With that said, the rabbits have stayed out of my vegetable garden so they must have enough of their own keeping them happy. More Hummingbirds than ever. At least 4 species of snakes. Chipmunks 3 years now. Fox squirrels the past 6 years. Occasionally an opossum, skunk, deer, or wild Turkey. It's my sanctuary."

If you walk into our office, chances are you will see a blue or white barrel (or several) sitting out. These barrels are actually donated food-grade 55-gallon drums that we turn into rain barrels. Rain barrels come in all shapes, sizes, and designs -- but in simplest terms, a rain barrel is a container that captures water off of a roof via a downspout during a rain event. The captured water is most commonly used to water plants, grass, and garden beds but can also be used to wash cars or rinse off outdoor furniture. The only thing you shouldn't do with rain barrel water is drink it -- I repeat, this water is not for human or pet consumption because it could pick-up bacteria or other harmful substances from your roof. 

As mentioned earlier, rain barrels capture water that falls on a roof during a rain event. When a rain barrel is not installed, rain water flows down your downspout either to a lawn/garden bed or the driveway/sidewalk. If your downspouts are buried, the water is then transported to an underground outlet into the storm sewers. If your downspouts direct water into grass or garden beds, sometimes this is okay but other times it can cause flooding or pooling of water depending on the grade and type of soil and the duration/severity of the rain event. When water is directed to the driveway or sidewalk, it cannot penetrate the asphalt or concrete and has no other choice but to runoff. In doing so, it can pick-up pollutants, fertilizers, litter and more on its way to the storm sewers, where it is transported to the nearest waterway untreated and unfiltered.

However, if a rain barrel is installed, it diverts water out of the storm sewers and prevents potential water pollution, flooding, etc. Installing a rain barrel can also save you money. Water is getting more and more expensive these days. However, setting up a rain barrel will reduce the amount you turn on the hose and therefore, put money back in your pocket. 

Now that you know the what and the why, let's get to the how. Rain barrels can be purchased online from many vendors, varying in price and design. You can order one directly from our office for $52 (plus sales tax) by either stopping in the office or ordering one through our online store. These are typically made-to-order so you will be contacted when it is ready to be picked up. You can also participate in one of Toledo/Lucas County Rain Garden Initiative's Make and Take Rain Barrel Workshops, where you get to learn about and make your own barrel. You can follow either Lucas SWCD or Rain Garden Initiative on social media to learn of workshop dates as they are planned. 

Lastly, you can purchase the materials and make one yourself. Check out this video (see below) as we walk you through the steps to making a barrel of your own.

Now that you have the how, we will wrap up with just a few tips and reminders. 

1. Make sure that your barrel is elevated 1-2 feet (enough to fit a watering can underneath the spigot) on a sturdy base like cinder blocks and that it is level. This is especially important if you have children or pets to ensure the barrel doesn't accidently fall over. 
2. If you live in a wooded area or somewhere that chipmunks, mice, or other small critters also live, consider putting a critter guard on the end of your overflow hose to prevent accidental drowning. See this guide to learn how to make one easily! 
3. Take your barrel down at the end of the year (November/December) and either bring it inside or flip it upside down so that no water can collect over winter. Otherwise, water left inside could freeze/thaw and crack the rain barrel. Remember to also reconnect the original downspout piece that was removed during installation. 

If you have questions about rain barrels after reading this or would like to order one for your home, please contact our office at (419) 893-1966.

Proceeds from rain barrel purchases and workshop registrations support your local Rain Garden Initiative.