The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1105696
D-2 Pike County Planter SWCD Newsletter Quarter 2, 2019 The Press-Dispatch Committed to Helping You Grow Maximize the efficiency of your farm with reliable, high-performance fuel! We're committed to delivering premium, top quality diesel fuel at a good price. FRETTE ENERGY CO., INC. 504 West Walnut Street, Washington 812-254-3671 • 800-326-1966 Your Local Delivery Man TIM FEARS 812-486-9311 F R E T T E E N E R G Y Ritterskamp joins SWCD as invasive species technician The Vanderburgh, Posey, Warrick, Gib- son and Pike County Soil and Water Dis- tricts (SWCD), in a grant partnership, are pleased to announce the hiring of our new Inva- sive Species Technician, Megan Rit- terskamp. She is a Vander- burgh county resident who gradu- ated from the University of Southern Indiana (USI). She grew up in Great Falls, MT, but has resided in War- rick or Vanderburgh counties since 1996. While at USI she studied zoology, botany, ecology, environmental geology, and environmental policies/sociology. Ritterskamp worked in healthcare for 15 years before returning to school to pursue a degree in Environmental Science. She previously worked at Seton Har vest, a Community Supported Agri- culture (CSA) unit in Vanderburgh coun- ty, growing a wide variety of vegetables for community members and charitable organizations. She has also been involved in several research studies ranging from bluebird monitoring to trace element soil contamination. As the Invasive Species Specialist, Ritterskamp will work through the Vanderburgh SWCD office but will ser ve Vanderburgh, Posey, Warrick, Gibson, and Pike counties. Her position is funded for 24 months through a Clean Water In- diana grant, provided by the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. Ritterskamp will be working with area landowners and community organizations educating the public about the threat invasive species pose to the environment. She will also continue the work of the area CISMAs (Cooperative Invasive Species Manage- ment Area) that formed in 2018. Invasive plants that have been moving into South- ern Indiana include Bush Honeysuckle, Autumn Olive, and Caller y/Bradford Pear to name a few. "I am excited to work with area land- owners, helping them identify invasive plants on their property and provide information on the best way to control those plants," says Ritterskamp. Since starting on Februar y 1st of 2019, Ritterskamp has made herself available to conduct invasive plant site visits for land- owners in the five counties. If you have an invasive plant concern on your property and would like to set up a site visit, ques- tions about invasive species or joining a CISMA in the area, then please contact Megan at 812-423-4426 ext:3 or by email at megan.ritterskamp@in.nacdnet.net. Middle Patoka 319 grant news By Julie Loehr Middle Patoka Watershed Coordinator Julia.loehr@in.nacdnet.net or 812-779-7924 The Middle Patoka River implementa- tion grant is about half way through its cost share program. Fall 2019 will be the last chance for cover crop cost share in the critical zones. As funds start to dwindle, the first-come, first-ser ved aspect of this grant becomes more crucial to assuring you receive cost-share funding for your fall 2019 cover crops. There is no penalty for signing an ap- plication early if you think you might cover crop this fall. By signing up early, you allow the watershed coordinator to confirm the acres you desire to cover crop are in the critical areas of the watershed and you get your name in the line-up. If later this fall, weather or other circumstances prevent you from planting fall cover crops, we just move down the list of waiting applications in the order of the date of signature. If you are interested in this program, you may pick up an application at the Pike County SWCD or contact the Middle Patoka Watershed coordinator to have one emailed or post mailed to you. Hoosier Riverwatch Workshop slated for May 29 A Hoosier River watch Workshop will be hosted on May 29 for 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Posey County Fairgrounds Old Dining Hall, 111 Harmony Township Rd, New Harmony. Are you concerned about water qual- ity issues, interested in educating on water quality concerns, or a drinking or wastewater professional looking for CEUs? This workshop will train you on how to perform hands-on water quality education and volunteer stream monitor- ing. Morning session is classroom-style. After the provided lunch, venture to an outdoor setting to perform water monitor- ing of chemical, physical and biological parameters. Register by May 24. Space is limited to 20 people. Eventbrite at: https://www.eventbrite. com/o/posey-county-soil-and-water-con- ser vation-district-113-817-69557. Regis- trants may also contact Carrie Parmenter, Posey County SWCD 812-838-4191 ext. 3; carrieparmenter@in.nacdnet.net or Ann Ice 812-779-8150 or annxice@gmail.com ITEMS TO BRING • Closed-toed shoes that can get wet (waders, rubber boots, water shoes or old tennis shoes are appropriate — no flip flops) • Change of clothing that can get muddy • Paper and writing utensil • Items that meet your dietar y needs, if needed. [The provided lunch will be lunch meat, cheese, bread, lettuce, toma- to, condiments, vegetable tray, fresh fruit, chips, and cookies. Water, coffee and soda available throughout the day] The County of Posey, Indiana does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, or disability. If accommodations are re- quired, please contact us. Sponsors include Posey County Soil and Water Conser vation District and River watch Trainer Ann Ice. Operators and Professional Develop- ment Hours for science/ag teachers. Invasive Plant ID Hike and Weed Wrangle at Sugar Ridge on May 1 Join the Pike-Gibson CISMA (Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area) on May 4 from 1 to 3 p.m. for an Invasive Plant ID Hike and Weed Wrangle at Sugar Ridge Fish and Wildlife Area (FWA). Learn about invasive plants commonly found at Sugar Ridge and how they are being controlled. A brief presentation will be held in the Conference Room, fol- lowed by a short hike to identify plants in the field. After the hike the Pike-Gibson CISMA will host a Weed Wrangle on the property. Stay to help remove invasive English Ivy and Periwinkle near the entrance of Sugar Ridge FWA. Sugar Ridge FWA is located at 2310 East SR 364, Winslow IN, 47598. We will gather in the conference room of the main building promptly at 1 p.m. (EDT). This event is FREE and open to the public. Please bring sturdy boots, work gloves, and your reusable water bottle. Light refreshments and a water station will be provided. For questions and to RSVP, contact Pike County Soil and Water Conser vation District at 812-354-6120 Ext 3, Gibson County Soil and Water District at 812-385-5033 Ext 3, or Megan Ritter- skamp at megan.ritterskamp@in.nacdnet.net or 812-423-4426 Ext 3. Purdue Extension Garden Lunch and Learn Series By David Ackley 4-H Youth Development/ Ag and Natural Resources Educator Pike County Extension Office is cur- rently hosting a Lunch and Learn Garden Series in April. The first session took place Monday, April 8, with the topic be- ing Improving Garden Soil, Soil Testing and Composting. The second session took place on Monday, April 15, with the topic being Annual and Perennial Flower Gardening. The third and final session will take place on April 22, with the topic being Vegetable Gardening Tips and Tricks. All of the sessions are taking place at Cakes and Coffee Café in the back meeting room. All sessions are open to the public. The Lunch and Learn Series is from Noon to 1 p.m. EDT, no RSVP is required and lunch will not be provided but is avail- able for purchase from Cakes and Coffee Café. If you were unable to attend any of the sessions, feel free to contact the Pike County Extension Office at 812-354-6838 or ackleyd@purdue.edu and the materials can be made available to you. INVASIVE TECH TALK Alternatives: Supporting wildlife in your front yard By Megan Ritterskamp SWCD Invasive Technician For me, the best part of winter is dreaming and planning for spring. I've been planning and dreaming all winter and I don't know about you, but I'm ready get out into my garden and make my landscaping a welcoming spot to enjoy. Do you want a beautiful, colorful, landscaped front porch? Do you want curb appeal that is welcoming to both your neighbors and wildlife? Do you want to want to landscape with plants adapted to Southern Indiana that are easier to care for, but you don't know what to plant? I'm here to help! Let's start with the basics. We all know invasive plants are bad, right? But do you know why? Invasive plants aren't just non-native, they cause harm. They bully native plants for resources. They displace sensitive species and limit food sources for native wildlife…on a really big scale. In the last 50 years we have lost 76 percent of our flying insect populations and 50 percent of our migrator y bird populations. This is, in part, because of the invasive plants we choose to put in our landscaping. The creatures we love to see no longer have the resources they need to sur vive. Many insects and birds are specialists, meaning they have ver y specific food and habitat needs. Most insects require a specific plant species to sur vive, like the monarch butterfly's dependence on milkweed. These native insects may seem like a pest to most people, but to birds they are food for their babies. Baby birds do not each seed. They depend on their parents to supply a diet entirely of insects before they can fledge. If we don't have native plants, we don't have native insects. If we don't have native insects, we don't have native birds. But we can do better! Last fall, a new study found that landscaping contain- ing mostly native plants (70 percent) supports birds and insect through their entire life cycle. All we need to do is change our landscaping choices from non-native to native plants and we can revive wildlife populations. The solution to insect and bird population decline is really quite simple. We can use native plants to support the native insects to feed the native birds. But aren't "native gardens" just a phrase your neighbor uses to neglect their landscaping? Do not fear! Native landscapes do not have to be filled with unruly, wild looking plants. There are many native plants that behave in landscaping, bringing the beauty you desire while providing food and shelter to wildlife. Handouts are available in the SWCD office that showcase na - tive landscape plants. Stop by today to pick up a copy or contact me at megan. ritterskamp@in.nacdnet.net to discuss alternatives. I am also available to make site visits to determine what invasives are growing and develop a plan with landowners to eradicate the problem plants. Megan Ritterskamp Invasive Native Alternative Vines Chinese Wisteria, English Ivy, or Winter Creeper American Wisteria, Crossvine or Virginia Creeper Trees Caller y/Bradford Pear or Tree of Heaven Ser vice Berr y or Red Bud Shrubs Burning Bush, Barberr y, or Bush Honeysuckle Fothergilla, Spice Bush or Button Bush Flowers Dames Rocket or Purple Loosestrife Wild Blue Phlox or Blazing Star Grasses Miscanthus (Chinese Silvergrass) or Phragmites Prairie Dropseed or Side Oats Wild Blue Phlox is a great, na- tive alternative to Dames Rocket.