Extension
It Starts With Us
Protecting the Environment
Natural Resources and the Environment
Mike Meyer, Jessica Barnes, Jessica Sayre
Water and Soil Quality and Conservation
Health
Residents are concerned about safety of local water supply from Licking River. County still has a few wells and cisterns that need better maintenance. Building and construction add to soil erosion. Land covered with concrete and black top create further run off. Citizens are becoming more aware of the "Green Conception”. Since 90% of all water humans consume is from ground water, our water must be protected. Most fresh water available to us is ground water (not from rivers and lake sources), therefore Harrison County needs to improve environmental quality by implementation of sound environmental practices.
- Improve landowner management of natural resources.
- Reduction of public health hazards related to use of agricultural pesticides. - Encourage the use of new and developing agriculture methods including the use of GPS - global positioning systems.
- Families are encouraged to recycle, reuse, and reduce, to improve the environment.
Improve environmental quality by use of sound environmental practices resulting in less soil erosion, improved quantity and quality of water.
- Properly dispose of unused farm pesticide, household chemicals and containers.
- Utilize personal safety equipment when using pesticides.
- Promote establishment of riparian buffer zones to reduce soil erosion and reduce flooding damage.
- Increase number of dead livestock pickup to protect air, surface water and ground water sources.
- Youth education opportunities for soils and water conservation protection, natural resources and environmental awareness.
- Practice recycling.
- Demonstrate to the public the possible hazards of pesticides, and other chemicals or compounds to water resources, human health, livestock, wildlife, and pets.
Initial Outcome: Youth display knowledge of proper conservation methods and environmental awareness.
Indicator: Youth apply conservation measures and environment practices in everyday lives
Method: involvement in camps, judging and 4-H projects
Timeline: All Year
Intermediate Outcome: Number of animals picked up by dead animal programs.
Indicator: New and returning participants, practices adopted
Method: Yearly report of number of dead animals picked up
Timeline: Year Round
Intermediate Outcome: Number of producers receiving pesticide certification
Indicator: New and returning participants
Method: Number of participants attending certification classes
Timeline: Year Round
Long-term Outcome: Number of people participating in recycling practices and projects
Indicator: New and returning participants, practices adopted.
Method: Observation, oral and written evaluations, adoption of practices, used oil collected, and pesticide containers returned.
Timeline: July and September
Audience: Cynthiana/Harrison County community members
Project or Activity: Promoting city/county recycling program
Content or Curriculum: Reduce waste, recycle, reuse waste, used tire disposal, pesticide container disposal
Inputs: extension staff, Cynthiana city departments
Date: Year Round
Audience: Community members
Project or Activity: Extension Homemaker Environment & Safety Programs, FCS and Ag Newsletters
Content or Curriculum: recycling, timely educational materials
Inputs: FCS Homemaker Environment and Safety committee, Agents
Date: 8 times a year
Audience: 4-H members, community members
Project or Activity: Water Quality and Natural Resources Awareness
Content or Curriculum: Protect ground and surface water, 4-H Curriculum, Project Wet, Project Wild, Ground Water Model, promote water conservation
Inputs: Agents, UK Extension Specialists, volunteers
Date: Year Round
Audience: community members, Homemakers, 4-H members
Project or Activity: Go Green Education
Content or Curriculum: Reduce, Recycle, Reuse, use of cloth carryout bags at point of purchase, and green cleaning. Use of environmentally friendly products in home construction and home furnishings.
Inputs: Extension agents, specialists, chamber of commerce
Date: Year round
Audience: Farmers, producers, homeowners
Project or Activity: Pesticide Certification Training, Agricultural and paint container collection
Content or Curriculum: Environmental protection training
Inputs: UK Extension Specialists, Partner with local pesticide dealers
Date: Year Round
Audience: Local farmers
Project or Activity: Dead Animal Disposal
Content or Curriculum: Sanitation, protect water resources, promote on-farm composting, cooperation with the county
Inputs: Countryside Industries
Date: Year Round
Audience: Land owners
Project or Activity: Wildlife Management and Control
Content or Curriculum: Personal and environmental protection. Reduced property and crop damage. Reduced interactions between population and unwanted wild animals, buzzards, coyotes, snakes and insects.
Inputs: UK Extension Specialists, Agents, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife
Date: Year Round
Audience: 4-H members
Project or Activity: UK 4-H/Harrison County Soil Conservation District Soils judging
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Soils Judging Project
Inputs: UK Extension Specialists, Harrison County Conservation District, volunteers
Date: April-Aug
Audience: 4-H members
Project or Activity: Summer 4-H Camps, 4-H Shooting Sports, 4-H Horse Camps, Environmental Camps and Cloverbud Camp
Content or Curriculum: Safety, Environmental Resource Source, Recreation,. KY State Parks and Recreation, KY 4-H Specialists
Inputs: 4-H volunteers, paid staff
Date: July - June
Author: Jessica Barnes
Major Program: Beekeeping
With Covid-19 wreaking havoc on the 2020-2021 school year for many students, new opportunities have emerged that the Harrison County Extension Staff have been able to take advantage of to reach new individuals. All of our schools are offering summer school sessions and have invited Extension to be a part of those efforts. As an office we are trying to be present each week of summer school at a couple of the different schools so that we can share our knowledge with students that may never be expo
Author: Jessica Hopkins
Major Program: Beekeeping
The topic of beekeeping is a popular subject among homeowners and commercial horticulturalist in the central Kentucky area. Many counties have beekeeping clubs or associations for members to be part of, however with the restrictions put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many groups were unable to meet for several months and many horticulture agents had not held a beekeeping program for over a year. While staying within COVID guidelines and following University of Kentucky recomm
Author: Jessica Hopkins
Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home
In an effort to adapt to changes in program delivery brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Horticulture Agents in 4 counties in Central 4 and Central 2 areas (Bourbon, Franklin, Harrison, and Woodford) collaborated to offer Horticulture Webinar Series. This 6-month series hosted by agents provided educational classes related to horticulture. 529 participants attended the 18 webinars. The use of webinars and other technologies has further increased our reach through sharing recordings throu
