A Marion County SWCD Growers Roundtable kicked off 2016, when 15 local growers, Butler University soil microbiologist, and the SWCD and NRCS focused in on soil health science, benefits, and management.  One of the primary outcomes was building a shared experience around soil health in the growing community.  The Marion County SWCD took that momentum into the midst of Indianapolis communities with on-the-ground education and workshops going strong throughout the seasons.

Every garden is undoubtedly important, but it is of special note that almost all of the forty gardens directly served by the SWCD have a significant place in their communities.  Forming partnerships with key small farmers and community leaders and then developing workshops around those partnerships has been instrumental in the opportunity to promote and teach soil health to over 600 people at 31 workshops.

To mention a few, partners like Indy Urban Acres, Purdue Extension - Marion County, Earth Charter Indiana, the Kheprw Institute, Felege Hiywot, Groundwork Indy, the Indianapolis Zoo, Garfield Park, Butler University, Paramount School of Excellence,  and community gardens like Keystone-Monon all had an extraordinary hand in allowing the SWCD to help strengthen the food system by way of soil and water conservation.

Soil health demonstration beds at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds Conservation Corner, Avon Maple Elementary, the STEM Farm, Indy Urban Acres, Fall Creek Gardens, and the Mayor's Garden at Eagle give the SWCD and its partners a space to continuously engage gardeners.  The subsequent formal and informal teaching opportunities are making a visible impact on the adoption of soil health practices in urban agriculture as growers utilize cover crops and mulches.  Purdue Extension - Marion County visits a lot of gardens, and they lightheartedly mentioned they couldn’t find a garden that didn’t have cover crops in 2016!  In tune with ICP conservation efforts,  Purdue Extension also ramped up cover crop use at the State Fair Master Gardener Demonstrations and partnered in hands-on workshops.

A list of the events provided by Marion County SWCD is testament to the SWCD’s commitment to educate the public and growers soil health and water quality.  

  • Marion County SWCD Growers Roundtable w/ Butler University + local grower
  • Indiana Association of Soil Classifiers - Urban Soil Health presentation
  • Hamilton County Annual Meeting - Soil Health/Cover Crops presentation
  • On-site workshop with Groundworks Indy Green Team – staff and youth
  • Marion County SWCD Annual Meeting - Urban Soil Health
  • Soil Health in Your Backyard - Flower & Patio Show
  • Brown County Cover Crops & No-Till
  • Spring Soil Health Sessions at Fall Creek Gardens
  • Hamilton Co. Sustainability Conference
  • Spring Soil Health Sessions at Indy Urban Acres Farm
  • Workshop for Felege Hiywot - Managing Spring Cover Crops – staff and youth
  • Earth Day - Soil Health booth
  • STEM Connection - Soil Health Workshop / Hands-on Demo - teachers and youth
  • Soil Health workshop - Purdue Incubator Farmers  & Community Leaders @ Kheprw Institute
  • Soil and Carbon lesson with Shortridge High School Climate Recovery Team
  • Cover Crop demonstration with Master Gardeners at the State Fairgrounds
  • SWCS Professional Development Workshop – Permaculture & Urban Agriculture
  • Urban Soil Health - NRCS Leadership Team
  • Soil Health presentation - Teacher's Association at the Indianapolis Zoo
  • Soil Health presentation - Master Gardeners - Cover Crops and Soil Health
  • 6 State Fair Demonstrations
  • Urban Soil Health - NRCS Statewide Soil Health Teams @ Indy Zoo
  • Avon Learning Center - Soil Health & Cover Crop Planting – teachers and youth
  • White River Alliance Awards Celebration – Soil Health Video played to Key Audience
  • Wildergarden Soil Health Block Party - Soil Health, Water, and Wildlife
  • TURN Festival - Paramount School of Excellence - Soil Health & Cover Crops
  • SWCS Annual Meeting at the Zoo – Urban Soil Health – Tour of Zoo

Also in 2016, the Marion County SWCD was awarded $50,000 from the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) through the 2016 cycle of the urban conservation grant program boost technical assistance capacity for urban agriculture and conservation projects.

http://www.nacdnet.org/newsroom/nacd-nrcs-announce-2-million-2016-urban-conservation-grants/

Purdue Extension - Marion County also received an ISDA Speciality Crop Block Grant for the Purdue Urban Farm Incubator Project with partner support from the Marion County SWCD, thus setting up additional soil health education opportunities to a community of networked urban growers.