Little Habitat Project Infrastructure Actions

Soil

Level I: Choose One Action Item

Level II: Choose Two Action Items

Level III: Choose Three Action Items

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• Plant cover crops to help reduce erosion, suppress weeds, add nutrients back into the soil. Cover crops, also known as green manure and living mulch, have the ability to capture nitrogen from the air and make it available in the soil through a process called nitrogen fixation. As the cover crops grow and later decompose, it releases nutrients into the soil and becomes available for plants. There are several different cover crop options to consider including legumes (crimson and peas), and grasses (barley and rye). Cover crops have the most success when planted in late August to early October to ensure establishment before the winter. If you are not planning on keeping the cover crop as a permanent ground cover, make sure you terminate the crop before it goes to seed.
  • Cover crops for the home garden.
  • Planning for cover crops.

• Add woodchips to the soil as a bulking agent help increase porosity, water retention, and protect the top layer of soil from weeds. Woodchips can help create air pockets within the soil that are important for root growth and nutrient uptake. When a thick layer of wood chips is applied, this creates a physical barrier between weed seeds and sunlight. When sunlight is blocked, weed seeds are less likely to germinate and grow. Different sizes of woodchips can be sourced depending on the intended use. Source woodchips from landscape supply shops or local arborist companies.
  • Avoid walnut chips as this is toxic to soil.
  • Reapply as needed preferably in the Spring and Fall.
  • Leave a gap around the base of trees to prevent moisture from rotting the trunk.
  • If applied around plants allow the woodchips to partially decompose before using them. Fresh woodchips can deplete nitrogen in the soil that supports plants due to microorganisms using the nitrogen to help with the decomposition process. If you do not have time to let the chips age, apply it to the topsoil layer only and do not mix into rooting systems.
    • Chip drop for gardeners.
    • Woodchips in the garden.
    • Woodchip mulch.

• Add compost that I create myself to break down yard waste and food scraps to create a dark, crumbly, and rich amendment teeming with microorganisms and nutrients for plants. To make compost, mix one-part nitrogen-rich material “greens” with two-parts of carbon-rich material “browns” to ensure the optimum ratio of nitrogen and carbon. There are different styles of composting such as active and passive composting. Active composting requires more frequent turning and watering which produces a final useable product sooner. Passive composting is less intensive, requires a holding bin, and takes around 8-12 months to get a finished product. Animal products, weeds, or pet waste should be avoided for home composting.
  • Composting at home.
  • Composting guide.
  • Yard and garden composting.
  • Tips for composting success.
  • Compost troubleshooting.

• Create a vermicompost bin to convert food waste into a useable soil amendment. Vermicomposting is a process of composting organic materials using earthworms. These worms will help break down the organic matter into nutrient-rich compost through their feeding and digestion process. This type of composting offers several benefits to soil by providing rich nutrients, improving soil structure, and microbial activity. To set up a vermicomposting system, you will need a suitable container, bedding materials such as shredded newspaper or cardboard, composting worms (typically red wigglers), kitchen waste scraps, and proper maintenance. Make sure you avoid animal/dairy products, oily foods, spicy foods, and highly acidic food items such as citrus.
  • Guide to vermicomposting.
  • Setting up a worm bin.
  • Worm bin troubleshooting.

• Pick up and dispose of pet waste in the trash to reduce E. coli bacteria and parasites in the soil that can harm the environment, people, and other animals. The best disposal method is to put pet waste in a trash can to prevent it from entering local waterways. Pet waste can negatively impact water quality since it contains nutrients that cause algae blooms and wastewater treatment plants are not able to remove all pathogens. Pet waste can also make other pets sick with diseases such as parvovirus.
  • The importance of picking up pet waste.
  • Become a capital canine member.

• Create bare patches of soil for ground-nesting bees. 70% of native bees nest in the ground in holes they excavate themselves. We don’t know much about where ground nesting bees like to live, but they seem to prefer sunny areas with exposed soil. To help ground-nesting bees, select a site that is open with good drainage. Clear most of the vegetation; it is okay to leave some low plants like grass to help keep soil in place. Don’t dig up the soil as bees need stable ground for nesting.
  • How to support ground nesting bees.
  • Enhancing urban and suburban landscapes to protect pollinators.

Interested in getting a soil test conducted on your own property? Check out the Analytical Laboratories Serving Oregon that offer a variety of testing options, including nutrients, contaminants, and plant analysis. Before submitting your sample, it’s a good idea to check the laboratory’s website or call them directly to clarify your testing objectives, the cost, shipping procedures, and turnaround time.

Extra resource https://bentonswcd.org/programs/soil/#compost

Water

water components

Focus areas:

1. Creating Water Sources
2. Water Conservation 
3. Water Quality Management 

Level I: Choose One Action Item

Level II: Choose Two Action Items

Level III: Choose Three Action Items

• Install a wildlife water feature such as a birdbath or bubbler to provide a natural water source for birds and insects. When installing a water feature for wildlife, it is important to consider factors such as type of water feature, its size, location, and maintenance requirements. Proper planning and maintenance are essential to ensure that the water feature remains healthy and safe to drink. Replace the water every few days to ensure it is free of animal waste, algae, and mosquito eggs/larvae.
  • Attract birds with a birdbath.
  • How to make a birdbath.
  • Why you should keep your bird bath clean.
  • How to make a bird bath bubbler.

• Install a puddling area to provide a source of moisture and essential minerals that many wildlife species of insects such as bees, butterflies, and moths, as well as snakes and frogs depend on. This can be a shallow depression on the ground or a dish such as a terra cot plate. Keep the dish filled with fresh water and periodically replace the mineral content by adding small amounts of sand and soil. If you add sugar to the water, make sure the dish is placed on a plate of water forming a moat to avoid ants.
  • Butterfly puddling area. (***This needs to be embedded as pdf, top link on this page)
  • Video: How to make a puddling dish. (Heath do you like this video?)
  • Video: Building a butterfly puddling station. (Heath do you like this video more?)
  • Video: Building a butterfly puddling station. (sorry, last one)

• Create a garden pond for wildlife species such as dragon flies, newts, and frogs. When creating a backyard pond for wildlife, it’s important to consider factors such as size, design, plant selection, safety, maintenance, and accessibility by providing gradual edges or shallow areas to allow safe access for wildlife to enter the pond. Visit your local pond shops and garden centers to receive more advice on how to properly install a pond or work with a pond contractor directly.
  • Backyard ponds. (Embed pdf from NRCS, top link on this page)
  • Create a garden pond for wildlife.
  • Backyard ponds for dragonflies and damselflies. (Embed pdf from this page)

• Eliminate Lawn Watering: Allow the grass to go dormant during the dry months. Although it may turn brown, it will green up again as it rains in the Fall. Conservation benefits include water conservation, water cost savings, and less maintenance. You can also consider alternative landscaping practices such as xeriscaping or incorporating native plants that require less water which still enhancing aesthetic and ecological value.
  • Xeriscaping design.
  • What is xeriscaping?

• Disconnect downspouts (where appropriate): Disconnecting downspouts will help keep rainwater running off the roof and out of the pipes will help prevent overflows and backups and helps the rainwater soak into the property. https://www.portland.gov/bes/stormwater/managing-rain-your-property/downspout-disconnect
  • Add pdf how to disconnect downspouts from this page.
  • Maintaining home stormwater systems factsheet.

• Install a rain garden or bioswale (where appropriate): Rain gardens and bioswales are shallow depressions that are planted with native plants that help absorb and filter and reduce stormwater runoff to local waterways. They can be installed in low-lying areas or in areas where rainwater naturally collects. Important factors to consider when installing a rain garden include: proper site location, soil texture, planting design, planning for overflow, long-term maintenance, and permitting. 
  • Why install a rain garden?
  • The Oregon Rain Garden Guide. 
  • Rain garden factsheet.

• Install a stormwater planter: Stormwater planters can be an easy and attractive way to filter and manage stormwater runoff.
  • Stormwater planters. Embed pdf from OSU publication.
  • Stormwater planter information from EMSWCD.

• Improve irrigation efficiency: Use soaker hoses, drip irrigation, or hand water to deliver water directly to the roots of plants, reducing water loss from evaporation and runoff. Adjust sprinkler heads to avoid watering sidewalks or driveways. Install an irrigation system and get it audited.

Plants

plant components

Infrastructure

infrastructure components

What is green infrastructure?

Education

education components.

Add pdf on electric lawn tools from this page