Backyard Conversation
Connecting Community + Conservation
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Welcome to Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District's Backyard Conversation newsletter! Each month, we will share a conservation topic from a more personal viewpoint for our readers and residents. Thanks for reading! |
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Do you PUP?
Pick Up Pet Waste for Cleaner Waterways
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We hope you had a great 4th of July! We are certainly in the dog days of summer. Speaking of dogs, this month we are talking about something that isn't super *buzzworthy* like last month's National Pollinator Month, but it is an important reminder of yet another way we can do our part to keep our environment and waterways clean and healthy for all of Franklin County and beyond.
Practicing PUP Keeps Water Clean
Dog poop is not only unsightly, but it is also bad for our environment and turfgrass. It's important that we pick it up not only for public health and cleanliness but to also prevent contaminants from entering our waterways. If dog poop is not cleaned up, it can kill the grass. When it rains, it is washed into our storm drains and waterways. There are an estimated 391,000 dogs in Franklin County alone that produce around 147 tons of poop per day.
Dog poop is high in nutrients and bacteria including E. coli. These nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen will dissolve in water. Excessive nutrients in waterways causes algal growth, which depletes the amount of oxygen in a body of water, which can cause problems for the critters and fish that live in our waterways. Dog poop containing worms or parasites can even spread worms and parasites to other animals. Plus, nobody wants to dodge dog poop piles. We have a simple solution: Practice PUP = Pick Up Poop.
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Pet Waste Disposal Questions & Answers
What is the proper way to dispose of pet waste? The recommended and easiest way to dispose of dog poop is to pick it up with a bag or pooper scooper and dispose of it in the trash.
Can I compost dog poop? Generally, do NOT try to compost dog poop in your backyard compost pile. Your backyard pile will not get hot enough to break down the bacteria found in dog poop.
Can I flush it? You CAN flush pet waste down the toilet, but we don't recommend it if you have a septic tank. If you choose to flush, do NOT flush any plastic bags; they will clog your pipes.
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If you live in a participating community, take our PUP pledge to receive a FREE doggie poop bag dispenser! It clips onto your leash for easy access, so you can practice PUPing on the go.
2024 Participating Communities: Cities of Columbus, Gahanna, Grandview, Hilliard, New Albany, Reynoldsburg, & Franklin County Townships
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State of Ohio law requires all dogs to have a valid dog license. Countless dogs are lost and found each year, and a valid dog license helps Fido get home faster. Get your dog license through your County Auditor's office. Franklin County residents can do it online in just a few minutes. |
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Next Franklin County Pollinator Pathway Meeting on Thursday July 18, 5:30-7:00pm
THANK YOU to everyone who attended the first Franklin County Pollinator Pathway meeting in June! We had over 50 people show up in-person, and we nearly ran out of chairs!
Based on the conversations and questions, there is so much work already being done for pollinators and native plants in Franklin County, but more can certainly be done including project implementation, project maintenance, community outreach, advocacy, and DEI intiatives. We can't wait to see the work that comes out of this great group of residents, conservation professionals, public servants, nonprofits, and more.
We are hosting a second Franklin County Pollinator Pathway meeting on Thursday July 18, 5:30-7:00pm at Franklin Soil & Water Conservation District. This meeting with be hybrid. If you plan to attend, please register here. Additionally, you can sign up for email updates here.
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Save the Date!
Franklin SWCD Annual Meeting
Thursday September 19, 5:30pm-7:30pm
Our 2024 Annual Meeting will be held on Thursday September 19, 5:30-7:30pm at Grange Insurance Audubon Center. Sticking with the rotating watershed theme since 2022, please join us this year to celebrate conservation along the Scioto River. More details coming in our August newsletter.
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Upcoming Events
Check out these events from the District and our partners.
COMMUNITY BACKYARDS WORKSHOPS
Most of our rebate workshops have already happened in the spring, but we will have a few more in late summer that are TBD. Check out these upcoming ones.
Our workshops are open to everyone! You are welcome to attend a workshop in a different community than where you live. Find more dates and sign ups here. If the registration is closed, you're still welcome to just SHOW UP. See the presenters to fill out a voucher request, and we will send it in a couple business days after the workshop.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Check out these upcoming community events. If you see us, stop by our table and say hi!
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Yardening Tips from Lonnie the Garden Gnome
Consider these July "yardening" tips.
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Put that rain barrel to good use in the summer heat! Use your rain barrel to water your gardens and flowerbeds.
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Newly planted native perennial plants will need watering in their first year to help them establish, especially during heat waves and low precipitation, but they will be more resilient after the first year.
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Compost food scraps and yard waste. When the weather gets hot, the composting process will speed up with the increased temperatures. If your compost is drying out from the heat, add a little water. Remember, it needs to be generally moist but not soaking wet. You want it as damp as a wrung-out sponge. For more tips, check out our composting resources.
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Does your Fido have a dog license?
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No, but I will get one soon!
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Get the Scoop from Nature Scoop
Want to learn more about backyard conservation, pollinators, and more? Read the latest edition of the monthly newsletter Nature Scoop by Toni Stahl, National Wildlife Federation Habitat Ambassador.
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Mikaela Mohr
Outreach Program Specialist
Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District
1404 Goodale Blvd. Suite 100, Columbus, OH 43212
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