We provide technical assistance and education programs focused on caring for the amazing natural resources we enjoy in Porter County.
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Operating as usual
You don't have to live in the country to enjoy native wildflowers that attract pollinators. These photos are from Little Lamb Preschool/ Christ Lutheran Church, Valparaiso. The gardeners at the church have made the campus a showplace. These wildflowers grow in the median strips in the parking lot. By adding the field stone they have improved drainage and added to the aesthetic appeal of the area. The flowers pictured are Blue False Indigo and White Beardtongue.
Check out this "social media" from 1959. Carl Koch and Bob Howard, employees of the Soil Conservation Service, in Valparaiso found this puff ball, with a circumference of 22 1/2 inches. The newspaper caption notes that it was found 3 miles south and 1 mile west of town. Times have definitely changed!
Check out this "social media" from 1959. Carl Koch and Bob Howard, employees of the Soil Conservation Service, in Valparaiso found this puff ball, with a circumference of 22 1/2 inches. The newspaper caption notes that it was found 3 miles south and 1 mile west of town. Times have definitely changed!
The red poppy became the national symbol of remembrance in 1920. Inspired by the poem, "In Flanders Fields" by WWI battlefield surgeon, John McCrae, University of Georgia professor, Moina Michael, convinced Georgia's chapter of the American Legion to adopt it as a symbol. Soon after the National American Legion followed.
The red poppy became the national symbol of remembrance in 1920. Inspired by the poem, "In Flanders Fields" by WWI battlefield surgeon, John McCrae, University of Georgia professor, Moina Michael, convinced Georgia's chapter of the American Legion to adopt it as a symbol. Soon after the National American Legion followed.
The carpenter on the left thinks our Soil & Water logo shirts are the bees' knees!
The carpenter on the left thinks our Soil & Water logo shirts are the bees' knees!
Photos from Shirley Heinze Land Trust's post
We are distributing free copies of the Midwest Cover Crops Field Guide at some of our local elevators and seed dealers. We received a small grant from the Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative in conjunction with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to purchase 100 guides to share with farmers and landowners interested in learning more about cover crops. This guide is an excellent resource loaded with color photos and information.
We are distributing free copies of the Midwest Cover Crops Field Guide at some of our local elevators and seed dealers. We received a small grant from the Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative in conjunction with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to purchase 100 guides to share with farmers and landowners interested in learning more about cover crops. This guide is an excellent resource loaded with color photos and information.
Some Porter County no-till beans push up through the residue. This field is part of the USDA-NRCS --EQIP-- Environmental Quality Incentives Program, which provides technical assistance and cost share to address resource concerns such as erosion.
Some Porter County no-till beans push up through the residue. This field is part of the USDA-NRCS --EQIP-- Environmental Quality Incentives Program, which provides technical assistance and cost share to address resource concerns such as erosion.
Take a few seconds to relax with an up close look at one of our cooperator's restored wetland in south county,
Our friends at Porter County Farm Bureau, Inc. invite teachers interested in learning more about agriculture and receiving continuing education credits to do so to check out the website
infarmbureau.org and look under "events'. There is a workshop scheduled for June 7th at Fair Oaks Farms.
Our friends at Porter County Farm Bureau, Inc. invite teachers interested in learning more about agriculture and receiving continuing education credits to do so to check out the website
infarmbureau.org and look under "events'. There is a workshop scheduled for June 7th at Fair Oaks Farms.
Today was a beautiful day for water sampling in Pleasant Township! Julie Morris, Indiana State Department of Agriculture, Resource Specialist, assists Jared from our Soil & Water office with the monthly monitoring of the Kankakee River. We first began sampling in the Kankakee Watershed in 2019.
Today was a beautiful day for water sampling in Pleasant Township! Julie Morris, Indiana State Department of Agriculture, Resource Specialist, assists Jared from our Soil & Water office with the monthly monitoring of the Kankakee River. We first began sampling in the Kankakee Watershed in 2019.
The Gustafson Family Farm is blanketed with a combination of rye and rapeseed, which was planted as a cover crop in the fall. The cover crop controls soil erosion, produces biomass and improves the soil tilth.
Women Landowners' Workshop--The Family Forest
Save The Date: August 12, 2021
Porter County Expo Center--9:30 am-noon (local time)
Free----Sponsored by us at Soil & Water
Learn more about managing your woods, including invasive species management and timber production. USDA-NRCS conservation programs for technical assistance and cost share will also be discussed.
Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Assistant District Forester, Jennifer Sobecki, will be our presenter.
For more information E-mail: [email protected]
or call the Soil & Water office at 219-462-7515 ext. 3
Women Landowners' Workshop--The Family Forest
Save The Date: August 12, 2021
Porter County Expo Center--9:30 am-noon (local time)
Free----Sponsored by us at Soil & Water
Learn more about managing your woods, including invasive species management and timber production. USDA-NRCS conservation programs for technical assistance and cost share will also be discussed.
Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Assistant District Forester, Jennifer Sobecki, will be our presenter.
For more information E-mail: [email protected]
or call the Soil & Water office at 219-462-7515 ext. 3
The flowers, which we at Soil & Water purchased with the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's Outdoor Fund grant, are being planted at six Porter County elementary schools. Here are some photos from Nativity of Our Savior Catholic School, Portage. Members of the "Gardening Angels" assisted first and second grade students with the planting.
Farmers and landowners thinking about conservation practices can access a series of short videos explaining some of those practices.
https://www.farmers.gov/conserve/conservation-at-work
Learn about the benefits of conservation practices directly from the farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners applying them.
We at Soil & Water provided 50 free tree seedlings to the Valparaiso High School Key Club from our recent tree sale. Club members packaged and distributed the trees to school staff members. School staff members certainly deserve a token of appreciation for all their hard work this year, especially!
This Pileated Woodpecker is a regular visitor in a Jackson Township yard.
This Pileated Woodpecker is a regular visitor in a Jackson Township yard.
We are delivering an assortment of pollinator friendly perennials and small shrubs to five elementary schools this week as part of a pilot project. This venture was made possible with the assistance of a grant from the Cabela's and Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Fund. In addition to helping bees and butterflies, the plants will also beautify the school landscape and provide new plants for students to investigate as part of their science studies. Porter County elementary schools are welcome to contact us for future consideration to add plants to the school landscape. For more information E-mail: [email protected] .
We are delivering an assortment of pollinator friendly perennials and small shrubs to five elementary schools this week as part of a pilot project. This venture was made possible with the assistance of a grant from the Cabela's and Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Fund. In addition to helping bees and butterflies, the plants will also beautify the school landscape and provide new plants for students to investigate as part of their science studies. Porter County elementary schools are welcome to contact us for future consideration to add plants to the school landscape. For more information E-mail: [email protected] .
Conservation Districts across the United States celebrate Stewardship Week beginning this Sunday, April 25th. Much like Earth Day, this special event reminds us of the importance of the proper management of our natural resources.
Conservation Districts across the United States celebrate Stewardship Week beginning this Sunday, April 25th. Much like Earth Day, this special event reminds us of the importance of the proper management of our natural resources.
A pheasant makes an appearance in south county in a restored wetland. According to Pheasants Forever, a pheasant can fly 38-48 miles per hour, but might be clocked at 60 miles per hour if chased!
A pheasant makes an appearance in south county in a restored wetland. According to Pheasants Forever, a pheasant can fly 38-48 miles per hour, but might be clocked at 60 miles per hour if chased!
Here is a 1980's photo of the Soil & Water tree sale pick-up day.
Tree pick-up day is this Friday, April 16th, from 8 am until 4 pm at our office at 2602 Chicago St., Ste. 300. We are at the front of the building facing Chicago St. If you did not order trees and would like to be added to our contact list for the 2022 sale, please E-mail [email protected] .
Here is a 1980's photo of the Soil & Water tree sale pick-up day.
Tree pick-up day is this Friday, April 16th, from 8 am until 4 pm at our office at 2602 Chicago St., Ste. 300. We are at the front of the building facing Chicago St. If you did not order trees and would like to be added to our contact list for the 2022 sale, please E-mail michelle.[email protected] .
We are excited to announce the arrival of our 2021 Flower of The Year seed packets. This year we have selected the Purple Prairie Clover. According to the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation this plant is especially valuable to native bees, as it attracts large numbers of them. We will be distributing the packets throughout the year at special events.
We are excited to announce the arrival of our 2021 Flower of The Year seed packets. This year we have selected the Purple Prairie Clover. According to the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation this plant is especially valuable to native bees, as it attracts large numbers of them. We will be distributing the packets throughout the year at special events.
Our tree sale is completely sold out!
Thanks for all the support. If you would like to be added to our contact list for next year's sale please E-mail: [email protected] with your information. We generally have our order forms ready in the fall.
We are sold out of the American Arborvitae and Norway Spruce trees. We do have Hazelnut, American Plum and a limited supply of Serviceberry. Trees will be available Friday, April 16th.
We appreciate your support of the sale!
We were pleased to welcome Porter County Council Member, Mike Jessen, to our annual meeting this morning. Council Member Jessen serves as one of our liaisons with the Council. We are looking forward to a traditional annual meeting with a meal and speaker next spring so mark your calendars for March 3, 2022!
L-R Board members, Keith Gustafson, Brad Hunter, Council Member Jessen and Greg Birky, board member
We were pleased to welcome Porter County Council Member, Mike Jessen, to our annual meeting this morning. Council Member Jessen serves as one of our liaisons with the Council. We are looking forward to a traditional annual meeting with a meal and speaker next spring so mark your calendars for March 3, 2022!
L-R Board members, Keith Gustafson, Brad Hunter, Council Member Jessen and Greg Birky, board member
We are pleased to welcome Jon Hannon, the new County Executive Director for the USDA-Farm Services Agency at the Valparaiso Service Center. Jon is originally from LaPorte County.
We are pleased to welcome Jon Hannon, the new County Executive Director for the USDA-Farm Services Agency at the Valparaiso Service Center. Jon is originally from LaPorte County.
Porter County Soil & Water Conservation District updated their website address.
Happy National Ag Day!
Did you know that there are 122,523 acres of farm ground in Porter County? That's 46% of our total acres! The most recent Indiana Agricultural Statistics for 2018-2019 reveal that more than $83,000,000 was generated by farming for the year.
Happy National Ag Day!
Did you know that there are 122,523 acres of farm ground in Porter County? That's 46% of our total acres! The most recent Indiana Agricultural Statistics for 2018-2019 reveal that more than $83,000,000 was generated by farming for the year.
As previously posted, we recently distributed growing kits to second grade classes throughout Porter County reaching 1,008 students and teachers. The kits were a cooperative effort between us at Soil & Water and the Porter County Farm Bureau, Inc. members. Here are some samples of the thank you notes we received from Mrs. Fekete's class at Saint Patrick Catholic School in Chesterton.
If you are interested in ordering trees, please E-mail [email protected] or [email protected] before mailing your check and order form. A couple of the species we have are becoming more limited. Here is a photo from our 2017 tree sale at the giant garage sale at the Porter County Expo. We re-introduced the tree sale with a cash and carry sale out of a livestock trailer in the parking lot! We work hard, but we have a lot of fun! :)
If you are interested in ordering trees, please E-mail [email protected] or [email protected] before mailing your check and order form. A couple of the species we have are becoming more limited. Here is a photo from our 2017 tree sale at the giant garage sale at the Porter County Expo. We re-introduced the tree sale with a cash and carry sale out of a livestock trailer in the parking lot! We work hard, but we have a lot of fun! :)
Each year we host an annual meeting to present an accounting of our activities, hold a board supervisor election and share a financial report. This year we will be hosting the meeting at 9 am on March 25th at the Porter County Expo Center on Division Rd., Valparaiso.
There will be no food or speaker this year. If you are interested in attending, please e-mail: [email protected].
Thanks!
Here's another photo of Brad Hunter and Brent Jarnecke accepting the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's Outdoor Fund check.
Here's another photo of Brad Hunter and Brent Jarnecke accepting the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's Outdoor Fund check.
We were the fortunate recipient of a grant to further our classroom education program from the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's Outdoor Fund. We are very appreciative of this opportunity, which is made possible by customer and corporate generosity.
We were the fortunate recipient of a grant to further our classroom education program from the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's Outdoor Fund. We are very appreciative of this opportunity, which is made possible by customer and corporate generosity.
It's time to order the trees! Order your trees now for pick-up on April 16th at our office, the Porter County Soil & Water Conservation District, in Valparaiso. American Arborvitae, Norway Spruce, Hazelnut, Juneberry-Serviceberry and American Plum are available in bundles of 10 for $20. All trees are bareroot and range in size from 12- 24" depending on the species. E-mail [email protected] or [email protected] or call the office at 462-7515 ext. 3 to place an order or receive more information.
It's time to order the trees! Order your trees now for pick-up on April 16th at our office, the Porter County Soil & Water Conservation District, in Valparaiso. American Arborvitae, Norway Spruce, Hazelnut, Juneberry-Serviceberry and American Plum are available in bundles of 10 for $20. All trees are bareroot and range in size from 12- 24" depending on the species. E-mail [email protected] or [email protected] or call the office at 462-7515 ext. 3 to place an order or receive more information.
2602 Chicago St., Ste. 300
Valparaiso, IN
46383
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Check out this video of invasive brush control northwest of Valparaiso. The landowner is cooperating with our office to improve forest land and habitat.
Here is a short video of a wetland in northeast Porter County preserved by a farmer for wildlife.
Habitat for Humanity of Porter County
2411 Beech Street Suite LValparaiso University's Office of Residential
1700 Chapel DrOffice of Multicultural Programs at Valparais
1509 Chapel Drive, Suite 203Chapel of the Resurrection at Valparaiso Univ
1600 Chapel DrAmeriCorps : The Porter County Partnership
United Way of Porter County, 951 Eastport Centre Dr
Porter County Veterans Service Office
155 Indiana St. Rm 103
Porter County Emergency Management Agency
1995 S State Road 2
Valparaiso Composite Squadron CAP
4207 Murvihill Rd
AmeriCorps : The Porter County Partnership
United Way of Porter County, 951 Eastport Centre Dr
Valparaiso Junior Police Academy
355 Washington St
Porter County Health Department
155 Indiana Ave