Washington State Conservation Commission

Congratulations to Kitsap Conservation District New Page— a 2026 recipient of the Friends of NACD District Grants Program! The National Association of Conservation Districts announced its award recipients during its recent Annual Meeting in San Antonio.

Kitsap Conservation District's project, "Planting Seeds, Harvesting Community," will support community and food bank gardens with sustainable growing education, provide plant starts for gardens donating to local food banks, and help build a connected network of community gardens.

Great work, Kitsap CD!

San Juan Islands Conservation District is offering free, hands-on biochar kiln workshops this winter on Orcas, San Juan, and Lopez Islands!

If you're in the area and would like to attend, it'll be a great way to learn how to turn small forest debris into biochar, a natural soil booster that helps hold water and nutrients while reducing fire fuels. 🔥

The workshops also share Indigenous land stewardship knowledge and modern tools that help keep forests healthier and communities safer.

Space is limited, so sign up soon! This is a great chance to gain practical skills you can use at home. Learn more at https://bit.ly/49Rm34N.

San Juan Islands Conservation District offers free biochar kiln workshops to combat wildfire risk and boost soil health |Hands-on training teaches islanders to transform forest debris into valuable soil amendment while reducing fire danger |... By Darell Kirk

Washington Grown's latest episode features Cascadia Conservation District and the work they are doing with Campo Farm & Kitchen in Cashmere, WA.

On roughly an acre of land, Campo Farm & Kitchen is growing a wide range of produce while working to improve soil health and connect its community with the environment.

In partnership with the Cascadia Conservation District, Campo is using smart farm planning and sustainable practices to increase organic soil matter (up to >5% from 2%), create pollinator habitat, and more.

It's a great example of how conservation and local farming can work together to build healthy, resilient farms for years to come. To learn more watch a clip from the video here: https://bit.ly/45vTdWy or watch the full episode here: https://bit.ly/4qD1yjF

Conservation Farm Plans I Campo Farm & Kitchen & Cascadia Conservation District I Washington Grown Visiting Campo Farm & Kitchen in Cashmere gives you a real feel for regenerative, no-till farming and truly organic, seasonal produce grown right in the hear...

Great work is happening under SCC’s Riparian Plant Propagation Program (RPPP)!

Last month, program manager B’Elanna Rhodehamel visited one of Puget Sound Plants Olympia’ nurseries in Olympia, WA, and a holding site in Grays Harbor Conservation District.

At Puget Sound Plants, nursery staff gave B’Elanna a full tour of their operations, including letting them watch crew load a truck full of plants for delivery. RPPP is currently contracting with Puget Sound Plants to grow nearly 32,000 plants that will be distributed to restoration groups in the fall of 2026.

At the Grays Harbor CD holding site, which is in partnership with the Port of Grays Harbor, staff have been maintaining plants, including some gravel beds. They are waiting to hear what their partners need next spring to ramp up cultivation again. Some of their plants are also distributed through a free plant program.

Thank you to all of our RPPP partners for your hard work to raise the plants needed for habitat restoration work across our state!