Local farmer showing good stewardship by planting a cover crop. Did you know that it takes 500 years to form 1 inch of soil? Did you know that soil is one of the most important ingredients in your everyday life? Did you know that soil makes up the outermost layer of our planet? Did you know that five tons of topsoil spread over an acre is only as thick as a dime?

Soil is one of the most important resources to us because it provides a place for plants to grow which in turn help us breathe cleaner air. Soil is also the component of the food that you eat on a daily basis. If we do not conserve our most basic resource now, one day there will be nothing left.

The conservation of our natural resources is important in every community, backyard, farm, and ranch. It helps bring people together by improving the environment that surrounds us. Healthy habitats provide a plethora of resources for the organisms that exist within them.

For the past 55 years we have been celebrating stewardship week. The week starts on the last Sunday of April and goes till the first Sunday of May. This is a perfect time to figure out what you can do to help conserve our precious resources. Some ways you can help the environment is to plant a tree, add a bird bath to your yard, plant flowers in the flower bed, and recycle. You can also water your yard between 6-8 am or 6-8 pm as this will help conserve water. There are many, many other ways you can contribute to a healthier habitat. Not only will it benefit the environment, it will also make your lawn attractive. So do your part and take some time on these beautiful days to construct a healthy habitat and help conserve our natural resources.

This week the Kleberg- Kenedy Soil and Water Conservation Board of Directors will do its part in celebrating Stewardship week. They will help conserve the soil by planting different crops in their field to help keep the soil from blowing so we continue to provide food and clothing for an ever increasing population.

The District encourages each and every one of us to think our personal responsibility to be a good steward of natural resources. The District continues to identify erosion on cropland and plant health on grazinglands as a high priority in their Program and Plan. “We all need to do our best to protect these great resources for future generations,” says John Prukop, Chairman of the Board.

For more information on stewardship, conservation or programs, please contact the District office at 401 E. King or call (361)-592-0309 ext. #3.