Tips, tricks, and a quick peek into the everyday life of the conservation district.
When Adam and Tracy Farnham first began improving their pastures, they hauled in loads of horse manure from local farms and quickly turned it into compost using a method called aerated composting.
Read MoreIf you visit Adam and Tracy Farnham’s idyllic 4.9-acre property, you’ll find lush pastures, rain gardens, and native plant hedgerows buzzing with life, along with three content horses. But the Farnhams—who recently completed every single action in their farm plan—started their journey in 2008 with something completely different.
Read MoreFood insecurity is a widespread issue in Snohomish County. According to the Snohomish County Health Department, one in eleven Snohomish County residents does not have reliable access to sufficient food. To help address this issue, Snohomish Conservation District (SCD) launched the Harvest at Home program in 2024 in partnership with the Verdant Health Commission. With funding from Verdant and the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), Harvest at Home supports low-income residents through urban gardening education and resources—empowering families to grow nutritious food at home and in community spaces.
Read MoreOur 8th Annual Orca Recovery Day was held on Saturday, October 18. Over 50 volunteers joined us at Puget Sound Public Farms at Ovenell Park in Stanwood to plant 200 native trees and shrubs and remove invasive Evergreen Blackberry.
Read MoreThe Snohomish Conservation District is proud to announce the 2025 recipients of the Sound Steward Awards. These outstanding individuals and organizations are leading the way in conservation, demonstrating passion, innovation, and a deep commitment to protecting our natural resources. We celebrate their efforts and hope their stories spark inspiration for positive change in your own corner of the world.
Read MoreImagine that with every heavy rain, as runoff pours into the valleys from the uplands and rivers begin to rise, you had to calculate whether you could get home in time to move your animals to safety. Until recently, this was Michelle Canfield’s reality each winter, with her sheep pastured in the Snohomish floodplain.
Read MoreSnohomish Conservation District’s Youth Education Team has been hard at work delivering Wheat Week educational curriculum to students throughout Snohomish County and Camano Island. This series of five lessons is available free of charge to 4th and 5th grade classes and focuses on the relationships between resource conservation and agriculture in Washington state.
Read MoreWoods Creek is one of the highest priority watersheds for salmon recovery in Snohomish County, but salmon runs have been declining. High water temperatures, lots of fine sediment, and a lack of large woody debris in the creek are threatening the salmon populations.
Read MoreIn a world where we rely on supermarkets to supply our food and regularly eat produce from around the world, it can be easy to feel disconnected from our local food systems. Our Farm to School program aims to reintegrate students, teachers, and families into our local food systems by teaching them about nutrition, local produce, and gardening.
Read MoreIf you're a farmer looking to transition to low or no-till practices, the cost of new equipment can be a major hurdle. At Snohomish Conservation District, one of our goals is to help farmers overcome these kinds of challenges.
Read MoreIf you drive eastbound along Hwy 530 to Arlington, you’ll pass Andrew’s Hay and Farm Store, owned and operated by Andrew Albert. Andrew grew up in the area and spent his high school summers practicing farming.
Read MoreOn Saturday, April 26, twelve committed seniors from Monroe High School gathered at the restoration site adjacent to Rotary Field in Sky River Park, eager to make a difference. For three hours on a beautiful spring day, these students rolled up their sleeves to plant Nootka rose and red-flowering currant, manage invasive species, and distribute wildflower seeds across the site.
Read MoreShade, beauty, fresh air, and clean water are just a few of the benefits trees provide to urban neighborhoods. We can thank trees for filtering pollutants from vehicle emissions in high-traffic areas, slowing stormwater runoff, and mitigating urban heat islands.
Read MoreWaterproof waders. Neoprene boots. White and yellow hard hats. Sturdy gloves. These are some of the items you might see our Washington Conservation Corps members wearing as they support the District’s restoration programs.
Read MoreWe celebrated our 40th Annual Plant Sale in early March with over 40,000 plants sold! We welcomed over 1,200 visitors who came to pick up their pre-ordered plants and shop at our walk-up sale.
Read MoreThank you to everyone who submitted a masterpiece to the 8th Annual Youth Art Contest for the theme “Native Flowers!”
Read MoreIn December 2024, Snohomish Conservation District partnered with Puget Sound Conservation Districts, Department of Ecology, Conservation Commission, and Bonneville Environmental Foundation to host a workshop focused on restoration practices that encourage a more resilient ecosystem in the face of a changing climate.
Read MoreIf you’ve driven along Old Snohomish Monroe Road, you may have noticed Canfield Farms, a picturesque sheep farm perched on a steep slope. These acres in the floodplain provide fertile ground for crops and pastures; however, over the past several years they have become more frequently inundated with water during periods of heavy rain.
Read MoreHumans are viewed as an essential part of the ecosystem and have an important role in maintaining ecological balance. Some aspects of reciprocity are familiar to Western science and fall under the general umbrella of land tending. For example, a gatherer engages in pruning, aerating the soil, assisted species migration, etc. while hunters cull herds to prevent overgrazing.
Read MoreIndigenous Educator, Lindsey Crofoot, enrolled member of the Tlingit and Haida Tribes of Alaska from the Xutznoowu tribe, Deisheetaan clan and Colville Okanogan descendant, had a direct tie to the land from an early age. However, the many hours she spent in the forest and on the water hunting and fishing with her father didn’t fit the commonly romanticized stereotype. Instead, Lindsey’s experience was emblematic of a painful reality for many Indigenous people.
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Snohomish Conservation District | 528 91st Ave NE, Lake Stevens, WA 98258 | 425-335-5634
