Conservation

Our little section of the Little Conestoga Creek

The water rushing under the bridge.

Early Sunday morning I woke to the sound of pounding rain. About half an inch of rain fell in a very short period of time. In the past I didn't really think too much about the rain. Now, living feet away from a creek, it's a whole different thought process. 

I don't know much about stream conservation but have been doing some research on the importance of our watersheds and how to protect them. After the rain, the creek was very high (but nothing that was near overflowing). The creek was also extremely muddy. What that means is that the silt from stream banks and lands up river were being lost into the water and flowing downstream and eventually into the Conestoga Creek, the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay. 

I have a lot of plans for our little plot of land (more on that later) and one of the plans involves planting along the creek to help create more of a natural buffer. I'd like to see if I can plan native trees and shrubs that will not only stabilize the creek bank but provide food for us and for the wildlife around us. 

In order to do this properly I'm going to need to do more research and to elicit some expert advice from, well, experts! Luckily there are quite a few organizations in the area dedicated to just this kind of conservation. Stay tuned for the whole 'homestead' plan which includes not only planting for the creek but also gardening and animal husbandry (ie - chickens!).