Living in the Pacific Northwest has its perks. Picturesque views, sprawling lush forests, and stunning landscapes. However, our long and rainy winters present challenges for local farmers and livestock owners. Muddy conditions can make chores more difficult and expose livestock to animal health risks that often bring higher feed and veterinary bills. Soil erosion and manure runoff is also damaging to the environment and detrimental to water quality, fish, and aquatic life.
Farm community members joined King Conservation District (KCD) for a farm tour on a brisk, and surprisingly dry, Saturday morning, October 23rd at the Baum and Tingdale Property in Enumclaw to learn innovative and effective ways to manage manure, pastures, and muddy conditions. Richard Baum and Ramona Tingdale, the owners of this property, have several horses and worked with KCD to create a Farm Conservation Plan for their property. This plan helps them conserve natural resources on their property, while achieving their land goals and keeping their horses healthy.
Our special guest tour guide, Alayne Blickle, the director and founder of Horses for Clean Water, led the group throughout property with Richard Baum. The tour highlighted a few of the conservation practices that have been utilized, including ecology block compost bins for manure management, a mud-free winter confinement area, and pasture rotation. Jay Mirro, Senior Resource Planner for KCD, joined the tour as well and shared his advice and extensive knowledge with attendees from having written over 600 farms plans and twenty years of experience.
A big thank you to Richard and Ramona for hosting this farm tour to showcase and share their projects and experience. KCD is grateful for the opportunity to work with and help King County landowners meet their land management and conservation goals.
Sign up for KCD’s monthly newsletter to learn about future farms tours and education events. Tune into our YouTube channel as well for the recording of our most recent farm services webinar, Winter Pasture Management for Livestock.
If you would like to learn more about KCD farm conservation services, please reach out to KCD Resource Planners for technical assistance.
Rosie McGoldrick, AmeriCorps Education & Events Specialist
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