OCEAN COUNTY SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT Conservation Conversation

We equip the community with knowledge needed to understand and care for our watershed.

We regulate soil disturbance to protect our landscapes and waterways.

We inspire stewardship to preserve the health of our soil, water and natural resources.

Cultivating a Legacy: Reflections on Twelve Wonderful Years with OCSCD

Hello Everyone! This September 2026 Newsletter marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another, for me. After more than 12 wonderful years as Education Outreach Coordinator for the Ocean County Soil Conservation District, I am retiring and migrating south to North Carolina! It's hard to capture twelve years in just a few paragraphs, or even one article - though I tried! There have been countless programs, events, workshops, grants, presentations, gardens, newsletters, and adventures along the way. Most of all, there have been people - all of you - who made this journey so rewarding. In my final blog post for the District, I've taken a look back at those twelve years - the programs I grew, the lessons I learned, the people who inspired me, and the foundation that has been laid for the future of OCSCD's Education & Outreach program. I hope you'll take a few minutes to reminisce with me about some of the people, places and programs that have made these years so special.

While I'm saying goodbye to my role at OCSCD, I'm certainly not saying goodbye to conservation, education, curiosity, or the natural world. There are new landscapes to explore, new gardens to build, new birds to find, and new adventures waiting in North Carolina! Let's stay in touch!

Warmly,

Becky Laboy, M.Ed.

Education Outreach Coordinator, OCSCD

Jersey-Friendly Yards Conference 2026

Permaculture

The 2026 Jersey-Friendly Yards Conference, with a theme of Permaculture, will explore how our landscapes can nourish both people and ecosystems. Keynote speaker Dr. William Errickson will introduce participants to the principles of permaculture through the lens of native edible plants.

Dr. Errickson's talk will highlight species such as elderberry, beach plum, blueberry, chokeberry, persimmon, serviceberry, and paw paw, examining their roles in native ecosystems while offering practical guidance for incorporating them into home landscapes.

Save-the-Date: Saturday, September 26! Registration is $20 per person. More information can be found on the Jersey-Friendly Yards website.

Young Artist Turns Love of Nature Into Winning Environmental Poster

Derek Disanza entered the 2026 annual New Jersey Conservation Poster Contest with a winning idea. A love of nature and a passion for drawing helped him to create the poster selected as the local Ocean County winner.

Read more about Derek, his design process and what inspired him here.



Stay tuned for the 2027 Stewardship Theme and contest announcement!

2026 NRCS-NJ State Technical Committee Meeting & Aquaculture Tour

Earlier this summer, OCSCD helped organize the 2026 NRCS-NJ State Technical Committee meeting and farm tour. Shifting gears a bit from traditional meetings, the group gathered in Southern Ocean County to tour and learn about aquaculture operations in Barnegat Bay. The group first met at the Tuckerton Seaport and received a tour on the Seaport’s pontoon boat out to Parsons Mariculture’s oyster and clam farm in southern Barnegat Bay. The group’s second location was at the Barnegat Oyster Collective, where they learned about the land-based side of aquaculture with a nursery tour. David Steinmann, Soil Survey Office Leader for NRCS in NJ, then provided a subaqueous soils demonstration and introduction to the Coastal Zone Soil Survey. The day concluded with lunch and the business meeting. 

Intern Spotlight - Dylan Romeo

In 2026 Ocean County Soil Conservation District celebrates our 74th year. We remain committed to building and sustaining a conservation legacy by working with our partners and constituents to conserve, protect and restore our soil, water and natural resources by providing technical assistance, implementing restoration projects, and most importantly through education.