Vermillion County
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Phillip Cox is the Agriculture & Natural Resources Educator in Vermillion County. He is on the Indiana Small Farm Conference team and has served on the Trade Show subcommittee for the past several years. He also coordinates programming that includes such topics as pesticide safety, native plants, invasive species, gardening, natural resources, farming, wildlife management, and forestry.
Contact Us
Purdue Extension
Extension Educator - Vermillion County
cox119@purdue.edu
765-492-5330
SOIL TESTING AVAILABLE
Soil testing is recommended every 3 – 5 years. The Purdue Extension Vermillion County Office will take your garden soil samples (they must be dry) for nutrient & pH analysis and send them to a soils lab for fertilizer recommendations for $12. For $5 more an organic matter analysis will be completed. Soil sample bags, sample forms, and instructions can be picked up at the Office. For details, call 765-492-5330 or email cox119@purdue.edu .
Wednesdays in the Wild, July – Oct
FREE (mostly) See the attached flier for details.
Storybook Hike @ Atherton Island Natural Area, September 20, 1:00 – 2:30 pm
The Ouabache Land Conservancy (OLC) and the Parke County Public Library invite everyone of all ages to a storybook hike at Atherton Island Natural Area on Saturday, September 20th from 1:00 - 2:30 pm. Jim Nardi (author, illustrator, and OLC Board member) and Phil Cox (OLC Vice President of Development) will co-lead this easy hike through the prairie and woods of the preserve, while reading excerpts of Jim's
“In Mouse’s Backyard” storybook about the amazing natural world of Atherton Island Natural Area. Real beautiful nature will supplement the story as we walk through “mouse’s backyard” and see the nature of Parke County at its finest. In addition, up to 10 copies of “In Mouse’s Backyard” will be available free to families that participate.
No reservations are needed for this free family-friendly hike. We will be meeting at the preserve’s parking area at 6540 W CR 800 S, Rosedale, IN (near Lyford, about 0.7 miles east of Hwy 41).
OLC is a 501(c)3 non-profit land trust that serves the following counties: Clay, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan, Vermillion and Vigo. For more information, to donate and/or join please visit: www.ouabachelandconservancy.org, follow OLC on Facebook, or email ouabachelandconservancy@gmail.com .
4th Annual Over the River & Through the Woods Morningfest & 5K @ Reeder Park, September 27th, starting at 9:00 am to Noon ET.
Go over the Wabash River and Through the Woods for this 5k, brought to you by Parke Trails Alliance and the Vermillion Trails Alliance.
- Runners and walkers will start at Reeder Park in Montezuma, go "Over the River" on the Wabash River B&O Rail bridge, then go "Through the Woods" on the trail on the Vermillion County side!
Register online by September 21st to be guaranteed a t-shirt at https://runsignup.com/Race/IN/Montezuma/OvertheRiverandThroughtheWoods5k
FREE The following FAMILY/COMMUNITY Activities are from 9:00-Noon
-Food truck
-Kids activities including face painting
-Farmers Market & Vendor Fair and more!
October Big (Bird Count) Day @ Atherton Island Natural Area (& 16 other Indiana nature preserves), October 11, 9:00 – 11:00 am
$5 Be part of October Big Day, a global birding celebration that fuels migration research and conservation. Spend a fall morning exploring Atherton Island Natural Area and add your bird observations—counts, photos, or audio—to a worldwide effort in citizen science. OLC Board Members, Denise Marie Sobieski and Bill Mitchell will be leading the way!
$5 registration is required for this event at https://obd2025.eventbrite.com
