In late July, the Duval Soil and Water Conservation District celebrated their 68th Anniversary on World Conservation Day. Local sponsors, community advocates, and members of the public were all present to celebrate at the Garden Club of Jacksonville. Highlights from the evening included delicious catering from head chef of 13 Gypsies, Kevan Kimball, and drinks from Legacy Kitchen & Catering; words of acknowledgement from the Board of Supervisors; a special guest presentation by Kay Ehas of Groundwork Jacksonville; and a raffle drawing of over 20 different prizes from local community sponsors.

Formed in 1953, the Duval Soil and Water Conservation District was formed to help landowners and users to conserve land, water, forests, wildlife and related natural resources. This year marks the 68th anniversary, as well as the celebration of World Conservation Day. The Board, especially event chair, Ashantae Green, worked diligently to prepare a special event to celebrate the hard work of conservation members in the community.
 
Each year the Board recognizes a “Conservation Teacher of the Year”. This year, due to the limitations of the pandemic last year, two teachers were recognized for their dedication as educators to the mission of conservation. Aesha Johnson (2021 Awardee), a 4th grade math and science teacher at Jacksonville Beach Elementary, strives to instill conservation efforts and education in her students through her teaching and as chairperson of her school’s annual Family Science Night. Additionally, the student winner of the District’s 2021 poster contest came from her class. Steven Sherrill (2020 Awardee) has been an educator for 26 years, with 16 as the Marine and AP Environmental Science at Sandalwood High School. He was the faculty sponsor of GreenState Environmental Club for 15 years and has been involved in the District’s Envirothon as well as encouraging his students’ involvement in countless other conservation efforts throughout the city. Duval SWCD is delighted to show our appreciation to our outstanding Duval County educators.
 
Guest speaker, Kay Ehas, CEO of Groundwork Jacksonville shared about the exciting projects Groundwork Jacksonville is championing to help with the development of downtown including the restoration of McCoys Creek, Hogans Creek and the creation of the Emerald Trail. The latter is a 30 mile path that will connect our city's historic urban neighborhoods to downtown and will link schools, colleges and parks. Duval SWCD's innovative Regeneration Park, primarily funded by a grant from the National Association of Conservation Districts, is situated along the biodiversity corridor of the Emerald Trail. Kay shared that the important message of Groundwork Jacksonville’s projects was, “not only building trails and restoring creeks, [but] building community.”
 
Lastly, due in large part to the generous sponsorship of many community organizations, the event raised over $1500.
 
The District would like to recognize our community sponsors: The Jacksonville Garden Club, Apple Rabbit Compost, Juicy Roots Farm, Legacy Kitchen & Catering, Native Jax, Soil Life Organics, and the St. Johns Riverkeeper. Individual sponsors included: Sebastian Alexander, Will Dunn, and Diane Krug.  

​It's time for our June Volunteer of the Month! We would like to recognize Duval County Extension Director, Stephanie Toelle. Stephanie is an engaged agency representative, working closely to support our meetings which are hosted by the Extension office. She was instrumental in organizing our 2020 Farm Share Food Distribution event in partnership with Extension agents and volunteers. We are grateful that Stephanie shares her more than 25 years of experience at the Duval County Extension with us and is available to consult on our programs and activities.

​More about Stephanie:

• Working to expand COJ and UF/IFAS urban programs and reach communities that have been underserved
• Grew up in Kansas and was fortunate to have grandparents and parents who farmed cattle, hogs, wheat, milo, corn, sunflowers, and soybeans
• Performed with the First Coast Wind Symphony as an oboist
• Travelled to all 50 states by the time she was 50 years old and loves getting out in nature for hikes, kayaking and tennis

We were pleased to host our annual Speech & Poster Contest in March.  Due to the ongoing health emergency, we held this year's contest virtually. This year's theme was "Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities". Trees are vital. As the biggest plants on the planet, they absorb carbon from the atmosphere, stabilize the soil, filter water, provide healthy habitat for wildlife and offer many additional benefits – for nature, people and biodiversity. Not only is it necessary to protect existing trees and plant new ones, but it’s also important to advocate and educate about trees and forest conservation within your community.

​Congratulations to our 2021 Speech and Poster Contest winners!

Poster Contest:
1st (Grades K-1) - Vidyut Arjun, Jacksonville Beach Elementary
1st (Grades 4-6) - Marvel Li, Jacksonville Beach Elementary
2nd (Grades 4-6) - Adwita Pradhan, Jacksonville Beach Elementary
1st (Grades 7-9) - Grace Flaven, Lake Shore Middle School

Speech Contest:
1st (Grades 7-9) - Grace Flaven, Lake Shore Middle School

Our 1st place winners will go on to compete in the Area III level of competition later this year! 

In 2018, the Duval Soil & Water Conservation District launched its Conservation Teacher of the Year award. This award recognizes the work of any K-12 teacher in Duval County who has been involved in both education and action during the past year. The ideal candidate is a principled conservationist who educates students on natural resource conservation practices and initiates student action in their community or school in order to improve quality of life for Duval County residents.  All Duval County teachers who have participated in one of the District’s programs during the last year will be considered for recognition as our Conservation Teacher of the Year.  This year's deadline is June 15th.  Application

Past Winners:
2020 - Steven Sherrill, Sr., Marine and AP Environmental Science Teacher at Sandalwood High School
Highlights: Participation in Annual Fred B. Miller Envirothon, instrumental in Sandalwood High School being named Duval County Public Schools’ first Green Champion School in 2010, winner of the 2017 Keep America Beautiful Youth & Education Award

2019 - Kendal Schmidt, Middle School Teacher at The Foundation Academy
Highlights: Participation Joe B. Forshee, Jr. Speech and Poster Contest, Monarch Waystation efforts and other student activities that include aquaponic farming and composting

2018 - Dr. Scott P. Sowell, Environmental Science Teacher at Darnell-Cookman Middle/High School
Highlights: Participation in Annual Fred B. Miller Envirothon and algae eutrophication experiments with his AP Environmental Science students. The District nominated Dr. Sowell for the Jacksonville Environmental Protection Board's Individual Environmental Achievement award, which he also won.

Duval Soil and Water Conservation District is partnering with Groundwork Jacksonville and local environmental organizations to present Earth Day: A Celebration of Stewardship, Saturday, April 24, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This free community event will be held on the S-Line Biodiversity Corridor of the Emerald Trail, between Moncrief Road and Boulevard. Parking is available at the Christ Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, 2335 N. Davis Street. 

The goal of the event is to increase environmental awareness and teach children and adults specific things they can do to make their homes and landscape more eco-friendly, while providing an opportunity for people from all areas of town to connect outdoors and celebrate the planet. 

Activities will include music, prize giveaways and demonstrations on native landscaping, soil and water conservation and testing, tree guilds, ollas irrigation systems, rain barrels, pollinator gardens, bee hotels, public art and more. Guests will receive a passport with information about how to participate in the various activities to earn a gift certificate from participating Springfield neighborhood restaurants.  

Throughout the day, DSWCD will present plans for the innovative Regeneration Park, a green infrastructure and community stewardship project that will be built along the S-Line link of the Emerald Trail near the Sugar Hill Mosaic. The goal of Regeneration Park is to demonstrate urban agriculture, cultivate environmental stewardship and empower residents to build with nature for social, economic and environmental health. 

We are pleased to partner with the St. Johns River Water Management District to increase awareness about the importance of water conservation. See the full proclamation below.
​

Urban Agriculture Coordinator
Estimated Hours – 25 per week

Duval Soil and Water Conservation District (DSWCD) is an at-large elected board of five supervisors, with no party affiliation. The DSWCD organized by concerned citizens of Duval County to help landowners and users to conserve land, water, forests, wildlife and related natural resources.
 
Position Description:
The Urban Agriculture Coordinator is responsible for the coordination of DSWCD’s Regeneration Park project. Regeneration Park is a green infrastructure and community stewardship project which will create a safe space on public land within an underrepresented community to demonstrate urban agriculture, cultivate environmental stewardship and empower residents to build with nature for social, economic and environmental health.
 
Primary Responsibilities:

• Lead events, educational workshops and people.
• Manage grant materials, program implementation and evaluation.
• Keep track of the progression of work and provide guidance to team members.
• Coordinate with local governmental agencies, organizations and partners.
• Research prospective funding opportunities and direct grant writing efforts and solicitation of project sponsors.
• Provide professional organization for maximum efficiency and effectiveness of resources.
• Conduct administrative tasks, including systems and data management.
• Maintain financial accounting, documentation, and storage.
• Provide written bi-monthly progress reports
• Report to Board Chair

Required Qualifications:

• 3-5 years of experience in urban agriculture or natural resources conservation.
• Experience in event/program coordination.
• Experience in data and systems management.
• A sincere commitment to the vision and mission of DSWCD.
• Excellent verbal, interpersonal, and written communication skills.
• Experience and demonstrated cultural competence working with diverse communities.
• Ability to work independently, effectively manage projects, and meet deadlines.
• Thoughtful approach to work, with a desire to solve problems.
• Proficient in MS Office, Google platforms, data management software, and social media platforms.
• Flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends for events.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Associate or Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field.
• Demonstrated grant writing competence.
• Demonstrated project management experience.

Physical Demands:

• Requires ability to work remotely with occasional visits to local parks and businesses.
• Requires ability to install plants and use garden tools alongside volunteers.
• Requires ability to use computers, telephones, and other office equipment.
• Requires ability to speak audibly and listen actively.

Other duties:
The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work to be performed. It is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or skills required for the position. Employees will be required to follow other job-related instructions and perform other job-related duties as requested by their supervisor, in compliance with Federal and State laws. Strict adherence to the Sunshine Law is required. At no time will this position replicate or duplicate duties the supervisors are required to perform themselves, but will aid in the effective functioning of this elected agency through communication, research, and coordination. The board meets once a month at the Duval County Extension Office. All other meetings are available via Zoom teleconference. All meetings are noticed and open to the public.
 
Note: This position has a 60-day trial period.

Send resume and letter of interest to DSWCD Board of Supervisors at duvalswcd@gmail.com.

Deadline: April 16, 2021

For our March Volunteer of the Month, we would like to recognize Nassau Senior Forester James (Jim) Tootle. Jim is an avid supporter of the Fred B. Miller, Jr. Regional Envirothon and has mentored hundreds of high school students in environmental science as they have participated in our annual competition​. His dedication as a friend of the Duval Soil and Water Conservation District and his willingness to volunteer each year do not go unnoticed! We are grateful that he works hard to impart to the next generation his hard-earned wisdom from his many years as a county forester. 

​More about Jim:

• Serves thousands of people each year in fire prevention and educational outreach events in Nassau County
• Provides landowners, schools, the public, and local governments with access to expert forestry knowledge and management advice
• Works to increase knowledge, enhance forest health and support forest sustainability
• 20 years of timber procurement experience in private industry 
• Protects and manages the forest resources of Florida, ensuring they are available for future generations