You've probably heard someone quote those mock-ominous words: "We're from the Government. We're here to help." And the response is usually, "Yeah, right!"
But the fact is there's a lot of government-funded help out there for the asking, if you know where to look and what to ask for.
Suppose you are concerned about the possible effect of drought on your land and you'd like to know how best to defend against it and reduce its impact. Or suppose your land is adjacent to a potential source of pollution and you need information on how to create a buffer strip to improve water quality or enhance wildlife conservation. Or suppose you need free information on just about anything that relates to the conservation and improvement of your piece of America.
The first place you should visit is the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), and you don't have to go further than your computer to get started. The web address is http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/ The NRCS is operated by the United States Department of Agriculture, and their mission is to work in partnership with the American people to conserve and sustain natural resources on private lands, according to a statement on their website.
At their home page, you'll find a list of "Current Features" that you can click on. If you can't find the topic you are looking for, scroll down and click on "Archived Features" which will connect you with links to a number of previously featured articles. Another useful link takes you to "Programs" where not surprisingly you'll find summaries and links to a variety of USDA programs which could provide the answer to your specific questions. Although much of the NRCS's work is focused on the needs of the farmer, non-farming landowners can also benefit from their guidance and assistance.
The NRCS works in partnership with a number of national, state and local organizations to solve problems for and with landowners. One such partnership that you might wish to investigate is the National Conservation Partnership. The NCP describes its objective as "Listening and responding to customers' local resource conservation needs; fostering economically viable environmental policies; advocating a total natural resources approach to conservation; and maintaining and advocating grass roots conservation delivery systems."
Partnerships at the local level have apparently proved successful. For example, in Santa Cruz, California, the Partnership used road stabilization practices and revegetation techniques to prevent erosion, landslides, spread of wildfire, and poor water quality. In Holly Grove, Arkansas, the Partnership developed a community plan to deal with flooding from a nearby creek.
In future columns, I'll suggest some other useful government resources for landowners. Meanwhile, you can find some direct links from our website, www.landsteward.org.
The Plant Man is here to help. Send your questions about trees, shrubs and landscaping to The Plant Man or mail to: Steve Jones, "The Plant Man", P.O. Box 686, McMinnville, TN 37111. For resources and additional information, including archived columns, visit www.landsteward.org
QUESTION: I live at a fairly high altitude and I'm getting bored with looking at the limited species of trees on my property! Any ideas on how I can add variety?
ANSWER: A good number of people who live in difficult areas have the same types of questions. Although you might be living in a colder or harsher climate you can still have variety. Plant the cold hardy trees such as the evergreens as a backdrop for your other plantings. Use plenty of deciduous shrubs that have interesting branch color or texture to make a beautiful winter landscape. Use many of the cold hardy taller ornamental grasses and shrubs that have berries that persist throughout the winter months. In the summer there are a multitude of Annuals and perennials that can be used to provide seasonal color. So, even when you live in a harsh climate, by using texture and little splashes of color you can have a very interesting and eye appealing landscape. To contact Steve Jones with your comments and questions, send e-mail to steve@landsteward.org
