Environmentally Friendly Farming Featured! Educational farm walk demonstrates conservation farm planning in action
May 11th, 2012
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND – On May 30, 2012 WSU Kitsap Small Farms Team in cooperation with the Kitsap County Conservation Tillage Program and the Kitsap Conservation District will host an educational farm walk showcasing environmentally friendly horse farming at IOS Farm on Bainbridge Island. This event features low-impact management techniques including effective manure and mud management, water catchment and cisterns, and no-till pasture renovation., Regardless of the size of their budget or farm, participants will take away ideas to implement benefitting both their wallet and the environment.
“Conservation planning protects and supports the natural resources that sustain your farming operation,” says Diane Fish, WSU Kitsap Small Farms Team educator. “By implementing just one or two of these practices you can go a long way to decreasing the environmental footprint of your farm. We just want to get people thinking about what they can do on their farm!”
IOS Ranch is a seven-acre horse boarding facility that sets an example of conservation planning with their manure management system, water cisterns for irrigation and run-off control and pasture management. Walk and learn about these techniques and see a pasture renovation demonstration using the no-till drill.
WSU has been contracted by Kitsap County to administer the federal stimulus funded Kitsap County Conservation Tillage Program. This event will be the first time to see the no-till drill in action. “Kitsap County is pleased to make this tool available and to partner with WSU to introduce conservation tillage practices for our local farming community,” says Kitsap County Commissioner Charlotte Garrido.
The IOS Ranch farm walk is May 30, 2012 from 6:00 – 8:00pm and is $10 per person or $15 per family. Pre-registration is requested. You can register online at http://kitsap.wsu.edu/ or by mail at WSU Kitsap Extension, 345-6th Ave, Suite 550, Bremerton, WA 98337-1874. For more information on the farm walk please contact Shannon Harkness at Shannon.harkness@wsu.edu or Diane Fish at dfish@wsu.edu or by phone at 360-337-7026.
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