(F)all's well that ends well. Let's talk about well water! - Central Region Learning Circle

Fall is in the air and with that brings a sense of gratefulness for the abundance of food coming in from our gardens, but have you ever stopped to think about what is happening beneath the surface of the soil to allow this to happen? Soil health is an absolute wonder and tied directly to that is water quality.

At this event, we will dive into how building healthy soil amidst an increasingly challenging environment remains a high priority for women landowners in Wisconsin and how soil health can directly impact the quality of water from your well.  With water quality a key factor in soil health, we will be conducting a demonstration using a well-water simulator to showcase just how much our water is impacted by the land usage above it.

We will connect with practices and NRCS resources that support you stewarding the long term health of your land, including the positive impacts of an integrated permaculture and agroforestry approach as well as the importance of developing pollinator habitat and usage of cover crops.

Bring a friend along and join fellow women landowners, farmers and conservationists along with local experts, to delve into learning the benefits of maintaining healthy soil, cover crops, no till and the value of keeping that soil covered.  Bring your experiences with, we love hearing your stories.

Wisconsin Women in Conservation Host: Allison Crook, WI Farmers Union 

Location: Vines and Rushes Winery (410 County Rd E, Ripon, WI 54971)

Food: We will enjoy a delicious afternoon snack array, catered by The Public House, a local woman-owned restaurant led by Head Chef Kristi Ebbott

• Menu will feature slider sandwiches, salads, and desserts, sourcing from local farmers and highlighting seasonal products (think apples, squash, and root vegetables- yumm!)
• A limited supply of Gluten Free, Vegan, and Vegetarian options will be offered.  Please let Allison know by October 14th if you have any allergies, so that we can try to accomodate (acrook@wisconsinfarmersunion.com).

Conservation Professionals Attending:

Kelsey Hagan, Natural Resource Specialist, NRCS

• Kelsey.Hagan@usda.gov 

Emily Snelson, Private Lands Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

• emily_snelson@fws.gov 

Madeline Kammerer, Soil Conservationist with Glacierland RC&D/NRCS 

• Madeline.Kammerer@usda.gov

Avenay Muchko, Wetland Easement Biologist, Pheasants Forever/NRCS

• Anevay.Muchko@usda.gov

Event Details:

• Event is free to attend but registration is required and space is limited.
• Women, all who identify as such, are welcome to attend – from  landowners to farmers to conservationist enthusiasts –  whatever your background, from beginners to experts! 
• Our WiWiC events follow a Learning Circle model, with ample time and a safe space for story sharing, networking and collaborative learning. We all have something to both share and learn together.
• The event will be held inside, but we encourage folks to enjoy the day and get outside at the winery as well.  Dress appropriately.
• Photos will be taken at this event and used for educational purposes only by WiWiC and the partner groups.  If you do not wish to have your picture taken, let the on-site WiWiC host know.
• WiWiC is a family-friendly space and you are welcome to bring your children. 

Wisconsin Women in Conservation (WiWiC) is a state-wide collaborative effort led by the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute in partnership with Wisconsin Farmers Union, Renewing the Countryside and Marbleseed (formerly MOSES).  A five-year multi-faceted project funded by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), WiWiC brings together Wisconsin's women landowners, farmers, farm workers, urban growers, and conservation professionals to connect and share about conservation practices, resources, and funding opportunities.