Modern gardening

On Feb. 23, the Kosciusko County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Lilly Center for Lakes and Streams partnered to host “Modern Gardening: Covers, Companions & Flips.”

This workshop introduced the benefits that cover crops, companion crops and flips can have for farmers and urban and rural gardeners.

Terri Theisen, an expert in local food systems, kicked the meeting off with an overview of companion crops, pest management, water usage and crop placement. These techniques benefit the successful growth of future crops and help prevent soil erosion, improve soil health and even increase profitability.

The 30 attendees also got to hear from Jeff and Zach Hawkins, who run J.L. Hawkins Family Farm LP located outside of North Manchester. They use the health and wholeness of soils, waters, plants, animals and people as the standard by which they farm.

Jeff gave a brief introduction to their farm and its history. Zach then covered the “How To” of cover crops, termination, tools and flipping of beds. Using cover crops, minimal tillage and animal incorporation, this farm has increased its soil health and has become “customer certified.”

Guests had the opportunity to ask questions and also received instructional books, vegetable and herb seeds and handouts to take home.

This event was an overwhelming suc-

Free seed for wildlife food plots

It is nearly that time of year again. Kosciusko County SWCD will be providing free seed for food plots.

This seed is provided to landowners who would like to plant the seed as a food source for wildlife during the fall and winter months, when most food supplies are limited.

The district will have corn, soybean, sorghum and sunflower seed again this year, with some possible seed mixes. Some limits are placed on quantities to allow more landowners the opportunity to plant this food source. Seed will be available mid-May and can be picked up at the SWCD office at 217 E. Bell Drive, Warsaw (across from ZimmerBiomet).

To be notified when food plot seed is available, please send an email to SWCD at kosciuskoswcd@gmail.com and notification will be sent when seed is ready. For general information on food plot seed, call the SWCD office at (574) 267-7445, ext. 3.

A food plot is an annual or perennial planting of grain, legumes and/or forbs. It is planted in the spring and left standing through the fall and winter for wildlife. A food plot offers wildlife a place to forage for food in late fall, winter and early spring, as food sources become scarce.

To be effective, a food plot should be at least 1,000 square feet. No more than 1/4 to 1/2 acre of food plot is usually needed for each 20 acres of land. If the food plot is expected to provide winter cover, then plots of an acre or more are necessary.

Food plots are usually planted in long strips adjacent to good winter and/or escape cover such as a brushy fence row, field border, windbreak, woodland edge or wetland. Strip width can vary, but the wider the strips, the more food and cover created for wildlife. The closer the food plot is to good dense cover, the more use it will have by wildlife. Common Food Plot Errors

• More is better. Exceeding the seeding, lime or fertilizer recommendation is a waste of both time and money.

• Not fertilizing. Most crops need applications of fertilizer to help them grow and achieve maximum productivity.

• Using old seed. Seed that is old may not have been properly stored and handled.

• Planting in shaded areas. Plants grown for agricultural purposes require sunlight for energy and growth. Avoid placing these seeds in shaded areas such as woods.

• Not planting enough acres. Food plots that are too small are ineffective.

• Planting too late for seed maturity. All crops require a certain number of days to grow and mature. If planted too late, they will not mature and will fail to provide food to wildlife.