This document discusses resource concerns, conservation practices, and education efforts of the Marion Soil and Water Conservation District. It notes resource concerns like erosion, compaction, excess nutrients, and invasive species. It then lists conservation practices for urban and small farms like cover crops, nutrient management, and reduced tillage. Finally, it provides details on the direct technical assistance to over 100 growers in Marion County and the educational events held each year, reaching over 600 people annually on topics like soil health, conservation practices, and plant productivity.

1. Marionswcd.org

4. Resource Concerns
• Erosion
• Compaction
• Degraded soil habitat
• Ponding
• Flooding
• Excess Nutrients
• Low aggregate stability
• Inefficient moisture
management
• Plant health
• Plant Productivity
• Invasive species

7. Urban & Small Farm
Conservation Practices
• Alley Cropping
• Composting Facility
• Conservation Cover
• Conservation Crop Rotation
• Contour Farming
• Cover Crops
• Filter Strip
• Gypsum
• Hedgerow Planting
• High Tunnel
• Integrated Pest Management
• Mulching
• Nutrient Management
• Multi-Story Cropping
• Residue and Tillage Management
• Reduced Till & No-Till
• Tree Shrub Planting
• Windbreak Shelterbelt

18. Direct Technical Assistance
Technical assistance to 104 growers
38 market farms
51 organization farms
49 have an educational component.
Multiple operations’ missions include
food access for Marion County
residents in need.
Year Direct TA Site Visits
2015 43 36
2016 44 34
2017 53 41
2018 64 51

19. Educational Events
Year Educational
Events
Total Attendance
2015 28 625
2016 33 737
2017 33 710
2018 33 905
Target Audience
• Local Growers
• Community Leaders
• Educators
• Youth
• Public
• Conservation Partners
(USDA-NRCS, SWCDs, Purdue Extensions, etc.)
Themes
• Soil Health
• Basic and advanced conservation practices
• Plant health and productivity, cover crops,
mulching, reduced tillage, nutrient management,
and native plantings
• Grower roundtables and networking
• Hands-on trainings

20. Educational Events and Trainings
One Water Forum
Organic Nutrient Management Workshops
for Vegetable Growers
Purdue Extension – Spring Garden Clinics, Lunch &
Learns, Garden Tours
Youth Workshops at Groundwork Indy, Kephwr Institue,
Felege Hiywot, & Multiple Schools
Purdue Extension – Urban Farm Incubator Network &
Purdue Urban Ag Certificate Course
Multiple SWCD Hand-On Trainings at
Demonstration Gardens
Purdue Extension – Master Gardener State Convention Multiple Cover Crop Giveaway Events
Indiana Small Farms Conference Pathway to Water Quality – Indiana State Fair
Permaculture Workshop CCSI Advanced Cover Crops Specialty Crops
V3 Corporate Sustainability Indiana Teacher’s Association
Indy Urban Acres Spring Clinic
NRCS Leadership Team &
NRCS Statewide Soil Health Teams
Indianapolis Rose Society Indiana Association of Soil Classifiers
Permaculture Film Screenings of INHABIT Marion County SWCD Grower Roundtables
Purdue Extension – Nutrition Education Program at St.
Philip Neri Community (Spanish)
Indianapolis Public Libraries
SWCD/NRCS/Purdue Extension Garden Huddle TURN Festival
IUPUI Guest Lectures Indiana Wildlife Federation