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		YOU & YOUR LAND by Robert Arner, Director Lord Fairfax Soil and Water Conservation District A first step before buying property is to have its value assessed. From there, it would be logical and wise to preserve or, ideally, improve the property's value. To help accomplish this task, now available to property owners, is a free book: You and Your Land. This 84-page book is packed with expert tips, informative facts and helpful illustrations to assist in your efforts to enhance your property. Pollution prevention techniques are highlighted. Its environmentally friendly advice and wise land use practices are presented in an easy to read format. Each day, people throughout the Shenandoah Valley celebrate a valuable heritage our ancestors shared: reverence for our land. You can contribute to this tradition by pitching in to improve the land and striving to conserve its beauty. You and Your Land is a useful guide for helping you do your part, regardless of whether your role is small or large. The spirit of conservation runs rich throughout our history. George Washington was one our country's first serious composters. Here in Fort Valley, Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the first Civilian Conservation Corps camp, thus rehabilitating both the land and people by restoring wildlife, building dams, controlling erosion, employing over 3 million people, and planting 2 billion trees. With your help, dedication to perserving our environment will continue to thrive. We all have a role in adding to the beauty and splendor of this region. FDR envisioned saving our land by encouraging everyone to recognize themselves as shareholders to a common right: the pristine beauty of our land. By planting the seeds of conservation, you will reap the many wonderful benefits inherent to managing our natural resoures. How you take care of your land directly affects your property value and future economic development. Preserving our water, air and soil results in better farming, recreation, tourism, and enjoyment of life. Sustainable conservation practices is an investment of your time which goes beyond improving your property value: protecting our natural resources for future generations. You and Your Land is a homeowner's guide replete with advice for improving your landscape; cultivating your garden; controlling insects and weeds; dealing with drainage; preventing soil erosion; managing ponds, pastures and open spaces, and much more. Remember: YOU make a difference -- whether its proper disposal of trash or planting a tree -- your efforts to improve the quality of your land has a positive ripple effect. Help celebrate the Shenandoah Valley's legacy of stewardship by learning how to better preserve your property. Contact the LorD Fairfax Soil and Water Conservation District or the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resource Conservation Service (540-868-1130 ) for a free copy of You and Your Land. TOP