Welcome to the BSWCD Home Page

2009 Native Plant Sale order forms are out!

Visit the Native Plant Sale page for links

Benton SWCD is now a

Blue Sky Luminary business partner

Upcoming Events

Mark your calendar for these events coming soon

Wednesday, January 14, 2009 - Two Presentations on the Use of Native Plants
January 5 through March 10, 2009 - Weekly OSU Seminars
Saturday, February 7 - 2009 Native Plant Sale order pick-up day - Submit your order NOW!!!
Wednesday and Thursday, February 18 and 19 - Free Agricultural Chemical Collection Program
Saturday, February 21, 2009 - Water, Wetlands and Waterfowl - A Workshop for Educators
Saturday, March 7 - 4HWS Hybrid Educator Workshop: Flying WILD (PLT) K-12 curriculum

Check our Calendar Page for details

Winter 2008-2009 Issue of Horizons Published!

The Winter 2008-2009 issue of Horizons, our newsletter, has just been published and is now available online.

This is the official 2009 Native Plant Sale packet!

Also, read about: Tackling Invasive Species, Weed Spotters Program - Volunteer Training, Ideas for using Native Plants and more!

"Voles are not moles but they still make holes. Meet the critters, the farmers whom they ate out of house and home and a scientist who thinks they may do some good after all," says Oregon Field Guide in promotional copy for a segment with OSU soil scientist James Cassady on voles.

New/Updated Brochures Available Online

Several of our brochures are now available online for download and viewing or printing. Take a self-guided tour of the Dixon Creek watershed, build your own worm bin, or find out more about organizations that support sustainable living in the Corvallis community!

See our Brochures section for more details!

Subscribe to One of Our Mailing Lists!

We have recently converted several of our mailing lists to Google Groups!

See our Mailing Lists page for more information about each list and subscribe!

Philomath High School Compost Project

The Environmental Protection Agency awarded the Benton County Health Department an Environmental Justice Grant in 2004. One goal of the grant was to increase high school students' awareness and knowledge of local environmental issues. Benton County Health Department recruited Philomath High School juniors for a compost research project. The students selected topics, wrote literature reviews and contacted professionals in the community to serve as their mentors. Research projects designed around the students' interests became the foundations for their senior project presentations in May 2007.

Visit the Philomath High School Compost Project page!

Other Events and Goings On

Subscribe to our mailing lists to find out about soil and water related events in the community , receive our Horizons newsletter, or receive announcements about soil and water conservatio n related jobs!
We have several upcoming events -- check our Calendar to find out more.
Check our Teachers and Edu cators page to read our new education newsletter and learn about grants available to educators.
We also have a number of resources for landowners, and community members, as well as other opportunities to get involved and volunteer.

Conservation Neighbor: Patti Warner

March 2007 by Heath Keirstead

Patti Warner had a vision of conservation that she turned into a reality with the help of a supportive community and the power of networking. As the 4-H Wildlife Stewards coordinator for Jefferson Elementary, Patti recruited community organizations and agencies to help with the restoration project entitled Keepers of the Creek.

Full Story