September 2023
Backyard Conversation
Connecting Community + Conservation
Welcome to the Backyard Conversation! Each month we'll be sharing a conservation topic from a more personal viewpoint for our readers. To make this successful, I want to hear feedback from you! I'll include a poll at the bottom regarding our topic and share links to some of our partner organizations with similar messages. So, let's get to it!
*Stormwater Awareness Week raffle*
Before our regularly scheduled e-mail newsletter we want to share a fun opportunity with you! Stormwater Awareness Week is October 1-7, and to celebrate we're holding a raffle! Take Our Stormwater Awareness Week Pledge and enter a raffle for an item of your choice. Items include a rain barrel and $25 off your 2024 Tree Sale order! Pledge soon, we'll draw raffle winners on October 9.
Fall Is Here!
What To Do With All Those Leaves?
Leaf Management- You Have Options!
"Leaf" the Leaves - Our preferred method that is a win-win-win for your landscaping, turfgrass and insects is to rake leaves around the base of the tree, or into flower beds. This allows insects that overwinter on or in the leaves to have a safe and protected habitat! The leaves will also break down over the course of winter and spring and create a free mulch for your beds! Download the comic on the left to share the importance of these "Soft Landings" for native insects with others. Credit: Heather Holm
Composting - Another option is to compost the leaves. Leaves make a great "brown" for your compost. They are full of nutrients and help make great compost that you can then use with your plants. We like to call compost "garden gold." By composting your leaves, you are reducing your waste and saving money by not having to buy compost or garden soil.
Mulch the leaves onto your lawn - If you have a medium amount of leaves you can run them over with your mower a couple times or once if it has a mulching setting to mulch them into smaller pieces so they will break down faster and not shade out the grass blades.
Yard Waste Disposal - Still have too many leaves that you don't know what to do with? You can dispose of them via community yard waste disposal or leaf collection. Check with your local municipality to learn about yard waste disposal or leaf pickups. Learn more about yard waste disposal from our pals at SWACO.
Storm Drain Leaf Leaves Trash
Did you know that leaves can pose a problem for storm drains? They can clog up the storm drain and prevent proper drainage. Nobody wants to deal with a backed up storm drain during a big rainstorm. Plus, the leaves will break down eventually and release nutrients into our waterways. Nutrients are great for your lawn and garden, but nutrients can be problematic for waterways and water quality. Too many nutrients in waterways can lead to algal blooms and other problems. Gross. Let's not "clutter the gutter."
Our 2023 Common Milkweed Seed Collection is now through November 12!

A large green collection bin with a yellow lid will be located outside of our office at 1404 Goodale Blvd Suite 100, Columbus, OH 43212 from September 1 through November 12, 2023. Stop by anytime to drop off your BROWN seed pods!

The Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative and Franklin SWCD are calling on Ohioans for Milkweed pods! Since the project began in 2015, volunteers have collected tens of thousands of gallons of common milkweed seed pods, totaling over 22 million seeds! The seeds are sown by ODOT onto "conservation corridors", designated areas along highways that are planted with native prairie perennials. 

Milkweed is the only host plant for the Monarch butterfly for egg laying and caterpillar rearing. It also serves as a food source for Monarchs as well as many other pollinator species. The disappearance of milkweed across the U.S. has contributed to the 80% decline of the eastern monarch butterfly population over the last 20 years. We are working hard to change this, and you can help! Let’s make our collection efforts in 2018 even better by following these simple tips!

• Make sure that before you collect seed, you become familiar with common milkweed to avoid harvesting pods from similar plants such as hemp dogbane and swamp milkweed

• It is best to collect the pods when they are dry, grey, or brown. IT IS IMPORTANT TO CHECK THIS. If the center seam pops with gentle pressure, they can be harvested.

• Store the pods in paper bags; plastic bags collect unwanted moisture.

• Put the date and county collected on the bag when you turn them in.

• Keep the pods in a cool, dry area until you can deliver them to the nearest collection site.

• Leave some pods (10-25%) on the plants so that seeds have a chance to naturally disperse and do their job as an important food source for milkweed bugs and other critters. 
Community Backyards Generic Graphic 2022
Community Backyards - Closing Soon!

We have had 2,700+ people participate in Community Backyards already this year and rising! Plus, 1,400+ people have already gotten their rebate this year. If you haven't participated yet this year, you should participate asap. Take a 15-20 minute online course where you will learn about what you can do to protect water quality beginning right in your own backyard! We cover rain barrels, rain gardens, native plants, and composting.

The last day to take the course is Sunday October 1! and remain closed until next spring. Participate asap, and don't forget to get your rebate this year.
Question of the Month
Did you participate in our Community Backyards program this year?
Yes!
No- I don't have space to plant, compost or install a rain barrel
No- I don't live in Franklin County
No- I didn't have time
No- Other reason
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.

Nature Scoop September 2023 - Take action in our yards: Plant native plants in fall #ClimateCrisis; Avoid lead; Garden Tips & More!

Learn more at www.backyardhabitat.info and on Twitter @NatureScoopOhio.
Mikaela Mohr
Outreach Program Specialist
Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District
1404 Goodale Blvd. Suite 100, Columbus, OH 43212 
p: 614-486-9613 | e: mmohr@franklinswcd.org

Kori Sedmak
Public Outreach Coordinator
Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District
1404 Goodale Blvd. Suite 100, Columbus, OH 43212 
p: 614-486-9613 | e: ksedmak@franklinswcd.org
Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District | (614) 486-9613 | www.franklinswcd.org