Programs
What's a Conservation District?
Across the United States, nearly 3,000 conservation districts—almost one in every county—work directly with landowners to conserve and promote healthy soils, water, forests, and wildlife. They all share a single mission: to coordinate assistance from all available sources—public and private, local, state, & federal—to develop locally-driven solutions to natural resources concerns. As units of state government, Conservation Districts have a long history of providing trusted service in a “non-regulatory” way—which means we are only here to help!
Shared Goals
Each district shares the goal of helping conserve working lands. There are numerous programs to help landowners address resource concerns on their property, rent equipment to help with farm projects, learn about wildlife and the environment, and investing in the future of farms. Check out some of these programs below but don't forget to look at your district's website to find out about even more programs available!
Climate Resilience Grants
The NH Conservation Districts have launched a farm viability program to improve the resilience of NH farms in the face of extreme weather events and a changing climate. Direct grants to farms to invest in on-farm infrastructure, equipment, and innovative practices will support farm profitability and long-term viability.
Districts loan out specialty equipment to farmers and other landowners for implementing conservation practices that help soil health, water quality, and wildlife. The program is supported by several grants, and our low rental fees help cover equipment repairs. Check your district's website to see what each county offers.
Farm Future Fund
The mission of the NH Farm Future Fund is to provide funding for farm viability planning in concert with the conservation of important agricultural soils. This program will leverage the singular opportunity of putting a conservation easement on farmland to also invest in the future viability of the farm business.
Erosion Control Workshops
Districts provide training opportunities for professionals working in soils, erosion control, water quality, public works, consulting, and engineering.
Demonstrations
We support farmers and growers by hosting a variety of programs focused on best practices that highlight innovative tools and techniques. Districts also have educational demonstrations about a wide variety of environmental monitors.
Volunteering
Do you like to get your hands dirty in the garden or farm, enter data, design promotional materials, cook food for events, serve on boards, or take photographs? Whatever your skill set, we can use it!
Local Working Groups
Every year each district holds an open meeting where the public can come and express their resource concerns that they would like to see addressed. These concerns can then be championed by NHACD to the NRCS as priorities for the next round of programming available.
Plant and Seed Sales
Do you need plants for conservation work, pollinator gardens or your back yard? Then, check out District plant sales. Held each spring and fall. They feature a variety of quality plants including fruit trees, berry bushes, wildlife plants, trees & shrubs, and bulbs. These annual fundraisers support local conservation efforts.
Conservation Planning
Districts can connect farmers and landowners to conservation planners. They can provide conservation action and management plans, technical assistance, connections to financial assistance, and connections to other growers for peer collaboration.
Soil Judging
The Soil Judging Contest provides students with an awareness of the common characteristics of soil, how these characteristics affect selected uses of the soil, and how some land uses may be ‘judged’ to be more useful than others based on soil features. The primary goal of this program is to provide students with a team-based educational opportunity to learn about soils and to demonstrate their understanding
Inspiring teens since 1992 to make responsible environmental and natural resource decisions through real-world, hands -on educational experiences.
