Stewardship

Stewardship is not just about the birds and the bees, the flowers and the trees! It’s about LIFE! Every living creature depends on food, water and shelter. So in truth, every creature big and small needs abundant soils, clean water, and natural resources to help us thrive.
Stewardship is about the wise use of our natural resources. So become familiar with reduce, reuse and recycle….conserve water during your shower or while brushing your teeth, grow a garden, plant a tree, turn off lights and power sources when not in use, don’t destroy habitat and keep pollution in its place!
We ALL need to learn about conservation and how stewardship is critical for our future success.
Conservation equals LIFE! So live it!

Area III Envirothon held today in Coshocton county

The ENVIROTHON is designed to stimulate, reinforce and enhance interest in the environment and natural resources among high school students.
The Envirothon tests students' knowledge of soils, forestry, wildlife, aquatic ecology and current environmental issues. In addition, the Envirothon encourages cooperative decision-making and team building. While each student on an Envirothon team is challenged to contribute his or her personal best, the score that counts at the end of an Envirothon is the team score.
A team consists of five students, all from the same high school. An adult advisor (or advisors) must accompany the team, but is not permitted to assist the team during the competition. Buckeye Trail(Ginny Barker, advisor) and Meadowbrook HS (Matt Wentworth, advisor) each are sending 2 teams this year.
Five "Area Envirothons" are conducted around Ohio late each spring. The Area 3 Envirothon, of which Guernsey county is a part, is hosted by Coshocton county this year. The top four teams from each of these Area competitions progress to the Ohio Envirothon in June. The state level Ohio Envirothon is held in a different part of Ohio each year. The top-scoring team in the Ohio Envirothon is eligible to compete in the Canon Envirothon, hosted by a different state or Canadian province every year.
In Ohio, the Envirothon is sponsored by the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (OFSWCD) in cooperation with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Natural resource and environmental specialists from many agencies, organizations, colleges, universities, park districts and businesses devise the Envirothon questions and staff the various test stations.
The Ohio Envirothon is financed by grants, donations from businesses and through contributions to the Don Rehl Memorial Envirothon Fund. Many local businesses also provide services and products in support of Area and Ohio Envirothons.

In support of trees

Tree conservation is an important part of maintaining a healthy natural environment. Trees create habitats for birds, insects and wildlife; replenish oxygen in the atmosphere; save energy by shading homes and workplaces; and remove pollutants from air and water – besides providing climbing areas and fun places to hide!
Trees are experiencing great challenges these days greatly due to storms, development activities, diseases, and pests such as the Emerald Ash Borer and Gypsy Moth, that are causing many trees to die.
Help us with our conservation efforts! We encourage you to plant a native tree or two in your backyard! More and more landowners are being encouraged to plant native tree species to help those lost to storms and disease. Backyard conservation efforts such as tree plantings also help birds and other wildlife species too, while potentially helping cool down your house! Community education is also important. So don’t be afraid to share the importance of trees to your family and friends!
You can also help by promoting the purchase of wood and wood products from sustainable resources only, recycling or reusing all paper and wood, and planting trees.
Trees equal Strength! Can you raise your limbs in support for tree conservation?

Don't forget our wildflower hike this Friday morning

Coltsfoot

Don't forget the wildflower hike scheduled for this Friday morning, beginning at 9:30. The hike takes place at our Moore Memorial Woods @ 18700 Wings Lane, Salesville, which is just a few miles east of Old Washington.
Some of the flowers you will see are trilliums, bloodroot, wild ginger, bluets, rue anemone, spring beauties, and coltsfoot.

Rue Anemone

National Stewardship Week April 24-May 1

National Stewardship Week
“Forests for People – More than You Can Imagine”
April 24 – May 1, 2011

Each and every day, we all have a connection to forests. This connection includes things as obvious as paper products we use at work and school; the food and spices we eat; the furniture we sit on and the houses we live in. But trees also provide other critical benefits that we often take for granted including clean water and clean air.
Forests also offer families the opportunity to take a peaceful walk and picnic on a sunny afternoon; provide children with the perfect atmosphere to learn about the great outdoors; and serve as a refuge for animals and plants.
Take some time to explore the great outdoors.
2011 marks the 56th year of the National Association of Conservation Districts National Stewardship Week. Help us celebrate National Stewardship Week, April 24 to May 1.

Ag School Days

Learning about how important private landowners are to the diversity of wildlife in our area.
OSU Extension presents on the poultry production, allowing the kids to see chicks hatching in an incubator.

OSU extension 4-H talks about nutrition and healthy foods.