District Blogs

Blog focusing on stormwater infrastructure.

As part of Butler SWCD's ongoing efforts to promote native habitat and local seed collection, we are debuting The Little Seed Library. Similar to the book and mini food pantries popping up in neighborhoods across the nation, this box will house native wildflower and garden seeds. Inside there are dozens of different seeds available, all free for the taking. Including but not limited to, milkweed, bee balm, black eyed susan, veggie seeds, and ornamental flowers. The goal of th

Have you ever wondered who to contact if you come across a concerning environmental issue, such as a weird odor or discoloration coming from a stream? Environmental concerns can include a variety of issues from air quality to drinking water to open dumping. Butler County has the ability to handle a few of these complaints, but a majority of them can be reported to the Ohio EPA.  We will take you through possible environmental concerns you may encounter and how to report them

Guest Blogger John Kinne The Southwest Ohio Woodland Association (SWOWA) held its summer meeting at Scott Unger’s farm in Brookville, Ohio where he grows hazelnut trees: Corylus Avellana and Corylus Americana . In addition to 70-acres of soybeans, Scott has 3-acres devoted to a variety of hazelnut cultivars which he is growing with assistance from Rutgers University in New Jersey. He planted 106 Cultivar Corylus Avellana 3-years ago and this year has his first nut. Some of

Blog post about native butternut species, the disease that affects them and how you can help. Image Source - USDA ARS Public Domain Image

Article about the mating season of small animals found in the Southwest corner of Ohio

What is the Ohio CAN Program, and how can I get involved? Objective and Purpose: The Ohio CAN program aims to foster the development and growth of agricultural businesses, particularly those operated by individuals from historically underrepresented regional communities. By providing resources and support, the initiative seeks to enhance opportunities for these producers in the agricultural sector. Eligibility: The program targets individuals or groups who meet specific cri

Prescribed fire is a tool as old as time. Long before human interaction, trees, many species of native grasses, and herbaceous flowering plants adapted to be fire resistant. Some native plants require fire to thrive, releasing seeds after a wildfire flashes through an area. The Native peoples of North America utilized fire to rid areas of dead plant materials, release nutrients, and encourage re-growth of important plant species. As European settlers moved into areas, prairie

The journey of monarchs is one of the insect world’s greatest phenomena. Sometimes traveling thousands of miles to their destination, the instinct and environmental triggers that cause them to move are not fully understood by researchers. Natural Phenomena The north American monarch populations journey begins at their overwintering grounds in the mountains of Mexico. Monarchs cluster together on oyamel fir trees, nearly 2 miles above sea level; it is important for them to gat

With harvest nearing many farmers are beginning to look at cover crop seed supplies. Depending on supply and demand some folks may choose to purchase "bin run" seed to help save on cost. Rightly so, cover crops are not a cash crop and buying seed from a local supplier can often be easier to handle and may sometimes be cheaper. But there are few considerations to keep in mind, if you have an NRCS contract for cover crops they are going to need a seed tag. Seed tags contain vit