Recycling and Conservation, Chemical Management, and Environmental Responsibility
Enhancing Environmental Stewardship
Flowers, Hogancamp,
Health
Integrated Pest Management
Water and Soil Quality and Conservation
People, animals and plants are dependent on our Earth’s natural resources. Everything from the air we breathe, to the water we drink, to the soil we use for food production – these resources are vital to our existence. Therefore, it’s important that we care for and respect these resources. Understanding how our daily choices affect our environment, we can conserve natural resources and protect our environment for present and future generations. Each decision individuals make has an impact on health and safety in the family, community and environment. 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. As a result, the Carlisle County 4-H Council, Homemaker Council, Agricultural Advisory Council, and Extension Council all identified environmental stewardship as a priority programming area for 2016-2021.
In 2008, Kentucky ranked 18th in total energy consumption and 7th in energy consumption per capita. In 2010, the statewide household participation rate for all curbside garbage collection types was 86.6%. 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. Additionally, while agricultural chemical application at its best is simultaneously safe, effective, economical, and environmentally-conscious, achieving each of these attributes for plant pest management is an ongoing educational process for a variety of applicator groups, including farm managers and workers, gardeners, crop advisors, point-of-sale employees, and industry and government agency representatives. Attention to chemical application education will benefit not only applicators, but anyone who comes in contact with agricultural fields or uses Kentucky food, fuel, and fiber crops as part of everyday life. According to USDA 2012 data, 740 people directly received income from farm operations in
Carlisle County, which is approximately 33.9% of total county employment. This signifies the importance of the environment in sustaining employment and well-being in Carlisle County, reinforcing the need for environmental education and enhancement.
- Youth and adults will create safe homes within environments that promote and support the physical and mental well-being of families throughout the life cycle.
- Youth and adults will improve the built and natural environment to increase active and healthy lifestyles.
- Youth will improve the built and natural environment to increase active and healthy lifestyles
- Youth and adults will implement one or more practices that will improve pest management, going green, energy conservation, solid waste management, water conservation, home safety, and/or built environment.
- Youth and adults will assess the cost savings and/or benefits associated with newly adopted practices related to pest management, going green, energy conservation, solid waste management, water conservation, home safety, and/or built environment.
- Youth and adults will demonstrate skills to improve pest management, going green, energy conservation, solid waste management, water conservation, home safety, and/or built environment.
- Youth and adults will participate in an activity or event that improves the built or natural environment.
- Youth and adults will exhibit a change knowledge, opinions, skills, and/or aspirations in understanding of issues related to pest management, going green, energy conservation, solid waste management, water conservation, home safety, and/or built environment
- Youth and adults will identify one or more practices that will improve pest management, going green, energy conservation, solid waste management, water conservation, home safety, and/or built environment.
Initial Outcomes:
Indicator: Written or verbal acknowledgement of increased awareness and knowledge regarding environmental stewardship
Method: Pre-/post-tests, observation, participation
Timeline: After programming opportunities
Intermediate Outcomes:
Indicator: Change in behavior or practice related to enhancing environmental stewardship
Method: Pre-/post-tests, observation, participation, self-reporting, local environmental statistics and outcomes
Timeline: After programming opportunities
Long-term Outcomes:
Indicator: Long-term results stemming from changes in behavior or practice related to environmental responsibility sustained over time
Method: 4-H project participation, local environmental statistics and outcomes, community statistics
Timeline: 2020-2025
Audience: Agricultural producers
Project or Activity: Pesticide Training
Content or Curriculum: IPM practices, approved videos
Date: Winter 2024
Audience: Agricultural producers
Project or Activity: Rinse and Return
Content or Curriculum: Environmentally-safe disposal practices
Date: 2023-2024
Audience: Carlisle County Residents
Project or Activity: Healthy Homes Program
Content or Curriculum: Healthy Homes Curriculum
Date: 2023-2024
Audience: Youth aged 9-18
Project or Activity: Upcycle Artists Club
Content or Curriculum: Recycling and repurposing used items
Date: 2023-2024
Audience: Youth aged 9-18
Project or Activity: Carlisle County Shooting Sports Club
Content or Curriculum: Shooting Sports certification curriculum and coaches
Date: Spring and Summer 2023 and 2024
Audience: Youth aged 9-18
Project or Activity: Fishing Club
Content or Curriculum: Fishing and health curriculum
Date: 2023-2024
Inputs:
Volunteers/Collaborators
Agents
Agribusinesses
Kentucky Department of Agriculture
Carlisle County Conservation District
Producers
Carlisle County Road Department/Fiscal Court
USDA Farm Service Agency
Carlisle County Schools
Extension volunteers
County Solid Waste Coordinator
Specialists
Author: Chuck Flowers
Major Program: Wildlife Habitat and Damage Management Education
.Crop production uses 85% of our land in the river counties but we still have over 7600 acres of public hunting land besides private land used for hunting. Landowners want a balance of wildlife with minimum damage to crops. Due to a decline in harvest numbers of turkey and increased problems with predator animal’s agriculture agents in Carlisle, Hickman and Fulton County decided to host a wildlife meeting to address these concerns. Zak Danks with the Kentucky Department o