Urban & Community Conservation

By NACD Southeast Region Representative Candice Abinanti Strolling along San Antonio, Texas,’ Historic Downtown River Walk,  it can be easy to overlook the infrastructure that keeps the water in the San Antonio River level. After all, San Antonio has a history with flooding. During the 73rd NACD Annual Meeting, the Association of Texas Soil and Water…… Continue reading →

Urban agriculture is a small but growing sector of the agriculture industry. Urban producers face both challenges familiar to any farmer, like accessing land and credit, as well as challenges unique to the urban setting – like soil contamination. The 2018 Farm Bill included several provisions designed to increase urban agricultural production and tackle challenges…… Continue reading →

By NACD Communications Manager Sara Kangas As spring concludes and summer finally arrives, you're likely seeing more critters around your garden hard at work. Today marks the beginning of National Pollinator Week, an annual event to raise awareness of the animals and invertebrates that make our ecosystems function. In addition to graphics on NACD's social…… Continue reading →

Caring for the canopy is a top priority of Winooski Natural Resources Conservation District (WNRCD). With 47 municipalities under its jurisdiction, WNRCD’s efforts have led to a collaboration with the Vermont Monitoring Cooperative (VMC), the University of Vermont Rubenstein School of the Environment (UVM), and the city of Winooski to support the city’s efforts to…… Continue reading →

In partnership with the city of Flint, Mich., Genesee Conservation District (GCD) is bringing urban forests back to a healthy state and educating residents in the process. “One of the best benefits that has come out of this partnership is the response from residents,” GCD senior conservation coordinator Jeffrey Johnson said. “They are excited. The…… Continue reading →

By Susie Kirschner, Inland Empire Resource Conservation District Project manager In 2017, the Inland Empire Resource Conservation District (IERCD) located in Southern California was awarded funding through the National Association of Conservation Districts' (NACD) Urban Agriculture Conservation (UAC) Initiative to develop a community supported agriculture (CSA) program. The CSA program ensures lower-income residents have access…… Continue reading →

By Jessica Buck, Montgomery County Conservation District Agricultural Conservation Specialist Montgomery County Conservation District (MCCD) in Pennsylvania recently launched their first outreach and technical assistance program to farms and gardens in urban communities through NACD’s 2017 Urban Agriculture Conservation grant program. This opportunity helped to establish long-lasting partnerships among community organizations and yielded meaningful outcomes…… Continue reading →

By Kerry Rickrode The Hillsborough County Conservation District (HCCD) serves the most populous county in New Hampshire and several refugee resettlements. Recently, HCCD launched a new initiative to provide technical assistance to these new Americans, who want to grow their own food, but aren't familiar with farming in colder climates or urban settings. [caption id="attachment_10879" align="alignright"…… Continue reading →

By Jesse Soule  Dedicated to supporting agricultural producers in any way possible, the Jefferson Conservation District (JCD) in Colorado provides technical assistance and educational resources to a variety of urban farms, ranging from cut-flower production to animal husbandry, through its urban agriculture program. [caption id="attachment_10873" align="alignright" width="606"] JCD interns are pictured here assisting a local micro-farmer. The…… Continue reading →

By Sara Kangas Each fall, the U.S. Water Alliance asks us to “Imagine a Day Without Water." Tomorrow, October 12, is that time to reflect - how much do you value water? When Americans go to brush their teeth, shower, or fill their coffee pot, they expect clean, safe water to flow from their taps.…… Continue reading →