Conservationists are hopeful the state will give more money into the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program for residents experiencing stormwater erosion.

Jamestown High School placed first overall in the 2026 Area III Envirothon Competition, held at the Caroline County Agricultural Fairgrounds on April 16, 2026.

Bob Waring is a third-generation farmer at Brandon Farms, and he grows about 450 acres of corn and soybeans on land that his grandfather and father began no-tilling and cover cropping 40 years ago. Except for occasional deep ripping to break up compaction, the ground hasn’t been tilled since then. Waring plants green into a variety of live cover crops and said the approach has let him reduce chemical usage by about 75%.

The Transition Zone is a climatic region with generally hot summers and cold winters, both of which can stress warm and cool season species. To understand how and why both types of turf can struggle in this region, it’s important to know the basics of cool and warm season growth cycles. Read on to learn more about which grasses will be best for your lawn.

On his 400-acre farm in Virginia, Bob Waring spends many of his waking hours thinking about how to make each acre profitable. Rather than rely on synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, or insecticides, he’s betting on biology: deep-rooted cover crops, time-tested rotations, and soil that’s alive and working in his favor.

A short summary of the VASWCD 2025 Annual Conference in December.

Since its launch nearly a decade ago, the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program has grown by 300%—quickly obligating over half of its $4 million biennial funding during the last budget cycle and prompting a waitlist system—leading the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts to request $7–8 million in future funding to sustainably meet rising conservation demand.

CSWCD Winter 2026 Newsletter published

Soldier beetles are small, often unnoticed insects that play an outsized role in maintaining ecological balance. Learn more about the ecosystem services they provide and why you need more in your garden.

There are so many exciting opportunities available to students in the Colonial District. Learn more!

The Colonial Soil and Water Conservation District Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2025 is now available for download on our website.

Did you know that pruning a pepper plant can maximize your yield by up to 50% per plant! Whether you’re growing bell peppers, hot chili varieties, or sweet banana peppers, pruning can improve airflow, reduce disease, and encourage stronger, more productive plants. Learn more about the dos and don'ts right here to help you ensure that you get as many peppers as you can from your plants.

If your soil is too acidic, applying lime will tend to neutralize soil acidity, but how do you ensure that you’re not applying too much or too little? read this article to learn all about lime application.

The Colonial SWCD is excited to announce that landowners within the City of Newport News are now eligible to participate in the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP).

Discover the benefits of assassin bugs in your garden! Learn how these stealthy predators provide natural pest control to help to transform your garden into a pest-free haven.

Virginia is home to an incredible variety of native plants. If you're considering a shade bed, we have some suggested options to plant in place of some of the nonnative / invasive species that are used frequently in home gardens.

CSWCD Summer 2025 Newsletter published

The Jamestown High Envirothon team won Virginia’s 2025 Dominion Energy Envirothon State Competition and will be moving forward to the NCF-Envirothon International Competition this July at the University of Calgary in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The team placed first for the Forestry and Soils stations.

Riparian buffers are vegetated areas intentionally planted or preserved along the shorelines of water bodies or wetlands. They play a crucial role in protecting water quality and the surrounding environment as they serve as the transition between the upland land use and the waterbody or wetland. Science has confirmed that it is much easier (less costly) to control and manage pollutants in the upland setting than to physically remove pollutants from the water. Learn more about

Join us at Cousiac Manor on June 4th for Colonial's Conservation Kick Off!

The Berkley Plantation Living Shoreline Project was selected to receive the “Excellence in Problem Solving/Creative Solutions” recognition for the 2025 PISCES program.

Permeable pavement is one of the most popular best management practices in the Colonial SWCD service area with landowners who are considering applying for the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program. Learn more about this popular option from CSWCD staff member, Robyn Woolsey.

Virginia is home to an incredible variety of native plants. Maybe it’s time to try adding some edible native species to your garden and enjoy the fruits (and leaves) of your labor for many years to come!

Jamestown High School placed first overall in the 2025 Area III Envirothon Competition, held at Dorey Park on April 15, 2025.