“Treecycling”

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Christmas tree recycling is a great gift to the environment after the holiday season ends.
“Treecycling” not only keeps cut trees out of the landfill, but it helps support other ecosystems. Best of all, it’s FREE and easy! There are several locations in Clermont County for you to dispose of your cut Christmas tree and have it chipped:

• Village of Batavia: Village residents can place your tree (cleared of all decorations) at the curb for pick-up throughout the month of January for chipping.

• City of Loveland: City residents can place trees (cleared of all decorations) at the curb for pick-up from January 4th through January 14th for chipping.

• Miami Township: Residents can bring Christmas trees (cleared of all decorations) to either Paxton Ramsey Park or Miami Meadows for chipping. Trees can be dropped off seven days a week during daylight hours from December 26 through January 31 for chipping.

• Pierce Township: Pierce Township residents can bring trees (cleared of all decorations) to the Pierce Township Service Garage at 950 Locust Corner Road December 26 through January 8 for chipping. The drop-off area is located near the baseball fields and will be clearly marked.

• Pattison Park (Stonelick Twp/Owensville area): trees (cleared of all decorations) can be dropped off at the lake side part of at Pattison Park, near the playground, from December 26 through January 12 for chipping. The drop-off area will be clearly marked.

• Union Township: Union Township residents can drop off trees (cleared of all decorations) behind the Police Department at 4312 Glen Este-Withamsville Road for chipping from January 1 through January 31. The drop-off area will be clearly marked.

• All other residents: BZAK landscaping, located at 931 Round Bottom Road, will allow any Clermont County resident to dispose of trees (cleared of all decorations) for chipping during regular business hours. Please call (513) 831-0907 for information.

Please note, this Treecycling program is only for live cut trees. Artificial trees cannot be recycled and must be disposed of as household trash. Before you take your cut tree to a collection site or haul it to the curb for pick-up, please be sure to remove all lights, tinsel, and decorations. Your old or broken strings of holiday lights can also be recycled at several locations around Clermont County: visit www.oeq.net/holidaylights for a completelist of holiday light drop-off locations.

For more information regarding Christmas tree recycling, holiday light recycling, or any other service provided by the Solid Waste District, call (513) 732-7744 or email dsnyder@ClermontCountyOhio.gov

Tina Vuyancih and Kim Lewis Honored as SWCD Educators of the Year

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Tina Vuyancih, an eigth grade teacher at Williamsburg Middle School, and Kim Lewis, a school counselor previously at Marr/Cook Elementary, were awarded the Educator of the Year award at our Annual Meeting held in September. Tina teaches English Language Arts and is the advisor for Williamsburg’s student council. She works with students to promote sustainability and foster engagement in waste reduction strategies. Now with Loveland High School, Kim coordinated several sustainability inititatives throughout the school from evaluating paper waste in the main office to food waste in the cafeteria. Both Tina and Kim served as their school’s Waste Reduction Program Coordinators and held an end-of-school year recycling event. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, they were able to divert tons of recyclable material from the landfill. In addition, they were able to collect almost 270 pounds of usable school supplies which were donated to the Eastgate Boys & Girls Club. We are very pleased to honor Tina Vuyancih and Kim Lewis in their conservation efforts. If you are interested in learning more about the services we have to offer to
support schools in their waste reduction efforts, please visit https://oeq.net/school-waste-reduction-program/ and complete the form found on the site. If you have any questions about the program, contact Hannah Lubbers at hlubbers@clermontcountyohio.gov or 513-732-7894.

Cooperator of the Year-Jennifer Ebbing

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Jennifer Ebbing, operator of Hayware Homestead in Tate Township, was awarded the Cooperator of the Year award at our Annual Meeting held in September. Her five acre operation includes goats, horses, chickens, eggs, and vegetables for farmers markets. The farm does not use any chemicals in their garden. She has worked with NRCS to implement conservation projects such as a heavy use pad, barn gutters and downspouts, a high tunnel, and drainage improvements around her lots. Jennifer has future plans to improve her pasture. These conservation projects will minimize erosion, provide healthier conditions for her animals, lengthen the growing season, and create a more sustainable operation as a whole. We commend Jennifer for her stewardship efforts, and for protecting the land and valuable natural resources of the county.

Greater Cincinnati Master Rain Gardener Course

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The Master Rain Gardener (MRG) Course is a 5 day course that takes place over 6 weeks. During the course, students are guided through the rain garden design and installation process by experienced regional professionals.

Course Dates and Time
9:00 am – 1:00pm
March 4, 11, 18, 25
April 8

First 25 participants FREE!
$50 deposit to reserve your place, reimbursed with course completion.

For additional information and to register visit www.cincyraingardener.org

 

Buttonweed in your Pastures

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Virginia Buttonweed, Diodia virginiana, is a native plant that could cause problems in both your yard and pasture. This warm season perennial is a prostrate plant with spreading branches. These branches can form roots at each node, causing it to spread like a mat. Mainly a problem in the southern US, buttonweed is found along the Ohio River Valley in Ohio, at its northern extent.
The buttonweed plant has opposite leaves 1-3 inches in length and less than an inch wide. As the plant matures, older leaves will begin turning purple. Leaves are also known to become yellow-mottled due to a virus that attacks the plant. Small white star shaped flowers with four petals, bloom beginning in the summer through the fall. Sometime the flower will have purple streaks. This plant grows in disturbed areas and areas with moist soils. Having a healthy pasture helps prevent weeds from being introduced. Having a thick grass layer that is not overgrazed is key. Overgrazing causes openings to the soil where weeds can then occupy. Proper soil chemistry is also key, take those soil samples and follow the recommendations. Pastures need proper nutrition to grow healthy. Improving the drainage of your fields, sometimes difficult in our county, will keep this weed at bay. If this plant is a nuisance in your pastures, follow state extension fact sheets for best methods of control.

2022 Spring Litter Clean-Up Scheduled for April 23, 2022

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Clermont SWCD and the Valley View Foundation (VVF) are working with local partners to plan the 2022 Litter Clean-Up event (SLC). The 2022 SLC will be held at multiple locations through Clermont County on Saturday, April 23, 2022. Volunteers can help spruce up areas in their communities while enjoying the outdoors. There are many opportunities and areas throughout the county for volunteers to help by clearing trash and unsightly debris from our parks, waterways and other shared open spaces. Depending on how the next few months unfold, group and in-person activities may be coordinated for the 2022 event. Community coordinators will provide details on those activities later in the spring. Volunteer safety is the top priority. All volunteers will be provided with clean-up materials for their activities, including protective gloves, trash bags and litter grabbers. Individuals that request litter cleanup materials will be sent details for supply pick-up in their communities. Please visit the SLC website for more information and to register: www.springlittercleanup.com. For more questions or additional information please contact Connie Miller at (513) 732-7075 ext. 2 or cmiller@clermontcountyohio.gov

Todd Winemiller and Joe Glassmeyer Re-Elected to Board of Supervisors

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In the election held September 14, Todd Winemiller was re-elected for a fourth term and Joe Glassmeyer was re-elected for a 13th term on the Soil and Water Conservation District’s Board of Supervisors. Their terms will begin January 1, 2022 and run through 2024. Congratulations Todd and Joe, and thank you for serving your conservation district!

Mark your Calendars for the East Fork River Canoe Adventure

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Join the Clermont County Park District and the Clermont Soil and Water Conservation District at Roadside Park in Batavia for an hour long canoe trip down the East Fork Little Miami River. We’ll search for beaver, wood ducks, turtles, and other aquatic wildlife then make a brief stop at Sycamore Park.

Saturday September 25, 2021
9:30 am
Meet at Roadside Park, 4435 State Route 222, Batavia, OH 45103

*Preregistration is required. Call (513) 760-8393 or email rgreen@clermontcountyohio.gov to register before September 24th. Spots limited.

Participants need to be able to get in and out of canoes and walk through shallow waters. You may get wet! Participants must sign a waiver prior to the program. (Children must be 10 and above to ride in canoe).

The Canoe Adventure is part of the Great Outdoor Weekend. Visit www.greatoutdoorweekend.org/events to learn more about this event.

Pond Management Series Coming Soon

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A series of videos are in the works by our office to assist landowners in making management decisions on their ponds. These short videos will contain the basics of pond management here in our county and address some of the most common problems and questions our office receives calls on. These will be released as they are completed and will supplement our annual pond clinic. As always, we still offer free onsite consultations to your pond management and pond construction needs. You can also check out our website for additional educational pond material.

Ohio River Sweep Update

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The  Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission’s (ORANSCO) Ohio River Sweep  2021 will be held on June 19, 2021 from 9 am to noon as part of the Summer Litter Clean-up month long event. The annual volunteer cleanup extends the along the entire river and is a great volunteer opportunity for groups and individuals. The event includes cleanups in New Richmond, Neville and Moscow. For more information and registration, contact Penny at OhioRiverSweep@gmail.com.