The Johnson County Soil and Water Conservation District is a winner in the Conservation Districts of Iowa (CDI) Backyard Conservation marketing contest. Sponsored by CDI and Earl May Seed & Nursery, the contest awarded grants to eight soil and water conservation districts for their backyard conservation plans.

Backyard Conservation is a cooperative effort of the local soil and water conservation districts, CDI, the National Association of Conservation Districts, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Wildlife Habitat Council. The goal is to make one million backyards a “friendlier place for nature.” With much of the 92 million acres of developed land in the United States in the care of homeowners, conservationists say there is a lot of room for wildlife habitat and natural resource conservation practices right in our own backyards.

The program promotes ten practices that urban and rural residents can implement, such as tree planting, composting and nutrient management, to make their homes more friendly to wildlife and enjoyable for themselves.

For more information about how you can bring conservation to your backyard, contact the Johnson County Soil and Water Conservation District at 319-337-2322, extension 3. A free 28-page color booklet is available by calling 1-888 LAND CARE.