Elkhart County Soil & Water Conservation District
Our mission is to assist land users and other agencies in the wise use of natural resources in Elkhart County.
Ray Archuleta is a Certified Professional Soil Scientist with the Soil Science Society of America and has over 30 years’ experience as a Soil Conservationist, Water Quality Specialist, and Conservation Agronomist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). During his Read More
I recently had the privilege to lead an activity about worms and soil health with Benton Elementary 2nd graders. It truly was a privilege to be there. I felt honored to be in classrooms that were eager to learn and Read More
Welcome back to another edition of Blogging BMP’s! It is that time of year again, you know, “the most wonderful time of the year!” That is unless you are a contractor and you are trying to squeeze a couple of Read More
Welcome back to another edition of Blogging BMP’s! I did not write a blog post last month, so I have had a little extra time to consider what I would like to cover in this edition. In that time I Read More
Have you ever tried to teach a newborn baby to walk or teach a kindergartener how to do calculus? Me neither. This is because their brains and their bodies are not ready to learn such skills at that age. In Read More
Have you ever watched a dry sponge thrown into a tub of water? What does it do? When immersed in the water, it absorbs as much water as it can possibly hold. Children are the same. If you have ever Read More
The name may be familiar to some, Black Eyed Susan, as one that is grown in flower gardens and landscaping, but it is a common native plant in Indiana. The prolonged bloom time attracts butterflies and other pollinators. This drought tolerant species can handle a wide range of soils. Growing 1-3ft tall with yellow blooms during the summer season, this easy to grow plant adds quite the showpiece to a landscape.
Looking like a spot of sunlight in a prairie, the Lanceleaf Coreopsis shines bright with its yellow petals and fuzzy center. Blooming for many weeks in early summer, it creates a brilliant display. The flower attracts butterflies and other pollinators while the seeds attract backyard birds. This plant will happily grow in dry soils. Up to 22 native bee species rely on the genus Coreopsis. Its fibrous root system helps infiltrate water into the soil.
The purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is an iconic native plant for northern Indiana, growing 3-5ft tall with its rich purple flowers blooming throughout the summer. It can handle many soil types with moist to dry drainage. This native works well for rain gardens and pollinator plots.