Extension
It Starts With Us
Environmental awareness and improvements
Agriculture, Horticulture and Environmental Awareness
Rex McBride, David Koester, Gina Ligon
Environmental Sustainability & Responsibility
Natural Resources 4-H Core Curriculum
Backyard Streams
Urban Environments (water issues)
Census shows that Boone County is now considered over 50% urban. With this number growing yearly more and more of our community members have less contact with the natural environment. More of our landscape is being converted into manicured lawn. Homeowners have shown interest in keeping/creating habitat for wildlife in both lawn and large acreage areas.
Habitat improvement practices will increase the biodiversity of native flora and fauna within communities, promoting further positive environmental change.
Participants will implement habitat improvements on their properties.
Participants will learn habitat management and improvement methods for landscaping in their lawns.
Participants will learn ways to improve and conserve natural growing areas such as woodlots and former farmlands.
Initial Outcome: Participants will learn ways to improve and conserve natural growing areas such as woodlots and former farmlands.
Indicator: improved knowledge of woodlot management for various uses
Method: survey
Timeline: fall
Intermediate Outcome: Participants will implement habitat improvements on their properties.
Indicator: number of improvements made
Method: post-survey
Timeline: as program opportunities occur
Long-term Outcome: Habitat improvement practices will increase the biodiversity of native flora and fauna within communities, promoting further positive environmental change.
Indicator: landowners improving habitats
Method: landowner initiated assessment by wildlife and forestry specialists
Timeline: yearly
Audience: Homeowners
Project or Activity: Bluebird Nesting Boxes
Content or Curriculum: UK Bluebird publication, ND extension nesting box plans
Inputs: staff, volunteers
Date: February
Audience: Boone County Home and Landowners
Project or Activity: Wildlife exploration
Content or Curriculum: amphibians, pond and stream ecosystems, reptiles, birds
Inputs: Agents, volunteers, field technicians.
Date: spring/summers
Audience: Homeowners
Project or Activity: Planting for Pollinators
Content or Curriculum: Pollinators in the garden
Inputs: Agents, horticulture techs
Date: Summer 2018/Spring 2019
Audience: Homeowners, Community Members
Project or Activity: Hike the Trails
Content or Curriculum: Self-guided tour on the nature trails with native plant identification.
Inputs: Hort Tech, volunteers
Date: Summer/Fall 2018, Spring 2019
Audience: Homeowners
Project or Activity: Composting
Content or Curriculum: Composting program to educate homeowners how to use yard waste and food scrapes to create soil for their garden.
Inputs: Agents, Hort Tech
Date: Spring 2019
Author: David Koester
Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture
We have had a 25 year history of making gardening possible to everyone regardless of age,health or physical limitation. 2019 saw us add 8 new garden bed designs for special needs individuals. Brighton Centers Youth Build Program received a $1000.00 dollar grant and students built 4 new raised beds while the Toyota Manufacturing Green Initiative constructed an additional 4 beds. Reasons for our continued involvement in this program are that regular gardening activities increase a sense of we
