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practices benefit the farm as well. Just like every farm is different, stewardship practices on each farm will also be different, ranging from planting native trees and shrubs, to encouraging nesting birds, to retaining untouched habitat.

Restoring natural areas is one way that OSS often helps stewards improve habitats around their farm. Many times planting happens around creeks and sloughs, as restoring these riparian habitats (the strips of land along streams, rivers, lakes and ponds) has a host of benefits for humans, farms, and animals.

A healthy replanted riparian area filters fertilizers and sediment from ground runoff, keeping water cleaner. Plant roots in the habitat also hold the soil together to reduce erosion and high stream flows during spring runoff. Natural areas provide habitat for efficient native pollinators like mason bees and predatory insects such as praying mantids.

Sometimes, restoring habitat can have additional positive effects, like at Ranbir and Shinder Kambo’s cherry orchard in Osoyoos. In 2009, they partnered with OSS to help re-excavate and restore a wetland in their orchard that had been filled by previous owners. A few removed cherry trees later (and many replanted native trees and shrubs), the pond was complete and is now home to many species, including threatened Painted Turtles and Great Basin Spadefoots.