ALUS Elgin

08/19/2024

🌾 A (re)introduction to: Grasslands!

🌾 Grasslands, or Tall Grass Prairies, are ecosystems native to North America that provide many niche ecosystem services

🌾 Big bluestem, Indian grass, Switch grass, and little bluestem are some warm season species that can be planted with or without wildflowers, to create this awesome habitat type

🌾 Grasses can be planted as fields or buffers, to filter and slow water runoff, anchoring soil, and creating habitat for many species at risk

Pictured here is a site being planted with a grass and Forbes seed mix.

06/05/2024

So excited for one of our participants to share their experiences with ALUS Elgin and ecological stewardship in rural communities.

Check out the video below to see some awesome ALUS projects - thanks to Kelley Armstrong for sharing and continuing the stewardship of nature-based projects on her land 🌳

Kelley Armstrong is a proud participant in the community of ALUS Elgin. By taking on the environmental projects initiated by the producers that owned her pro...

05/29/2024

🌱 Welcome to a (re)introduction to: Wetlands!

🌱 Wetlands are areas that have been wet long enough for soil to become waterlogged, allowing for unique plants to grow, including yellow lady's slipper and bog cranberry.

🌱 Wetlands have great economic and environmental value, filtering water, creating habitat for amazing native plants and animals, and providing beautiful aesthetic value!

🌱 Contact ALUS Elgin to learn more about wetlands on marginal farmland and get involved today!

05/24/2024

🌱 Welcome to a (re)introduction to ALUS Elgin, where farmers lead the charge in nurturing nature-based solutions for a biodiverse and climate-resilient future

🌱 We help address the specific environmental challenges in our community by providing technical and financial support for the implementation of stewardship projects on marginal farmland. Our annual payments support participants in their production of ecosystem services from these projects

🌱 We’ve had fantastic projects including wetland development, tree and grassland plantings, regenerative agriculture, etc.

Reach out and get involved today!

05/14/2024

Small but mighty 💪🏼

A lot of these last few weeks have been spent planting tiny saplings like these. Although they may look unassuming right now, they’ll grow into trees and shrubs that work wonders as a windbreak in a large farm field

Wind breaks are linear plantings of trees and shrubs like these 🌲 They’re important for protecting valuable crops and soil, and providing habitat for wildlife!

05/10/2024

Beautiful weather for the last day at the St. Thomas-Elgin Children’s Water Festival 🌊

ALUS Elgin is always happy to partner in such amazing events, helping 3,200 grades 2-5 students learn about the value of protecting and conserving our local water!

This second picture features one of the many interactive education stations in which participants could learn about more about water conservation!

12/10/2023

December is a surprisingly good time to be able to see young trees. 🌲 Southern Ontario experienced a drought this spring, so we were preparing for the worst when it came time to check up on our 2023 plantings. While many of the cedars on this site were quite brown, the white spruces and white pines looked like they’ll be okay. A few of the deciduous saplings look really good! 🍃

This 5.7 acre planting project went on a farm field that is too small and oddly shaped for modern machinery, with too much variability in the soil for such a small space. Perfect for some trees!
🙌 Big thanks to our partners and project funders: 







12/01/2023

1.5 acre wetland project accomplished! 💧
 
The land started as a fallow field, too wet to farm. Contained a monoculture of the non-native canary grass (Phalaris canariensis).

🚜 Bulldozer and excavator were used to adjust the topography: earth was moved to allow varying depths of water to pool. Some spots of the wetland will be 2 feet deep, some 4.  Dug earth was used to make berms and blended with the surrounding slopes. The spots were seeded with native tall grasses and forbes. 

These wetlands will improve the water quality, where the water flowing through this area will reach 100m before it reaches Kettle Creek. The project is outside of Port Stanley, as such biodiversity will also result, habitat for turtles! 🐢

🙌 Thank you to the Partners in this project: Ducks Unlimited, the Elgin Stewardship Counsel, the Elgin Clean Water Program, EcoAction, WWF

11/12/2023

🤝Join the Ontario Farmland Trust in a series of FREE ONLINE webinars to explore pressures on farmland, learn about solutions, and share innovative ideas.

🔈THIS WEEK! 🚨
Tuesday November 14th: 12pm-1pm
Farmland Forever: An Introduction to Farmland Protection Options 🌳

Join us over your lunch break from the comfort of your home, field or office to learning about this exciting topic! 🏡🍲
 
✏️ Read more and register for all sessions on the OFT website https://ontariofarmlandtrust.ca/2023/10/10/winter-webinars-register-today/

11/02/2023

Catfish Creek Conservation Authority (CCCA) is undergoing the development of a new 10 Year Strategic Plan as part of the Conservation Authorities Act (CA Act) update. 💧

The Strategic Plan is a business plan for the CCCA and will identify opportunities to collaborate with other organizations and engage landowners to achieve watershed conservation. 🌎 Climate change resiliency and adaptation will be embedded within the document.

📌For more information, check the CCCA website: https://www.catfishcreek.ca and social media platforms to complete the survey, or contact Dusty Underhill by phone at 519-773-9037 or by email at [email protected].
The feedback period for the first phase of the document takes place until November 24, 2023 at 4:30pm. 
 
✏️Link for Survey: https://bit.ly/406PmLF