Richland Soil & Water

Office Closed for Staff Professional Development
2024-12-05 00:00 - 23:59 (America/New_York)

Day of Giving is Today!
2024-12-03 07:00 - 19:00 | Longview Center, 1495 W. Longview Avenue, Mansfield, OH, 44906, United States
Richland Gives is the local online giving event designed to encourage everyone to contribute to local nonprofits they care about through a single giving platform/website hosted by the Richland County Foundation. The Foundation hosts Richland Gives to build capacity, grow philanthropy, and make the community stronger.

Due to the generosity of past donors through Richland Gives, Richland SWCD has funded grants to urban and rural residents for soil tests, rain barrels, native seeds for rain gardens and native plants.

Donors like you help us continue to provide a resource for landowners interested in conserving and preserving soil and water health for our current and future generations. We provide advice, recommendations and education on a wide range of conservation programs and are responsible for soil and water integrity in the County. Staff educates and works with landowners, farmers, government agencies and partners on a wide range of natural resource and agricultural conservation management programs.

Last year, we raised $1,195 to support soil and water conservation! Thank you for your generosity!

We are asking you to continue your generosity again this year. Please click this link to learn more and donate.

Office Closed in Observance of Thanksgiving
2024-11-28 00:00 - 2024-11-29 23:59
Office closed in observance of Thanksgiving.

Board Supervisor Meeting
2024-11-20 09:00, 2024-10-23 09:00, 2024-08-27 09:00, 2024-07-17 09:00, 2024-05-15 09:00 | Longview Center, 1495 W. Longview Avenue, Mansfield, OH, 44906, United States
Board Supervisor meetings are open to the public and held in the Richland SWCD Conference Room 258. Please contact Matt Christian, Director, before the meeting if you wish to attend.

Early Giving Underway
2024-11-18 00:00 - 2024-12-02 23:59 | Longview Center, 1495 W. Longview Avenue, Mansfield, OH, 44906, United States
Richland Gives is the local online giving event designed to encourage everyone to contribute to local nonprofits they care about through a single giving platform/website hosted by the Richland County Foundation. The Foundation hosts Richland Gives to build capacity, grow philanthropy, and make the community stronger.

Due to the generosity of past donors through Richland Gives, Richland SWCD has funded grants to urban and rural residents for soil tests, rain barrels, native seeds for rain gardens and native plants.

Donors like you help us continue to provide a resource for landowners interested in conserving and preserving soil and water health for our current and future generations. We provide advice, recommendations and education on a wide range of conservation programs and are responsible for soil and water integrity in the County. Staff educates and works with landowners, farmers, government agencies and partners on a wide range of natural resource and agricultural conservation management programs.

Last year, we raised $1,195 to support soil and water conservation! Thank you for your generosity!

We are asking you to continue your generosity again this year. You can donate by clicking on this link.

County-wide Milkweed Seed Pod Collection
2024-10-16 08:00 - 16:00 | The Longview Center, 1495 W LONGVIEW AVE SUITE 205, MANSFIELD, Ohio, 44906
Thank you for joining the county-wide Milkweed Seed Pod Collection. Drop your Common Milkweed Seed Pods off at the Richland SWCD office, 1495 W. Longview Avenue, Suite 205B, Mansfield in the green and yellow bin located outside the office door.

Here are a few guidelines for this year’s collection:

We are collecting only Common Milkweed Seed pods because of the instability of other species. If you are unsure of the species, do not put them in the bin.

Do not drop off pods that are damp because it can cause mold and damage all the pods collected.

The amount of Common Milkweed Seed pods collected will be capped at 30 gallons due to the time required to remove the seeds from the pods.

If the 30 gallon amount is reached, the bin will be removed and we will no longer be able to accept anymore pods.

Inside the bin, will be a large paper bag. Do not keep your pods in the bag you used to bring them to the drop off location. Instead, please add all common milkweed seed pods collectively in the large paper bag.

Please do not rubber band pods together. They can damage the equipment used to remove the seeds from the pods and we will be held liable.

Thank you for helping with this year’s milkweed seed pod collection and helping the monarch butterfly!

More information about the collection may be found here: Programs | Richland Soil & Water (richlandswcd.net)

Conservation Creation Arts & Crafts Workshop: Buckeye Beauties
2024-10-08 18:00 - 20:00 | Gorman Nature Center, 2295 Lexington Ave., Mansfield, OH, 44907, United States
Participants will make an ornament from Buckeye tree nuts to display from fall through winter. All workshop materials are provided. A convenience fee will be added at checkout. Please register by October 1.

When you register for this workshop you are agreeing to receive information from Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (Richland SWCD) like the quarterly e-newsletter. Richland SWCD reserves the right to take photos during the Conservation Creation Arts & Crafts workshop for promotional purposes. Photography becomes the property of Richland SWCD.

Annual Celebration - Reservations Extended
2024-09-26 11:30 - 13:00 | Ohio Area Agency on Aging District 5, 2131 Park Avenue West, MANSFIELD, Ohio, 44906
Join us for the Annual Celebration on Thursday, September 26. The Celebration will be held at the Ohio Area Agency on Aging District 5, located at 2131 Park Avenue West, Mansfield.

Lunch starts at 11:30 a.m.

Program is at noon with district updates and Cooperator and Volunteer of the Year recipients announced.

Board Supervisor Voting is from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The Celebration is open to the public. The cost is $20 per person and reservations are requested by September 23 at noon. Reserve your ticket below. A convenience fee will be added to your purchase at checkout.

We’re looking forward to celebrating with you!

Board Supervisor election information is below.

Board Supervisor Election Information

The Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Commission will cause an election of Supervisors of the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) to be held in accordance with Chapter 940 of the Ohio Revised Code. Individuals who own or occupy land within the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District and are 18 years of age or older may vote for Supervisor.

There are three ways an eligible voter can cast a ballot:

1. At the Richland SWCD office, 1495 W. Longview Avenue, Suite 205 B, Mansfield, from 8/28/2024 until 9/25/2024 during normal business hours; or

2. At the Richland SWCD Annual Celebration, which will take place at the Ohio Area Agency on Aging, District 5 located at 2131 Park Avenue West, Ontario on 9/26/2024 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; or

3. Voting absentee from 8/28/2024 until 9/19/2024, by requesting the ballot application and election ballot from the Richland SWCD office at the following address 1495 W. Longview Avenue, Suite 205 B, Mansfield, by calling 419-747-8686, or email election@richlandswcd.net. Absentee ballots must be received by the SWCD office by 9/25/2024 at 4:00 p.m.

Supervisors will be elected to a three‐year term commencing January 1, 2025, and ending December 31, 2027. The Board of Supervisors create an annual and long-term plan of operation that protects the District’s mission and vision and are interested, conservation-minded, local leaders who promote conservation of the county’s natural resources through education, planning and technical assistance which are key to the success of the District. Supervisors are elected to a three-year term as a public official and serve without pay. Supervisors advocate for the District, attend and participate in monthly board meetings, assist with District programs and services and attend area and state meetings.

Candidates are Jean McClintock and Pamela McKown

Learn More About the Candidates

Board Supervisor Meeting Cancelled
2024-09-18 09:00 | Longview Center, 1495 W. Longview Avenue, Mansfield, OH, 44906, United States
The September 18 Board Supervisor meeting is cancelled. The next Board Supervisor meeting is October 16 at 9:00 a.m. Board Supervisor meetings are open to the public and held in the Richland SWCD Conference Room 258. Please contact Matt Christian, Director, before the meeting if you wish to attend.

Volunteer of the Year Tree Planting
2024-09-05 10:30 - 11:30
Please join us as we plant a black gum tree in honor of Robert Donaldson, our Volunteer of the Year, at Patriot Park in Lexington. Robert begin volunteering with Richland Soil and Water Conservation District in 2023. It is unusual for such a new volunteer to be named Volunteer of the Year, but Robert has been such a help to the district in such a short time, he is a natural choice. Robert serves the district as a precipitation monitor and provides daily reports of rain and snow amounts on the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District website. He has helped in other numerous ways with creating and updating many Excel workbooks to provide us with accurate and up-to-date information. He also developed a Precipitation Monitor training power point. Robert said he volunteers with Richland Soil and Water Conservation District because it is a natural extension of his current work with CoCoRaHS (Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network). He spent many years as a manager and consultant doing process improvement projects, many of which included extensive excel spread sheets and PowerPoint presentations and he thought he might be able to help with our process.

Robert has volunteered with SCORE for 22 years. SCORE provides free mentoring to individuals who want to start a small business and to small businesses owners. He has served as a mentor, technology chair and as chapter chair. He has volunteered with COCoRaHS since March 2023 making daily precipitation reports, frost reports and weekly condition reports and volunteers at the Ohio Bird Sanctuary.

Robert is retired and a father of three children. Thank you, Robert, for volunteering with the district! Congratulations on being named the 2024 Volunteer of the Year!

Office Closed in Observance of Labor Day
2024-09-02 00:00 - 23:59
Office closed in observance of Labor Day.

Board Supervisor Election Begins
2024-08-28 08:00 - 2024-09-25 16:00 | Longview Center, 1495 W. Longview Avenue, Mansfield, OH, 44906, United States
Richland Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors are publicly elected by a special general election. The Board of Supervisors create an annual and long-term plan of operation that protects the District’s mission and vision and are interested, conservation-minded, local leaders who promote conservation of the county’s natural resources through education, planning and technical assistance which are key to the success of the District. Supervisors are elected to a three-year term as a public official and serve without pay. Supervisors advocate for the District, attend and participate in monthly board meetings, assist with District programs and services and attend area and state meetings.

The Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Commission will cause an election of Supervisors of the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) to be held in accordance with Chapter 940 of the Ohio Revised Code. Individuals who own or occupy land within the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District and are 18 years of age or older may vote for Supervisor.

There are three ways an eligible voter can cast a ballot:

1. At the Richland SWCD office, 1495 W. Longview Avenue, Suite 205 B, Mansfield, from 8/28/2024 until 9/25/2024 during normal business hours.

2. At the Richland SWCD Annual Meeting, which will take place at the Ohio Area Agency on Aging, on 9/26/2024 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; or

3. Voting absentee from 8/28/2024 until 9/19/2024, by requesting the ballot application and election ballot from the Richland SWCD office at the following address 1495 W. Longview Avenue, Suite 205 B, Mansfield, by calling 419-747-8686, or email election@richlandswcd.net. Absentee ballots must be received at the SWCD office by 9/25/2024 at 4 p.m.

Supervisors will be elected to a three‐year term commencing January 1, 2025, and ending December 31, 2027. The Board of Supervisors create an annual and long-term plan of operation that protects the District’s mission and vision and are interested, conservation-minded, local leaders who promote conservation of the county’s natural resources through education, planning and technical assistance which are key to the success of the District. Supervisors are elected to a three-year term as a public official and serve without pay. Supervisors advocate for the District, attend and participate in monthly board meetings, assist with District programs and services and attend area and state meetings.

Candidates are Jean McClintock and Pamela McKown.

Learn More About the Candidates

Don’t forget to register for the Annual Celebration by September 18, 2024. The Annual Celebration takes place September 25 at 11:30 a.m. at the Area Agency on Aging. More information about the Celebration and registration at https://richlandswcd.net/event/annual-celebration-3/.

Richland County Fair
2024-08-05 11:00 - 2024-08-09 19:00 | Richland County Fairgrounds, 750 N. Home Rd., Mansfield, OH, 44906, United States
Join us behind the Nature Park stage to learn about soil health and how you can take the soil your undies challenge! Look for the undies blowing in the wind at our booth to find out. We’ll also be on the Nature Park stage Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. to show you how you can participate in the soil your undies challenge at home or business. Plus, enter the contest to guess the number of “worms” (gummy worms) in the jar. The contest is open to anyone 8 years and older and the winner gets the jar of gummy worms. The contest is limited to one entry per person.

Also, the Nature Park stage will be teeming with other natural resource, wildlife and environmental programs Monday through Friday afternoons. Stroll through the native plant beds and cool off under the shade of the trees. Enjoy live entertainment at 7 p.m. each evening. Make sure to stop in the exhibit space to visit us and our partners for fun and educational activities and information.

Photos may be taken throughout the Fair for promotional purposes and becomes the property of Richland SWCD.

Pastures for Profit Grazing School
2024-07-23 18:00 - 21:00 | The Longview Center, 1495 W Longview Avenue, Mansfield, Ohio, 44906, United States
Join Richland Soil and Water Conservation District and our partners for this special workshop for anyone interested in pasture and grazing management. Those new to livestock and forage management are encouraged to join.

This is a 3-day series.

The Grazing School is July 23 and July 25 at The Longview Center from 6 to 9 p.m.

The Pasture Walk is July 27 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Eisenhauer Farm located at 7146 Guthrie Rd in Shiloh, Ohio.

The School fee includes a grazing stick, and USB with course manual. Registration is requested by July 19 and the cost for the series is $30.00 per person.

When you register for Pastures For Profit Grazing School you agree to receive information from Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (Richland SWCD) like the quarterly e-newsletter. Richland SWCD reserves the right to take photos for promotional purposes. Photography becomes the property of Richland SWCD.

Animal Mortality Composting Certification
2024-07-10 18:00 - 20:00 | The Longview Center, 1495 W Longview Avenue, Mansfield, Ohio, 44906, United States
Attend the Animal Mortality Composting Certification if you compost animals. Before you compost dead livestock, you must obtain an Animal Mortality Composting Certification. The certification is a legal requirement per the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) Rule 901: 13: 1 – 13. The complete Rule is found at https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-administrative-code/chapter-901:13-1

Presenter: Glen Arnold, Hancock County OSU Extension. Mr. Arnold has specialized in manure nutrient management since 2012. His work has involved subsurface swine manure applications into wheat, side dressing corn with liquid livestock manure on emerged corn or replacing commercial side dress nitrogen with liquid manure on emerged corn.

Pizza, class materials and certificate are provided.

Register by July 8

Cost: $15.00 per person.

Thank you to Crawford and Richland County Farm Bureaus and Hord Livestock for their sponsorships.

When you register for the Animal Mortality Composting Certification you agree to receive information from Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (Richland SWCD) like the quarterly e-newsletter. Richland SWCD reserves the right to take photos for promotional purposes. Photography becomes the property of Richland SWCD.

Conservation Creation Arts & Crafts Workshop: Long Live Leaves
2024-07-09 18:00 - 20:00 | 1495 w longview avenue, mansfield, oh, 1495 W LONGVIEW AVE, MANSFIELD, Ohio, 44906
Make a lovely clay dish from an impression of a leaf. This workshop’s guest speaker is Kim Hildreth who wears many hats. She has led the Earth Stewardship Celebration steering committee and assisted the Mansfield Shade Tree Commission for 28 years and is employed by the Mansfield Engineering Department where she is responsible for the NPDES Phase 2 Storm Water permit. She will share how trees and leaves are beneficial including the impact trees have on storm water management. All workshop materials are provided.

When you register for this workshop you are agreeing to receive information from Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (Richland SWCD) like the quarterly e-newsletter. Richland SWCD reserves the right to take photos during the Conservation Creation Arts & Crafts workshop for promotional purposes. Photography becomes the property of Richland SWCD.

MWCD Cover Crop Cost Share Applications Due
2024-07-09 09:00 - 16:00 | Longview Center, 1495 W. Longview Avenue, Mansfield, OH, 44906, United States
Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (Richland SWCD) is partnering with the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) on the cost share program for producers who plant cover crops.

In 2023, the MWCD cover crop cost share program assisted in getting cover crops planted on 140.73 acres of Richland County farmland. The benefits of planting cover crops include preventing and reducing erosion, improving soil health, increased crop productivity, and farm profitability.

Applications are due by July 9, 2024.

Items of Importance:

The 2024 MWCD Cover Crop program cost share is $12.00 per acre.

The general cap is 200 acres per participant unless cover crops are planted in the Charles Mill or Pleasant Hill Lake watersheds.

The 200-acre cap applies across multiple counties if the landowner is signing up in multiple counties.

This program cannot be enrolled in another program to receive funding for the same cover crop such as the United States Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) or H2Ohio.

There are no exceptions to the United States Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) seedling dates and rates. If a mix is going to be planted, the earliest seeding date of the species within the mix is the date that it must be planted by such as radishes.

Wheat is allowed and can be harvested.

2024 Cover Crop Application

MWCD Assessment Area

To get more information contact Matt Wallace by phone at 419.747.8687 or email.

Family Fun on the Farm Festival
2024-06-29 12:00 - 16:00 | 4050 Bromfield Road, Lucas, OH 44843, 4050 Bromfield Road, Lucas, Ohio, 44843, United States
Join us, Malabar Farm State Park and a host of partners for this family-friendly, outdoor festival. This free annual festival is open to the public and has many hands-on kids activities focused on natural resources and where food comes from. Try your hand at archery, take a wagon ride, or plant a seedling, plus more. Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/events/861689491623501.

Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (Richland SWCD) reserves the right to take photos during Family Fun on the Farm Festival for promotional purposes. Photography becomes the property of Richland SWCD.

Special Board Supervisor Meeting
2024-06-25 08:00 - 08:30 | Longview Center, 1495 W. Longview Avenue, Mansfield, OH, 44906, United States
This special board meeting is for general purposes, open to the public, and held in the Richland SWCD Conference Room 258. Prior to the meeting, please contact Matt Christian, Director, if you wish to attend.

Cancelled - Women for the Land Learning Circle
2024-06-15 09:00 - 14:00 | Shady Lane Alpaca Farm, 3073 Gass Road, MANSFIELD, Ohio, 44904
Join Richland Soil and Water Conservation District and our partners for this special workshop for anyone interested in pasture and grazing management. Those new to livestock and forage management are encouraged to join. Lunch and a grazing stick are provided.

Registration is requested by June 11 and the cost is $10.00 per person.

When you register for the Field Day you agree to receive information from Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (Richland SWCD) like the quarterly e-newsletter. Richland SWCD reserves the right to take photos for promotional purposes. Photography becomes the property of Richland SWCD.

Field Day for Plain Growers
2024-06-14 09:00 - 14:00
Join Richland Soil and Water Conservation District and our partners for this special workshop for anyone interested in pasture and grazing management. Those new to livestock and forage management are encouraged to join. Lunch and a grazing stick are provided.

Please note the location has changed to 5 East Main Street, Shiloh.

When you register for the Field Day you agree to receive information from Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (Richland SWCD) like the quarterly e-newsletter. Richland SWCD reserves the right to take photos for promotional purposes. Photography becomes the property of Richland SWCD.

Field Day for Plain Growers
2024-06-14 09:00 - 14:00
Join Richland Soil and Water Conservation District and our partners for this special workshop for anyone interested in pasture and grazing management. Those new to livestock and forage management are encouraged to join. Lunch and a grazing stick are provided.

Please note the location has changed to 5 E Main Street, Shiloh, OH 44878.

Registration is requested by June 11 and the cost is $10.00 per person.

When you register for the Field Day you agree to receive information from Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (Richland SWCD) like the quarterly e-newsletter. Richland SWCD reserves the right to take photos for promotional purposes. Photography becomes the property of Richland SWCD.

Native Plant Workshop and Sale
2024-05-08 17:30 - 19:30 | Longview Center, 1495 W. Longview Avenue, Mansfield, OH, 44906, United States
Learn more about Richland Soil and Water Conservation District’s commitment to native plants and enjoy a program on Ohio Tall Grass Prairies by Guy Denny, Ohio Department of Natural Resources retired Chief of Natural Prairies and Preserves Division. He has authored the books, Peatlands of Ohio and the Southern Great Lakes Region and The Prairie Peninsula. His talk is titled “Ohio Tall Grass Prairies.”

Purchase native plants from Natives in Harmony after Guy’s program. The Native Yard Project will also be available. The workshop is free, but we ask you to register by May 6 for seating.

When you register for this workshop you are agreeing to receive information from Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (Richland SWCD) like the quarterly e-newsletter. Richland SWCD reserves the right to take photos during the Conservation Creation Arts & Crafts workshop for promotional purposes. Photography becomes the property of Richland SWCD.

Rain Barrel and Rain Garden Workshop
2024-04-30 18:00 | Mansfield Richland County Public Library, 43 W. Third Street, MANSFIELD, Ohio, 44903
If you are interested in pollinators, gardens, conservation, or nature: look no further! Join Richland Soil and Water Conservation District in partnership with the Mansfield/Richland County Public Library to learn more about rain barrels, rain gardens, their benefits and how they are beneficial. Information on how to purchase a rain barrel through Richland Soil and Water Conservation District will be available. The workshop is free and open to the public. Learn more about rain gardens and rain barrels at https://richlandswcd.net/residential/programs/

District Director Application Deadline
2024-04-19 16:00 | Longview Center, 1495 W. Longview Avenue, Mansfield, OH, 44906, United States
We are seeking an individual to lead our customer-focused team in a fast-paced office environment for the District Director position. Job and application details may be found here.

Pond Fish Sale Pick Up
2024-04-19 10:00 - 11:30 | Richland County Fairgrounds, 750 N. Home Rd., Mansfield, OH, 44906, United States
Pick Up at Richland County Fairgrounds Horse Barn.

Only pre-ordered and pre-paid orders received by April 17 will be filled. Please arrive for pick up between 10:00 and 11:30 a.m.

Please bring enough containers to hold the purchased fish. Five-gallon buckets work well. General rule of thumb: one container per 100 small fish, one container per 1,000 minnows, one container per 4-5 amurs.

Each container must have an unscented poly liner (30 gallon trash bag). The bags are necessary to hold oxygen to keep the fish alive during transport. Do not use a lid; use a twist tie or twine to close the bag.

Fill the container one-third full with pond water the fish will be put in. Please help with loading and unloading your container in and out of your vehicle. This will help expedite the delivery process.
