Meet the Common Snowberry
There is not much snow blanketing the valley as we roll into the New Year, so instead I’d like to draw attention to the little white berries whose common name was likely inspired by their likeness to a snowball. The…
Winter Annual Grasses: Ventenata’s Growing Presence
While winter is often a time to slow down and recharge, some plants take advantage of the cooler weather to get a head start on spring. Winter annual grasses, those that germinate in the fall, lie low through the coldest…
From Soil to Self
From an early age, we interact with soil—we run on it, inhale it (likely accidentally), and drink water filtered through it. But our relationship with soil runs much deeper. The plants we eat grow in soil supported by a thriving…
Wildlife Friendly Fencing
Throughout the Madison Valley and across Montana, fences are utilized for many reasons, such as defining property boundaries, preventing straying livestock, and enclosing pastures or rangelands. These necessary fences can also create hazards for wildlife, from big game animals to…
Composting Offers Ranchers, Gardeners, and Communities Sustainable Solutions
When we throw something “away,” does it ever really disappear? While our trash may vanish from sight in dumpsters and landfills, it lingers in our environment. Even food scraps—one of the largest components of landfill waste—don’t reach their full potential…
Compost Field Day
Join the Madison Conservation District, the Madison Valley Ranchlands Group, and MSU Extension for an explorative Compost Field Day, as our annual Fall Field Tour. We’ll cover everything from composting basics to mortality composting and practical applications for homes, ranches,…
Stream Smart: Know the 310 Law
We've reached the height of summer—the perfect season to take on those outdoor projects and renovations that have been waiting on our ever-growing to-do lists. Perhaps you're planning to build a footbridge over the creek in your backyard, stabilize a…
Digging Deeper: Vermicomposting and the Power of Worms
Growing up, I had a fondness for worms. I’m not sure where this admiration for crawling critters began, but I have vivid memories of rescuing them from sidewalks after rainstorms, building worm farms in my garden, and reading How to…
Get Your Feet Wet this Summer with the Madison Stream Team
Calling all community members interested in learning about stream health and making a difference in the Madison Watershed! Did you know over 15 streams in the Madison Watershed have been identified as impaired by state regulatory agencies? Our watershed is…
Familiar Calls and Signs of Spring
Peaceful evening walks through my neighborhood are populated with yellow-green leaves on willows starting to bloom by the creek. Within the sprouting willows and bare birch trees, birds sit on the branches sounding the alarm when I get too close,…