Think Spring. Even with the snowflakes and cold weather upon us, spring is thankfully not that far away. Organized through the Chautauqua County Soil and Water Conservation District, this year’s sale offers several varieties of conservation trees and shrubs, wildflower seed mixes, and other items such as bird and bat houses and barley straw for pond algae control.

Landowners can practice conservation by planting seedlings and wildflowers to provide wildlife food and habitat, shelter crops and landscape, reduce heating/cooling expenses, protect water quality, reduce air pollution and stabilize eroded land. Seedlings are an inexpensive alternative for replacing trees that have been damaged or lost.

This year, the Conservation District will be offering thirteen different evergreen species, twenty hardwood species, eighteen shrub species, four berries, two ground covers and three fern options. Species are available in lots of 10 or 25 or more. The District will also continue to offer bare-root fruit tree packages: offering apple, peach, pear or a mixed variety.

The District also stocks marking flags, fertilizer tablets and tree shelters to help promote the success of plantings. Bird and bat houses can also be ordered through the program. The District carries bat, bluebird, butterfly, kestrel, mason bee, screech owl, wood duck and wren houses. To purchase, you don’t need to wait until the tree sale, and can do so at any time by calling the District Office.

Catalogs and order forms could be found by visiting the Conservation District’s website at www.soilwater.org under the “District Programs” tab. You can also stop by the District’s Office at 220 Fluvanna Ave in Jamestown or by calling 664-2351 to request a hard copy.

Keep in mind that ordering is on a first come, first serve basis, as we need to place our order for trees ahead of time. Some popular varieties do sell out, so get your orders in. The deadline for ordering fruit trees and berry shrubs is March 8th, and you have until April 1st for the remainder of the catalog. Non-perishable items from the catalog are available year-round from the District.

Pick-up of tree orders will be at the Frank W. Bratt Agricultural Center at 3542 Turner Road in Jamestown. A date for the pick-up has not yet been scheduled, but it is anticipated to be at the end of April. All stock is bare-root, meaning the plant is harvested with little or no soil attached to the roots. Due to our stock being bare-root, the plants must be harvested and replanted while in a dormant state and while soil conditions are still moist. We suggest you plant the trees as soon as possible after picking up your order.

The Conservation District also offers planning and technical assistance to the general public as well as public and private organizations, schools, cities, towns, villages, highway departments and all units of government. Some examples of services offered by the District include: soil group worksheets for agricultural value assessments, erosion and sediment control, urban and rural drainage technical assistance, soil and water resource management, livestock programs, pond design, topographic maps, historical aerial photography, and soil maps.

The Chautauqua County Board of Supervisors declared Chautauqua County a Soil Conservation District in 1944 by determining that “conservation of soil resources and control and prevention of soil erosion are problems of public concern in the county.” Conservation districts are a local governmental subdivision established under state law, and adopted by the county, to carry out a program for the conservation, use and development of soil, water and related resources.