Free Workshops on
Land and Water Stewardship
for Livestock Owners

Do you own horses, ponies, cattle, goats, sheep, pigs or other livestock? Are you ready to build and install livestock management practices that will help you reduce mud, manage manure, plan pasture grazing and deal with streams and wetlands? Do you want to know how to start?

The King Conservation District is offering four FREE workshops on land and water stewardship practices for livestock owners that will help turn your farm into a more useable place for you, your animals and the environment. As a workshop participant, you will receive one-on-one guidance from District farm planners and technicians to help you design, construct and implement livestock management practices that can meet your specific needs and circumstances. Attend all four workshops, or only those that meet your needs. Workshops are free!

Workshops will be held on Vashon Island during the months of October and November.  Meeting locations and exact dates are yet to be determined.

• Streams and Wetlands: Living with Livestock near Water. Take the plunge and protect your property, water quality and fish and wildlife habitat. Attend this workshop to design a stream or wetland native plant restoration plan. Calculate the length and cost of a livestock exclusion fence to keep animals out of sensitive areas, select native plants suited to stream and wetland buffers, determine plant placement and outline a maintenance plan. (October, 2008)

• Mud Management: Record Rainfall - Record Mud. It's always the right time to prepare for wet weather. Attend this workshop to develop a mud management plan. Design a confinement area for livestock, select footing material, estimate gutter and downspout needs based on roof runoff and develop a confinement schedule. (October, 2008)

• Manure Management: Got Livestock? Got Manure! Discover what's possible based on your finances, time and ability. Attend this workshop to develop a manure composting and utilization plan. Estimate the volume of manure produced by livestock, design and construct livestock manure storage bunkers or compost bins. Develop a plan to spread composted manure on pastures. (November, 2008)

• Pasture Management: Becoming a Grass Farmer. Yes, you can grow grass without weeds and meet your livestock forage needs—even on small acreage. Attend this workshop to develop a pasture management plan, determine the grazing capacity of your pastures, and learn how to manage grazing for optimal pasture production. (November, 2008)

Class size is limited. Please call to register or for more information.
Contact Paul Borne by phone at 425-277-5581 ext. 122 or e-mail Paul Borne