Shoreline: Kevin Tungesvick (Spence Restoration Nursery) describes native shoreline plantings.	Utilities: Tom Ordway (Duke Energy) discusses how to work with utilities.	Seedlings: Shaena Smith (SWCD) discusses the new redbud seedling blooming in the foreground.

Homeowners Attended Backyard Conservation Workshop

Carmel, IN - Numerous Hamilton County residents attended the Backyard Conservation workshop sponsored by the Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) on April 26th. The Saturday morning event, held at Lake Forest Subdivision in Carmel , featured a tour of the neighborhood’s 5-acre arboretum, showcased a native pond edge enhancement system along the neighborhood retention pond’s shoreline, and taught participants how to work with utilities, including easements and rights-of-way.

Through the Backyard Conservation Program the Hamilton County SWCD promotes small changes in the way homeowners manage their backyards. By mulching, composting, landscaping with native plants, planting trees, or installing native pond shoreline vegetation, residents can drastically improve the quality of our environment – the air, water, soil, and wildlife habitat it provides.

The Backyard Conservation Program provides educational, technical, and financial assistance to landowners in Hamilton County . Lake Forest Subdivision (located on the north side of 116th Street just west of Hazel del Parkway) and Cool Creek Park ’s Greenhouse (located on the north side of 151st Street just east of Highway 31) are two demonstration sites that you are welcome to visit at any time. Check the SWCD’s website (www.hamiltonswcd.org) or call their office (317-773-2181 ext. 107) for further information on workshops, demonstration sites, or to schedule your personal, free, backyard consultation.
 

Submitted by: Nancy Heck