NCAT ACTION Newsletter March 2013

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Please consider a donation to NCAT. Your support helps NCAT promote sustainable solutions. Become an E-news Subscriber Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.     o foodcorps members think spring o sustainable practices in conservation efforts o tips to get ready for spring o March | o 2013 The March 2013 issue of our ACTION newsletter is also available online.   Our FoodCorps Members Think Spring! Our FoodCorps members and fellows in Arkansas, Iowa, and Montana are making a difference every day in the lives of hundreds of elementary and high school students. The members are teaching kids about what healthy food is and where it comes from, and working to bring healthy local foods into school cafeterias. And even in the winter, there are opportunities to help kids learn about the benefits of healthy foods. Here's what one member serving in Glendive, MT, had to say about her winter activities with her students: I'm not going to beat the "February in Montana, just trying to stay sane" drum anymore. Let's go ahead and all agree on the assumption that the weather outside is frightful and local food, well...scarce.  Read more.... Promoting Sustainable Practices in Conservation Efforts Working to Better Integrate Sustainable and Organic Farming Practices in Conservation Programs NCAT is spearheading a project that is helping the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture's (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) better integrate sustainable and organic agriculture approaches into its programs and practice standards. Started in 2010 with funding from the USDA's Conservation Innovation Grant program, NCAT staff are coordinating the efforts of 11 other organizations to provide recommendations for change and to offer training to help NRCS employees learn new techniques. Read more... Get Ready for Spring With These Tips! Get A Head Start, Save Energy & Plant Wisely -If you want to get rid of crabgrass, try mowing your lawn this spring to a cut of about 3 inches. Research shows that mowing grass so it's at least 3 inches, especially during the spring, provides as much control of crabgrass as did the use of herbicides. The higher cut reduces the stress on the turf grass and chokes out the crabgrass. Be careful to choose a mower model that is able to cut to a 3 inch height, since many reel mowers are not adjustable. Cut higher to help kill crabgrass and help your lawn flourish. More information can be found in our turf care publication, Sustainable Turf Care. Get more tips...   Copyright © 2013 The National Center for Appropriate Technology NCAT mailing address: P.O. Box 3838 Butte, MT 59702 1-800-ASK-NCAT Pass it on If you know someone who may be interested in receiving this newsletter, please forward it to a friend.   THE NCAT MISSION Helping People by championing small-scale, local, and sustainable solutions to reduce poverty, promote healthy communities, and protect natural resources. Unsubscribe || Privacy Policy