Category: Wake SWCD (Page 11 of 12)

Congratulations – to our top ten 2011 “Wetlands Are Wonderful Conservation Poster contest winners.

For creating wonderful “Wetlands Are Wonderful” posters, 10 fifth grade students were honored December 8^th at the 46^th Annual Conservation Awards Celebration hosted by the Friends of Wake Soil and Water Conservation District.   The Top Three poster winners received  cash awards:  $100 / $50 /$25.  The 1^st Place poster advances to the regional Area 4 Poster Contest in April 2012, competing against the best posters from 10 neighboring counties.

“This year’s Top Ten are absolutely amazing!,” said Thomas Dean, Chair of the Wake District Board of Supervisors.  “These 10-year olds certainly rose to the challenge of researching a specific type of wetland in NC, and illustrating how that wetland benefits people and the environment.  Each child incorporated the required science and creative artwork, complete with that ‘wow’ factor!”

Over 825 fifth grade students from 12 elementary schools in six Wake County towns participated in this year’s conservation poster contest sponsored by Wake Soil and Water Conservation District and Novozymes Nature’s GREEN-RELEAF Composting.

The Annual Conservation Awards Celebration spotlights citizens who, in the past year, have gone the extra mile in conserving the county’s natural resources with exemplary practices, in communicating the conservation message to a broad audience, and in learning about the natural world and the importance of conservation.

The top ten poster contest winners came from the following schools:

Alston Ridge Elementary In Cary

Farmington Woods Elementary In Cary

Green Hope Elementary In Cary

Hunter Elementary In Raleigh

Lockhart Elementary In Knightdale

Pleasant Union Elementary In Raleigh

Wendell Elementary In Wendell

Sheila Jones received an award from the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) for Outstanding Service to EE by a K-12 Educator. The award is given each year to an educator who teaches grades K-12 and makes a significant contribution to helping students learn about the environment.

Wake District Educator Sheila Jones Receives International Environmental Award

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From NCSU Center for Environmental Farming Systems:

The Center for Environmental Farming Systems’ (CEFS) Incubator Farm Project will be receiving applications through December 1, 2011. Through this project CEFS will partner with communities to facilitate the transition of rural, urban, or peri-urban public lands (under ownership/long-term control of a county, municipal, or state agency) into places that incubate new farm enterprises to support the future of North Carolina’s local food system.

Information on the project and the application process is available through www.ncnewfarmers.org, and for quick access to the application:http://go.ncsu.edu/lt7ok8. We plan to kick off the project with communities selected from applicants with a visioning charrette in 2012, supporting the community in defining its vision for a successful incubator farm. Feel free to contact the project coordinator, Joanna Lelekacs, with any questions – joanna_lelekacs@ncsu.edu.

Thanks,
Joanna

Joanna Massey Lelekacs, RLA
Extension Associate
State Coordinator, Incubator Farm Project
Center for Environmental Farming Systems
919-244-5269
joanna_lelekacs@ncsu.edu
www.ncnewfarmers.org

Bringing New Farmers to the Table

The project Bringing New Farmers to the Table, will make support for beginning farmers an integral part of CEFS’ 10% Campaign, an initiative that invites consumers, businesses, institutions, and agencies to commit 10 percent of their food dollars to local foods.  We can’t have local food without local farmers. The long-term success of North Carolina’s local food economy is dependent upon an influx of new and transitioning farmers.

Read More:
http://www.cefs.ncsu.edu/whatwedo/foodsystems/beginningfarmers.html

The boards of Wake Soil and Water Conservation District and Friends of the District had a successful “meet and greet” on September 26 at oak View County Park.

Check out the pictures

WHAT: 2012 Conservation Poster Contest!

WHO: 5th Graders in Wake County

THEME: “Wetlands Are Wonderful” Continue reading

Rain garden filters runoff, inspires minds – Thumbs Up – NewsObserver.com

Students at Combs Elementary School in Raleigh have planted a garden that has both beauty and a purpose.

PTA parent and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist John Ann Shearer helps students plant cinnamon ferns, wildflowers and blueberry shrubs in a new rain garden on the Combs Elementary school campus. The rain garden will treat stormwater runoff from the school's parking lot before it enters nearby Simmons Branch.