Snohomish Conservation District 528 - 91st Ave NE, Ste A Lake Stevens, WA 98258-2538

Non-Prot Org. U.S. Postage

PAID
Lake Stevens, WA Permit No. 26

The Nexus Small Grain Production Feeds Local Demand

Article and photos (unless otherwise noted) by Andrew Corbin, WSU Agriculture and Natural Resources Faculty

The growing localvore movement across the U.S. is certainly not lost on residents of the coastal Pacic Northwest, where consumers and producers have built a thriving market around fresh local produce, meat, eggs and dairy products. Recently, the momentum to reclaim our historical small grain heritage is also intensifying in this region. Producers and end users West of the Cascade Mountains are also interested in rebuilding the necessary infrastructure for drying, storing, and processing small grains Darrell Hagerty nishes planting organic hard red spring wheat just before the rains returned to the Snohomish Valley in mid-May. to meet this new growing consumer demand. A fully functional local grain system must also include In Northwest Washington, wheat and barley used to be brewing and distilling, as well as feed for livestock. grown for the local market, but now these grains are typiWhile these end uses are very distinct, they require cally grown in rotation with higher value crops, harvestsome common infrastructure. Production equipment, ing grain for minimal return on the commodities market. such as grain drills for planting and combines for harToday, end users such as bakers, millers, maltsters, brewers, and livestock producers (who normally buy small grains from as far away as Saskatchewan, Canada) are attempting to purchase grains locally because thats what their customers are asking for. Northwest Washington growers have the skill and ability to integrate a local small grain system in this region, minimizing supply chains and preserving information about who produced the grain and where it was grown, adding value to their product. vesting, are not as prevalent locally as in areas where wheat is grown for global markets. Washington State University Extension - Snohomish County, is working with local growers to make available the facilities required for cleaning and storing seed to keep grain dry, pest-free and close to local markets. Grain growers, not typically used to being part of the post-harvest supply chain, understand that for a local grain system to work, they will have to be more involved in the process. According to Brian Bookey, President of National Food Corporation in Everett, Its important to the success of Snohomish County agriculture that the participants in local agriculture support one another. Bookey explained that local livestock and poultry producers purchasing local grains create high value production opportunities for county land that might otherwise be fallow or in less productive use. In turn, those same livestock and poultry producers can provide much needed nutrients to the land in the form of manure-based fertilizers. This is a win-win for the agricultural economy and the environment, he said.

Summer 2012
Serving Snohomish County and Camano Island

Better Ground Set to Debut

Snohomish Conservation District is pleased to announce a new outreach program called Better Ground, where our goal will be to provide sound ideas for your land in an easyto-use format. Better Ground will offer you updated workshops and classes, as well as a new website where you will be able to access and interact with great new resources. There will be landowner proles, how-to videos, fact sheets, photos and more! Be sure to check our Facebook page for Better Ground updates and our upcoming classes. Although if you just cant wait, visit www.betterground.org for a sneak peak.

Infrastructure and Collaboration

Farmers know the importance of small grains as a rotation crop to disrupt disease cycles and improve their soil quality, and they are just beginning to understand the long term opportunities to provide quality grains to the local market. The possibilities for end uses of local grain are many.

Inside
Small Grain Field Day Jewel in Snohomish Equiculture System Firewise and CREP Buttery Bush a NoNo Forestry Events Manure Share New Staff On Board

Wheat (Photo by Doug Wilson)

Farmers Playing the Odds

Growers appear to be ready for the next stepbridging the gap between local production and product. Several local growers are willing to explore the issues surrounding infrastructure redevelopment and to help nd solutions for the identied challenges. One such farmer, Darrell Hagerty, who grows in four Western Washington counties, recently commented after planting 120 acres of organic spring wheat, Being a large organic grower, rotation crops in Western WashLearn about the Konik horses of Wicken Fen ington are hard to nd. [This] hard red spring wheat will be marketed locally [for feed]. If this works out, the (England) and the service they provide, pg 5.
~ continued on page 2

Flour, for example, is very appealing to farmers because of its high value. But growing wheat for our is not as simple as purchasing seed at the local supply store and getting it in the ground on time. Quality our generally requires wheat to be cleaner and with a higher protein content than growers may be used to producing for the feed market. However, for a local small grain market to succeed in this region, outlets for grains that do not meet the strict quality standards for our will still play a key role.

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Small Grain Production - continued

area needs storage and a distribution center. The County tried but grain storage tanks need air fans in them. I hope this crop works for my farm - it would help my cropping system out a lot. Another local grower, Eric Fritch of Chinook Farms (Snohomish) added, Growing grain in Snohomish County is an essential component to a whole diet organic farm. I also do it because someone told me it couldnt be done! Commenting on supplying the local market, Fritch declared, There are still a few missing planks in the bridge between eld production and nal product so we will need to work together until that bridge is built. A different end user, Ryan Hembree, Founder and Distiller of Skip Rock Distillers (Snohomish) another link in the chain of our burgeoning local market explained, Local westside grains make up the bulk of our grain usage for the whiskeys and wheat vodka we make. While were not using much right now, we continue to increase the tonnage per month and look forward to the growth. It would be great if we had a malt house nearby though. In response to demand for locally produced malt for brewing, WSU researchers like Brook Brouwer, another WSU Graduate Research Assistant, are working to select and breed barley varieties suitable for production and processing in Western Washington. At the Research Center, and in on-farm trials, a total of 38 spring malting barley varieties have been planted in conventional, reduced input and organic conditions. Winter varieties will also be planted and tested this year, and traditional breeding techniques will be used to improve disease resistance, as well as agronomic and malting qualities. Measures will be taken to determine how growing conditions and barley variety inuence barley quality, which affects the malting process. The potential of highlighting unique quality proles within our region through custom malt production will also be explored.

Research Focuses Locally

According to Karen Hills, Graduate Research Assistant, WSU Northwest Washington Research and Extension Center (Mt. Vernon), researchers are working with local growers to test and breed wheats from a variety of market classes to nd the ones most adapted to our region. Farmers are primarily growing a variety from the 1980s, which is the last time that agricultural researchers really paid attention to wheat in this area. There are better varieties available now that are adapted to Western Washington. Hills said, This year were includthe WSU Northwest Research and ing even more grains in variety trials, Extension Center in Mt. Vernon. including over 8,000 small plot trials of varieties of wheat, barley, oats and triticale (a rye/wheat hybrid). And, WSU is in the process of setting up a quality testing laboratory for craft bakers that will continue to increase communication between growers and bakers. Washington State University researchers expect that the markets discovered so far represent only the tip of the iceberg in a region that is trending solidly toward increased purchases of local and organic grains. The organization of Washingtons rst-ever Kneading Conference last fall in Mt. Vernon, sponsored by the regions leading artisanal bakeries, was more evidence of the growing interest in re-establishing the local grain economy (see http://kneadingconferencewest.com/ for the September 13-15, 2012 conference).
Traditional wheat breeding trials at

WSU Snohomish County Extension Small Grain Field Days event brought growers and marketers alike to on-farm trials in Snohomish. (Photo by R. Hills)

The goals of this research are to improve our understanding of locally grown and processed malting barley, and to develop new market opportunities for regional farmers. This will help diversify farm operations in Western Washington. Interest among farmers is widespread and the seed for malting varieties has been distributed directly, and in collaboration with a local malting company, to farms from Whatcom to Pierce counties. See the box at lower left for news of a Small Grains Field Day in Mount Vernon on June 28.

Small Grains Field Day

Spring triticale almost ready for harvest in Stanwood.

Learn more about small grain varieties, their performance, and market opportunities at:

2012 Small Grains Field Day Thursday, June 28, 3 - 6 PM at the Washington State University - Northwest Washington Research and Extension Center, Mount Vernon
Farmers, millers, bakers, maltsters, distillers, and brewers are all welcome to join researchers, tour the research elds and discuss the production of small grains such as wheat, triticale, oats, rye and barley in Western Washington for food, feed, and malt. This is a free event, no pre-registration is required. For more information, visit: http://mtvernon.wsu.edu/Events/2012-SG-Field-Day-Flyer.pdf. SCD 2
www.NRYC.org 360-754-3588, Ext. 114 info@NRYC.org

New Jewel in Snohomish

by Kailyn Wentz, Education and Social Media Specialist

Interested in getting acquainted with your neighbors, but dont want to go through the trouble of making endless jello salads? Larry and Kalleen Ormand have an alternative solution -- install a rain garden. After this pair of do-ityourselfers installed a rain garden in their front yard, they noticed an increase in the number of butteries, hummingbirds, and neighbors hovering around it. While the butteries dont ask too many questions, their neighbors are genuinely interested. Some people already know what a rain garden is, while others the Ormonds are happy to educate. Larry said, There has been a lot of interest in it and its a nice ice breaker for talking to our neighbors. Recently I was the one hovering around their new rain garden, and was able to ask them about the process, favorite moments, and lessons learned. Q: How/where did you rst learn about rain gardens? A: We rst learned about rain gardens during a workshop series at the Snohomish Sno-Isle library. While we left the workshop with a rain garden poster and new knowledge, the main draw was the chance to meet Ciscoe Morris. Rain gardens were not a part of our landscaping plans until we contacted the City of Snohomish for help with drainage issues on our property. Our driveway would ood when runoff from the street poured in, which caused our small drain to back up. The city eventually referred us to the Snohomish Conservation District, where it was suggested that a rain garden might be a good solution. Q: What was your favorite part about the project? A: Kalleen I was just so excited to start the project, and to go plant shopping! It was like waiting for Christmas and Larry had a lot of fun with the joystick (driving the track hoe). Larry I did enjoy driving the track hoe around, but I also really enjoyed knowing that the runoff would be going into the rain garden once it was done, that was really my favorite part. Q: Tell us about the construction process, was it what you expected? A: We decided to do the construction ourselves rather than hire out the work since we were able to do it, but we were probably slower than a contractor would have been. Looking back, we might have been too excited to start and didnt plan things out enough before digging in. Q: How did you go about choosing your plants? A: We used the plants from the rain garden poster as a guide and picked plants that would offer year round color in a variety of textures. When we couldnt nd the listed plant, we used hybrids and other substitutions. We wanted more than just ornamentals so we incorporated useful plants, like broccoli and cauliower, on the upper edges of the garden. We also divided and relocated some plants from the yard to save money. Q: Was there anything you were concerned about going into the project or in trying to decide to move forward? A: Kalleen It was hard to change our mindset from the landscape plan we had done several years back, which did not include a rain garden. However now that the rain garden is installed I realized that you just need to be exible and embrace the change because it will all come together to work out. Q: If you could offer one piece of advice to others, what would it be? A: Planning ahead of time (before starting the project) will really help reduce the stress of the project. Things we wished wed have known or considered: Having a bin available for hauling excavated soil, and making sure it can be picked up and dumped on weekends Consider business hours (for rock, soil, plants), some close early on Sundays Consider space (for storing materials) and access issues Q: Overall, would you recommend the process to others? A: Yes, to other do-it-yourselfers (but you have to be exible), or hire it out.

Avid do-it-yourselfers, Larry and Kalleen Ormond enjoyed working on their rain garden project. They not only got their hands dirty, they were able to talk to neighbors and ll them in on the project as it progressed.

Shown above is the nearly completed garden. Time for Kalleens favorite part, selecting the plants.

Unique Features of the Ormands Rain Garden

Edible plants (broccoli, cauliower and, soon tomatoes) line the outer edges, away from storm water drainage Rocks gathered from the excavated depression were used as part of the inlet pad

The nished rain garden, above, features rescued rocks, garden art, stepping stones and a bird bath. Hard to believe its a functional stormwater facility too! Kalleen and Larry Ormond, right, are the innovative landowners behind this rain garden project in Snohomish. Below, the bird bath is an attractive addition and will encourage birds to linger in the garden.

The Ormond rain garden was partially funded by the Conservation Districts Low Impact Development (LID) Pilot Program which offers partial funding as an incentive to get qualied projects installed. It was rst offered to landowners we had created rain garden plans for. Those plans also included permeable paving and rain water collection systems. We hope to be able to offer these incentives to more landowners in the future as well. Whether you have drainage problems on your property, are interested in changing your landscape and reducing your lawn area, or want to become better acquainted with your neighbors, it might be time to see how a rain garden could benet your life. To learn more, contact Stacy Aleksich, Low Impact Development Specialist at stacy@snohomishcd.org or Derek Hann, Design Engineer, at derek@snohomishcd.org. Both can be reached at 425-335-5634, ext 112.

SCD 3

Jane Myers - Horse Woman Extraordinaire

by Lois Ruskell, Information & Education Coordinator We lucked out twice. In April, Snohomish Conservation District learned of an opportunity to have Australian equine expert Jane Myers lecture and visit with horse owners from our area. We had never heard of Jane Myers, but she came highly recommended by Alayne Blickle, Executive Director of Horses for Clean Water. Horses are said to have ve sets of teeth (four hooves and a mouth), because a horses four hooves can damage pasture as much as their mouths. Even so, horses are currently being used, along with cattle, for a wetland (aka fen) restoration project in Norfork, England. Wicken Fen uses Konik ponies and Highland cattle to improve diversity of plants and return the fen to pre humansettlement conditions, when wild horses roamed the land. The animals graze on the lush, green grass and receive no veterinary care, other than condition checks and in the case of injury or illness. (See box at bottom of page 5, or visit the Equiculture website http://www.equiculture.com.au/konikponies.html.).

Managing Horses on Pasture

Horses that are on pasture have better circulation and better hoof quality, due to more movement. They breathe clean air and follow a natural pattern of eating, browsing, and foraging. The Myers advocate the following grazing systems: Rotational Grazing increases biodiversity and decreases parasitic worms. This should be the main grazing system used because this is what pasture plants need to ourish. Limited Grazing using surfaced areas (or winter connement areas) to limit grazing pressure. This should be used along with rotational grazing to control grazing pressure. Cross Grazing using more than one species of animal (e.g. sheep or goats with horses) for the parasitic worm benets and more even grazing benets. Strip Grazing using electric fencing to further reduce pasture size and increase the benets of rotational grazing. Most horse owners know that the best time to graze is when grass is between two and eight inches tall. There is more ber and water in the grass, and horses will not damage their teeth grazing too-short grass. Grass that is less than two inches tall is relatively high in sugar (per mouthful), something that contributes to overweight horses. Knowing when to allow horses into a paddock or pasture is key to having healthy grazing horses, healthy pastures and no bare dirt or excessive weeds.

Speaker Jane Myers and her husband Stuart.

We checked Janes website (www.equiculture.com.au), her bio, the books shes authored, and reviewed her training and teaching experience. We liked what we saw, so we made the leap and invited Jane to Snohomish County, then got busy arranging events. Wow, did she ever deliver! She exceeded our expectations with her in-depth knowledge and experience, especially on grazing behavior, the benets of native grasses and horse health. We gasped when we found out Jane was sick in bed early in the week she was to visit, but got lucky a second time. Jane was a trooper and stuck it out with lots of throat lozenges! She managed an all-day tour and two lectures before heading north to Canada. We not only enjoyed getting to meet Jane, but also her husband Stuart, who spent three hours visiting with staff while his wife recuperated at their Bed and Breakfast in Mukilteo. Jane and Stuart are touring the U.S. on a Winston Churchill Fellowship, which funds her travels in North America to observe our equine practices and share information when possible.

The Myers Mission

Jane and Stuart tour Australia and, more recently, the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe, extensively teaching horse owners about managing horses on both large and small properties. Jane has an MSc (Masters Degree) in Equine Studies from the University of Wales in the UK. She conducted research at the Royal Edinburgh Veterinary School for her thesis (on the grazing behavior of horses) and taught riding and horse management for more than 25 years, including seven years at Glenormiston College in Melbourne, Australia. Horses are a big industry in Australia, which is the second largest producer of Thoroughbreds in the world, second only to the United States. The US has a human population of 314 million, while Australias is only 23 million, so the relative percentage of horse owners in Australia is high. In addition, 85 percent of the population in Australia lives within 60 miles of the coast and these areas are just as built-up and congested as many areas in the US, according to Jane. Australia typically will have several years of severe drought, followed by several years of heavy rains. That can make managing livestock, and pastures, especially difcult. An organization called Landcare hosts many of the Myers programs for horse owners to prevent harming the environment. The initial funding usually comes from the large water catchment organizations, such as Melbourne Water and SEQ Catchments, because these groups have a vested interest in keeping waterways clean. Landcare is a unique Australian partnership between the community, government and business, consisting of approximately 4,000 Landcare and 2,000 Coastcare (volunteer) groups.

This diagram shows one main area (above right, near the house) where horses receive water (yellow) and feed (blue), with a corridor back to their pastures.

Central Point System

The Myers developed a central point system of grazing that they call The Equicentral System. It vastly reduces the grazing pressure on grass, without stressing horses, Jane said. This system allows horses to come to you freely from pastures. Horses come to a central point (an arena/yard/sacrice area), near the house (or wherever they interact with humans). They can get water, hay, and treats at this place, which is armored, and then head back to their pastures for their next bout of grazing. Hay is fed here rather than in the pastures, which results in less manure in the pastures and no horses standing at gates (see diagram above). The Equicentral System helps prevent unnatural behaviors. These behaviors include: fence walking (which creates bare, compacted soil along fences), playing over fences with another horse (damaging fences, causing injuries, and impacting grass along fences), and hanging around behavior (where they hang around at the spot closest to, and in sight of, humans). Hanging around behavior creates wear and tear patterns on pasture, and is the result of being fed supplements and high energy feeds. Jane explained, Look at a Google map of your property to see the wear and tear patterns your animals are creating. It becomes very evident that horses will hang out where they can see humans, homes, and other animals. Again, these are social animals that come to learn where their treats and/or feed are coming from. They will literally show up in time, and at the best vantage point, to see their humans come home from work.

Wild vs. Domestic Horses

What I found fascinating about Janes approach to horse management was her comparison of domestic horses to wild horses. According to Jane, domestic horses often receive too little exercise, and too much high energy feed, rather than lots of low energy, high ber feed, like native grasses. Wild horses also have to wander around nding their food and water; its never brought to them. Jane said, Feed is either everywhere or nowhere. There are a few things to remember about horses, and about grass, according to Jane. Pasture grasses need grazing animals like grazing animals need pasture grass. Horses are a monogastic (single stomach) herbivore. They naturally eat low energy food over a large range. They are also highly social animals. In a day, horses typically graze for 12 15 hours (chewing for that many hours). They can and will increase their grazing time to 20 hours if necessary. They also loaf for two six hours, and sleep for two six hours. A horses teeth and jaw muscles are physiologically designed for that amount of chewing. Grazing is linked to walking, and takes place in segments of about three hours. Horses didnt evolve to stay in one place, explained Jane.

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Horse Woman - continued

Land that is not properly managed causes problems for horses, humans and the environment. There is typically a high level of parasitic worms and an increased risk of poisoning from noxious weeds. Boredom and lack of good quality grass lead to injuries from fences and soil damage. Horses playing over fences, or pushing through fences, indicates theyre bored and need to be moved. When horses pace fences, or hang out at gates, they create bare soil. Bare soil becomes compacted due to the animals weight and lack of organic matter. Bare, compacted soil repels, rather than absorbs, water. Rainfall is wasted, and can damage the surrounding area. Keep in mind that some land is just too wet for horses. Bare, compacted soil equals dust and mud, both of which can cause health problems. Mud is habitat for mosquitoes and creates an unsafe environment for horses and humans. Mud also provides ideal conditions for some parasitic organisms, which can cause illness. With the Equicentral System, horses come to a central armored area, which means less work for you and more movement for The left graphic shows wear and tear by animals (gray shading). The graphic at right shows how to them. In an emergency, you can call them to the yard with less divide pastures, protect slopes and have one armored watering/feeding facility close to a house or yard. danger to you and your family members. In Australia, people are sometimes badly injured or even killed during disasters such as between the pasture that is currently in use (as part of your rotational bushres or oods, when they have tried to bring their animals to the safety of grazing system) and the surfaced yard/arena area. When grazing needs their house. With this system, the animals can bring themselves to a safer spot. to be limited (either for the land or horses), horses can be conned for part of each day in the surfaced area with hay. If possible, use cross Key Points of Equicentral Management grazing and strip grazing for even more pasture management benets. Jane and Stuart usually spend an entire day, or longer, teaching horse manageThis will produce more grass, reduce bare spots, and prevent your ment so our class attendees received the condensed version, which includes: horses from eating weeds in pastures with no grass. 1. Build a yard/arena/sacrice area near your house, within sight of your horses. Use a really good foundation, starting with large rocks. Compact and wet between layers, and end with sand (if you plan to ride on it, otherwise any surface that is also suitable for a dry lot is ne). If horses arent eating on the sand, they should not get sand colic. A feeding area using rubber mats can be constructed at one end so that hay can be fed without ingesting sand. This is their loang area, and can double as an arena. Most folks spend too much on an arena that they use only a few hours a week, says Jane. For many years, Jane trained riders in a 20 x 20 yard. (Note: Conservation District farm planners and engineers typically recommend the use of geotextile fabric between the soil and the footing material.) 2. Use rotational grazing and this surfaced area (see bullet above) for limiting grazing. For example, when conditions allow, horses can come and go 3. Have one watering point with a roof in the yard/arena/sacrice area. 4. Make the horses come to the water, hay and treats. You wont have to go out and lead the horses back. This is especially crucial in an emergency (ood, re, storms). They will be trained to come when you call. 5. Make them walk in between periods of grazing. They need the exercise and it prevents boredom. Jane explained that its all about balance. The three factors of humans (economy, ease of chores), equine (behavior, health, welfare) and environment (soil health, vegetation, biodiversity, clean water) need to be more balanced. Modern systems (due to their historical origins) typically emphasize human factors but to be sustainable, all three factors need to be involved to create a healthy balance.

The Konik Ponies of Wicken Fen

Jane and Stuart Myers, in their recent lectures on horse management, mentioned their visit to Wicken Fen, an extensive wetland nature reserve near the village of Wicken in Cambridgeshire, England. Wicken Fen Reserve is one of Britains oldest nature reserves, and the rst one acquired by the National Trust in 1899. For more than 100 years, this reserve has been studied, managed and enjoyed by the public. The reserve includes wetlands, farmland, marshes, and reed beds. To this day, sedges are still harvested by hand for thatched roofs. Indeed, it has to be harvested to allow other vegetation to thrive. Another way that the reserve manages the diversity of plant species is with large, foraging herbivores, namely Konik ponies. Koniks are an unusual breed of small horse or pony, originally from Poland. Koniks have proven to be ideally adapted to year-round grazing on grassland and wetland habitats. Several conservation organizations in Britain and Europe have also employed them to help manage natural areas. The ultimate goal at all these natural areas is for the soil and water conditions to determine the plant habitats, which is the way it works in Nature. Konik ponies beautifully mimic the type of grazing by wild horses that occurred before human settlement in the Fen area (when wild horses were eradicated). Wicken Fen Reserve has also added Highland cattle to the grazing mix. The Highland herd, brought in from an organic farm on the The Konik ponies of Wicken Fen exhibit normal horse behavior and have thrived with minimum Isle of Mull, started with one bull and six cows in 2005. There are care at Wicken Fen Reserve in England. now more than 25 of these hardy, old breed of cattle. Together with Snohomish Conservation District planners can help you determine Konik ponies, Highland cattle form part of the extensive, year-round how best to manage grazing animals on your property. Planners can grazing management plan for Wicken Fen. These special cattle and also help with the set-up of your property for livestock. ponies add variety to the habitats and are a sustainable management tool for recovering the unique, dynamic landscape of the Fen. Wicken Fen is one of only four wild fens which still survive in the To contact a District farm planner, engineer, or other staff, go to: enormous Great Fen Basin area of East Anglia, where 99.9 percent http://snohomishcd.org/SCD%20Staff%20contacts of the former fens have now been replaced by arable cultivation. _areas%20of%20expertise_Final.pdf

SCD 5

Summer is Time to Become Firewise

by Leif Fixen, Resource Planner

Earn Income From Your Streamside Land

Do you live on a creek, stream or wetland and want to earn income for planting buffers along the waters edge? Then the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program may be a perfect t for you! CREP, as it is called, pays for 100 percent of the eligible costs to install and maintain a new tree/shrub buffer, or enhance an existing one, annually over a 10 or 15-year period. Planting widths can range from 35 to 180 feet from the edge of the water, based on site conditions and landowner input. Eligible landowners must have pastureland or cropland along streams or wetlands where salmon or steel head live. Annual payments for these plant buffers range between $146 and $445 per acre per year. The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program is a partnership between the USDA Farm Service Agency, the Washington Conservation Commission, and the Snohomish Conservation District. For a FREE property visit to determine your eligibility and to help you get started, contact Ryan Williams or Kristin Marshall at 425-335-5634 ext. 116 or habitat@snohomishcd.org.

As the mercury rises and summer starts to become a reality, NOW is the time to start preparing your property for the wildre season. During the summer, our lush green landscapes can dry out and become perfect kindling just waiting for a spark. And with everyone out barbecuing, having beach and bon res and in general, moving out and about more, there is plenty of opportunity for a re to happen and quickly get out of control.

Tips to Keep Wild Fires at Bay

Here are the recommended actions to help protect your property before and during a wildre this summer: 1. Prune back vegetation and trees alongside your house Why: This removes any ammable paths or fuel ladders to your house 2. Clean all gutters and roofs Why: Hot airborne embers like to gather and smolder in gutters and roof corners, building into small res if any ammable material is there 3. Keep lawns and vegetation irrigated, healthy, and green Why: Green vegetation is less ammable than dead or dry vegetation 4. Remove ammable items within 30 feet of your house (leaves, dead branches, rewood piles, debris, lawn mowers, fuel cans) Why: Removing these fuels reduces the possibility of a ying ember becoming a re 5. Make sure your address number and local street signs are in place and visible Why: This helps emergency personnel nd your house quickly 6. Have hoses, shovels, rakes, and water pumps located in one place and ready to use to put out any unplanned res Why: This saves you precious time as you know where everything is 7. Update and review your Emergency Plan with household members Why: The best thing you can have in an emergency is a plan - - know who is doing what, how to communicate with each other, and when to evacuate if the time comes For a FREE property and re hazard evaluation, call Kristin Marshall at 425335-5634 ext. 116 or Leif Fixen at ext. 110. Find more information about being Firewise at: http://snohomishcd.org/rewise.

The streamside buffer shown on the left is now nine years old.

Mukilteo Librarys Garden Goes Native!

by Ryan Williams, Habitat Restoration Specialist

Do you ever wonder what a native plant garden would look like in your yard? One way you can nd out is by going to the Mukilteo Library to check out the Native Plant Demonstration Garden recently planted there. This 150-foot long by 12-foot wide garden was created by the Mukilteo Wildlife Habitat Group (led by Janet Carroll), Snohomish Conservation District (led by Ryan Williams) and the Friends of the Mukilteo Library. The goal of the garden is to show people how easy and beautiful it is to incorporate native plants into their landscape. We have so many great native plants to choose from that are easy to grow, Carroll said. Plus native plants are important sources of food for all kinds of wildlife, from bees and butteries to birds and mammals. The project began with a planting design by Donna Gleisner, from Natural by Dezign, and sign illustrations by Sandy Welch, from S. Welch Designs. Next came the hardest part the prep work. Because the soil was so compacted and devoid of nutrients, it needed to be rototilled and enriched with compost so plants would grow well.

The plants were donated by Storm Lake Growers in Monroe, with the remainder provided through the Conservation District plant sale. Volunteers then covered the entire After planting - ready for birds, bees, and other pollinators! garden with a thick, three to four inch layer of bark mulch to keep moisture in and weeds out. Members of the Mukilteo Wildlife Habitat group nished by installing interpretive signs, wood edging and a birdbath in the garden. Birdhouses -- built by kids from a local Boy Scout Troop and Harbour Pointe Middle School -- were installed throughout the Library grounds to encourage songbirds, ickers and Douglas squirrels to nest. Most of the funds for design, signs and materials came from a generous donation from the Friends of the Mukilteo Library. To view the garden, go to the Mukilteo Library and walk down the trail towards Big Gulch (on the left as you face the library). The garden is along the western/left side of the Library building. If you are interested in free native plant and wildlife habitat advice from the Conservation District, contact the Habitat Team at 425-335-5634 x 116 or email habitat@snohomishcd.org. Visit the District website as well: www.snohomishcd.org. For more information on the Mukilteo Wildlife Habitat Group, backyard habitats and the Backyard Wildlife Habitat certication program go to www.mukilteowildlife.org. For more information on native plants, check out the Washington Native Plant Society website at http://wnps.org/. For living with and attracting native wildlife go to http://wdfw.wa.gov/living/.

Before volunteers could begin planting, lots of preparation to improve the soil had to happen.

Cedar Grove Compost donated and delivered 15 yards of compost and Home Depot donated the use of a rototiller. It took 25 volunteers four hours to rototill the soil and shovel a three-inch layer of compost on the garden to then get tilled in. After that, the ground was ready for planting. On an overcast Saturday in March, 30 volunteers planted about 400 native shrubs, owering plants, ferns and groundcovers, plus a few trees.

SCD 6

Buttery Bush - Not the Innocent Plant You Think

By WSU Extension scientists, reprinted wtih permission.

Quick to mature, a buttery bush can begin producing seed during its rst year. Adapted to survive along streambanks where sediment deposition is a common disturbance, buttery bush can also develop adventitious roots on branches that have been buried or broken off. Although deliberately planted in yards and gardens as an ornamental plant, buttery bush can colonize both disturbed and natural areas, including roadsides, abandoned railroad tracks, pastures, riverbanks, and recently logged or burned forests. It is particularly problematic along riverbanks and gravel bars where it forms dense thickets that crowd out native vegetation and disrupts natural succession patterns. It may also alter soil nutrient concentrations of phosphorus and nitrogen, at least in the short term. Studies in New Zealand indicate that initial densities of buttery bush seedlings in streambeds can be quite high several million seedlings per hectare in one example. The population thins itself in about 10 years to about 2,500 adult plants per hectare. Once established, this shrub is difcult to eradicate from an area. The seeds, so easily dispersed, can remain in a seedbank for three to ve years. Buttery bush can re sprout from the rootstock after it has been cut down to its base, and the cut stems can grow into new plants if not disposed of properly.

Maybe youve seen them along area rivers, in urban gardens, or on coastal beaches. Buttery bush (Buddleja davidii Franch) was once prized for its colorful owers and fragrance. People planted it in hopes of inviting butteries and pollinators to their gardens which, given the loss of natural habitat for pollinators, is admirable. However, some species of buttery bush should not be added to your landscape. They are crowding out benecial native plants and can become problematic along roadsides, river banks, pastures and railroads. Read on for more information from Washington State University Extension scientists.

Control Options
If you have buttery bush on your property and are reluctant to remove it, you should take measures to prevent the invasive plant from establishing elsewhere. Cut off ower heads before they develop fruits; if the owers have already dried on the shrub, bag the ower heads from the top down to prevent the winged seeds from escaping. Carefully dispose of cut branches by bagging and putting them in the trash since they can sprout roots. Buttery bush seedlings can be handpicked, and adult shrubs can be dug up. However, the plant thrives in recently disturbed areas, so be aware of new seedlings that begin to emerge. You may want to plant a ground cover that will compete with the seedlings. Herbicidal treatment has proven effective. It is best to cut the stems off at the base, dispose of them properly, and apply the appropriate herbicide, such as glyphosate, to the cut stump. Please refer to the Pacic Northwest Weed Management Handbook (MISC0049) for more specic instructions, or contact your County Noxious Weed Coordinator.

Introduction
Native to China, buttery bush has been introduced to many parts of the world as a garden ornamental. Its fragrant, showy ower heads come in a variety of colors and are known to attract butteries. Buttery bush was added to the Washington State Class C Noxious Weed List in 2005. This shrub is also listed as a Class B Noxious Weed and Quarantine Plant in Oregon. It is considered one of the top twenty invasive plants in Britain, and is highly problematic in New Zealand and Australia. In the United States, buttery bush has naturalized in California, Oregon, and Washington in the west, and in the mid-Atlantic and Great Lakes states in the east. In Washington State, buttery bush has spread into natural areas in at least Clallam, Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, King, Thurston, Lewis, Cowlitz, Skamania, and Clark Counties.

According to the Washington Invasive Species Coalition, there are many noninvasive, showy, buttery-attracting alternatives to buttery bush in the Pacic Northwest, such as California lilac, redGreen shades indicate the presence of buttery bush in North America. owering currant, Chilean potato vine, Identication chaste tree, orange-ball buttery bush, A member of the buttery bush family, Buddlejaceae, this invasive plant is weyeriana hybrid buttery bush, or fallowiana buttery bush. a deciduous shrub with showy ower spikes and arching branches that can reach a height of 15 feet. Although young stems are green, mature stems deNote on Pesticide Use velop scraggly, peeling, gray-brown bark. The leaves are lance- or egg-shaped Use pesticides with care. Apply them only to plants, animals, or sites listed on and oppositely arranged, usually between four and ten inches long and one the label. When mixing and applying pesticides, follow all label precautions to to three inches wide. The leaf edges are either nely or coarsely toothed. The protect yourself and others around you. It is a violation of the law to disregard upper leaf surfaces are deep green or blue-gray, while the undersides appear label directions. whitish due to a dense covering of short, fuzzy hair. Leaf stalks are short and hairy, with leaves sometimes attached directly to the stem (sessile). If pesticides are spilled on skin or clothing, remove clothing and wash skin thoroughly. Store pesticides in their original containers and keep them out of The four-parted, bell-shaped owers occur in dense clusters in ower heads at the reach of children, pets, and livestock. the tips of branches. They are typically purple with orange centers, giving the shrub the common name orange-eye. However, cultivars have been develLearn more at the metro King County website: oped with a range of ower colors, including red, pink, magenta, blue, orhttp://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/animalsAndPlants/noxious-weeds/ ange, yellow, and white. The ower heads are either erect or nodding, reachweed-identication/buttery-bush.aspx?print=1 ing a length between four to ten inches. The fragrant owers bloom between mid-summer and the rst frost in Washington State. Fruits are valved capsules Reprinted with permission from WSU Extension, Clark County. that split in two to release winged seeds. Written by: Joseph Yenish, Integrated Weed Management Specialist, Washington State Biology and Ecology University Buttery bush reproduces by producing copious amounts of extremely lightAlison Halpern, Education Specialist, Washington State Noxious Weed weight, winged seeds that are easily dispersed to distant areas by wind and Control Board water. A study at Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania determined that in one Timothy Miller, Weed Scientist, WSU Mount Vernon Northwestern buttery bush cultivar, a single ower head produced an estimated 40,000 Washington Research & Extension Center seeds. Moreover, the germination rate of several cultivars was greater than 80 percent, with one cultivar producing 92 percent viable seeds.

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Upcoming Events
Forestry Events for Woodland Owners
Summer Twilight Forest Tours
Various dates and sites WSU Extension is hosting summer evening Twilight Tours of local, family-owned forests around the region. Tours will be hosted in several locations in mid-July, including Mount Vernon and Camano Island. These free out-in-the-woods events are a chance to share ideas, see what others are doing, and look at real examples of challenges and solutions. Each tour concludes with a potluck dessert. RSVP required. For tour details or to RSVP, please call 425-357-6017 or visit http://snohomish.wsu.edu/forestry/twilight2012.htm.

Two Restorationists Join District Staff

Cindy Flint
Cindy joins the District as a Habitat Restoration Specialist. She will work with landowners countywide (including Camano Island) to restore sh and wildlife habitat on their land, protect against water pollution, and provide technical assistance to landowners living along streams, rivers, and wetlands. Cindy has a Masters Degree in Forest Ecology and Soils from the University of Washington and a Bachelors Degree in Environmental Science from Willamette University (OR). She brings ten years of experience managing restoration and research projects in the Pacic Northwest. Most recently, she worked as a Watershed Steward for Snohomish County Public Works for four years, providing technical assistance to landowners on native plantings, forest health, managing beaver, controlling weeds, ooding, erosion, as well as regulations and permits. Prior to that, Cindy did restoration work for SOLV in Hillsboro, OR, and Mid-Sound Fisheries Enhancement in Seattle.

Forestry and Wildlife Workshop - Carnation

Saturday, September 15 9 AM to 3 PM WSU Extension is offering an in-depth workshop on forestry and wildlife featuring WA Department of Natural Resources Forest Stewardship Wildlife Biologist Jim Bottorff. Topics covered will include understanding forest wildlife habitat, protecting and enhancing habitat during forest management activities, providing supplemental habitat (e.g. nest boxes), and controlling wildlife damage to trees. Pre-registration is required. Space is limited and the early registration discount ends August 25. For details or to register, please call 425-357-6017 or visit http://snohomish.wsu.edu/ forestry/wildlife12.htm.

Kristin Marshall
As one of the Districts three Habitat Restoration Specialists, Kristin will work with private landowners in Snohomish County and on Camano Island to help restore streamside habitats. Shell assist Ryan Williams with the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, working closely with landowners to repair eroded and degraded streambanks and design and manage on-the-ground projects. Kristin holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in Ecology from the University of Colorado-Boulder. A Colorado native, Kristin moved to the Pacic Northwest in 2005. Shortly after arriving, Kristin joined Sound Salmon Solutions where she often partnered with Snohomish Conservation District staff to restore stream habitat and improve water quality. She lives in North Everett with her family and spends much of her free time hiking and renovating her home.

Forest Health Workshop - Everett

Saturday, October 6 9 AM to 3 PM Forest health is a top concern among area forest owners. In this workshop, forest health experts from the WA Department of Natural Resources will address forest health concepts and issues, Western Washington forest insects, Western Washington forest diseases, and abiotic impacts (e.g. drought, pollution, storm damage). Pre-registration is required. Space is limited and the early registration discount ends September 15. For details or to register, please call 425-357-6017 or visit http://snohomish.wsu.edu/ forestry/foresthealth12.htm.

Wind Damage Workshop - Preston

Tuesday, November 6 6:30 to 9:30 PM Fall wind storms can wreak havoc on area forests. WSU Extension is offering a workshop this fall on how to properly care for your trees and your forest before a windstorm (prevention) and after (clean-up). Topics will include forest management strategies for wind-rm trees, forest health issues around wind, appropriate and inappropriate practices to prevent wind damage to a tree, and dealing with a wind-damaged tree. Speakers include specialists from WSU Extension and the WA Department of Natural Resources Forest Health and Urban Forestry sections. Pre-registration is required. Space is limited and the early registration discount ends October 15. For details or to register, please call 425-357-6017 or visit http://snohomish.wsu.edu/forestry/wind12.htm.

Two New Employees Join Agricultural Service Center in Lake Stevens

Manure Share List Connects the Haves and Have Nots!

In search of manure or compost for spring gardening? Have more livestock manure than you know what to do with? Snohomish Conservation District has a Manure Share program that connects manure producers with manure users. If you have extra animal wastes or compost and would like to be added to our list of producers, or youre in need of soil-enriching compost for your garden, contact Caitlin Price at 425-335-5634 x 113 or email caitlin@snohomishcd.org. While manure is a valuable resource that improves soil fertility and tilth, in large quantities it can become a liability. Large manure piles can be unsightly and may contribute to ground and surface water pollution and odors, as well as attract ies. Snohomish Conservation District provides free technical assistance to livestock owners in Snohomish County and on Camano Island to address resource concerns, including how to best manage livestock manure. If you own a manure pile (large or small), you can call the District for free, non-regulatory technical and engineering assistance. To schedule a visit on your property and receive help with farm planning or manure and pasture management, please call 425-335-5634 x 4 or go to: www.snohomishcd.org.

USDA has hired two new staff. Brent Reitmeier (left) is the new County Executive Director for the Farm Service Agency. Brent comes to us from Ellensburg and lives in Lake Stevens. Paul Gleason (right) is a Resource Conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Paul is from Olympia and now resides in Stanwood. Welcome to both Brent and Paul!

Snohomish Conservation District

Board of Supervisors Mark Craven, Chair Adam Farnham, Vice-chair Karl Hereth Steve Van Valkenburg Jeff Ellingsen Associate Members Duane Weston District Manager Monte Marti Phone 425-335-5634, ext 4 FAX 425-335-5024 Editor: Lois Ruskell 425-335-5634, ext 108 lois@snohomishcd.org Editing: Donna Gleisner The Written Edge 425-923-7110 www.snohomishcd.org

The NEXUS is published quarterly and distributed free of charge to residents of the District. Funding provided by Snohomish County Surface Water Management, Washington Department of Ecology, and the Washington State Conservation Commission.

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