Skip to main content

Modern Homesteading Conference 

The annual Modern Homesteading Conference was held in Coeur D'Alene on June 28th and 29th. This event brings together the art of simple living and traditional skills, educating and inspiring participants from all over the country. 

Kootenai-Shoshone Soil & Water Conservation District has held a booth for the last two years with help from our partners at Bonner SWCD, Benewah SWCD, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Idaho Soil & Water Conservation Commission (ISWCC). We spent two full days talking with eager participants and providing ample free literature from different agencies and organizations. Articles and brochures focused on important topics like soil health, water quality, and forest management. We had a trivia wheel for families to test their knowledge of natural resources. Those who dared to spin and answer a question successfully were rewarded with a prize and entrance into our raffle for a North 40 gift card.  

An educational booth with displays on soil health, a prize wheel, and informational brochures under a white tent.

KSSWCD Supervisors lead full-scale rainfall demonstrations on both days. This tool effectively introduces people to the 5 Principles of Soil Health and encourages participants to adopt those practices on their own farms. These demonstrations showcased the importance of soil health for the observed differences in runoff and infiltration across the diverse set of soil samples. This generated a lot of interest, and our expert team of Supervisors were enthusiastic to answer questions and engage in follow-up conversations. We also had a no-till drill on site for viewers to examine and better visualize the difference between direct seeding and conventional tillage.

Outdoor event with people and a booth about soil health by the USDA NRCS, featuring information and exhibits.

We are signed-up to participate next year on June 27th and 28th. Book your spot today and come check out our booth! https://modernhomesteading.com/

 

Four people pose in front of a vehicle with NRCS logo, near an educational soil display with grass samples and clear containers.
NRCS Partnership
A booth with educational posters, a prize wheel, and a person seated at a table with brochures, under a tent.
Bonner Soil & Water Conservation District
Two people near agricultural equipment and an NRCS (USDA) banner with soil samples displayed.
KSSWCD Supervisors, Wes Evans and John Mobbs, next to the no-till drill
People at an outdoor stall under a white tent with educational displays and a spinning wheel game.
Active booth participation
An outdoor event with people gathered around tents and informational displays, possibly a fair or exhibition.
Attendees watching the rainfall demonstrations
Four people pose in front of a vehicle with NRCS logo, near an educational soil display with grass samples and clear containers.
A booth with educational posters, a prize wheel, and a person seated at a table with brochures, under a tent.
Two people near agricultural equipment and an NRCS (USDA) banner with soil samples displayed.
People at an outdoor stall under a white tent with educational displays and a spinning wheel game.
An outdoor event with people gathered around tents and informational displays, possibly a fair or exhibition.