Assistance is available to any land occupier, whether a farm or a non-farm landowner who resides on or owns land within the district is eligible to receive assistance. The district can provide assistance which relates to the conservation of soil, water, and related natural resources.
Soil Testing Services
At this time, due to recent government Executive Orders and reductions in staffing, we are unable to offer Soil Sampling Services. We hope to bring this service back in the future.
Technical and Financial Assistance
“Looking for technical or financial assistance to conduct multiple soil tests? The Natural Resource Conservation Service – NRCS – can help! NRCS offers a range of practices to help address natural resource concerns, such as soil sampling, invasive species treatment, pollinator habitat planting, hay field re-seeding, and more. If you’re a landowner looking to become a better steward of your land, but are unsure where to start, check out NRCS’s website
Composting
Integrating compost into your soil is one way to improve your soil health and at the same time reduce your household waste. Composting, when done correctly, can give a boost to your soil’s ecosystem by adding organic material, nutrients, and a diversity of micro-organisms. We sell compost bins and help landowners install and know how to use them. To learn more about our compost panels and how to purchase them, click here.
Workshops
We aim to offer or participate in workshops on a variety of topics in Conversation. Visit our workshops page here. Our workshops page also offers a list of workshops that have been offered by WCCD in the past and potential future topics.
“If I am not a farmer – is this for me?” Soil health is for everyone! WCCD strives to make conservation accessible to all Worcester county residents, independent of scale.
Additional Soil Health Resources to Browse:
- NRCS Soil Health Resources – http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/nd/soils/health/
(North Dakota NRCS – based, but they are one of the leaders in this area) - Cornell University Soil Health Resources – http://soilhealth.cals.cornell.edu
- Soil Food Web, by Dr. Elaine Ingram – http://www.soilfoodweb.com
- Sustainable Agriculture Resources and Education (SARE) – http://www.sare.org/Learning-Center/What-is-Soil-Health
- National Soil Maps through NRCS Web Soil Survey – http://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/HomePage.htm
- Soil Health Card – http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/PA_NRCSConsumption/download?cid=nrcseprd401840&ext=pdf
- Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) is the federal agency that helps farmers and other landowners improve and protect their natural resources. We work in partnership with NRCS to deliver land conservation knowledge and practices.
- Massachusetts Association of Conservation Districts (MACD) is a private, non-profit, non-governmental association of the 13 Massachusetts districts, operating under its own constitution and by-laws. WCCD and MACD also work together toward a common goal enabling districts to achieve greater recognition from, and access to, both the legislature and governmental agencies as we as from people in the private sector.
- Together through the District Grant Program funded by Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) WCCD is in the planning stages in developing conservation and nutrient management plans for farms within impaired watersheds, with a special focus on land within the Long Island Sound watershed. We will educate professionals, landowners, students and the general public about soil health through workshops, press releases, social media, and the development of educational materials for schools. We will work with NRCS to implement good soil conservation practices on the agricultural, forestry and developed landscape