Compost Bins and Rain Barrels for Sale

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The Adams-Clermont Solid Waste District has a limited amount of 80 gallon Earth Machine compost bins (below, left) available for purchase for only $60, which is nearly 50% off of the retail price. Small 2 gallon kitchen collectors (below, middle) are also available for just $5. We have 50 gallon rain barrels (below, right) in stock as well! Order yours today at https://store.clermontswcd.org/ or by contacting Connie Miller at cmiller@clermontcountyohio.gov or (513) 732-7075 ext 2.

 

 

 

 

 

Clermont SWCD Now Taking Plant Sale Orders

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Each year, the Clermont Soil & Water Conservation District offers tree and native shrub seedlings, as well as a few native perennials at discount prices. This program gives landowners the opportunity to develop small areas of reforestation, provide habitat for wildlife enhancement, or native additions to home landscaping.

Most of the seedlings offered are 12 to 24 inch ‘whips’. Tree and shrub seedlings will be bare rooted; we dip the plants in a root preservative to help keep the roots from drying out and wrap them in a plastic bag. Most packets will be in a bag about the size of a grocery bag and can easily be placed in your car for pick up.  Perennials are sold as ‘plugs’. The plugs we are offering are approximately 2” in diameter and a robust 4.5” deep. For detailed descriptions and photo’s, please visit our store website.

Rain Barrels are also offered this year. The use of rain barrels lowers the municipal water demands and saves energy at water treatment facilities by reducing water pollution and storm water runoff.

For the second year, we have partnered with the Adams-Clermont Solid Waste District and are offering Earth Machine Compost Bins. The bins can be reserved on our plant sale website however you will pay for the bins on the pickup dates below. They will be accepting payment the day of pickup. For more information on the compost bins please click HERE.

The plant sale website is now available; click HERE. Orders Will be Taken Until May 2nd OR until stock runs out. Please order early to guarantee availability.

Pick up Dates: Thursday, May 4, 2023 Noon-6:30 p.m. & Friday, May 5, 2023oon-4:30 p.m.

Clermont County Fair Grounds, Commercial Building

1000 Locust Street Owensville, OH 45160

Please be sure to make arrangements to pick up orders on these dates.

For questions contact Connie Miller (513) 732-7075 Ext. 2 or cmiller@clermontcountyohio.gov

Managing Stormwater at Home with Rain Barrels

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With major storm events becoming more frequent, managing stormwater is an ever increasing issue for homeowners. Impervious surfaces such as roofs and pavement keep the water from being absorbed into the ground. Additionally, large lawns of turf grass often do a poor job of soaking rain in quickly which can contribute to high volumes of water runoff. Stormwater runoff poses many issues for the environment and communities. Runoff frequently carries pollutants such as fertilizers, herbicides, pet waste, and litter into our waterways. If the water does not have a way to properly drain, it can lead to flooding and other property damage. Given the wide range of issues that can be caused by increased volumes of stormwater, it is important to consider different management strategies.

The most impactful way to manage stormwater properly is to figure out how to ‘slow it down and soak it up’. Slowing the water down can help prevent erosion and allows stormwater systems to adequately handle storm events. If stormwater can be absorbed into the ground on your property, that is even better since it prevents the water from entering and potentially overloading our sewer systems. There are many different strategies that homeowners can take to ‘slow it down and soak it up’ on their properties such as decreasing the amount of turf grass in their lawn or planting native gardens.

If changing your greenspace isn’t an option, consider installing a rain barrel or two. Rain barrels capture water from the roof and hold it for later use. They are typically attached to downspouts and can collect most if not all rain that falls on your roof. Once in the barrel, the water can then be used to irrigate your lawn, water house plants, or dispelled onto your property any time after the storm. Just 1/4 inch of rainfall can yield up to 150 gallons of water from a 1000 square foot roof. Imagine the water bill savings if you used that water in your outdoor irrigation! Rain barrels can be purchased from Clermont SWCD, through Save Local Waters’ Rain Barrel Art Project, or you can build your own rain barrel using repurposed plastic containers.

Duke Energy, Clermont SWCD Partner on a Beautiful Solution to Storm Water Pollution

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Recently, Duke Energy and the Clermont Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) partnered with a homeowners’ association in a Union Township subdivision to combat runoff problems and beautify the neighborhood at the same time.

Under a $25,000 grant from the Duke Energy Foundation, Clermont SWCD worked with the Shayler Woods Homeowners Association (HOA) to install a 1000 square foot rain garden in a section of the subdivision where storm water did not receive any treatment before it reached a small creek. The garden will catch storm flows from two small drainage areas and allow it to soak into the ground over a day or two rather than running off into the creek. Along with reducing flow, the garden will help filter pollutants, including nutrients found in lawn fertilizers what can contribute to algae blooms.

Gene Benninger, the president of the Shayler Woods HOA, said “We are pleased that our community was chosen for this project. It has greatly enhanced the appearance of the landscape, and we look forward to Spring when everything will be blooming.”

Clermont SWCD offers guidance to any landowner in Clermont County, including homeowners associations, interested in creating their own rain garden.  Requests for assistance can be made by calling (513) 732-7075. or sending an email to ssteffensen@clermontcountyohio.gov.