‘Land doctors’ looking for new patients

Van Wert independent/NRCS information

Ever seen the sky tinted brown with soil blown from a bare field on a windy day?  Or maybe a lake or stream that was green from algae growing out of control. These things are signs that the land and the water are hurting and need help.

The people working at the Natural Resources Conservation Service are like land doctors: they call themselves “conservationists” and know the signs of land that’s hurting and can help people working with the land to heal it. The “land doctors” are looking for new patients!

Many people who grow plants or raise animals don’t know that they are “farmers”.  But anyone working with the land to grow a crop, a forest, raise animals, or produce vegetables or fruit for sale may be a “farmer”.

New patients may never have gone to a land doctor before, either because they don’t know they are “farmers” or because they’ve been discriminated against in the past when they asked for help. These people include African-Americans, Hispanics, Asian Americans, American Indians, the disabled, and women. Other groups of people that may not have visited land doctors are new farmers, farmers that don’t have a lot of money, organic farmers or farmers that grow different or unusual crops or animals.

Even those who know they’re farmers and may have heard of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, are encouraged to join to learn about the latest, greatest treatments for land that is hurting.

On November 16 at 6 p.m., the Natural Resources Conservation Service land doctors — conservationists — are inviting new patients to come and hear how conservationists can help people using the land see signs that the land is hurting. They will show how together people can help treat the land to make it healthier so it can grow more food.

The conservationists will also talk about ways to pay for these treatments, using “conservation programs”.  The meeting will be held at 1185 Professional Drive in Van Wert.

For more information about the meeting or to learn more for those who can’t make the meeting, contact Ken Kottenbrock, at 419.238.9591 or email ken.kottenbrock@oh.usda.gov. Those interested can also visit the NRCS website at http://www.oh.nrcs.usda.gov.