Extension
It Starts With Us
Promoting Sustainable Agriculture, Natural Resources and Urban Forestry
Promoting Sustainability
C. Durr, C. Hall, V. Holland, A. Holt, S. Lewis, W. Long, B. Pratt, M. Pearce and K. Smith
Urban Environments (water issues)
Sustainable Agriculture
Promoting Healthy Homes and Communities (general)
Agriculture 4-H Core Curriculum
Agriculture is Kentucky’s largest employer and accounts for the greatest amount of revenue in Kentucky’s economy. However, agriculture in Louisville/Jefferson County, Kentucky’s largest and most urban county, looks decidedly different. With a few hundred traditional farms scattered in the far south end of the county, production agriculture receipts are quite small. However, urban agriculture, home gardening and commercial horticulture are popular and growing segments. Also, with the local food and makers movements gaining momentum in Louisville/Jefferson County, the impact from food and fiber producers is great.
Equally important are natural resources. Understanding how daily choices can impact our environment is vital to conserving and preserving our natural resources and ensuring a healthy environment for present and future generations. In 2008, Kentucky ranked 18th in total energy consumption and 7th in energy consumption per capita. In 2010, Kentuckians recycled 35.7% of all municipal solid waste and 29% of common household recyclables. The average Kentuckian used 67 gallons of water per person per day. Everything from the air we breathe, to the water we drink, to the soil we use for food production are vital to our existence. Therefore, it’s important that citizens care for and respect these resources.
Disaster preparedness is necessary for safe communities. Each year, on average, Kentuckians deal with 30-50 days associated with thunderstorms, 12 tornadoes and 3 fatalities related to tornadoes. In additions, flooding is a problem in Jefferson County, as well as other natural disasters.
• Increase in the number of youth and adults practicing, participating in and advocating for sustainable home horticulture and agriculture.
• Youth will use scientific techniques, responsible practices and innovative technologies that will positively sustain the natural resources in the home, community and world.
• Youth and adults will engage in community projects related to natural resource conservation.
• Youth and adults will place value on and advocate for water resources, protect and improve water quality and reduce stormwater pollutants.
• Youth and adults will protect and improve water, soil and air resources.
• Youth and adults will maintain or improve wildlife habitat (e.g. beneficial insects).
• Farmers will improve efficiency of manure handling, reduce environmental impacts of winter feeding areas and homeowners will reduce lawn, landscape and garden additives.
• Increased tree planting will help to maintain or decrease the “heat island effect.”
• Youth and adults are making changes in their daily lives that implement sustainable practices and home horticulture such as gardening, water conservation, recycling and an increase in community based initiatives around the same things.
• Youth and adults can explain the role of agriculture in daily life to others.
• Youth can practice entrepreneurship skills related to agriculture and food systems.
• Producers implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) on their property or in their community.
• Youth and adults will make informed decisions on daily activities and actions that affect water quality by attending a stormwater education and training program
• Advocate for stormwater BMPs with clients and community leaders
• Develop, update and implement Ag Water Quality Plan and Nutrient Management Plan
• Residents will appreciate and improve forested areas and will increase the number of tree planted.
• Gain knowledge and skills, developing and interest in the subject matter, developing an understanding of the interdependencies of the ecosystem. Learn valuable life skills that pertain to horticulture and environmental issues.
• Youth and adults will gain knowledge and skills in the production of food and fiber in the areas of plant science, horticulture and animal science.
• Youth and adults will gain and understanding of healthy and sustainable food systems.
• Youth and adults can define watershed, stormwater, impervious surfaces, pollutant runoff, hydrology and stream ecology
• Youth and adults can recognize the water quality issues/needs on their property, at their school, in the community
• Youth and adults can understand the benefits of native plants, non-aggressive perennials, and vegetation in the landscape
• Homeowners learn how to take a soil test and practice soil conservation
• Working with urban adjacent forestland owners to develop sustainable land practices
Initial Outcome: Homeowners learn how to take a soil test and practice soil
conservation.
Indicator: Number of homeowners who successfully deliver a soil sample
Method: Extension soil test records and vouchers
Timeline: Ongoing through the year
Intermediate Outcome: Youth and adults can explain the role of agriculture in daily life to others.
Indicator: An increase in youth and adults who explain the role of agriculture
Method: Observation, records, surveys
Timeline: After programs
Long-term Outcome: Increase in the number of youth and adults practicing, participating in and advocating for sustainable home horticulture and sustainable agriculture.
Indicator: An increase in the number of youth and adults that participate,
practice and advocate for sustainable horticulture and agriculture
Method: Observation, records, surveys
Timeline: After programs
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Master Gardeners program
Content or Curriculum: Master Gardener manual
Inputs: speakers, lab class, quizzes, tests, agent time
Date: May 2017 – October 2018
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: summer programs, after school clubs
Content or Curriculum: activities, project wild, Jr MG program
Inputs: Jr. MG program curriculum
Date: July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Community Garden implementation; school garden
Content or Curriculum: Extension publications
Inputs: Master Gardener volunteers; agents; specialists;
content curriculum
Date: July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018
Audience: Louisville residents
Project or Activity: Rain Gardens
Content or Curriculum: Rain gardens with MSD curriculum
Inputs: Plants, agents, MSD
Date: TBD
Audience: Commercial producers
Project or Activity: GAP Training, farmers market sampling certificate,
organic certification
Content or Curriculum: Programs associated with above projects
Inputs: Farms, KDA, agents, buyers, farmers
Date: TBD
Audience: Seniors
Project or Activity: Food Demonstrations
Content or Curriculum: CES publications, Plate It Up, Farmers Market
Inputs: All CES Agents, CES publications, extension
publications
Date: July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Ag Field Day
Content or Curriculum: What’s on your Plate: Exploring Food Science,
Afterschool Agriculture, Embryology, Swine, Poultry,
Dairy Goat, Step Up to Leadership, Build Your Future,
Cooking, Gardening
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, grants
Date: Sept. 2017
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Louisville Water Company Festival
Content or Curriculum: What’s on your Plate: Exploring Food Science,
Afterschool Agriculture, Embryology, Swine, Poultry,
Dairy Goat, Step Up to Leadership, Build Your Future,
Cooking, Gardening
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, grants
Date: Sept. 2017
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Jr. MANRRS
Content or Curriculum: What’s on your Plate: Exploring Food Science,
Afterschool Agriculture, Embryology, Swine, Poultry,
Dairy Goat, Step Up to Leadership, Build Your Future,
Cooking, Gardening
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, grants
Date: Sept. 2017 - Aug. 2018
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Embryology
Content or Curriculum: What’s on your Plate: Exploring Food Science,
Afterschool Agriculture, Embryology, Swine, Poultry,
Dairy Goat, Step Up to Leadership, Build Your Future,
Cooking, Gardening
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, grants
Date: Sept. 2017- Aug. 2018
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Camp
Content or Curriculum: What’s on your Plate: Exploring Food Science,
Afterschool Agriculture, Embryology, Swine, Poultry,
Dairy Goat, Step Up to Leadership, Build Your Future,
Cooking, Gardening
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, grants
Date: Sept. 2017- Aug. 2018
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Gardening
Content or Curriculum: What’s on your Plate: Exploring Food Science,
Afterschool Agriculture, Embryology, Swine, Poultry,
Dairy Goat, Step Up to Leadership, Build Your Future,
Cooking, Gardening
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, grants
Date: Sept. 2017- Aug. 2018
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Country Ham
Content or Curriculum: What’s on your Plate: Exploring Food Science,
Afterschool Agriculture, Embryology, Swine, Poultry,
Dairy Goat, Step Up to Leadership, Build Your Future,
Cooking, Gardening
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, grants
Date: Sept. 2017- Aug. 2018
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Livestock Clubs
Content or Curriculum: What’s on your Plate: Exploring Food Science,
Afterschool Agriculture, Embryology, Swine, Poultry,
Dairy Goat, Step Up to Leadership, Build Your Future,
Cooking, Gardening
Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, grants
Date: Sept. 2017- Aug. 2018
Audience: Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: Gardening in Small Spaces
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association (KEHA)
Inputs: Kentucky CES publication and resources
Date: Spring 2018
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Light Bulbs in the Home
Content or Curriculum: Home Energy Use
Inputs: Kentucky CES publication and resources
Date: July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Home Cleaning Products
Content or Curriculum: Household Waste Management
Inputs: Kentucky CES publication and resources
Date: July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018
Author: Bethany Pratt
Major Program: Agriculture 4-H Core Curriculum
The Horticulture Agent and 4-H assistant in Jefferson County have partnered with the English and Urban Agriculture teacher at Fern Creek High School to further the in class learning with an after school 4-H club. The overarching goal of the Urban Agriculture Campus at Fern Creek High school is to immerse students in the food system through hands-on participation in all aspects of agriculture on their urban farm campus.Fern Creek High School has a total student body of 1,443 students, 53% of whom
Author: Bethany Pratt
Major Program: Sustainable Agriculture
Goal number eighteen in the Louisville Metro Government Mayor’s Strategic Plan is “Increase diversion of solid waste generated by Jefferson County sent to local landfills from 49% in 2012 to 90% by 2042 at a rate of 7% every five years.” In order to educate the general public about this plan and encourage solid waste diversion, The Jefferson County Horticulture Agent partnered with Louisville MetroGoverment’s Division of Solid Waste Educator to host two composting worksho
Author: Stephen Lewis
Major Program: Master Gardener
The Master Gardener Program, is a 12-14 week course that teaches volunteers not just the basics of gardening but also various other subjects like entomology, plant disease, soil nutrition and composting, landscaping, indoor plant gardening and many other topics. The students then take these skills and use them to educate people on sustainable gardening and improve their neighborhoods. For the past 5 years the classes have taken place at the Nature Center near the Louisville Zoo. This year the cl
Author: Stephen Lewis
Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture
The Frayser Elementary School Spring Garden Club is in its second year. The previous year (2017) Kentucky State University Extension Agent Stephen Lewis collaborated with resource coordinator Kim Bakewell to establish a school garden and garden club. Four 8x4ft raised bed gardens were built by volunteers and filled with garden soil from a local nursery. However, a lack of further funding, combined with the end of the spring semester halted things. The following spring (2018), KSU Extension agent
Author: Bethany Pratt
Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture
In order to increase awareness about urban agriculture in Louisville, the Louisville Urban Agricultural Coalition sponsored the Garden tents at the Louisville Free Public Library’s How-To Festival, a free public education event where people can come to attend 30 minute “TED”-style talks or activities.The Louisville Urban Agriculture Coalition (UAC) was formed in 2017 by the Horticulture agent, Jefferson County Soil & Water Conservation District, Louisville Grows, Lots of Fo
Author: Bethany Pratt
Major Program: Commercial Horticulture - Crop Marketing
The Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Service Agent for Horticulture Education (HORT), Common Earth Gardens (CEG); Kentucky Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (KCARD) and Navigate Enterprises of the Jewish Family & Career Center (NE) along with support from the University of Kentucky’s Center for Crop Diversity (CCD) have developed and implemented a three year incubator farm program for Louisville’s immigrant and refugee population to help interested participants
Author: Stephen Lewis
Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture
Kuumba Youth Liberation Academy (KYLA) is a Afrikan-Centered homeschool platform, located in Louisville, KY. They provide cultural education for students in the community to promote confidence, self-directed learners and leadership. Their focus is Afrikan culture, Afrikan history, and entrepreneurship. The students who attend the school range from third grade to 12th grade and they all attend the same class. They study a variety of disciplines from martial arts, chess, drumming and dance, violin
Author: Kelly Smith
Major Program: Agriculture 4-H Core Curriculum
In the 2017-2018 school year, over 20 classrooms, representing both private and public Jefferson County schools, requested the Embryology project from the Jefferson County 4-H program. Teachers within classrooms wanted hands on experience with learning life skills and knowledge of the process of embryology. Youth learned to care and maintain for the eggs and incubator before, during and after the incubation period. They also learned the proper care of newly hatched chicks. Kelly Smith, Jefferson
Author: Lawrence Caudle
Major Program: Master Gardener
The Kentucky Master Gardener Program is a program that trains volunteers to assist County Extension Agents with educational programming. There are multiple Master Gardener Volunteers across the state of Kentucky, but there were no active Master Gardeners in Powell County. After advertising the Master Gardener Program in the Powell County newspaper for a number of weeks, Linda Swango, a resident of Powell County entered the 12 week program. Linda Swango attended each class which was centered on m
Author: Lawrence Caudle
Major Program: Bees/Beekeeping
Beekeeping is a great way to further diversify the farm, or homestead. Bees can be used to make a variety of products including honey, wax, and a variety of value added products such as soaps, lotions, and many others. These products can supply additional revenue streams to small farms or homesteads. Bees are also important for their role in pollinating various crops such as vegetables, flowers, fruit trees, and others. Several research studies have also indicated that pollinator insects, includ
Author: Chanda Hall
Major Program: Natural Resources 4-H Core Curriculum
Time Management is the thinking skill that helps children with managing tasks, prioritizing responsibilities, and maintain a healthy environment. Time management helps students to complete activities in a timely fashion, and learn to manage and stick to a schedule. Jefferson County 4-H partnered this year with Mill Creek Elementary to execute Sean Covey’s 7 Habits of Happy Kids. Mill Creek is a Leadership Academy Magnet Program for elementary students in grades K-5. The acad
