Some of the best classrooms have muddy floors, leafy ceilings, and the occasional uninvited squirrel. Discover how outdoor education turns kids’ natural curiosity into hands-on learning—and why a little dirt can be a very good thing.
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What do white oak trees, bourbon barrels, and conservation have in common? 🥃🌳 Find out at Ashland SWCD’s Forest to Flask Annual Meeting on November 9, where we’ll explore the white-oak bourbon crisis, woodland management, and the conservation stories shaping Ashland County. From bourbon sampling with Minglewood Distilling to celebrating local farmers, volunteers, FFA students, and conservation partners, this is one Annual Meeting you won’t want to miss!
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Think a grazing plan is just a map with a few fences drawn on it? Think again! A good grazing plan can help you grow more grass, reduce mud, protect soil and water, and keep livestock healthier—while making the most of the acres you already have. Find out why a good grazing plan is less about fences and more about putting your pasture to work from Ashland SWCD Director Jane Houin.
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The fair is over, the animals are back home, and the barn is ready for a serious cleanout—but what are you going to do with all that manure? 🍂🐄 Whether you’re a large producer, hobby farmer, or 4-H/FFA family, fall is a great time to turn manure into a valuable soil resource. Find out where, when and how to spread it—and how Ashland SWCD can help!
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🗳️ Your voice matters in conservation! 🌱 This fall, Ashland County voters have an opportunity to help shape the future of conservation in our community by voting in the Ashland SWCD Board of Supervisors election. Meet the two candidates — Kalyn Pryor Denny and Steve Workman — and learn more about their backgrounds, experiences and perspectives on conservation in Ashland County. Because conservation is about more than soil and water — it’s about the people who call Ashland County home. Make your voice count! 💚
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🍂 Something Not-So-Spooky Is Waiting in the Woods! This October, grab the kids and head to Hazel Willis Woods for a family-friendly forest scavenger hunt with Ashland SWCD! Explore, discover, snap photos of your finds and enter to win a fall fun prize pack—including a tree seedling for your very own future forest.
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Seven generations. Nearly 200 years. One remarkable conservation legacy. 🌱 Discover the story of Twin Oak Farm and the Workman and Cowen families, this year’s Ashland SWCD Horizon Award recipients, and learn how a family’s commitment to caring for the land has helped shape soil and water conservation in Ashland County for generations.
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Don’t let your pond go belly up? Ashland SWCD Director Jane Houin says fall is the perfect time to stop, take a look beneath the surface and ask: Is my pond ready for next summer’s fishing season? From bass and bluegill to perch, catfish and grass carp, discover how the right stocking rates—and a little pond management now—can lead to healthier water and happier fish next year.
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Is your pasture feeling a little under the weather? 🐄🌱 Graze Anatomy is bringing together drones, drought recovery, grazing plans, and cost-share opportunities to give your pasture a much-needed checkup—and there’s dinner, too! Join Ashland SWCD on September 16 at Kinsey Valley Farm for an evening of practical advice, new ideas, and a few good conversations about keeping your grass growing and your livestock grazing.
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🚜 Before the combines roll, take one more lap around the farm! From sneaky washouts and clogged culverts to soil tests and cover crop plans, a little pre-harvest detective work now can save big headaches when the busy season hits. Jane Houin shares five simple checks that can help your farm run smoother—and keep your October self fueled by coffee and gratitude. ☕🌽
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Is your pasture looking a little tired, thin, or weedy? It might be trying to tell you something. In this month's column, Ashland SWCD Director Jane Houin shares how soil testing, grazing management, frost seeding, and a little pasture TLC can turn worn-out fields into productive, resilient forage systems.
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Think clean water just happens? Think again! From testing streams to hunting for tiny aquatic critters that reveal the health of our waterways, Ashland SWCD is working with volunteers to keep a finger on the pulse of our local streams. Discover how you can make a splash and join us for our upcoming Water You Waiting For? Stream Exploration event.
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Ever wonder where a raindrop goes after it splashes past your windshield, your barn roof, or your downtown sidewalk? Spoiler: it’s not just disappearing—it’s taking a winding tour through the Mohican watershed, picking up stories (and sometimes a little trouble) along the way. Follow its journey to see how farms, towns, and backyards all play a role in what ends up flowing downstream.
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Who says conservation can't be a team sport? Ashland SWCD has named Mapleton Cares Day its 2026 Volunteer of the Year in recognition of a decade of community service and several years of hands-on conservation projects at Hazel Willis Woods. From planting trees and creating pollinator habitat to tackling invasive species, these students are proving that a few hours of volunteer work can leave a lasting impact on Ashland County
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What’s flowing beneath the surface of the Mohican River—and why does it matter more than ever? Join Ashland SWCD for a hands-on dive into stream health, water quality, and the real-world challenges and opportunities shaping one of Ohio’s most beloved Scenic Rivers. You’ll get your feet wet, your curiosity fired up, and a fresh look at how everyday actions can help protect our local waterways and the vibrant outdoor economy they support.
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What if you could plant your next crop before you even harvest the first one? Aerial cover crop seeding is helping farmers get a head start on soil health, erosion control, and nutrient management—all from above. Discover why more producers are looking skyward this fall and how Ashland SWCD's September 8 aerial seeding program can help your fields stay productive long after harvest is over.
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Is your pasture thriving—or quietly begging for help? 🌱🐄 From bare spots and weeds to grazing heights and stream health, your pasture is constantly sending signals. Learn how to decode what it's telling you and discover simple management practices that can boost forage production, protect water quality, and improve your bottom line.
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What do you get when local artists, community-minded businesses and a bunch of ordinary rain barrels come together? Ashland SWCD's 7th Annual Rain Beat on Main Street, of course! Stroll through a colorful outdoor gallery, learn how rain barrels help protect local waterways, and bid on your favorite one-of-a-kind creations while supporting conservation education across Ashland County..
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What does conservation look like in action? At Sundance Valley Farm, it looks like pollinator habitat buzzing with life, healthier soils underfoot and a landowner willing to open the gate and share what he’s learned along the way. Meet Ashland SWCD’s 2026 Cooperator of the Year and discover why Heath White’s passion for stewardship — and a little bourbon talk at this year’s Forest to Flask event — is giving conservation a fresh new story to tell.
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Manure may not be glamorous, but when managed well, it’s one of the most valuable tools on the farm. Ashland SWCD Director Jane Houin shares practical tips on summer manure application, protecting neighbor relations and using cover crops to keep nutrients where they belong — in the field, not our waterways. Plus, learn how Ashland SWCD and the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District can help producers with cover crop cost share opportunities this fall.
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