Improved home interiors, landscapes, and gardening.Plan of Work

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Livingston County CES

Title:
Improved home interiors, landscapes, and gardening.
MAP:
Health, Wellness, and Quality of Life
Agents Involved:
FCS, ANR, Youth Development
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Home Energy Management
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Promoting Healthy Homes and Communities (general)
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Disaster Preparedness
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Home & Consumer Horticulture
Situation:

Weather patterns, economic situations, built and natural environments, and geographic location influence our concerns about issues related to healthy homes and communities. Individuals desire safe homes that promote and support the physical and mental well-being of their families throughout the life cycle. Sustainability and "green living" continue to be lifestyle adaptations that encourage energy conservation, recycling, and support cost effective improvements to our houses, buildings, barns, and farms. Extension has seen increased interest in patrons wanting to know more about energy conservation, budget-friendly home improvements, upcycling, and sustainable environments.

Long-Term Outcomes:

(A) Improve environmental quality in the homes, landscapes, and farms throughout Livingston County

(B) To create safe homes that promote and support the physical and mental well-being of families throughout the life-cycle.

(C) To improve the built and natural environment, which lead to healthy and active lifestyles

Intermediate Outcomes:

Homeowners will implement environmentally conscious decision regarding home energy use and conservation practices. Youth will be aware of energy costs and ways to reduce energy usage within the home. Clients will practice going "green' by using natural homemade cleaning products. Community will see increase in recycling terminals and drop-off points. Families will develop and implement a home disaster preparedness plan. Youth will participate in community clean-up efforts.

Initial Outcomes:

Change knowledge, opinions, skills, and/or aspirations in understanding of issues related to: Disaster preparedness, "Going Green", energy and water conservation, or home safety. Homeowners will adopt landscaping practices that can improve the health and appearance of lawn and gardens while protecting and preserving natural resources. Consumers will understand the impact of recycling and repurposing as it directly effects them financially.

Evaluation:

Long Term Outcome: Create safe homes within environments that promote and support the physical and mental well-being of families

Indicator: Number of program participants that suffer less damage or injury during natural disasters

Method: Surveys, observation, FEMA data

Timeline: throughout year


Intermediate Outcome: Number of program participants who implement one or more practices that will increase home value and/or safety

Method: Survey, post evaluation, energy data

Timeline: 6-12 months following program


Initial Outcome: Increase knowledge of issues relating to sustainability, green initiatives, and better landscaping practices

Timeline: Immediately following program

Audience: Farm Families

Project or Activity: County Agricultural Field Day – Energy Program Topic

Content or Curriculum: UK Speaker, Displays

Date: Summer

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Extension Homemakers

Activity: Household Essential Oils Leader Lesson

Content: UK curriculum/KEHA

Input: FCS

Date: May 2017


Audience: Extension Homemakers & general public

Activity: Disaster Preparedness Workshop

Content: UK curriculum/FEMA

Input: FCS

Date: Spring


Audience: General public

Activity: Pesticide training

Content: UK curriculum and State AG programming

Inputs: ANR agent

Dates: Seasonally


Audience: General public

Activity: Learning to make environmentally safe cleaning products

Content or Curriculum: Green Cleaning

Input: FCS

Date: Spring/Fall


Audience: Homeowners

Activity: Landscape maintenance and gardening

Content or Curriculum: Supplied by agents and specialists

Inputs: ANR, FCS

Date: Spring/Fall


Audience: County Youth

Activity: Environmental Day/Day Camps

Content or Curriculum: Natural Resource

Input: 4-H, Fish & Wildlife, Watershed Watch, Soil Conservation, KY Division of Forestry, Corps of Engineers, Local Volunteers

Date: Annually


Audience: County Youth

Activity: Soil Science: Soil Texture & Profile Demonstration

Inputs: 4-H

Date: Spring


Audience: County Volunteers

Activity: Ohio River Sweep

Inputs: 4-H & volunteers

Date: Summer


Audience: 4-H Youth

Activity: Watershed Watch Sampling

Inputs: 4-H

Date: Summer- four samplings at two locations


Audience: General public

Activity: Lawn Management Series

Content or Curriculum: Various lawn publications/ fertilizer do's and dont's

Input: ANR

Date: Spring



Success Stories

Soil testing not just for Farmers

Author: Adam Barnes

Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture

Soil testing not just for Farmers               I helped out a fun and great lady in our community with her yard. She found out that we as agents have to write success stories every year and she wrote this letter for my success story.               “To whom it may concern               I want to tell you how after four years of being ripped off by several people who I tru

Full Story

A Nontraditional Audience

Author: Adam Barnes

Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture

A Nontraditional Audience

A Nontraditional Audience               A nontraditional audience was one of the topics that was brought up in our Agriculture Advisory Council this winter. Livingston is a very rural county, the 2007 Census of Agriculture reports that there are a total of 492 farms in Livingston County. The report also states that 36% of Livingston County income comes from livestock, forage, and grain production. Also in Livingston County there are four towns and some qui

Full Story
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