The Cuyahoga County Farm Bureau, Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) are teaming up to assist the farming community by providing small scale solutions for urban agriculture that also help address water pollution concerns.

Cuyahoga County may not be rural, however farms, both semi-rural and urban exist. The Farm Bureau and SWCD received a small grant from the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation to educate stakeholders about resource concerns on agricultural lands. Education topics will include resource concerns, watershed concepts, storm water runoff and a demonstration of accepted practices that help reduce pollution.

The August 23 event will provide an overview of the history of the Stearn’s Homestead, watersheds and water quality issues. Participants will see a demonstration of a heavy use pad, which is a conservation practice recommended by NRCS to help control erosion created by livestock gathering repeatedly in a concentrated area. These concentrated areas become muddy and worsen over time, which is hazardous for the animals and contributes to water quality problems.

For those who are interested or are seeking volunteer opportunities, the second workshop in the series will be held on Saturday, September 10 and will focus on the benefits of trees and riparian tree planting. Volunteers will plant trees along the tributary to Big Creek that runs through the Stearn’s Homestead property in an effort to slow down rain water, filter pollutants, cool the stream and provide habitat and shelter for fish and other animals.

Events are free and open to the public!

For more information on the program, contact Anita Cook, Farm Bureau, 440-877-0706or [email protected]; Janine Rybka, Cuyahoga SWCD, 216-524-6580, ext. 13 or [email protected]; Lynette Harmon, USDA-NRCS, 216-503-9230 or [email protected].