Extension
It Starts With Us
Increase best practices for urban agriculture, natural resources & local food systems
Enhancing Urban Agriculture, Local Food Systems, and Municipal Natural Resources
A. Leonberger, A. Brewer, M. Preece, K. Bishop, N. Colten, C. Carter
Nutrition and Food Systems General
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
Water and Soil Quality and Conservation
Health
As urban development continues, degradation of farmland, waterways, and forest lands has exacerbated the already limited access to public green spaces and to locally produced, fresh foods.
The lack of green space or appropriately managed plant species in the urban environment is critical to a healthy environment. Outdoor places to play and learn for kids are critical to good physical and mental health. Research published in the American Journal of Public Health, found that exposure to quality trees, vegetation, nature, or green space in urban areas has been connected with multiple public health benefits, including reduced mortality, morbidity, stress, and mental fatigue. Multiple studies have correlated an increase in the number and quality of urban trees with a decrease in crimes such as property crimes, vandalism, gun assault, theft, robbery, burglary, and narcotics possession.
The quality of public urban forests and community health are impacted by storm water runoff. This problem is further impacted by the degradation of existing farmland and natural areas, which increases the amount of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution that currently accounts for two-thirds of the water quality impairments in Kentucky’s streams, lakes, and rivers. Furthermore, poor water quality impacts public use in local and urban areas which impacts community health and fitness.
Access to locally produced food, affects consumption of healthy food options and overall individual health. According to a 2014 Kentucky Association of Food Banks survey, 91 percent of food bank recipients had to purchase inexpensive, unhealthy food to feed their families. This demonstrates that these families either were unaware of where to purchase local healthy food, or they were unavailable for purchase. In addition, there is an increase of requests from urban dwellers for implementing community gardens, urban livestock, and other modern agriculture, horticulture & natural resource practices.
With an increase in the quality and productivity of new and existing urban spaces, Franklin County can decrease pollution and crime, while increasing public health and safety. In addition, by strengthening Franklin County’s local food systems, everyone will have access to a healthier diet while benefitting the local economy and communities.
•Fragile and threatened lands and waters are protected and improved
•Decrease in crimes related to increased quality and quantity of urban forests and greenspaces
•Population will experience increased outdoor activity rates and decreased incidence of obesity, morbidity, stress, and mental fatigue
•More well-managed urban green space and less degradation of land and waterways
•Lower rates of NPS pollution, higher water quality in Franklin County waters
Frankfort/ Franklin County will develop and enhance more public, outdoor green spaces
•Franklin County population will experience lower rates of obesity and heart disease due to choosing to eat a healthier diet
•Children grow to understand and appreciate agriculture and natural systems and strive to make better choices for their health and environment
•Urban farming is accepted and a significant contribution to the local economy
•More local retail, community, and institutional outlets sell and serve locally produced items
•Local producers seek out and utilize new marketing opportunities
•Producers and retail food outlets see an increased customer base and income due to demand for local food
•Citizens request and utilize green space in urban and suburban areas
•Increased number walk/bike trails and usage is increased
•More policies are implemented to saving, improving, and managing green space in established new developments
•Urban greenspaces are designed and installed to intercept stormwater runoff
•County residents are implementing fertilizer applications to minimize runoff and leaching
•Responsible riverfront and storm water management planning, development, and use increases
•Residents apply improved food preparations skills and healthy eating habits
•More county households, schools, churches and institutions plant, harvest, and preserve produce
•Schools have gardens, outdoor learning centers, and programs that incorporate all facets of modern agriculture, horticulture, and natural resources
•Producers adopting new practices to increase profits
•Local population has an increased access to and aware of local food options
•Eligible recipients increase redemption of farmer’s market nutrition programs
•County Population understands the importance of urban agriculture, horticulture, natural resources, and local food systems to their health, financial well-being, community, and environment
•People are aware of and more accepting of environmentally, socially, economically sustainable policies
•Residents understand and request green spaces for safe and enjoyable outdoor activity
•Residents and community leaders are aware of the public health and safety benefits of well-managed greenspaces
•Residents are aware of what NPS pollution is and the impact it has on the environment
•Community leaders recognize the importance of utilizing greenspace to manage stormwater, minimize NPS pollution, and create responsible riverfront areas
•People learn to grow, prepare, and preserve food
•Citizens are aware of options for urban farming and request more information
•People learn to incorporate unfamiliar foods or foods not currently eating into a healthy diet
•People and institutions increase knowledge and understanding of healthy eating, food safety, food access to increase food security
•The community becomes aware of food policy councils and begins to think of food policy
Outcome(st): Learn where food comes from, how to choose more local/regional foods
Indicator: People and institutions ask for and choose local food and food sources
Method: Survey
Timeline: April-October
Outcome(st): Learn the benefits of urban agriculture, horticulture, and natural resources
Indicator: People and institutions ask for and plan for more urban farms, forests, and green spaces
Method: Survey
Timeline: Annual
Outcome(I): Access more local foods
Indicator: Of the total number of households. Caregivers reached with information on accessing healthy local foods, the number of participants that self-report eating more healthy local foods
Method: Plate it up Kentucky featured program questions
Timeline: October – September
Outcome(I): Increased quantity and quality of urban forests and greenspaces
Indicator: increase in total acreage of urban forests and greenspaces, decrease in number of urban tree removals
Method: Survey, Public Records
Timeline: Annually
Outcome(LT): Urban farming practices are being used
Indicator: Increase in community & school gardens; other agriculture practices are being done in urban settings
Method: Survey
Timeline: Biennially
Outcome: (LT): Franklin County communities’ health and economy are strengthened through strong local organizational food ways
Indicator: Number of people who are involved in addressing local/regional food issues and food security issues
Method: Number of local policy changes or partnerships as a result of Extension programs
Timeline: August-December
Audience: Community Leaders, Food-way System Leaders
Activity: Community Food Council
Content or Curriculum: Convene existing advisory groups and other key stakeholders to discuss and set priorities for developing a stronger local food system. Identify potential policies to decrease hunger and increase food access.
Date: August-September, first meeting – then quarterly or as needed
Audience: Teachers, Educators, Parents, Youth
Activity: Farm to School support
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Farm to School Task Force resources (3Cs: Cafeteria, Classroom, Community), Farm to School Curriculum, Super Star Chef goes to Farmers Market
Date: September-May
Audience: Farmers market customers; EBT/WIC/Senior/LEP Farmers Market Nutrition Participants
Activity: Farmers’ Market Demonstrations
Content or Curriculum: Cooking Programs, Tastings, Displays, Incentives
Date: April - November
Audience: Program Newsletters; Newspaper articles; Farmers market customers/vendors
Activity: Plate It Up Kentucky Proud
Content or Curriculum: Plate It Up Resources
Date: July - June
Audience: Farmers Market Vendors; Farm Producers
Activity: Growing Local Food Entrepreneurs
Content or Curriculum: Home-Based Micro-Processing Training, Home-based processing
Date: offer opportunities quarterly
Audience: Local restaurants, grocers, caterers, retail food outlets; City/County Tourism; Chamber of Commerce
Activity: Market Ready/Ky Proud Restaurant Program
Content or Curriculum: Using UK Market Ready & Ky Proud resources, bring together producers, restaurants, grocers to partner in supplying items for consumers
Date: November- intro, January, February-solidify contracts
Audience: Youth
Activity: Super Star Chef Curriculum/Program, Cooking Club, 4-H Project Days, County Fair, School Clubs
Content or Curriculum: Super Star Chef, County Fair Recipes taught at Project Days, Snap Ed, EFNEP recipes
Date: All Year
Audience: local beef producers
Activity: Master Marketing
Content or Curriculum: Beef marketing options workshops
Date: Annual as needed
Audience: Farmers, Businesspeople, Community, Chamber of Commerce
Project or Activity: Farm/City Banquet
Content or Curriculum: Urban Farming Award
Inputs: Chamber of Commerce; Community Organizations; CommonWealth Garden Network; local media
Date: April annually
Audience: Community
Project or Activity: Franklin County Fair
Content or Curriculum: Classes, newspaper and newsletter articles about Fair and how to exhibit; classes to assist with production of appropriate items to enter, 4-H Projects exhibited in the fair (Cloverville and Floral Hall)
Inputs: Fair Board; Extension Agents; Homemaker leaders; Master Gardeners; Garden Club educators
Date: May – July annually
Audience: UK students, UK farm workers
Project or Activity: UK Lanscaping Dry Stone Class
Content or Curriculum: History & building with dry stone
Inputs:
Date: Fall
Audience: Livestock Producers
Project or Activity: BQA Certafication
Content or Curriculum: BQA program
Inputs: KCA, KBN, UK ruminant Vet
Date: Spring
Audience: Limited resource & underserved farmers & land owners
Project or Activity: KSU/UK Limited resource farmer Update
Content or Curriculum: Current topics of interest
Inputs: KSU, FSA, NRCS, Health Dept
Date: Fall
Audience: Community
Project or Activity: Beginner Beekeeper Series
Content or Curriculum: Basics of beekeeping as provided by State Apiarist, Extension Apiary Specialist, and local beekeepers association
Inputs: KSU, KDA, Capital City Beekeepers Assoc.
Date: Winter
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Summer & Environmental Camp
Content or Curriculum: Project WET, Project Learning Tree
Inputs: CES Agents, Camp Staff, Volunteers,
Date: September - August
Author: Adam Leonberger
Major Program: Master Gardener
Current research indicates numerous pollinating insect species are threatened or in decline. The USDA states that about one third of global food supplies depend on pollinating insects. There are many simple steps homeowners can take to encourage pollinators in backyard gardens. To provide more education around the topic, horticulture agents from Fayette, Franklin, and Woodford counties planned our annual Extension Master Gardener Conference to focus on pollinators. We selected and tapped speaker
Author: MacKenzie Preece
Major Program: Agriculture & Natural Resources
Environmental Camp has been a staple field trip experience in Franklin County Schools over the past 9 years. Despite turnover in 4-H Agents and Covid-19 the EE Camping Program remains strong. During the 2022-2023 school year, Franklin County took 6 schools to JM Feltner 4-H Camp for an overnight field trip experience. Currently during the 2023-2024 school year, Franklin County 4-H has already taken 4 school groups, with 4 more on the calendar for the school year. Over 700 youth and 110 volunteer
Author: Keenan Bishop
Major Program: Hay testing
The majority of livestock producers do not test their hay. Determining and understanding forage quality is necessary to provide a balanced nutrition plan. Hay testing can provide data that producers and Cooperative Extension Agents use to ensure the nutritional needs of the animal are being met. Without testing, producers are under or over feeding - leading to poor allocation of resources, inadequate animal needs and wasted money. The Central Kentucky Hay Contest was created to
Author: Keenan Bishop
Major Program: Small Farm Diversification
Small, diversified family farm selling produce, meats and value added processed. Having acreage for only a small poultry flock, a couple head each of goats, sheep, beef and dairy cattle.Need for a feed & mineral program & stations for multi-specie supplementation and co-grazing.No Tractor to move hay therefor dumped in field. Designed improvised low cost fenceline feeder to reduce mud, waste and allow ease of feeding.Hay needs & waste were reduced.
Author: Adam Leonberger
Major Program: Local Food Systems
Many downtown Frankfort residents face difficulties in accessing fresh and high-quality produce, as the nearest grocery store is more than 3.5 miles away. To address this challenge, the Franklin County Farmer’s Market and Franklin County Cooperative Extension Service have collaborated to improve the food access for low-income households in Frankfort. The Farmer's Market has seen a remarkable growth in sales and customers, reaching over $610,000 from more than 60 local producers, a
Author: Keenan Bishop
Major Program: Local Food Systems
In the Frankfort "Local Foods, Local Places" community conversation, people expressed a need for more school gardens and more local foods to be served in school meals. The Love Local Lunch idea was created for Frankfort Independent Schools by the Farm to School Coordinator through the efforts of The Farmers Market and community volunteers. The free meal to all students, staff and parents celebrated local farmers, community partners, and the work of feeding each other. The Franklin
Author: Adam Leonberger
Major Program: Local Food Systems
During the “Local Foods, Local Places” community discussion in Frankfort, people voiced a desire for increased school gardens and more locally sourced foods in school meals. As a response to this need, the Love Local Lunch initiative was established for Frankfort Independent Schools. This project emerged through the collaborative efforts of the Farm to School Coordinator, The Farmers Market, and dedicated community volunteers.The Love Local Lunch pr
Author: MacKenzie Preece
Major Program: Agriculture & Natural Resources
The Kentucky 4-H Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences Academy (NRESci) strives to increase environmental literacy among youth in Kentucky. Every five years (since 1999) the Kentucky Environmental Education Council (KEEC) conducts a survey to assess Kentuckian’s environmental knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. According to KEEC’s 2020-2025 Environmental Education Master Plan (2020), “… the average Kentuckian is able to answer correctly slightly less than half of
Author: Austin Brewer
Major Program: Agriculture & Natural Resources
Franklin County's Environmental Education ImpactThis past fall and spring, over 600 students from Franklin County had the enriching experience of attending environmental camps. These camps were conducted in partnership with the JM Feltner Memorial 4-H Camp in London, Kentucky, offering a unique and immersive learning environment.At these camps, students participated in various hands-on activities designed to deepen their understanding of environmental science and natural resource management.
Author: Austin Brewer
Major Program: Agriculture & Natural Resources
This past August, Franklin County proudly celebrated a significant achievement at the Kentucky State Fair. A talented student from our county was awarded the Grand Champion title in the county ham contest, showcasing their exceptional skills and dedication to the art of ham curing.The student participated in Franklin County's thriving ham program, which has been instrumental in teaching youth the traditional methods of curing and processing hams. Through hands-on workshops and expert guidanc
