Free courses coming on managing horse and livestock property

The King Conservation District will soon offer a four-part series of workshops focusing on ways to manage horse and livestock properties.

The King Conservation District will soon offer a four-part series of workshops focusing on ways to manage horse and livestock properties.

The classes – free and open to all horse and livestock owners – will be offered at Enumclaw Middle School at Semanski Street and state Route 410.

Those attending will be presented with a variety of options and work with technicians to discover how to banish manure piles and learn about mud management options — French drains, footings, geotextile fabrics and other ideas for managing dry, horse-healthy paddocks. Topics will include composting of horse manure and reducing stall waste in the barn. There will be discussion on basic techniques for good pasture management including how grasses grow, creating a winter paddock, liming, spreading compost, rotational grazing and weed control.

Dates and topics are:

• Feb. 11, Streams and Wetlands: Living with Livestock Near Water.

• Feb. 25, Mud Management: Record Rainfall/Record Mud.

• March 4, Manure Management: Got Livestock? Got Manure.

• March 11, Pasture Management: Becoming a Grass Farmer.

To register and receive directions contact the King Conservation District at 425-282-1904 or paul.borne@kingcd.org.