Elkhart County Soil and Water Conservation District

09/14/2026

🌱 Own farmland, pasture, or wooded acreage? Rent your land to someone else? Or farm your own ground?

No matter how you use your land, the decisions you make today can have a lasting impact on its future.

Purdue Extension is offering Land of Opportunity: A Conference for Farmland Owners, a one-day conference designed to give landowners practical information to help make informed decisions about their property.

With 12+ speakers throughout the day, including Purdue Extension specialists, educators, and outside professionals, the conference covers a wide range of topics. And you can customize your experience by choosing from three breakout sessions based on your interests.
Topics include:

🌾 USDA program updates
💰 Comparing net returns for alternative leasing arrangements
☀️ Renewable energy contracts for landowners
🌳 Making your woods work for you
📄 Navigating farmland leases
🐄 Enhancing pasture leases
🌱 Soil health and improving your soil
👨‍👩‍👧 Farm succession planning and family dynamics
🏡 Managing liability and protecting your rural land investment

Whether you're considering cash rent, conservation, soil health, renewable energy, succession planning, or simply want to better protect the long-term value of your land, there's something in this conference for you.

📍 October 5 — Wabash (Honeywell Center)
📍 October 6 — Terre Haute (Terre Haute Convention Center)
🕘 Program: 9:00 AM–3:20 PM
💵 Registration: $40 per person, including lunch and program materials
📅 Registration deadline: September 18

If you own land, this is an opportunity to learn more about the choices available to you and how they can shape the future of your property.

Learn more and register through Purdue Extension: https://ag.purdue.edu/department/extension/wia/landowners-conference.html

Know a farmland or rural landowner who might benefit? Share this information with them!

09/14/2026

Fall is the perfect time to plant native plants, either plugs or seeds. Learn more about why native plants are so important in the post.

Not sure where to buy native plants? Wild Ones South Bend has its fall native plant sale coming up on October 3, and Berrien County Conservation District has its sale on September 26. Join the fun, buy native!

Native trees and shrubs do so much more than just look good. They are crucial for keeping our water clean and healthy. From preventing soil erosion to filtering pollutants, these plants are essential for watershed protection. Learn why planting native trees matters for our water quality and take the pledge! indiana.clearchoicescleanwater.org/pledges/tree/

09/14/2026

Join us for our monthly board meeting tomorrow morning!

📅 Tuesday, September 15, 2026
⏰ 9:30-11:00 AM
📍 59358 CR 7, Elkhart, IN 46517

All meetings are open to the public, and we encourage you to join us! 🤗

Upcoming 2026 meeting dates:
October 20, November 20, and December 15

We hope to see you there!

09/11/2026

Sign up to learn. Deadline is today! September 18 also happens to be World Water Monitoring Day! 💧🐟

09/10/2026

Interested in some native trees for FREE and like farmer's markets? Here's your chance to scratch that itch this Saturday. 🌳

Greetings Elkhart Co folks!
Bushelcraft Farm continues to be part of an urban forestry grant project and has native trees to give away!

On Saturday Sept 12th from 9am-1pm, come to Elkhart Farmers Market where we will be giving away the following native trees:

Sweet Gum
Bald Cypress
Pin Oak
Redbud

This means trees that range from small to tall when mature and species that can handle dry and wet soils. We aim to find homes with folks who live in urban neighborhoods and who need shade in their yards! Spread the word. We'll also be coming again on Sept 26th. Stay tuned for that species list!

P.S. Bushelcraft Farm has baby pawpaw trees for sale...please inquire!

09/10/2026

🌱 Your input can help shape conservation funding in Elkhart County!

Join the Elkhart County SWCD and USDA NRCS on September 15, 2026, at 11 AM for Locally Led with NRCS. We’re seeking your input as we work to develop local criteria for the 2027 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).

These programs bring federal conservation funding to landowners in Elkhart County, and local input helps ensure conservation priorities reflect the needs of our community and the land we all depend on.

📅 September 15, 2026
🕚 11 AM
📍 Elkhart County SWCD Office (59358 CR 7, Elkhart, IN)

The meeting will take place following the Elkhart County SWCD Board Meeting, which is open to the public.

Whether you’re a landowner, producer, conservation professional or community member, we encourage you to join us and share your perspective. Your voice can help shape the conservation priorities for the year ahead! 🌎

09/09/2026

🍂 We’ve been hearing some concerns about residents raking leaves and yard debris into local waterways. Please don’t do this! While it may seem like a convenient way to get rid of yard waste, it can have a big impact on our streams, ditches, rivers and the fish and wildlife that depend on them.

As leaves and other organic debris break down in the water, they can accumulate on the bottom and contribute to sediment buildup. Over time, this can fill in waterways and reduce their capacity to hold and move water, potentially making areas more prone to flooding. It can also negatively impact aquatic habitat and water quality.

So what can you do with those leaves instead? 🍁 Consider:
🌱 Adding them to your compost pile
🌿 Using them as mulch in your landscaping to return nutrients to the soil
🦋 Creating a leaf pile or other habitat for wildlife
♻️ Using your city or county’s yard waste disposal system if you don’t want them in your yard

If you choose to burn your leaves, please use caution. Check your local ordinances to make sure burning is allowed, choose an appropriate day and weather conditions, and never leave a burn pile unattended.

A few leaves in the right place can be a great resource for your soil and wildlife. In our waterways, however, they can create problems. Help us keep our waterways healthy and flowing! 💧🍂

09/09/2026

“The Journey of Water, The Journey of Us”
By Jim Hess

I recently had the opportunity to spend some time at Disney World. While walking through EPCOT, I found myself doing something I probably would not have expected to do on a family trip: I was watching people. I watched people from all over the world, young and old, families and grandparents, children and adults, people speaking different languages and coming from completely different cultures, all sharing the same space, laughing, learning, helping one another, and experiencing something together. There was something pretty awesome about watching all of those different people come together. As I walked, I began thinking about how much that simple experience reminded me of the work I have spent so much of my life doing.

It made me think about water.

Water is one of those things that connect every one of us, whether we think about it or not. It doesn’t matter where we were born, what language we speak, what we do for a living, where we live, or what our property lines look like. It falls from the sky, lands on a roof, moves across a parking lot, soaks into a farm field, travels through soil, enters a tile, moves through a ditch or a creek, and eventually becomes part of something much bigger than any one of us.

Continue Reading >> https://www.elkcoswcd.org/the-journey-of-water/

09/08/2026

🌎 September is Environmental Awareness Month, and it's a great opportunity to think about the natural resources that make Elkhart County such a special place to live, work and grow. From the farms and forests that surround us to our rivers, streams, wetlands and lakes, the environment is connected to nearly everything we do. Clean water, healthy soil, wildlife habitat and thriving communities all depend on taking care of the resources we share.

The good news is that conservation doesn't have to be complicated. There are simple things each of us can do every day to make a difference. ♻️ Reduce the waste we create, reuse items whenever possible and recycle materials that can be given a second life. 💧 Save water by being mindful of how much we use and addressing leaks or unnecessary water loss. 💡 Save energy when we can, and consider planting trees and native plants that provide habitat, improve soil, help manage stormwater and support pollinators and other wildlife. 🌳

Our actions can have an impact beyond our own property. What happens on the land can ultimately affect the water flowing through our ditches, streams and rivers. The way we manage our yards, farms, construction sites and communities can help reduce runoff, protect soil and keep our waterways healthy.

Environmental stewardship is something we all have a part in. Whether you're a farmer, homeowner, student, business owner, contractor, gardener or simply someone who enjoys spending time outdoors, there is something you can do to help protect the resources that make Elkhart County home. This Environmental Awareness Month, let's take a closer look at the choices we make and remember that small actions, multiplied across our community, can make a big difference for the environment and for generations to come. 💚

09/07/2026

🇺🇸 Our office will be closed today, September 7, in observance of Labor Day.

Labor Day is a time to recognize and celebrate the contributions, dedication, and hard work of workers across our country. We hope you have a safe and enjoyable holiday!

We’ll see you tomorrow! 🌱 Our office will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.