Did you know? The Eastern Kern County Resource Conservation District (EKCRCD) has started a Certified Resilient Backyard Habitat Program. If you appreciate nature, native plants, birds, pollinators, sustainability and conservation, rainwater harvesting and regenerative agriculture, dark skies and night stars, learn how you can participate in bringing a more balanced natural habitat to your yard or neighborhood. For more information or to sign up (LINK), go to iwvconservancy.org or ekcrcd.org, or contact the Habitat Committee at iwvconservancy@gmail.com with questions.

As part of the Habitat Program, EKCRCD is sponsoring a series of speakers and workshops in collaboration with the Maturango Museum. February’s speaker (Feb 14, 2:30-4pm) at the Maturango is our own local expert gardener Tyrone Ledford, the Founder/President of the Ridgecrest Community Garden at 231 W Haloid Ave. Tyrone will be speaking about successful Ridgecrest gardening, Cultivating Abundance in Harsh Climates (the title of his recently released book) and the relationship between habitat biodiversity and our own mental/physical health. A question and answer time will be offered at the end of the talk.