​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.

​As native plants become trendier, gardeners have seemingly endless options to beautify their spaces with these climate-resilient, ecosystem-supporting plants. From your local SWCD’s plant sales to native-exclusive nurseries, you can easily get overwhelmed by making the “right” choice with sun, soil, and water conditions in mind. Buying and installing native plant plugs is an excellent option for our planners out there to curate their spaces, but what about our more type-B gardeners and native plant enthusiasts?
 
I’m quick to admit that my house is not an example of ideal landscaping - pruning, raking, and mowing all rank very low on my priority list. But I still love to see bees, beetles, and butterflies surrounding my flowers, birds and rodents stopping for a snack in my garden, and the improved soil quality in my beds. Thankfully, native plants have a really cool establishment hack that creates more diverse and naturalized plant communities than I could ever hope to design myself.
 
Dormant Seeding
Dormant seeding – sowing native seed mixes in the late fall and over winter to come up in spring – is a common technique for restoration projects and planting prairies in Indiana. This approach works because many flowers native to Indiana require a cold stratification in order to germinate. In other words, the plants that survived our natural selection thunderdome also had to have seeds make it through Indiana winters, which has resulted in species that need to have a cold snap to grow properly. Additionally, dormant seeding takes advantage of the freezing and thawing of the ground to maximize seed-soil contact as the ground settles under snow covers. This, in turn, improves germination and nutrient uptake by the plant.
 
The results of dormant seeding vary from case to case and often within the same acre because of variable site conditions like soil type, ponding/dry spots, or seed-eating critters. That uncertainty is part of the risk and beauty of dormant seeding – your plant communities will be determined by what your local ecosystem supports, not just your seed mix. Still, ensuring you responsibly select a seed mix for your site is important and can cut down on “wasted” seeds that may not be suitable for your area. Learn more about responsible seed sourcing and other site prep concerns here. This is also a great exercise in delayed gratification – because of varied growing patterns, some species won’t become apparent until three years after planting.
 
The basics of dormant seeding are straightforward and can be easily adapted to your specific site. After prepping your area to minimize the risk of old or current undesired vegetation coming back, you can either broadcast or no-till drill your native seed mix in the area. Your choice in method is a bit restricted by timing – although dormant seeding can be done from mid-November through February, the ground may get too hard to use a no-till drill later in the season. Additionally, you should be mindful of sloping in your planting area, as a drill disturbs topsoil and can worsen erosion. Broadcasting seed is essentially scattering seeds on the soil surface, but there are techniques of site preparation and seed preparation that can improve its effectiveness – learn more about those here. These methods could also be used as a “spot treatment” to add some extra diversity or address sparse patches in an existing planting.

Fall is the best season to plant trees in our zone because it allows the trees to focus their energy on creating a robust root system that will help them thrive even during summer droughts. Depending on the critters and humans in your space, your trees may require more than the standard proper planting and watering.

What are we protecting trees from?

By the time fall tree planting season is in full swing, most insect pests have come and gone, so the focus turns to mammalian predators. Excluding animals like deer, rabbits, and rodents should be the focus for newly planted young shrubs and young trees. There is one “pest” we haven’t covered, and that is the human “pest”. When turned loose with a string trimmer, even the best-intentioned human can cause significant damage to young trees! 

Protection myths and short-term methods

Contrary to popular belief, the animals mentioned above will eat almost anything when faced with hunger, so deer/rabbit/rodent-resistant plants do not truly exist. Animals get used to deterrent techniques like in pin wheels, timed sprinklers, predator statues, and things suspended in the air above the plants. These techniques may work for a short period of time, but are not long-term solutions.
Hanging Irish Spring Soap or sprinkling the grated soap around your plants will not prevent rabbits from eating your plants. I have personally watched rabbits eat plants next to the soap, so I do not recommend this method.

There are other nontoxic methods, such as Capsaicin-based sprays and powders on and around the plants that may work short term, but must be continuously reapplied, and even then, some animals can build up a tolerance to the Capsaicin.

Exclusion – the best method

Exclusion is the only method that will keep your trees safe from furry predators. Exclusion can be accomplished in different ways. Below is a list of common exclusion methods, pros and cons for each method, and additional resources to help you learn more and find an option that works for you!

Across the U.S., citizen-science monitoring and everyday observations point to a troubling trend: insect populations are declining. Habitat loss, fragmented landscapes, and widespread chemical use are key drivers.

Many people recognize this through the so-called “windshield phenomenon.” Twenty-five years ago, a single evening drive might leave a car windshield splattered with insects. Today, that’s far less common.

This matters. Insects provide essential ecosystem services—pollinating plants, feeding wildlife, and keeping other insect populations in check. A conservative Cornell University estimate places their economic contribution at more than $57 billion annually. When insects disappear, so do many of these benefits: fewer pollinators, less food for birds, and more pests left uncontrolled.

Gardens Matter Year-Round

Boosting habitat diversity is one of the best ways to help insects. Backyard and community gardens, already valuable during the growing season, can be just as important in winter. Dead stems, fallen leaves, and undisturbed soil provide “overwintering” spots where beneficial insects—from swallowtail butterflies to katydids—hibernate or lay eggs.

How to Prep Your Garden for Winter Habitat
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When fall clean-up rolls around, a lighter touch can go a long way. Here’s a straightforward approach:

1. Remove only diseased plants. Burn, compost properly, or dispose of plants that showed disease this season.
2. Leave most plants standing. Many insects shelter in stems, soil, and leaf litter. Plus, seedheads feed birds and protect soil from erosion.
3. Handle weeds selectively. Pull or cut only weeds that have gone to seed or are invasive. Consider piling them nearby until spring to preserve some cover.
4. Sow a winter cover crop. Rye, oats, clover, hairy vetch, or oilseed radish improve soil health and add extra shelter for insects.
5. Show your intention. If appearances worry you, post a small sign explaining that your “messy” garden is an intentional wildlife habitat.
6. Add fallen leaves. Spread leaves from your lawn as a protective mulch. They enrich the soil and provide more insect shelter.
7. Wait until spring to clean up. After several days above 50 °F—enough time for overwintering insects to emerge—it’s safe to start planting again.

That brings us up to the real point of this article, and armed with the power of the internet now, there are a whole host of ways and recipes you can use the Indiana Banana online!  And even if you don’t find Paw Paw specific recipes, they are so comparable in consistency to bananas or persimmon pulp that you could just substitute Paw Paw pulp for either of those other fruits.

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So how do you process Paw Paws?  I can at least tell you how I have done it. When picking (or picking up) the Paw Paws, I try not to bruise them too much, as they can turn brown in those bruised areas quickly.  If you happen to use the “shaking the tree” method, which I often do to beat the raccoons to the harvest, the Paw Paws might be the slightest bit unripe yet. However, they will ripen on the kitchen counter just fine.  If I have some that are more ripe than others, I put those in the refrigerator to slow down the ripening, while allowing the ones on the kitchen counter to “catch up”.  That way, I can obtain the 2 cups or more of pulp that most recipes call for.

I have made Paw Paw bread before, using a banana bread recipe as a guide, but this year, I came across a Paw Paw pudding recipe that was very similar to the recipe for persimmon pudding (and since I love persimmon pudding), I thought I would give it a try.  It actually turned out pretty good, but I must admit, my favorite is still persimmon pudding (a future article, maybe). 
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I’m not the best photographer, but I tried to capture the process from picking to finished pudding, seen below, to give you an idea of what was involved.  However, the real emphasis of this article is to spotlight one of the many native Indiana trees, and its importance as a food source for animals and humans (which was most assuredly used by native Americans at the very property where they are still growing).  Pretty cool to think about!  …and as far as concern about taking too many from wildlife, there are literally hundreds of Paw Paw trees in these woods, and the native critters usually get most of them before I do …but I like to think they wouldn’t mind sharing anyway 😊

This year Hamilton SWCD hosted two Women's Learning Circles in Hamilton County through the Women 4 the Land program. Women 4 the Land is a program of the Hoosier Heartland Resource Conservation and Development Council dedicated to using science-based learning techniques for women's education on conservation topics. Learning circles typically include an informal discussion-based learning style, conservation demonstrations from natural resource professionals, and a tour. 

Next year, we plan to host three events on various conservation topics. Join our notification list to be informed of upcoming events. 

​Event Recap

In 2025, Learning Circles were held on Soil Health 101 and Invasive Species. Soil Health 101 was held at Fishers Agripark, where 13 guests had the opportunity to learn about soil and take a tour of the park. The Invasive Species Learning Circle was held at Forest Park this fall. Eight guests learned about invasive species ID, management, and how to use herbicide safely, and took a tour of the Park Steward areas at Forest Park. ​

Rain on Main concluded on August 23rd with the culmination of the online auction and People’s Choice competition at the Carmel Farmers Market. Chelsea Primason won both the People’s Choice and the overall Art Competition. Second place in the People’s Choice competition was the team from Janus Developmental Services. Second and third place in the art competition were Walt Thacker and Carolyn Martens.  The Rain on Main team also recognized Linda Gilmore for her dedication to Rain on Main as our first-ever ten-year participating artist!   
 
We would also like to thank our event sponsors White’s Ace Hardware, Sherwin-Williams Automotive, Tom Wood Collision Center, and Carmel Farmers Markets for their support. 

​Barrel sponsors include:  Bazbeaux Pizza 
Calico Counseling LLC, Carmel Clay Public Library Foundation, Carmel Education Foundation, Carmel Symphony Orchestra, Chapman State Farm on Main, Club Canine, Cool Creek Family Health, Discover White River, Fancy Fortune Cookies, Financial Enhancement Group, ​Goodness Gracious Kitchen & Cupboard, ​Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District, Hotel Carmichael, Indiana Artisan Gifts & Gallery, Indiana Women's Running Festival, Jessica Irvine, Ranj Puthran Allstate Insurance Agency, Support CCS, and The Olive Mill.
 
Rain on Main is a painted rain barrel art competition and online auction held since 2015. Rain on Main is a program of the SWCD, City of Carmel, Carmel Stormwater,&  Carmel Utilities. Learn more and see the barrels at rainonmain.com

HCSWCD Wins Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence
 
We are excited to share that the Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District was recently honored with the Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence in the Land Use/Conservation category for our work leading the Hamilton County Invasives Partnership (HIP).
 
This is the highest environmental recognition in the state, presented annually by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and the Governor’s Office to celebrate innovative, collaborative, and impactful environmental efforts.
 
The award was presented on September 17th at the 28th Annual Partners for Sustainability Conference. Our own Claire Lane, Urban Conservationist and HIP Coordinator, and Hamilton County Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt accepted the award on behalf of our district and partnership.
 
We’re so proud that Hamilton County’s invasive species work has been recognized at the state level—and even more grateful for the community members, partners, and volunteers who make HIP possible. This honor belongs to all of us working together to protect Hamilton County’s natural resources.
 
 
Learn more about the Hamilton County Invasives Partnership at www.hcinvasives.org.
Learn more about the Governor’s Award for Environmental excellence at www.in.gov/idem/partnerships/governors-awards-for-environmental-excellence/.

My name is Stephanie and I studied Environmental Science and Geology (basically I am a certified rock and plant nerd). I graduated in ’24 and wasn’t able to find a job in the field, but got connected with someone in the State of Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management who invited me to a volunteer event partnered with HIP. I have loved getting to know more people that share the same passion and care for the environment as me and am excited to learn more along the way. Lately I've been spending my free time on soccer and random creative projects, but my hobbies have a tendency to change like the seasons.
 
Advice for someone getting started? It’s simple, but I would say just do it. If you are wanted to get more connected with like-minded people or make a difference in your community, just go to the volunteer event (drag a friend along if you must). I understand if you feel like you don’t have the time to commit to a volunteer role or project, but anything helps. It’s ok to start small and just do what you can as you are able. At the end of the day volunteering is what you make of it and it can look different for everyone.

Favorite nature spot in Hamilton County? Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve, it’s really close to me and is where I initially got connected to HIP.
​One word that describes your volunteer work? Meaningful

​Mid-summer is when most gardeners are harvesting the fruits of their labor and enjoying fresh seasonal produce, but it is also a great time to be thinking ahead about how to care for the soil your plants depend on to thrive. Soil health experts recommend planting cover crops as a way of caring for your soil and potentially increasing the nutrient density in the food you are growing!
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What are cover crops?
Cover crops are plants, grasses, legumes, and other forbs, grown primarily to protect the soil and benefit the successful growth of future crops. Some examples of common cover crops are: crimson clover, field peas and oats, buckwheat, sorghum sudangrass, and cereal rye.

Why cover crop?
Incorporating cover crops into your garden does so much more than meets the eye. To the casual observer, cover crops are simply covering what would be bare soil, but the real magic is happening underneath the surface! Some of the benefits of planting cover crops are:

1. Maintain soil health and productivity
2. Reduce erosion
3. Weed Suppression
4. Increased biodiversity
5. Minimize soil compaction
6. Break up soil compaction
7. Maintain or increase soil organic matter
8. Improve habitat for soil organisms
9. Natural source of nitrogen to companion or subsequent crops
10. Improve habitat for pollinators, beneficial organisms, or natural enemies of crop pests

Selection
Start with species that are easy to terminate in a small garden. Winter/field peas and oats “winterkill” which means they typically die after a period of freezing temperatures or frost, leaving you with no additional chores in the garden until it is time to plant in the spring!

How much cover crop seed do you need?
Marion County SWCD has a tool to help calculate the amount of cover crop you need for your space. You can find the information by visiting Soil Health - MCSWCD and navigating to “Cover Crops”, expanding the accordion to reveal the “Indiana Cover Crop Tool” link.

Planting
Although July 15th – September 15th should be ideal for cover crops like Crimson Clover and Peas and Oats, like all gardening, the best time is dependent on the weather. If you are close to July 15th and know you are going to have consistent rain for the week following planting, by all means, plant the seeds! If we are under a heat advisory until the week after September 15th, consider waiting until the weather cools down. In all cases, try to get your cover crops planted no later than October 1st.

If you already have your garden planted, you will need to “interseed” or “intercrop” with summer or fall vegetables. After weeding, create furrows approximately ½” to 1” deep in the ground, and lightly sprinkle your cover crop seed into the furrows. Then cover the seed with soil, thereby burying the seed. The cover crops will germinate between your plants and not present any issues to growth.

If you have open spaces or you are not concerned with cover crops taking space from your vegetables, you can also broadcast the seed evenly over your garden and rake it in. You may need to lightly cover the seeds with a light straw or other covering to deter birds from eating the seeds.

Management
If the weather is hot and dry after planting in the summer or early fall, then it may be necessary to water your cover crops to ensure good germination and growth. Otherwise, cover crops will grow well without much attention to water needs.

If planted too early, oats may produce a seed before they die due to frost. In this case, it is best to cut the tops of the oats off as they are flowering, but before they produce seed. Crimson Clover, Cereal Rye, and Hairy Vetch will not flower until sometime early to mid-spring. They will need to be cut down as they are flowering, but before seeding.

If they produce seed, it is likely best to cut and remove the plant to limit weedy issues in the garden. However, some gardeners are okay with this as a cover crop in the midst of their vegetables is not inherently bad. In fact, it can be beneficial.

Termination
Not all cover crops die over the winter like peas and oats. Some varieties will require you to take an extra step to terminate. There are several ways to terminate cover crops. The best method for many gardeners is the “cut and cover” method. For the greatest soil health benefits, cover crops are terminated when they are flowering. To terminate, cut down the cover crop with shears, a hedge trimmer, mower, etc., and cover with an opaque material like black plastic to stop photosynthesis. This will also help suppress early annual weeds.
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You can find a full list of cover crop species and how to terminate them in this Natural Resources Conservation Service document.