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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
Soil Your Undies… For Soil Health
In 2023 the Montana Legislature designated the first week of April as “Soil Health Week.” Soils are fundamental for all life on Earth. Healthy soils give us clean air and…
Invasive Species Awareness Spotlight – the American Bullfrog
The last week in February marks National Invasive Species Awareness Week, a week that highlights the non-native flora and fauna that wreak havoc on our ecosystems. The Montana Invasive Species…
Creeping Conifers
As the valley is blanketed with snow, many things look different. The river turns icy, the geese populate spring waters, and steam rises from houses and businesses alike, but one…
Water-Saving Wool
As the west faces growing drought conditions, producers are finding innovative ways to utilize livestock as means to conserve water. Montana State University was recently highlighted in a Time magazine…
Meet Clayton Marxer, Madison County Weed Coordinator
As we head into the New Year, we would like to welcome a (somewhat) new member of our conservation community in Madison County, Clayton Marxer! To better introduce himself to…