ABOUT HCCD
Hillsborough County Conservation District
The Hillsborough County Conservation District is a non-government entity that works in partnership with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to help land owners and users in Hillsborough County manage their soil, water, forest, and other natural resources. We serve residents, town officials, educators, members of non-profit organizations, and others in the 31 towns in Hillsborough County.
WHO WE ARE
The Hillsborough County Conservation District represents soil and water conservation at the local level. Formed in 1946 as a legal sub-division of the State of New Hampshire, and operating under State Statute RSA 432:12, the District is directed by a Board of Supervisors who are a state appointed, governing body of public officials comprised of five County residents who serve without pay.
The District works with farmers, forest landowners, landowners, schools, and municipalities to promote the use, protection, and conservation of natural resources on both private and public land, both rural and urban. Our conservation programs in Hillsborough County are carried out through public education and the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs). Technical assistance and information for the implementation of BMPs are provided for various land uses in cooperation with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
During the Dustbowl Era of the 1930’s, President Franklin D. Roosevelt saw a need for soil conservation. He pushed Congress to develop a new agency called the Soil Stabilization Service. This agency became the Soil Conservation Service and, more recently, the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). To increase the functionality of this new agency, Roosevelt decided local input should be a part of this mix. Out of this, he devised the idea for locally led Soil Conservation Boards. These boards are now our Conservation District Board of Supervisors.
Board & Staff
The Hillsborough County Conservation District office is conveniently located in the Chappell Professional Center, 468 Route 13 South in Milford, NH. Click here for directions.
Meet the Hillsborough County Conservation District Board, Staff & Milford Field Office
HCCD District Board
Eric Radlof, Chair (Antrim)
Dena Hoffman, Board Supervisor (Hudson)
Chris Connolly, Secretary/Treasurer (Temple)
Lauren Judd, Board Supervisor (Temple)
HCCD Associate Supervisors
Kathleen Ports (Bedford)
Chip Hardy (Hollis)
Trevor Hardy (Hollis)
Mark Post (Hollis)
HCCD Staff
Kerry Rickrode, District Manager
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Milford Field Office Staff
Kyra Sciaudone, District Conservationist
Tim Tucker, Resource Conservationist
Amir McKinstry, Soil Conservationist
Thomas Robinson, Soil Conservationist
The HCCD Board meets on the last Wednesday of each month at 5:00 PM and are open to the public.
Interested in Becoming an Associate Supervisor?
HCCD is always looking for environmental minded County residents to become Associate Supervisors. Associate Supervisors serve the District on a voluntary basis and are welcome to attend and contribute to our monthly Board Meetings and represent the District at various local and regional events and meetings. Please contact Kerry to learn more.
FUNDRAISING
The Hillsborough County Conservation District holds various fundraisers over the course of the year to help benefit environmental projects the District would like to participate in. Below are some of the fundraisers we offer, open to the public. All funds raised go directly back to the County or towards an educational program.
Annual Spring Plant Sale Fundraiser
Every spring, HCCD offers high quality varieties of young wholesale stock trees and shrubs at a low cost for landowners in the County. The plants are chosen as they have conservation benefits. All plants sold are bareroot, delivered in a dormant state. They should be kept cool, moist and in relative darkness until planted. For best results, all items should be planted within 48 hours of picking them up.
In addition to plants, HCCD also offers a variety of fresh, healthy, top-sized flower bulbs that will add a glorious display of color to your landscape.
Notice of the annual sale will go out in February, with a pre-order deadline of late March. 2023 Order pick-up is Friday, May 3rd from 3 PM to 5 PM and Saturday, May 4th from 10 AM to 12 PM at the HCCD office in Milford.
The plant sale is also a great way for HCCD to supply farmers working with USDA NRCS on Riparian Buffer and Tree & Shrub establishment practices with the stock they require.
Now Accepting Spring 2024 Plant Sale Fundraiser Orders! Order Deadline: Friday, March 29th.
2024 HCCD Plant Sale Fundraiser Package
Fall Bulb Sale
Now Accepting Fall Flower Bulb Sale orders! Every Fall HCCD offers a variety of dutch flower bulbs to add vibrant color to your garden. Varieties of crocus, daffodil/narcissi, tulip, allium, hyacinth and more are included. Order deadline is Friday, September 27th. Orders will be packed and ready for pick-up in Milford on Friday, October 18th and Saturday, October 19th.
2024-fall-bulb-sale-fundraiser-package
2024-fall-bulb-fundraiser-descriptions
2024-hccd-fall-bulb-sale-order-form
If you would like a package mailed to you or if if you would like to be added to the Fundraiser Mailing List please email Kerry or at (603) 673-2409.
Resources & Partnerships
The Hillsborough County Conservation District works closely in partnership with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
Formed in 1935, NRCS, originally called the Soil Conservation Service, has provided leadership in a partnership effort to help America’s private landowners and managers conserve their soil, water and other natural resources.
NRCS employees provide technical assistance based on sound science and suited to a customer’s specific needs. They provide financial assistance for many conservation activities.
All NRCS programs and services are offered on a voluntary, non-discriminatory basis, without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, or disability.
For more information on the financial assistance programs available through NRCS, contact the Milford Field office staff at (603) 673-2409.
Please visit NH NRCS website to learn more.
UNH Cooperative Extension provides a direct link between UNH and people throughout the state. In partnership with local residents and volunteers, Cooperative Extension plans and conducts educational programs responsive to New Hampshire people and the issues they identify that are important to them. UNH Cooperative Extension’s mission “provides New Hampshire citizens with research-based education and information, enhancing their ability to make informed decisions that strengthen youth, families and communities, sustain natural resources, and improve the economy.
For more information about what UNH Cooperative Extension can offer, please visit their website or call (603) 641-6060.
Agencies
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Sciences
New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands
New Hampshire Fish & Game Department
Additional Links
National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD)
New Hampshire Association of Conservation Districts (NHACD)
New Hampshire State Conservation Committee
NH Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food
New Hampshire Association of Conservation Commission
New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association
Conservation District Employees Association of NH
Audubon Society of New Hampshire
National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT)
Harris Center for Conservation Education
Eric Radlof
Eric Radlof joined Bay State Forestry Service after graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry/ Forest Management. He is a Licensed Forester as well as a Licensed Pesticide Applicator in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Eric is a Member of the Society of American Foresters and is a Certified Tree Farm Inspector. Eric has always been active in the green industries, forestry, and agriculture. Growing up he was active in 4H and was a member of the Woodsmen Team at UNH. He continues to volunteer for both organizations. Outside of work, Eric enjoys fishing, hiking, working in the garage, and producing maple syrup.
Melissa Blindow
Melissa was born in Michigan and grew up in Peterborough, NH. She studied ecology, worked on farms in America and Germany, and during her 12 years in the SF Bay area cofounded a green building cooperative, helped convert a public school hot lunch program to organic local food, and taught after-school cooking and gardening classes. Melissa worked as Land For Good's NH Field Agent before transitioning to full-time farming with her husband Max at Benedikt Dairy in Goffstown, NH. She also serves on the boards of Land For Good, and Granite State Graziers. Melissa and Max have three children.
Chris Connolly
Chris is one of many partners of Connolly Brothers Dairy Farm, LLC, located in Temple, NH. The operation is a diversified dairy farm with 100 heads of registered dairy cattle. The farm processes a portion of its milk into fluid bottled milk, produces ice cream, and also sells compost and hay through both the wholesale and retail sectors. The farm manages 250 acres of hay and corn land. The family farm is also a certified Tree Farm and licensed hunting preserve. Chris is a former member of the Temple Planning Board from 1994-2000, Chairman from 1998-2000, a Board Member for United Cooperative Farmers in Fitchburg, MA from 1997-present. Beginning in 2000 to present, Chris holds the Secretary position on that Board.
Chip Hardy
Charles “Chip” Hardy has been employed by Brookdale Fruit Farm, Inc. for over thirty years. Brookdale Fruit Farm is a family-operated farm by the Hardy and Whittemore families since 1847. There are currently fifth and sixth generations actively managing the farming operation and the seventh generation will soon be participating. Chip is a Vice-President, and his responsibilities include planting, spraying, irrigating and wholesale marketing of crops produced on approximately 450 acres which consist of a certified tree farm, apple orchards, small fruits and vegetables. Chip has been a member of HCCD since 1985. He previously held the Treasurer position for HCCD for many years. He has also been a participant of the NH Vegetable and Berry Growers Association since 1985. Chip is also a member of the NH Fruit Growers Association since 1975. Brookdale Fruit Farm was chosen in the year 2000 as one of the top five farms in the United States for Environmental Stewardship and Conservation Practices and was awarded the “Earth Agriculture Partnership Award."
Tom Jones
Tom is Land Protection Specialist for Piscataquog Land Conservancy (PLC). Tom heads up PLC’s new projects, including identification of new easements and purchases, project development and real estate transactions.
Tom has a BS & MS from University of Georgia, in agriculture and soil microbiology. His post-graduate and professional work includes wetland ecology and environmental sciences. He comes to NH from the North Carolina Clean Water Management Trust Fund, providing statewide funding of land acquisitions for natural resource protection.
Bob Carter
Bob grew up in Milford, NH and has over 25 years of technical and practical experience with dams and related construction. Bob has an undergraduate degree in Natural Resource Sciences and worked in civil and site construction for twelve years, returning to graduate school to earn his Master’s in Civil/Environmental Engineering. For the past 12 years Bob has worked with a local engineering firm, with most of his work related to dams, hydrology, and hydraulics throughout the northeast and nationally. Bob has an excellent working rapport with NHDES Dam Bureau, and able to bridge the communication gap between dam owners and the regulatory body. Bob is also a Certified Soil Scientist in the State of NH, and a Certified Floodplain Manager through the Association of State Floodplain Managers.
In his personal life, Bob enjoys rock climbing with his children, gardening with his wife, Sara, and children, and working with Sara to restore their 1776 cape style farm house and land into a large family home. Bob is a former chair of the Deering Planning Board, serving on the board for 12 years. He is also involved with various other Town events, including driving the tractor for the annual hay rides during fall festivities for the past three years, and has assisted in coaching his sons’ baseball teams for the local youth athletic association.
Tom Dufresne
Coming Soon
Kerry Rickrode
Kerry Rickrode has worked as District Manager for the Hillsborough County Conservation District since April of 2003. She holds a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from the University of New Hampshire. Prior to joining the Conservation District, Kerry served as Marketing Coordinator for Imark Communications, Natick, MA and then as Marketing Assistant for Integrated Labeling Systems, Nashua. Kerry plays an active role in the Conservation District Employees Association of NH (CDEA-NH) previously serving as President. She currently serves as Vice President. Kerry currently makes her home in Nashua with her husband Sean and two daughters Audrey (12) and Clara (9).
Michael Birchler
coming soon
Jordan Bailey
Jordan is currently a Soil Conservationist for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Since moving to NH in 2010, she worked as PLC's Stewardship Coordinator (2017-2019) and has volunteered extensively on the Brookline Conservation Commission (2012-present), Nashua Rivers Wild & Scenic Stewardship Council (2016-present), and is also a current member of the PLC Stewardship Committee (2019-present). Previously, Jordan was a Wildlife Biologist and Cartographer for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife. She holds a B.S in Wildlife & Fisheries from Louisiana State University, and a M.S. in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Maine. She has also spent time in Georgia and South Carolina researching songbirds, shorebirds, and wading birds. She currently resides in Brookline, NH, with her husband and two children.
Kim Bakker
Coming Soon