|
KCD Selects New Executive Director
KCD is excited to announce the selection of Rosa Méndez-Perez for KCD Executive Director. KCD’s Board of Supervisors, with input from KCD Staff and Advisory Committee, selected Rosa from a field of highly qualified candidates.
Rosa’s passion for environmental justice and her commitment to serving all communities to create a healthier place to live will guide her future work at KCD. We are pleased to have her leadership as KCD looks toward the future.
Rosa will take the reins of KCD on September 20, 2021.
|
|
|
KCD Orca Recovery Day Event Set for October 16, 2021
KCD will be holding a volunteer event to help establish a forested riparian buffer along a salmon-bearing tributary of Covington Creek. This native plant buffer will create shade, reduce erosion through the stabilization of stream banks, help protect water quality, and create general habitat and refuge for wildlife. Restoring our streams means more salmon and that means more food for Orca.
Our event is already at capacity, but there will be many great events around King County and Puget Sound hosted by partner organizations, including Duwamish Alive, to get involved. We’ll be sharing these opportunities as they get posted throughout September and October.
|
|
|
Trees for Rail in Shoreline
King Conservation District, Sound Transit, and the City of Shoreline are pleased to announce Trees for Rail, a partnership to re-green the Lynnwood Link light rail corridor with native trees and shrubs as it passes through Shoreline.
KCD staff recently attended Shoreline Farmers Market to get the word out and answer questions.
The first of its kind partnership seeks to utilize King Conservation District’s County-wide Urban Tree Canopy program to establish native vegetation and tree canopy to reduce the impact on corridor-adjacent homeowners. This partnership leverages the resources of Sound Transit and will serve to meet Shoreline’s landscaping requirements.
KCD will be tabling once more at the Shoreline Farmers Market on September 11. Stop by to find out more information.
|
|
|
Regional Food System Program 2020 Highlights
As part of the KCD Regional Food System Program, King Conservation District initiated a grant fund in 2015 to support projects that strengthen our local food economy. Our goals are to bridge the gap between producers and consumers, and to serve as a catalyst in making local food production both environmentally and economically sustainable.
Working Farmland Access $150,000
In 2020, KCD partnered with Washington Farmland Trust and other members of the Working Farmland Partnership to support establishing strategies, systems, and protocols that facilitate effective, efficient collaboration across agencies offering niche expertise to better serve King County’s farmers and farmland owners in achieving their land goals.
|
|
|
Poverty Bay–Vashon Island Septic Maintenance Rebate Program
King County is offering a rebate of up to $300 for septic maintenance activities performed in the project focus areas of Northwest Vashon Island and Poverty Bay. KCD is administering the rebate for the County. Eligible maintenance includes maintenance inspections, riser installation, and pumping. You can receive $200 toward a septic system inspection, $50 toward a riser installation (up to 2 per property), and/or $100 toward septic tank pumping. All work must be performed by a King County certified provider.
|
|
|
Employment Opportunity: Washington Conservation Corps AmeriCorps Positions
If you are interested in working outdoors to plant native trees, remove invasive plants, and participate in salmon recovery projects, apply for one of several openings on the KCD WCC Restoration Crew.
|
|
|
Matthew Axe Suggests Solutions on Q13Fox
KCD’s Matt Axe specialty runns a program that helps homeowners mitigate the wildfire risk to homes and properties. In a time where wildfire danger is expanding in areas not used to such risks, Axe says education is what homeowners need to ensure their properties are protected as best possible.
|
|
|
2021 Fall Festival of Plants & Speakers - Cool Plants Hot Tips
presented by WSU Extension, King County Master Gardener Program
Sunday, September 12, 9:00am-3:00pm
Bellevue Botanical Garden
After a hot scorching summer, fall is a good time to replace your plants that burnt to a crisp with fresh cool plants. We all know the ideal time to plant is in the fall. It’s cooler, you’ll use fewer resources, and you give the plants some time to settle before they explode in the spring! Several local specialty plant vendors will be selling plants at this sale.
Bellevue Botanical Garden’s Partner Groups, and Master Gardeners will be hosting guided talks throughout the Garden, focusing on unique areas that are individually maintained by the BBG Garden Partners. You may register for a guided talk or talks you are interested in attending. There will be special guest speakers during the day, including local celebrity gardeners and educators Ciscoe Morris, Nita-Jo Rountree and Christina Pfeiffer. The speaker events will take place inside the Aaron Education Center and seating will be limited. Make sure you are signed up early for these entertaining and informative talks.
All proceeds benefit the Master Gardener Foundation of King County in supporting local Master Gardeners’ activities to teach science-based gardening in the Puget Sound region. Rain or shine, they hope to see you and help you enhance your garden this fall.
|
|
|
Tilth Conference
The Innovative WA Farmer: Sharing What We’ve Learned
November 19-21, In-Person and Virtual, Lynnwood, WA
Es viernes-domingo, 19-21 de noviembre en Lynnwood, WA
The annual Tilth Conference! This year’s conference is being held in-person with virtual options available. Tickets are offered on a sliding scale ranging from $100-$400.
¡Únase con nosotros en la Conferencia Tilth anual! La conferencia de este año se celebra en persona con opciones virtuales. ¡Consigue sus boletos hoy mismo! Los boletos se ofrecen en una escala de entre $100 y $400.
Save 15% when you register before September 15! Use promo code EARLYBIRD at checkout.
¡Ahorre un 15% cuando se registre antes del 15 de septiembre! Utilice el código de promoción EARLYBIRD al momento de pagar.
Registration includes admittance to educational sessions on Saturday and Sunday, keynote presentations, Seed Swap & Salon, happy hours and the banquet dinner, all meals on Saturday and Sunday, and access to the industry trade show.
COVID-19 Event Protocols will be in place
Scholarships are available to cover the full cost of conference participation for those who would not be able to register otherwise. Scholarship applications are due no later than September 30. Apply online! Scholarship awards will be announced by email by October 15.
Hay becas disponibles para cubrir el costo total de la participación en la conferencia para aquellos que no podrían registrarse de otra manera. Las solicitudes de becas deben presentarse a más tardar el 30 de septiembre. ¡Aplica en línea (online)! Se anunciarán las decisiones antes del 15 de octubre.
Sponsor the Tilth Conference
Check out the Sponsorship Kit for more information.
|
|
KCD Webinar: Wildfire Preparedness for Farms
Learn from experts what actions you can take to protect your farm and become more wildfire resilient this fire season. Join KCD’s Wildfire and Forest Resiliency Project Coordinator Matt Axe on September 15 for a free webinar via Zoom to learn how you prepare your Western Washington farm for wildfire season.
|
|
|
Salmon SEEson is coming!
Fall is coming and salmon will be returning to streams and rivers throughout King County to spawn. The annual Salmon SEEson program runs from late August through November, promoting self-guided salmon viewing sites as well as some hosted events. If you decide to visit a self-guided site near you, please remember to: plan ahead, practice social distancing, wear a mask, leave no trace, and contribute to an inclusive experience for all. Visit the Salmon SEEson website for more information.
|
|
|
Pierce Conservation District Farm Tour
On September 18, visit a farm in Gig Harbor that has well-drained paddocks with a grid system, barn roof runoff management, a simple, functional manure bin, and an exercise arena. Hear how the owners manage the small pasture in an environmentally sensitive manner to protect water quality. Location will be provided upon registration.
|
|
|
WSU Cultivating Success™: Sustainable Small-Acreage Farming and Ranching
WSU Snohomish County Extension presents the first course in the series on Tuesdays, 6:30pm to 8:30pm from September 21 through December 7 via Zoom.
|
|
|
Pierce Conservation District and WSU Field Day
Pierce Conservation District is partnering with WSU Extension for their second Field Day of 2021 on September 24 focusing on managing your hay fields for increased productivity. Location will be provided upon registration.
|
|
|
KCD Farm Tour: Mud, Manure and Pasture Management
Join KCD and Horses for Clean Water on October 23 for a farm tour in Enumclaw and learn how to effectively manage mud, manure, and pasture for the upcoming winter season. Location will be provided upon registration.
|
|
|
King-Pierce Farm Bureau Annual Meeting
King-Pierce Farm Bureau's annual meeting is scheduled for November 1 at Kelley Farms in Bonney Lake. Members should watch for more information from KPFB. If you're interested in joining or learning more about KPFB, visit their website.
Washington State Farm Bureau will be holding its annual meeting on November 15 in Yakima.
|
|
|
|
Do you know of an event to highlight on KCD’s Partners’ Events page? Please let us know.
|
|
|
At King Conservation District, we’re all about Better Ground. Better Ground means taking important stewardship actions at home and in our communities to create healthy soil and water, to provide healthy food, and to conserve land, water, forests, wildlife and related natural resources. And you don’t have to go at it alone. You have a partner, your local conservation district.
|
|
|
|
|
|
