1. RURAL LANDOWNER STEWARDSHIP GUIDE for the Lake Huron Watershed Self-assessment for your environmental performance as a property owner

2. RURAL LANDOWNER STEWARDSHIP GUIDE for the Ontario Landscape Self-assessment for your environmental performance as a property owner

3. Agenda Introduction Introduction Purpose of the Guide Purpose of the Guide Goals of the workshop Goals of the workshop What’s in the Guide What’s in the Guide How to work with the Guide How to work with the Guide Worksheet and Action Plan (small groups) Worksheet and Action Plan (small groups) Discussion (large group) Discussion (large group) Evaluation and Commitment Forms Evaluation and Commitment Forms

4. Purpose of the Guide Help us understand how our actions affect the larger landscape. Help us understand how our actions affect the larger landscape. Protect and enhance the quality of our natural environment. Protect and enhance the quality of our natural environment. By doing so, you will: By doing so, you will: Help to conserve our natural & cultural heritage Help to conserve our natural & cultural heritage Protect your investment as a property owner Protect your investment as a property owner Save time, money and frustration Save time, money and frustration To help YOU make a difference. To help YOU make a difference.

5. Goals of the Workshop Begin to develop or expand environmental awareness. Begin to develop or expand environmental awareness. Learn how we can improve our practices to mitigate negative impacts. Learn how we can improve our practices to mitigate negative impacts. Work together to accomplish this. Work together to accomplish this. Have fun! Have fun!

6. What’s in the Guide? 1. Introduction to Local Ecology What is a watershed? What is a watershed? Why should we be concerned? Why should we be concerned? Local scale features Local scale features 2. The Workbook:  14 different worksheets  Each worksheet asks you to rate your activities on your property.

7. Worksheet Themes 1. Getting to know your property buying a rural property, construction buying a rural property, construction 2. Water wells, septic systems, runoff management wells, septic systems, runoff management 3. Gardening & Landscaping water efficiency, buffers, trees, plant selection and use water efficiency, buffers, trees, plant selection and use 4. Ecosystems & Wildlife forest, stream/drain, wetland and meadow management forest, stream/drain, wetland and meadow management 5. Miscellaneous waste management, storage of fuels/chemicals, lowering your energy bill waste management, storage of fuels/chemicals, lowering your energy bill

8. How Does it Work? Pick the worksheets that apply to your property. Pick the worksheets that apply to your property. Read the introductory page, then use the worksheet to rate the topics that apply to you. Read the introductory page, then use the worksheet to rate the topics that apply to you. For each topic, there are four conditions each having a rating (4 Best to 1 Poor). For each topic, there are four conditions each having a rating (4 Best to 1 Poor). Circle the condition that best describes your property and mark your rating in the box on the right hand side. Circle the condition that best describes your property and mark your rating in the box on the right hand side.

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11. 5-567Septic?Find out where discharge goes 5-667Septic2Wipe utensils

12. Your Turn! Work through worksheet(s). Work through worksheet(s). This is an individual assessment, but feel free to discuss potential action plan items with your group. This is an individual assessment, but feel free to discuss potential action plan items with your group. We will come back together to discuss action items. We will come back together to discuss action items.

13. Thanks for coming! Ashfield-Colborne Lakefront Association Ontario Farm Environmental Coalition