Office Closure
Our District staff will be working remotely during this time and can be reached by email. Click here for a list of email addresses and phone extensions. Read more »
Author Archives: Heath Keirstead
Why do birds matter to you?
From 2019 to 2021, Benton SWCD is focusing out native plant outreach on birds and … Read more »
Low Salmon Returns, The Blob, and Raising Awareness
In the north Pacific, the Blob returned in 2019. Read more »
Conservation Neighbor Ron Leonard
Kids in Linn and Benton Counties are fortunate to have lifelong educator Ron Leonard to guide their outdoor education. Read more »
Conservation Neighbor Tara Davis
Tara Davis puts her unique skill set to work for watershed health, here in Oregon and abroad. Read more »
Cliff Hall – Leaving things better than he found them
This article has five authors: Donna Schmitz, Teresa Matteson, Heath Keirstead, Laura Brown, and Holly … Read more »
Choose the right plants for your site
Whether you have sun or shade, clay or sandy soil, you want to choose the right plants for your site. Read more »
Prairies of the Willamette Valley: A Panel Discussion
On Wednesday, January 10, 2018, Benton SWCD held our Annual Meeting for Fiscal Year 2016-2017. … Read more »
Meadowscaping Your Willamette Valley Yard
Practical tips for meadowscaping shared by professionals from the Corvallis Plant Materials Center. Read more »
Mason Bee Husbandry Workshops
Harvesting, Cleaning & Preparing Cocoons for Winter Storage Workshop Offered October 5 Bees and other … Read more »
Conservation Neighbor: Teresa Matteson
For many, soil is one of the most underappreciated resources on our planet; but not so for Teresa Matteson, a passionate soil pioneer who knows we shouldn’t be treating our soil like dirt! Read more »
Viewing the Solar Eclipse in and around Benton County
Opportunities abound for solar eclipse viewing. Explore the options. Read more »
Farm Practices to Support Beneficial Insects and Raptors
Tansy Ragwort is in Full Force!
What are those bright yellow flowers dotting fields and roadsides? They’re tansy ragwort, and they are toxic! Read more »
Mill Race Urban Creek Tour
A portal to a series of blog posts about the Mill Race in South Corvallis. Read more »
Plant a Patch of Milkweed!
Are you considering planting milkweed to save the monarchs? Milkweed has beautifully intricate, dusky-rose flowers … Read more »
Rain Garden II
Raingarden for Stormwater Management Read more »
Rain Garden I
Beth Young’s Rain Garden Design Read more »
Shade Garden Design
Beth Young’s Shade Garden Design
Native and Edible: A Backyard Design
Native edibles are low-care (if planted in the right place) because they are uniquely adapted to our soil, weather and seasons. While they are providing berries for our jam, they are also feeding and housing our birds, bees, bugs and other native critters that badly need our help. Read more »