Through the years, I have come to know the King County Conservation District (KCD) through educational classes about my land and the region. Because of my positive experience, I enrolled in a farming/horse care class taught by KCD. That led to the next class and the next as a desire to learn more.

I’ve attended several workshops over the past two years. Farm tours sponsored by KCD and Horses for Clean Water were also of value. Being able to meet the owners and see different ways to do things on a farm is invaluable.

Much of what I have learned has been incorporated at my farm. I now have a farm plan designed in coordination with KCD. The visits to my farm were extremely helpful, so much so that I ended up signing up as a participant in the farm program.

I do take the farm business seriously and believe part of our success has came from what I’ve learned from KCD, its materials/handouts and the educational classes. It has also brought my farm and family to feel an added respect for the environment. We’ve learned how — with planning, and usually just our own labor — we can make a difference in the environment.

Bill Ziehl, Bellevue