As winter fades in northern Ohio, spring is the perfect time for pond owners to boost fish populations and strengthen pond health with a smart stocking plan. Learn how habitat improvements, forage fish, and the right species mix can set the stage for a thriving pond—and find out how to participate in the upcoming Ashland SWCD Annual Fish Sale and pond management workshop. 🎣🌱
Read MoreLooking to improve your pond and your fishing? Join Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District for Conservation Chat: Pond Playbook on April 11 at 9 a.m. at Tom Kruse Park, where pond management expert Steve Fender of Fender’s Fish Hatchery will share tips to keep your pond healthy and your fish thriving. Registration is $5, or free when you bring a friend—and don’t forget the district’s fish stocking sale runs through April 8 to help you get your pond ready for the season. 🎣🌿
Read MoreSince our beginning, SWCDs have been rooted in the foundation of voluntary conservation. But those volunteers aren’t just the farmer cooperators we work with, they also include our board members. Local leaders showing up make the difference. Ashland SWCD is currently seeking candidates to run for our SWCD board; here’s your chance to find out more.
Read MoreAshland SWCD Directo Jane Houin talks planting prep, and why doing less might just be doing more for your soil health than you think.
Read MoreJoin Ashland SWCD for a look at what’s new with H2Ohio for 2026 & 2027, new cost share opportunities, and a chance to let us know what YOU as a farmer are looking for in our SWCD and H2Ohio programs at our Ground Rules Conservation Chat on March 11!
Read MoreIn 2025, no soil and water conservation board member in the state of Ohio did it better! Ashland SWCD Board Chair Justin Ringler was named the state’s 2025 Outstanding Board Member of the Year for his commitment to conservation leadership.
Read MoreSpring has a funny way of flipping the switch from frostbite to “this yard needs a glow-up.” 🌱 Ashland SWCD’s Annual Tree Sale is your chance to turn that itch into action—affordable trees, easy ordering, and future shade (plus bragging rights) included. Don’t wait too long though; these saplings aren’t known for their patience.
Read MoreHealthy soil is one of the best investments you can make on your farm—and we’re talking about how to make it pay off. Join Ashland SWCD March 11 for Conservation Chat: Ground Rules, an evening of soil health insights, H2Ohio updates, practical agronomic advice, and a free dinner. Come for the food, stay for the conversation, and leave with tools you can use in the field.
Read MoreAshland SWCD DIrector Jane Houin’s Papa Charles “Tater” Taft and dad Charles “Butch” Taft might have been amazed by today’s manure management technology, but our grandparents’ generation were the generation that literally put men on the moon and understand the value of embracing modern technology. Manure management has entered the precision ag era — GPS, data and smarter decisions included. Come see why it’s officially not the same old crap anymore at our February 17 Conservation Chat: Not the Same Old Crap.
Read MoreRain Beat on Main Street is returning to Ashland for it’s 7th year! Click to learn more about where you’ll find this year’s barrels and how you can become a sponsor or an artist for this unique events!
Read MoreRain Beat on Main Street returns for its seventh summer in 2026, bringing a traveling gallery of hand-painted rain barrels to Loudonville, Balloonfest at Freer Field, and Ashland’s Corner Park. With just 12 artist-designed barrels up for sponsorship and auction, this year’s event turns stormwater conservation into a colorful, community-powered art show that supports local education and water protection.
Read MoreAshland SWCD’s Not the Same Old Crap Conservation Chat will show how modern technology is transforming on-farm nutrient application with better data, precision tools and real-world results. Join farmers and ag professionals Feb. 17 in Greenwich to explore the latest equipment, research, regulations and cost-share opportunities in a relaxed, discussion-style setting.
Read MoreThe calendar may have just flipped to 2026, but Ashland SWCD has a full year of programs, planning and partnerships lined up for the new year. District Director Jane Houin shares more…
Read MoreThis New Year, skip the resolutions that won’t last and try one that actually pays off: making Ashland SWCD part of your operation. From practical programs and equipment rentals to no-nonsense technical help, we work with livestock, grain, and small-acreage producers as partners to keep local farms productive and resilient.
Read MoreKick off 2026 by diving into the journey of clean, healthy water at Raindrop to River on January 10! 💧🌊 Join Ashland SWCD for hands-on activities, local water insights, and a chance to win a one-of-a-kind painted rain barrel—all at this family-friendly watershed celebration. RSVP for free and be part of shaping our community’s water future!
Read MoreSnow on the ground? Beautiful. Manure on frozen ground? Not so much. ❄️💩 Keep nutrients on your fields and out of our waterways—because a white winter shouldn’t come with a brown surprise! 😉
Read MoreWant to kick off 2026 with something actually refreshing? Join us on January 10th at 9 A.M. at the Perrysville Fire Department for our first Conservation Chat of the year! 🚒✨Ashland SWCD Water Quality Specialist Zoey Dudte is diving into:
💧 Cost-share opportunities (cover crops, log jam removal, exclusion fencing & more)
💧 Identifying conservation needs in your watershed
💧 Family-friendly activities (kids included!)
💧 PLUS—a chance to win a one-of-a-kind Ashland-themed rain barrel! 🌧️🎁
Farm safety saves lives! Don’t miss Lagoon Lifeline on Dec. 6 at 9 a.m. at Valley Vista Farm, Jeromesville — a free hands-on manure pit and electrical safety training for farmers and first responders. Hosted by Ashland SWCD and partners. Register today at lagoonlifeline.eventbrite.com
Read MoreIt’s not your typical farm meeting—and that’s exactly the point. On December 6, Ashland, Holmes and Wayne Soil and Water Conservation Districts will host the Conservation Chat: Lagoon Lifeline to provide hands-on manure pit rescue training for livestock producers and first responders.
Read MoreThis November, forget the razor—and the plow! As beards grow across Ashland County, Ashland SWCD is challenging farmers to leave the stubble where it really counts: in their fields. Discover why going no-till could be your farm’s smartest (and scruffiest) move yet in our latest column.
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