Blue bird houses now available

We now have blue bird houses for sale at the Walker County Soil & Water Conservation office. The houses are $12.00/each and will offer a great conservation opportunity for you to enjoy with your children or grandchildren. Each house comes as a kit containing six pre-cut pieces that are ready to join with no tools, nails or hardware being required. Simply follow the picture instructions to slide the pieces together. It's up to you if you would like to paint the exterior of the bird house. The door will easily remove to clean out the house. We will also provide an informational sheet regarding the suggested placement of the house. If you have any questions or would like additional information please call our office at (205) 387-1879.

Bonnie plants 3rd grade cabbage program

The Walker County Soil and Water Conservation District along with the Natural Resources Conservation Service were pleased to assist Bonnie plants with their 3rd grade cabbage program this year by delivering cabbage plants to all 17 elementary schools in Walker County. The WCSWC District would like to thank Bonnie Plants and Heath Davis the local station manager for Bonnie Plants for providing this experience to our youth. It was very rewarding to see the excitement of the students when they received their plant. Each year, Bonnie Plants distributes free cabbage plants to third graders across the country to foster an interest in gardening and the environment. Cabbages are delivered to students whose teachers have signed up to participate. Students in these third grade classrooms each get their very own cabbage to plant, take care of and harvest. The cabbages produce oversized heads, making the process even more exciting for kids. As part of the program, Bonnie gives a $1,000 award to one student in each state. Through the annual Cabbage Program, Bonnie hopes to share their love of gardening, as well as inspire kids to develop an interest in nature and the outdoors. Now entering in its 9th year, the program has been an exciting and rewarding venture. For more information regarding this program please visit Bonnie's website at http://www.bonnieplants.com/CabbageProgram/tabid/81/Default.aspx

Arbor Day event

In recognition of Arbor Week the Alabama Forestry Commission in partnership with the Walker County Forestry Planning Committee and the Walker County Soil and Water Conservation District will be providing tree seedlings to each 3rd grade student in Walker County on Wednesday, February 24th.

Planting trees is a great way to improve our communities by providing cleaner air, shade to homes (reduces energy cost), reduces soil erosion and is aesthetically pleasing to the homeowner and the public. According to the Arbor Day Foundation properly placed trees can increase property values from 7%-21%.

We hope that families across the county will take part in this celebration and share the joy of planting trees.

Annual tree sale event

The Walker County Forestry Planning Committee will hold it's annual tree sale event at the Jasper Wal-Mart Garden Center on Friday, March 5, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and Saturday, March 6, 2010 from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. All trees will be containerized or bare root seedlings and will be available on a first come first serve basis. Cost will be between $1.00 and $2.00 per tree. Please call 387-1879 for an itemized list. Proceeds go to promote conservation education in Walker County.

Rock Creek Watershed meeting in Addison, AL on Thurs., Feb 4th at 7:00 p.m. at the Traders and Farmers Bank

A meeting for stakeholders in the Rock Creek watershed is planned for Thursday, February 4th at the Traders and Farmers Bank meeting room in Addison. The meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. for those interested in serving on either the technical committee or the evaluation/outreach committee, with the regular meeting beginning at 7:00 p.m. The purpose of this meeting is to complete a Watershed Management Plan by mid-March. Having participation from a broad range of citizens is important to the success of this plan.

Alabama Water Watch is also planning on having bacteriological water testing training sessions on Friday and Saturday. After the training on Saturday morning, they will conduct a "Bacteria Blitz" where several volunteers will conduct bacteriological water testing at several sites in the Smith Lake Watershed. Volunteers will turn in their samples to Alabama Water Watch later on Saturday so that the samples can be incubated properly. Watch here for further details on the bacteriological water testing training.

Sponsored by Winston County Smith Lake Advocacy Inc.
& Alabama Water Watch. For information, Mona Scruggs with Alabama Water Watch at 251-282-9998, or LaVerne Matheson with WCSLAI at 256-747-4422.
Posted by Mike at 9:00 AM

Attn: Land Owners/Agricultural Producers

The Walker County Soil and Water Conservation District will be accepting cost share applications thru the end of February 2010 for the AACDC program. This program is designed to address soil erosion, forestland and grazing land. The program offers a 75% cost share rate for approved conservation practices. Some popular practices include: cross fencing, pasture planting, pasture improvement, tree planting and livestock water systems. For more information regarding this program please call 387-1879.

ACDEA scholarship applications available

The Walker County Soil & Water Conservation District is now accepting applications for a $500.00 scholarship sponsored by the Alabama Conservation District Employees Association. Applicant must be a U. S. citizen, high school senior, and living in the State of Alabama. Applications may be picked up at the District office located in the Board of Education Building, Room 207, in Jasper or may be requestd by email. Deadline to receive completed applications in the District office is March 5, 2010. For more information, please contact Katherine Patton at (205)387-1879 or by email at kpattonwalkersoil@gmail.com.