Urban Success

2017 Urban Conservation Success Summary

Thank you for taking a moment to review the efforts of the urban conservation program in 2017. I hope this site will provide some useful information about the scope of programs offered through the urban program and the services available to county residents.

If you would like to know more about any of these programs I invite you to please give me a call or email or, better yet, let's meet for coffee or onsite at one of the many conservation practices we've helped install across the county.

Claire Lane
[email protected]
317-773-2181

Technical Assistance
The SWCD offers a suite of unique services to county residents. As Hamilton County is increasingly urban, our services reflect that will technical assistance developed to urban residents, HOA's, churches, parks departments and municipalities, and more. Participants usually either have a particular resource concern or are interested in seeing what conservation improvements they could make to their property that protect our resources, beautify their property and community, and save time and money on maintenance. Typically, after a site visit is conducted, a personalized, site specific conservation plan outlining potential project options, costs, contractors and suppliers, and maintenance is provided to the landowner.

In 2017, ninety-two (92) urban conservation and fifty-one (51) urban agriculture site visits were conducted. Outside of these on-site assists, dozens of phone, walk-in, and other technical assistance was provided throughout the year.

Cost Share / Small Grants to landowners
In 2017, Hamilton County residents were offered two programs for urban cost share. The Heartland Backyard Conservation Program is a partnership between Hamilton, Marion, Hancock, and Madison SWCD's. This program is funded through a 2016 Clean Water Indiana grant from the state. Hamilton County was again able to secure the majority of this funding for our residents (HC is the only county of the four with dedicated urban conservation staff).

14 of the 21 projects approved in 2017 were located in Hamilton County (22 of 28 projects in 2016). $25,418 of Heartland cost share was distributed to Hamilton County residents in 2017. This initiative not only improves our county through increased habitat, better water quality, and less erosion, but invigorates our economy through purchases of supplies and use of local businesses and contractors.

8 projects were approved through the SWCD funded backyard conservation program including two outdoor classroom grants. $3,375 in cost share funds was distributed through this program in 2017.

Newly installed cost share project at Orchard Park Presbyterian Church

Third year cost share project being utilized at Lakes at Towne Road HOA.

Claire Lane, Urban Conservationist, on a site visit

Andrew Fritz and Cara Culp on a community garden site visit

This map shows the technical assistance site visits from 2017 (circles), as well as the cost share projects both approved and completed and paid out in 2017 (markers). You can view the map on this page or a larger version by clicking here. Click on the circles to learn about the primary resource concern for the site visit and on the markers for more info on the cost share projects.

Newly installed residential rain garden

Sales

Native tree sale - Held annually each fall this program has grown significantly in recent year and is the district's largest fundraiser. 718 trees were sold in 2017 (11*% annual growth rate over the last five years). Proceeds from these program help fund the district cost share (small grant) program.
Native plant sale - In the second year of this sale, 87 native plant kits (over 4,300 plants) were sold in 2017 up from 25 in 2016.
Over $6,300 worth of rain barrels and diverters were sold.

Special programs, events, and partnerships
Homeowners Association/Church Bus Tour- A special workshop and bus tour was held for HOA's and church property managers educating them on the conservation practices that can improve water quality while enhancing their communities and making them attractive to residents, enhance property values, and reduce their grounds maintenance costs.

Noblesville rain barrel program- for the fifth year, we partnered with the City of Noblesville Clean Stormwater Program to make rain barrels available to Noblesville residents. The city subsidizes the cost of the rain barrel while our office coordinates pre-orders and pick up of barrels. This program is a fundraiser for the office and allows us to connect the 75-100 additional Noblesville households each year for education.

Rain on Main- for the third year, we partnered with the City of Carmel Utilities and Stormwater Departments to host a painted rain barrel silent auction and art competition. Rain barrels are painted by local artists and displayed along Main Street in Carmel. The second Saturday of August, the barrels are auctioned off at the Carmel Farmers Market. 20 barrels are auctioned off and over $2,500 was raised for stormwater signage/education.

Hamilton County Garden Network- the HCGN was launched in 2017. The first comprehensive listing/map of community gardens throughout the county was created to connect residents with gardening opportunities around them. The HCGN now meets quarterly and is a networking/educational space led by the District for community garden leadership. This network strives to build the community gardening opportunities across our county and the health, social, and environmental benefits that come with it. The HCGN website was developed and shares resources for gardeners of all types: www.hamcogardennetwork.org/

Container garden program- Through a partnership with a local county grower, a easy to grow containerized tomato plant was made available to several summer camp programs (how to garden lessons) as well as 8 food pantries. Food pantry patrons were able to take home a containerized tomato to supplement their meals with healthy, home grown produce.

Pantry partnerships- Many new partnerships were forged by the District in an effort to use our urban agriculture program to combat food insecurity in the county. A "Where to donate" sheet was developed that helps gardeners with excess produce know when and where to donate to neighbors in need. Recipe cards were created, printed, and distributed to pantries to share with patrons. These recipes were carefully constructed to utilize pantry food staples and the donate produce items in easy to cook recipes. The SWCD also forged partnerships with Farmers Bank and several other local businesses to serve as produce donation sites where excess produce could be collected then transported to local food banks.

Education: 62 educational events and speaking engagements were conducted including 5 workshops
where over 2,300 adults and 400 children were reached.

Grants and sponsorships

$15,000 - Legacy Fund- Central Indiana Community Foundation - salary/staff in support of urban agriculture program
$5,000 - Feed a Bee- Bayer - pollinator habitat plantings
$387 - Duke Energy - sponsorship of "tree tags" printing. These tags were hung off of native tree's sold during our sale at pick up. They provided planting and ongoing care tips.
$250 - Williams Creek Management - sponsorship/donation toward HOA/Church conservation workshop.

$38,000 - State of Indiana Clean Water Grant - awarded January 7th 2018 for staffing/extend position of urban agriculture technician.

Staff
Claire Lane- Urban Conservationist - Claire oversees and leads the urban conservation programs at the SWCD. She provides urban conservation technical assistance and overall program leadership and supervision. She also manages the above sales, education, and special events. She celebrated 5 years with the County on January 7th 2018.

In the fall of 2017, Claire was honored with the Environmental Education Association of Indiana (EEAI) Joe Wright Recognition of Excellence Award for Outstanding Achievement in Environmental Education.

Andrew Fritz- Andrew joined the SWCD in September 2016 as a grant funded, part-time urban agriculture technician. He provides on-site technical assistance on urban agriculture, develops technical resources, and performs formal and in-formal urban ag education. Andrew has also assumed primary coordination of the HCGN in 2017. Andrew's role has been secured via additional grant funding through fall 2019.

Cara Culp- Cara joined the SWCD in September 2016 as a grant funded, part-time urban agriculture outreach associate. Cara was critical for the development and success of new partnerships related to urban agriculture and launching the HCGN. Cara's time at the District ended in late 2017 as the grant funds funding her position were exhausted. Cara was an exemplary team member and contributed at a high level.

Looking forward
There is significant interest in the technical assistance provided by the SWCD and we plan to continue to provide exemplary conservation technical assistance to Hamilton County landowners this year. Ongoing programs, partnerships, and sales are significant undertakings and we look to improve offerings to county residents and new community partnerships and programs.

To meet the demand for technical assistance and continue to grow our urban agriculture program, we must continually seek financial support for the urban agriculture conservationist role and to expand program efforts. We are committed to providing our existing services at the highest quality level but hope to continually expand our offerings and services to meet the needs of County residents.

Looking ahead, we see invasive species as a profound threat to Hamilton County land and water resources. We hope to be a part of the solution through a new tool loan program, coordination of the Grow Indiana Natives effort in Hamilton County, education efforts, and leadership among natural resource groups and stakeholders to address and attack this issue. Water quality and reducing runoff are continued concerns as well as addressing soil health, erosion, and providing Hamilton County residents with current education, tools, and resources to make the best choices for their properties.