Water availability has been a major factor in the development of civilization from the beginning of humanity. We use water for innumerable uses, from survival to industrial cooling. It is no surprise that without water, not only would cities and towns be unable to function, but humans also would not be able to survive without hydration.

More recently, water rights have become increasingly important. Moreso in the western United States, where water is far less abundant, but also here in Hamilton County, close to home. Since growing up in Muncie, IN, I have come to know many examples of how our population utilizes water and how loss of that water could affect us. Muncie has a reservoir on the east side of town that is owned by the water utility and is used to supplement the amount of water flowing in White River, where Muncie acquires its drinking water. There have been several studies done to try to estimate the amount of water we will need in order to support a growing population in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area. Notably, a large reservoir was proposed between Anderson and Muncie. This is in addition to the Reservoirs created on the north side of Indianapolis: Eagle Creek, Morse, and Geist.

While communities try to entice companies to the area to bolster the local economy, one factor companies look to as a benefit of any proposed development area is water availability. Hamilton County is no stranger to this. In recent years County leadership has been at the forefront of how, when, and where residents use water and how water should be conserved for the future.

If this topic is of interest to readers of this article, Hamilton County Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt will be speaking and taking questions about water availability in Hamilton County at the Hamilton County SWCD Annual Meeting at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds on February 19th. This meeting will also include a review and overview of SWCD events and achievements from 2025, as well as lunch provided and the election of an SWCD Board Member. More info on the Annual Meeting, presentations, and election can be found here.

The Nature Conservancy, in partnership with, among others, the Hamilton County SWCD has acquired grant funds from the National Water Quality Initiative in the form of a Readiness Grant. This grant is based on the upstream waters that flow into Morse Lake from the Big Cicero Creek Watershed in northern Hamilton and Southern Tipton Counties. This grant provides funds for conservation projects that directly affect Morse Lake and its water quality. These conservation projects can range from cover crop programs to vegetative buffers and many projects in between.

If this topic is of interest to readers of this article, representatives from The Nature Conservancy will be speaking and taking questions about the NWQI Readiness Grant and how to be involved at the Hamilton County SWCD Annual Meeting at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds on February 19th. This meeting will also include a review and overview of SWCD events and achievements from 2025, as well as lunch provided and the election of an SWCD Board Member. More info on the Annual Meeting, presentations, and election can be found here. 

​Back to the seeds. Here is what I saw when I cut open 12 seeds (one from each of 12 trees). Five were “spoons”, four were “forks”, and three were “knives”. So how do we interpret that, according to old folklore? Spoons indicate a snowy winter (think of it as a tiny snow shovel). Forks indicate a milder winter. Knives indicate a harsh/cold winter (think of it as cold wind, cutting like a knife). So, what can we take away from these 12 seeds?

This year we're honored to have County Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt speak at our Annual Meeting taking place Thursday February 19th, 2026 from 11am - 2pm at the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds. For more info and to RSVP, click here. 

In 2013, Mark Heirbrandt took office as Hamilton County Commissioner for District 3. Throughout his tenure, Mark has consistently demonstrated a deep-rooted commitment to making a positive difference at the local level. As a testament to his unwavering dedication and contributions during his time in office, Mark was honored with the prestigious title of "Indiana County Commissioner of the Year Award' by the Indiana County Commissioners Association in 2022, as well as the “Commissioner of the Year Award” in 2023 from the Association of Indiana Counties.

In addition to Mark’s responsibilities as Hamilton County Commissioner, he collaborates across the state with other counties and commissioners to implement best practices as a Past IACC (Indiana Association of County Commissioners) Board President.
As an active member on various leadership boards, Mark serves as an Executive Board Member for the Humane Society for Hamilton County, the Hamilton County Community Foundation, and is a member of the Big Cicero Regional Board. Mark also serves as an Executive Board Member for the Metropolitan Planning Organization and was previously on the Westfield Public Safety Merit Board for six years. Mark enjoys being actively involved in several other nonprofits and charitable organizations across the county and state.

​Mark has received several distinguished and statewide awards, including the Advocate of the Year Award from the Humane Society for Hamilton County, recognition for Exceptional Leadership and Service from the Hamilton County Leadership Academy, the White River Alliance Member of the Year Award, and an IACC Award for Outstanding Team Effort for County Commissioners in 2017 & 2023. Other awards include several from the Association of Indiana Counties: Local Government Cooperation Award 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2024, the County Achievement Award.
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Hamilton County is known for being one of the safest counties in the country and is consistently rated as one of the best places to live.
Mark has lived in Hamilton County for over 35 years with his family --- wife Gina, sons Blake, Ethan, and Evan and proud members of St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church

​Do trees and other plants get thirsty in the winter?  Well, it depends on the weather conditions, but generally, yes, especially newly planted trees. Older established trees have a more extensive root system and are more resilient to dry winters. Since we recently had a tree sale this past fall, I will concentrate on “new” trees as opposed to older established trees, however even older trees can experience winter drought issues. 

Although trees go dormant during winter months, their root systems still need adequate moisture and can suffer from lack of it. Regarding evergreen trees, which keep their needles throughout the winter, watering can be even more important, as they lose moisture through their needles faster than deciduous trees, which lose their leaves in the fall.
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So, when should you consider watering?  Well, you should water your newly planted trees regularly up until freezing temperatures. Then also about 2 times per month during the winter if there is no snow cover on the ground or little precipitation.  It is also recommended that you water on days when the temperature is at least 40 degrees (with no snow or ice around the base of the tree) and do so in the morning so the tree roots have time to absorb the moisture before temperatures potentially drop back into the freezing range at night.  If it is a windy, dry winter, this is even more critical.  Trees that have experienced winter dryness may still look normal the next spring, but the damage may become apparent later in the summer with dieback of branches.

​Mulching with a good organic material will also help your new trees conserve moisture going into the winter, and weather the hard freezes better too.  However, keep in mind that mulch should not be piled up around the base of the tree like a small volcano, but more like a flat doughnut shape, leaving a “hole” (or space) around the base of the tree.  Stacking mulch up against the bark of the tree, which is meant to be above ground, can encourage disease and pest problems which can more easily enter the bark than the root system.

You may find it suitable to carry water to your trees, but a hose may be easier if you have access to it.  Laying a soaker hose around the base of the tree is also an option, but whatever hose you do use, remember to drain it and put it away, as frozen hoses are a pain to deal with.

So far this winter we have seemed to have quite a bit of moisture, so watering may not be a need in your location yet, but that could change quickly.  One method you could use to check soil moisture is to dig a small hole down at least 2 inches within the “dripline” (diameter of the crown spread) of the tree and feel the soil.  If is feels damp, the tree should be fine, but if it feels dry, then watering might be needed.
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I know gray wintery days might not seem like the time to water, but if it is a dry ground, windy type of winter, it could be very important.  You invested time and money in your new trees, so be sure to take the necessary steps to protect that investment.

​Heather and Jeff Figurelli’s farm may only be 11 acres, but it’s already made a big impact in its three short years of existence. Their story started thanks to Heather’s love of gardening, pigs, and her family’s farming history.

“Our middle child, Tommy, also likes pigs,” Heather said. “We visited Oinking Acres in Brownsburg and fell madly in love with it.”

The family continued to enjoy Oinking Acres and found a sense of peace unlike any other, especially for Heather, who had recently lost her mother to brain cancer. This led to a strong desire to own a pig of their own. However, they lived in a subdivision in Fishers at the time. Heather had educated her HOA about native plants and had reached her limit with them on their property.

Eventually, the couple began to consider looking for their own piece of land, one they could gradually convert to native plantings that would also nurture small farm animals. In the spring of 2022, they searched and found a property for sale on Atlantic Road in Noblesville. Heather believes her mother’s spirit guided them to it.

“It was just barren farmland with nothing on it,” Jeff said. “We put in an offer and drew up a plan of native beds and spaces for animals.”

As their house and property began to take shape later that summer, the couple would visit the land and have a picnic with their three children, Alexis, Tommy, and Joey. Tommy, now age 9, shared that, “It was the most peaceful part of my entire life.”

They learned about the Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District and the local USDA after experiencing issues when they planted 100 saplings. Thanks to their guidance, Jeff and Heather hired a company to plant native prairie, who seeded part of their property in the fall of 2022. The prairie is on the existing county drain tile at the back of their farm. They did no-till seeding of three acres, with 13 forbs and 6 grasses.

Finally, in March of 2023, the family moved to what they affectionately call “Fig’s Farm.”

Fig’s Farm is a feast for the senses. It features native beds; rescue animals including chickens, mini pigs, bunnies, geese, ducks, and turkeys; a sledding hill; native trees; and a pond.

“We keep adding where we can,” said Heather. “We tried to put wet native plants in with 50-60 plugs, but the geese ripped them up.”

True to the “sleep, creep, leap” concept of native plants, the family was thrilled to see how much their efforts have paid off in 2025.

“This year was the coolest! We have massive amounts of dragonflies and butterflies, tons of frogs… our pond is stocked, and we see heron and egrets fly in all the time,” Heather shared.

While Heather knew she came from a family of farmers, she didn’t realize that her maternal grandfather used similar practices on his larger farm in Perry County.

“He was innovative with farming, using no-till and water conservation practices,” she said. In fact, her grandfather, Justine Etienne, was the Perry County Conservationist of the Year in 1979 and a Master Farm Conservationist in 1992. According to a November 1992 issue of Prairie Farmer, his no-till results spurred widespread adoption. His sons, who inherited and worked the farm later, used those same practices.

The family awards continue to this day. Jeff and Heather were honored at the state fair in 2025 with the River Friendly Farmer Award for Hamilton County.

“This was the same award my uncles won in 2007 for Perry County,” Heather said.

Jeff and Heather shared that they were surrounded by large family farms at the ceremony and “almost felt guilty.” However, Heather’s work friend reminded her that they were standing on generations.

“She pointed out that we’re creating our generation and legacy from scratch,” Heather stated. 

Their daughter, Alexis, age 11, even won the SWCD photo contest in her age group last summer.

The Hamilton County SWCD has been a crucial partner for the Figurellis from the beginning. Together with the USDA, the SWCD helped them with erosion issues around their pond. The entire office toured Fig’s Farm last spring. Jeff and Heather buy native plants and trees during the SWCD’s sale each year.

“I feel like what they’re doing is an awesome example. I wish more people knew about them,” Heather shared. “If we can do this, other people can.”

Fig’s Farm goes beyond their own family by having a farm stand that serves as an educational project for kids; hosting Girl Scout groups; and even helping Oinking Acres by donating a memorial garden for pigs who can’t be saved. Heather plans to continue giving her time to Oinking Acres.

Jeff and Heather share their practices on their Facebook page, Fig’s Farm. Their former neighbors in Fishers were inspired thanks to Facebook and now plant natives.

“Everybody has been supportive,” Jeff said. “We have so many friends that come over because they find it peaceful and amazing. Kids come out to learn about animal rescue and native plants. We’ve made friends through our farm stand.”

The couple loves watching their children play on their property along with friends. They run through the prairies, interact with the animals, and enjoy being out in nature.

Heather and Jeff will continue to expand their practices. Plans include a berm around their pond, reseeding a low spot on their property that geese had destroyed, expanding their beds, buying shrubs from the SWCD fall sale to surround their pool, and creating a diverse winter habitat for birds and other animals. They’ll also do winter sowing to yield little starts of plants for springtime.

Their front yard will eventually be all native,  and their prairie is growing on its own thanks to seeds blowing over from the wind.

“My goal is to get a small grower nursery license,” Heather said. “I’d like to help HOAs accept more natives, such as prairie smoke, which is a smaller plant.”

The couple is certainly busy, since Heather works full-time as a gastroenterologist, while Jeff is a stay-at-home dad/farm/house manager. Both believe that Fig’s Farm will be their legacy.
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“When we started, we wanted it just for us. Now, we educate people,” Jeff said. “If just one person can rethink about what they plan in their yard, we’re making a difference.” 


This story was written by Amy Shankland.