From staff reports
As spring appears and growing season begins, the Venango Conservation District is offering two programs on gardening, best management practices, and natural resource protection.
Both programs are free and open to the public.
A Backyard Conservation Workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 5 at the Conservation District, 4871 Route 322 in Franklin.
Topics to be covered include stormwater management, managing invasives, native plants for birds, backyard beekeeping, and recycling in the county, with presenters from the Conservation District, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry, the Audubon Society, the Venango County Regional Planning Commission, Venango County Recycling, and a local beekeeper.
At the end of the workshop, attendees will receive a tour of the district’s newly-installed pollinator garden, as well as a rain barrel demonstration.
A light breakfast and refreshments will be provided during registration, and door prizes will be available. People can RSVP for the event by calling (814) 676-2832.
The program will provide information to homesteaders, the farming community, agriculture enthusiasts and those interested in learning more about conservation practices in farming, on how to identify resource concerns and install best management practices to protect water quality while increasing farm production.
Attendees will hear from three local farmers and see farm operations in action, as they will board a bus to see three Venango County beef farms.
Before and after the bus trip, presenters will discuss agricultural best management practices, pasture health, grazing systems, hay production, manure and nutrient management, project funding sources, nonpoint source pollution, and agriculture safety, with speakers from the Conservation District, National Resources Conservation Service and Penn State Extension.
Breakfast and lunch will be provided; registration will open at 8:30 a.m.
Attendees are asked to RSVP to (814) 676-2832 by April 19.
More information on both programs can be found at www.venangocd.org.
