Celebrating Arbor Day

by Julie Morris

Julie Morris is a Resource Specialist for the Indiana Department of Agriculture for the Division of Soil Conservation in the Pulaski County USDA Service Center.  Julie received her degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Science from Purdue University.  She loves to garden and is just starting to compost.  Julie is married and has a 3-year old boy plus a new St. Bernard puppy and lives in LaPorte County.

Nothing says Arbor Day more than wrapping over 1900 trees – except maybe planting all those trees. But that is what people in the northwest area of Indiana will be doing this spring. The LaPorte County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) sold almost 2000 trees this year. They held their annual tree wrap at the LaPorte County fairgrounds on Friday, April 26th. Some students and a teacher from Westville High School also came to help out. 

Tony Ekovich and Nate Mrozinski, LaPorte County SWCD board members, start to mix the moss with water to keep the tree roots moist until planting. 

LaPorte SWCD members and Westville High School students and teachers all helped wrapped and label the trees.

Here are two of the best tree planters around (my husband Charlie and son Nathan) planting some hazelnuts in our front yard that were purchased from the 2013 LaPorte County SWCD tree sale. Don’t be afraid to get dirty!

As a general rule, the width of the hole should be at least 3 times the spread of the roots in the case of bare root trees. When purchasing bare-rooted trees, inspect the roots to ensure that they are moist and have numerous lengths of fine root hairs. Care should be taken to ensure that the roots are kept moist in the period between purchasing and planting. Plant the tree seedling and fill loosely with soil. Then, gently firm around the seedling to eliminate air pockets around the roots. Do not stomp!

Our puppy, Spencer, is on lookout and checks on the newly planted hazelnuts.

And maybe, just maybe, you will find a worm or it’s family.

Nathan knows worms are good for gardens and farmland. They improve the structure of the soil. When they burrow, red worms till the soil around the root areas of plants, thus improving soil aeration, porosity, and permeability as well as aiding in water retention (due to increased access to plant roots), and drainage in the soil. All of these enhance mineral and moisture absorption of plants as well as reduce water use and soil erosion.

Don’t forget to give your trees lots of water!

Water trees at least once a week, if there hasn’t been any rainfall.

There are so many benefits to planting trees. Trees can provide shelter to many different types of wildlife, reduce your heating and cooling costs, help clean the air, add beauty and color, provide shelter from the wind and the sun, and add value to your home.

Many SWCDs have annual tree sales. Visit your local SWCD office for more information on available trees and order forms.

Who is the Division of Soil Conservation?

By Logan Garner

Division of Soil Conservation staff June 2012

You read that right: “Who?”  Indiana’s State Department of Agriculture is more than just a collection of divisions and offices, to be sure.  The Division of Soil Conservation is no different.  A diverse group of individuals (with an even more diverse set of skills, knowledge and responsibilities) make up the soils division, whose primary goal is to advocate for and reach out to Indiana’s citizens across the state regarding their agricultural, conservation and informational needs.  It’s time for a review of those people out and about the state of Indiana as well as those who work behind the scenes to bring a face and a voice from ISDA to the citizens it serves.  

District Support Specialist Laura Fribley, Resource Specialist Sue Gerlach, Resource Specialist Cassandra Vondran

Resource Specialists (RS)—These people are the Division of Soil Conservation’s bread and butter.  “Resource specialist” is not just a clever name, as these field staff really do specialize in providing you with valuable resources!   These folks work and live across the state where they connect farmers and other individuals to local, state and federal cost-share programs and grants, agricultural and conservation organizations alike, as well as local and regional events from which local knowledge and resources are shared.   

They also provide technical assistance, and are our “boots on the ground” here at the Division of Soil Conservation when it comes to surveying, designing and implementing conservation practices.  Resource Specialists serve in many capacities and usually have other roles as well (as you can see just below!).  They are housed within local NRCS and Soil and Water Conservation District offices, and if one cannot be found in your county, you can bet there’s one close by whose area of service certainly includes your own.

Program Manager Jordan Seger and District Support Specialist Geneva Rawlins

District Support Specialists (DSS) – Just as their name indicates, DSSs operate specifically in a supportive capacity for local Soil and Water Conservation Districts.  This support comes in all forms, from aiding in planning and organization, to running normal operations within the district, to building capacity and outreach, and even to training for legal, administrative or conservation program-related tasks.  In short, a District Support Specialist serves the local SWCD office much like Resource Specialists serve individuals. 

Middle Wabash-Busseron watershed CREP Leader Dale Walker

CREP Leaders—CREP, or the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, is active in eleven large watersheds across the state.  In each of these watersheds there is a CREP Leader: a Resource Specialist specifically tasked with reaching out to, educating and enrolling landowners in this cost-share program.  Along-side their regular duties as Resource Specialists, CREP Leaders are there to guide anyone who is interested in the environmental and economic benefits this program provides. 

Jim Woody, Team Leader

Team Leaders—Team Leaders are yet another important aspect of the Division’s field presence.  These individuals represent their own section in the state and serve as managers to the rest of the RSs and CREP Leaders in their respective areas.  And—you guessed it—they ALSO hold the duties and responsibilities of any Resource Specialist.  Team Leaders work hard to ensure that the rest of us are trained, well-informed and working together to fulfill the needs of those who seek us out (and those whom we seek out).  As with all these roles, Team Leaders’ jobs are multi-faceted and shaped by the many needs and partnerships that exist in Indiana. 

Program Manager Deb Fairhurst and District Support Specialist Laura Fribley, Goose Pond tour with State Soil Conservation Board 2010

Support Staff—What is a field staff without its support?  The “behind the scenes” staff for the Division of Soil Conservation gets around plenty, but mostly works in the state office in Indianapolis.  From here and there (and everywhere, really), administrative staff and program managers are responsible for the travel, training and communication between field staff as well as communication between conservation partners and local, state and federal entities.  Program managers ensure the smooth operation of ISDA’s and the Division’s many programs and initiatives.  Administrative staff processes payments, contracts and grants, and organize meetings.  They generate literature, maps and press releases for events and programs all over the state. Heck, some of them even get out to the field and get their hands dirty from time to time! Support staff are also responsible for logistics and support to the State Soil Conservation Board, but that's another blog post. 

If you know anyone from the Division of Soil Conservation, you know he or she wears many hats.  Many of us here are active members in organizations and committees in our own communities at home as well.  Maybe yours is one of those!

More information on Technical Assistance: http://www.in.gov/isda/2367.htm
More information on District Support: http://www.in.gov/isda/2373.htm
Contact the Division of Soil Conservation: cleanwaterindiana@isda.in.gov