Thurston Conservation District

11/05/2026

With the Big Dark officially upon us, it's time to fill your late autumn and winter schedule with cozy community fun... join us at Olympic Cards & Comics for our winter event series, Learn Through Play: "Forests, Feathers, and Food Webs"!

Three nights, three chances to learn about nature, have fun with friends, and get the chance to win $100 to spend at our Native Plant Sale👀

Attend one or all three game nights to study up, then attend our fourth and final event, a trivia night in February, to possibly walk away with a $100 gift certificate! 2nd and 3rd place prizes are also available.

Use this link to learn more and register:
https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/01a17e0476a87ba18b1f764f37fba169

Questions? Reach out to Jae Townsend [email protected]

11/03/2026

The November Garden Newsletter is out now! 🍂

Screen shot this post and use all month long or look for it in our upcoming monthly e-newsletter, delivered right to your inbox.

Interested in signing up to receive our newsletters? Register your email here: tinyurl.com/TCDnewsletter

10/26/2026

Calling all farmers and landowners who are curious about planning for the future!

Join TCD for Beverages & Bites, a chance to chat casually about farmland succession with friends, fellow farmers, landowners, and a farmland preservation expert.

This is a quarterly invitation to join TCD in a low-stress environment to ask questions about farmland succession, learn about resources, and explore what happens to your farmland when you're done farming!

Mark your calendars for the first meeting: Thursday, ,December 3rd, 2026, 8am at Coffee Pub NW.

More details on upcoming meetings to come- keep a look out on our newsletter and socials!

Questions and RSVP to Tina Wagner (360) 764-6273 or [email protected]

10/26/2026

Calling all native plant lovers!

Join us on Saturday, November 7, from 9:00-3:30 p.m., for our next hands-on hedgerows workshop with our educational partners, Thurston Conservation District, and our landowner demonstration-site partner, Summit Farms. We'll install native trees & shrubs along 500 feet to protect waterways, endangered species, and provide months of blooms, fruits, and cover for wildlife.

What you'll learn:
- Site preparation techniques
- How to install a hedgerow
- Benefits to wildlife habitat, crop production, water quality, and more.

Plus, you'll be with some really cool people with immense conservation knowledge!

Sign up here: https://www.nativeplantsalvage.org/events

10/23/2026

The results are in...

This Orca Recovery Day, 60 Thurston County residents came out and removed 2 truckloads of invasive English Ivy, planted 300 native shrubs and trees, played games, made art, and enjoyed a beautiful fall day!

Thank you to each and every person who came out to Orca Recovery Day- you're proving that actions matter, and when we all work together, we can truly make a difference!

A special thank-you to the City of Olympia for co-creating this event, and to Tara Galuska and Paul Berendt for sharing inspiring words to kick off our day.

We'll see you at Orca Recovery Day 2027!

10/22/2026

Hey all! Please consider joining in and working to keep fixable items out of the landfills! Please share!

Mark your calendars for the next Thurston County Fix-It Fair!

Saturday, November 14th
11 am - 2 pm
Tenino High School
500 W 2nd Ave, Tenino

Hole in your Jacket? Bike's got a squeaky wheel? Not to worry, the Fix-It Fair is here!

Bring up to 2 items in need of some TLC and let skilled volunteers get things as good as new!

Fancy yourself a tinkerer? Sign up to be a Fix-It Fair volunteer and help community members reduce, reuse, and give beloved items a second life♻✨

Pre-register for the event and sign up to be a volunteer at the link in our bio!

10/19/2026

Join TCD, WSU Extension, and Native Plant Salvage Foundation at Summit Farms for a Hands-On Hedgerow Demonstration Workshop🌱

Saturday, November 7th
9:00 am - 3:30 pm
Summit Farms

Native plant hedgerows provide wildlife habitat, bolster crop production, and improve water quality. Not to mention, they're beautiful!

Whether you're a farmer, gardener, or nature lover, come on out, get your hands dirty, and learn about hedgerows!

10/19/2026

Tomorrow, Tuesday, October 20th, attend the Thurston County Commissioner's hearing on TCD's public funding.

Our system of Rates and Charges public funding is the linchpin for TCD to deliver conservation services at a county-wide scale, benefitting each and every resident of Thurston County now- and for generations to come.

We need your help securing our public funding! Hit the link in our bio for more information on Rates and Charges, FAQs, and Public Hearing information.

Can't attend the hearing tomorrow in person or virtually? Not to worry! We have a handy-dandy letter of support template just for you. Hit the link in bio and speak up for healthy lands, waters, and people in Thurston County, no matter your Tuesday plans. 🌲💚

10/16/2026

Rates and Charges for TCD benefits everyone, regardless of land ownership or direct involvement in conservation projects. This flexible and predictable funding allows us to commit to and focus on our mission and vision for the future - a future where farmland isn't being lost, stewardship happens at the landscape scale, and our communities can withstand climate change impacts.

In this vision, belonging, health, and shared stewardship across our landscape will flourish by cultivating spaces where gardens, farms and nature become everyday resources. Join us in this important work!

Find more Rates and Charges Information, FAQs, letter of support templates, and meeting information at the link in bio.

Pictured in first slide: Local grasslands and pasture, when grazed with conservation in mind, are critical to supporting the rapidly disappearing South Sound prairie ecosystems. TCD is proud to work with so many local grazers to preserve this critical habitat and strengthen our local agricultural economy.