the cultivator (May 2023)

Kenneth Barker, President

John Eastlake, Vice President

Katie Miller, Secretary/Treasurer

Roger Rasner, Supervisor

Image still from "Tomorrow s Conservation Generation" CDA CSCB video

Officially, March 20, 2023 marked the end of our winter and the point where Earth's northern hemisphere will begin to tilt back toward the Sun. But folks in this region know they can't put the boots or shovels away just yet. Our animals still need water, food, and shelter and our buildings, gardens, and land still need attention.

Whether you have a few chickens or a hundred cattle, a backyard garden or an industrial greenhouse, a modest pond or a full dam; bundle up. Keep braving the weather. It's hard work but you've got this!

And when you're ready, please take a small break. Find a comfortable spot and curl up to read and enjoy this issue of the cultivator. Let us know how we can help; we're here for you.

All our best,

Photo by Gayle Gresham

Did You Know?

There are four conservation districts within El Paso County Boundaries of conservation districts in Colorado can be complicated. Where some districts are bounded by the same lines as a municipality or county, others appear like a collection of scattered puzzle pieces across a region Check out the maps for El Paso County at https://assessor.elpasoco.com/tax-entity-maps/

As of 2023, land owners in the El Paso County Conservation District have mailing addresses in all 50 US States and the District of Columbia, and Australia, Canada, China, Cook Islands, England, France, Germany, Guam, Italy, Japan, Palau, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, UAE, and Vietnam, and Air, Army, Diplomatic, and Fleet Post Offices!

Partner Spotlight

Q. Describe yourself in one word. A Seriocomic It means having a serious intention but jocular in manner. Working hard and doing a good job for my team and my producers is important to me, but I am also rather goofy as I go about things.

Q. What's your favorite part of the job?

A. Meeting with producers and field work. Meeting with folks, hearing their goals, seeing what they are doing on the land, learning their concerns, and developing those relationships is where the real work in conservation is done.

SOIL CONSERVATIONIST AND JACK OF ALL TRADES AT OUR USDA-NRCS FIELD OFFICE

Q. What is your favorite farm or yard tool? A Watering can

Q. What's your favorite garden vegetable?

A. Fresh herbs (I know, I know, not a vegetable, but man there is nothing better than fresh herbs)!

Q. What is the oddest thing you’ve seen in the field?

A. I love seeing all the different animals: Cattle, sheep, goats, bison, yak, pigs, chickens, wild turkeys, raptors, lizards, snakes (eek!), toads, beavers, and a bear. I am the resident lizard/amphibian wrangler and try to catch a lizard each time I go out.

Poster Contest

The 2023 Poster Contest “One Water” is open for submissions entries are due November 3, 2023

5TH AND 6TH GRADE STUDENTS

The El Paso County Conservation District invites 5th and 6th grade students from public, charter, private, and home schools in the region to compete in our annual poster contest. Winning posters reflect the National Association of Conservation Districts' stewardship theme and highlight the work of our regional and state conservation districts and associations.

Awards, sample lesson plans, pictures of previous winning entries, rules, 2023 entry forms, and more are available at: https://epccd org/onewater

Congratulations to all winners of the 2022 Poster Contest “Healthy Soil, Healthy Life.” View national winners on NACD’s Flickr at https://www.flickr.com/photos/nacd/

Science & Engineering Fair

Board and staff of the El Paso County Conservation District celebrated the Pikes Peak Regional Science and Engineering Fair by judging for special awards on Saturday, February 25, 2023 at UCCS in Colorado Springs

We awarded an Excellence Award and a Cultivator Award in both Senior and Junior Division contests Also, in recognition and appreciation of their guidance, we presented a Mentor Award to the teachers of these students. Thank you to all competing students, their teachers, and the PPRSEF committee! And congratulations to students from Eagleview Middle School, Evangelical Christian Academy, and Miami Yoder High School

E X C E L L E N C E A W A R D

To further, encourage, or advance inquiry related to the stewardship of natural resources, this award is presented to the project that best applies the scientific method to examine complex issues connected to conservation, development, management, or sustainability of the environment or nature.

To champion outstanding curiosity and foster the growth of scientific exploration, this award is presented to the student that best demonstrates or shows developing mastery or enjoyment of science as it relates to agriculture, biology, botany/horticulture, conservation, food, geology, land, or natural resources.

For Goat’s Sake

" H O O F E D P E T " L I M I T S W I T H I N C S

The Colorado Springs goat ordinance from 2014 limited goats to 2 per property In October 2022, city council voted 9-0 to place a a moratorium on enforcement of the limit. Two weeks later, the mayor vetoed the moratorium Two weeks after that, council voted 7-1 to override the mayor's veto.

In February 2023, the City Planning Commission voted unanimous approval to recommend language changes to permit 3-4 goats, weighing less than 100 pounds at maturity, and with shelter requirements and housing location/distance considerations, for anyone utilizing property that permits ‘Urban Agriculture.’

On February 28, 2023, city council voted 9-0 to approve the new language.

Just For Fun

The use of a parcel of land not exceeding five (5) acres in size for the cultivation of food and horticultural crops, composting, aquaponics, aquaculture, hydroponics, and animals limited to Fowl, Ducks, and Hoofed Pets. This use may include the production or sale of food products from food grown on the premises and accessory keeping of bees subject to City regulations but does not include cultivation of marijuana.

These scrambled letters form this word; it describes a land area that channels rainfall and snowmelt to creeks, streams, and rivers, and eventually to outflow points such as reservoirs, bays, and the ocean Thanks NOAA gov! Also "an event or period marking a turning point "

Have You Herd?

What farm animal keeps the best time?

Many species of this plant are native to Colorado. Can you identify this not-airborne, heavy and sticky pollen which is often (inaccurately) blamed for hay fever?

When It Rains

The lawful collection and use of rainwater is a great way to water residential lawns, gardens, and landscapes. But water rights in Colorado are… complicated. For most of our landowners requesting information about rain barrels, we often refer to Colorado HB16-1005, Concerning the Use of Rain Barrels

Sponsored by Representatives Daneya Esgar, Jessie Danielson and Senator Michael Merrifield and enacted in 2016 (§37-96.5) , this bill allows for the collection of rainwater from the rooftops of single-family residential or multi-family residential (≤4 units) buildings into one or two rain barrels (with a combined storage capacity of no more than 110 gallons) to be used on the same property for outdoor purposes like lawn or garden irrigation

The bill also placed guiding and reporting requirements on the state engineer and state department of public health and environment, as well as limitations on homeowners' associations as they relate to residential water collection

After some complications and difficult lessons with sourcing the barrels, we obtained the slightly used, food grade, recycled, cleaned, high density consumer plastic rain barrels Board supervisors prepared the barrels, including the installation of three spigots (for a garden hose at the bottom, an overflow, and connector to a second barrel), a required screen, and lid To support the use of the barrels in as many homes as possible, the District worked hard to keep the price affordable, and in November, 2017, we began selling the barrels for $79 each

The barrels were most successfully sold at workshops or events hosted by one of our retail partners The events were well attended, especially when combined with educational demonstrations such as our soil tunnel, and sales of additional items like native grass or cover crop seed mixes Sales were “first come, first serve” and interest usually exceeded current availability

But even as COVID restrictions loosened, attendance at local events had declined and the convenience of online shopping and safety of contactless home-delivery triumphed By mid-2021, barrel costs increased to $115 and where barrels were still available, individual parts and complete kits became difficult to source Interests in self-sufficiency and modern day homesteading also fluctuated

Phone calls and emails inquiring about rain harvesting, water quality or quantity, and water systems no longer flood the office but interest in water and rain barrels is still high among those who responded to our program interest survey

We will continue to search for affordable, food-grade, quality, recycled barrels, barrel parts, and DIY options as we again look forward to connecting people with the knowledge and tools to lawfully collect and use rainwater to irrigate our outdoor gardens, lawns, and plants and we retain hope that folks want to be wise steward of this limited, precious resource

2023 Plant Program!

One of the relationships we have “cultivated” is with the great folks at Harding Nursery in Colorado Springs Through their kindness and generosity, we ’ re able to sell conservation-wise evergreens, shade and ornamental trees, fruit and berry plants, ornamental grasses, ground cover, perennials, vines, roses, a Xeric shrub collection, deer resistant plants, wonderful pollinators, and new this year, mulch, soil, and garden/yard supplies!) with reduced prices and all proceeds funding our mission to champion the responsible management and conservation of our finite natural resources.

YOU CAN NOW SHOP FROM THE 2023 CATALOG BY VISITING THE STORE AT HTTPS://EPCCD.ORG/STORE/ OR BY DOWNLOADING AND PRINTING THE 2023 ORDER FORM!

Online Store

You can now shop and pay online for all your EPCCD native grass seed mix, cover crop seed mix, as well as our full 2023 Harding Nursery program catalog. Check out the fantastic, online store at https://epccd.org/store/

Want to pay with cash or check? We got you! Shop online and select your payment option at checkout; then go to https://calendly.com/epccd/visit to make an appointment to visit our office and pay for your order

What's Happening? On Deck

So much is happening! We're created an online calendar to post activities and events, deadlines, programs in our community, and much more! Check it out at https://epccd.org/calendar

Contact us to add your agriculture, conservation, environmental, land governance, horticulture, science, utility, or related event to the calendar!

Flood Control Dam Inspections

The Franktown-Parker and West Cherry Creek dams have been, and will continue to be, a beneficial part of the El Paso County landscape. Annual inspections of of these dams will be scheduled for May 31-June 2.

Camp Rocky

Local Workgroup Online Survey

Your participation will help plan for the protection and proper management of El Paso County’s natural resources into the next century. Please complete the survey!

https://epccd.org/local-area-workgroups/

Camp Rocky is an educational, week long residential camp for students aged 14-17 who enjoy the outdoors and are interested in natural resources, agriculture, or environmental science. Camp is located outside Divide, Colorado. Camp Rocky’s professional staff helps participants learn about their environment through hands-on experiences Students work in teams, making new friends from across Colorado. More info at https://www.camprocky.org/

Read All About It!

We don't like spam either! We work hard to only send you relevant information, in 1-2 emails per month including newsletters, meeting announcements, and occasional requests for your input. We look forward to connecting with you! Sign up at https://epccd.org/

Hey, You!

The El Paso County Conservation District needs your talent, insight, interest, expertise, or leadership! Experience is not required! Owning or leasing in-district property is and a familiarity with urban agriculture, the environment, water, gardening, energy, farming or ranching, biology or ecology, farm and food marketing, or citizen science is helpful. The board meets monthly with an estimated time commitment of five hours/month. Please get involved!

Announcement!

Additions coming soon to our newsletter and website:

1) We have a wonderful archive of old photographs from the region, some back to the 1930s. We're looking forward to sharing them and hearing your recollections and thoughts!

2) We've heard you! We will be posting job and volunteer opportunities in this region from agriculture, conservation, environmental, and related industries!