Extension
It Starts With Us
Promoting Sustainable Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Urban Forestry
Promoting Sustainability
P. Adkins, C. Hall, J. Palmer, C. Robles and K. Smith
Local Food System Development and Mapping
Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Active Living and Health Promotions General
Camping
Agriculture is Kentucky’s largest employer and accounts for the greatest amount of revenue in Kentucky’s economy. However, agriculture in Kentucky’s largest and most urban county, looks decidedly different. With a few hundred traditional farms, production agriculture receipts are quite small. However, urban agriculture, home gardening and commercial horticulture are growing segments. The local food and makers movements are gaining momentum in Jefferson County. Equally important are natural resources. Understanding how daily choices can impact our environment is vital to conserving and preserving our natural resources for the present and future. Urban surface water moving across agriculture land (urban and rural) potentially remove nutrients, fertilizer and pesticides through erosion. These contaminants are directly related to urban stream degradation. The average Kentuckian used 67 gallons of water/person per day. Everything from the air we breathe, to the water we drink, to the soil we use are vital to our existence. Disaster preparedness is necessary for safe communities. Each year, on average, Kentuckians deal with 30-50 days associated with thunderstorms, and 12 days with tornadoes. Additionally, flooding is a problem in Jefferson County, as well as other natural disasters.
Climate change is also very likely to affect food security at the global, regional, and local level. Climate change can disrupt food availability, reduce access to food, and affect food quality.[1] For example, projected increases in temperatures, changes in precipitation patterns, changes in extreme weather events, and reductions in water availability may all result in reduced agricultural productivity. Increases in the frequency and severity extreme weather events can also interrupt food delivery, and resulting spikes in food prices after extreme events are expected to be more frequent in the future. Increasing temperatures can contribute to spoilage and contamination.
Creating production sites that can mitigate the effects of extreme weather will be necessary to maintain access to food for underserved communities.
Increase number of youth and adults practicing and advocating for sustainable home agriculture.
Youth will use scientific techniques to positively sustain the natural resources.
Youth and adults will engage in community projects related to natural resource conservation.
Youth and adults will value and advocate for water resources, water quality and reduce stormwater pollutants from agriculture runoff.
Youth and adults will protect and improve water, soil and air resources.
Youth and adults will maintain or improve wildlife habitat.
Homeowners will increase sustainable home management practices in lawn and landscape.
Production Agriculturalists will increase sustainable management practices.
Increased tree planting will help to maintain or decrease the “heat island effect.”
Increase the number of youth and adults participating in high tunnel production in non traditional spaces, such as indoors, greenhouses and high tunnels
Increase the total acreage of production under protected structures
Youth and adults will engage in more innovative and technologically efficient production methods to increase production output on the same amount of acreage
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 practice entrepreneurship skills related to agriculture and food systems.
Producers implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) on their property or in their community.
Advocate for stormwater BMPs with clients and community leaders
Develop, update and implement Ag Water Quality Plan and Nutrient Management Plan
Adults will acquire vacant unproductive land for purposes of agriculture
Adults will increase number of applications for the EQUIP program for free high tunnels through the NRCS
Youth and adults gain knowledge and skills, and 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 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
Youth and adults will gain knowledge of production practices through Extension resources (agents, specialists, publications, workshops)
Producers undergo training in best management practices and food safety certifications
Youth and adults learn about season extension and the benefits of high tunnel / greenhouse production
Youth and adults learn about the projected impact of climate change on the sustainability of agriculture in the future
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: Attendance numbers at agricultural programs.
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 2024 – October 2025
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: summer programs, before/after school clubs
Content or Curriculum: activities, project wild, Jr MG program
Inputs: Jr. MG program curriculum
Date: July 2024 – June 2025
Audience: AdultsProject or Activity: Community Garden Facilitation & Seasonal Education
Content or Curriculum: Extension publications
Inputs: Master Gardener volunteers; agents; specialists.
content curriculum
Date: year-round 2020-2025.
Audience: Youth & AdultsProject or Activity: How-To Festival Gardening Education & Seed Swap
Content or Curriculum: Extension publications
Inputs: Master Gardener volunteers; agents; specialists; community volunteers; donated seeds.
content curriculum
Date: May 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025.
Audience: English Language Learning Commercial Producers
Project or Activity: Incubator Farm Program
Content or Curriculum: Curriculum developed by Common Earth Gardens & Jefferson Co. Extension
Inputs: Farms, KDA, agents, buyers, farmers, Common Earth Gardens, farmers markets, KCARD
Date: Jan.-Nov. 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025.
Audience: Commercial producers
Project or Activity: PBPT Training, farmers market sampling certificate,
organic certification, Senior Voucher Stamp Training,
Content or Curriculum: Programs associated with above projects
Inputs: Farms, KDA, agents, buyers, farmers
Date: June 2020; April/May 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025.
Audience: Senior CitizensProject or Activity: Food Demonstrations
Content or Curriculum: CES publications, Plate It Up, Farmers Market
Inputs: All CES Agents, CES publications, extension publications
Date: July 2023 – June 2024
Audience: YouthProject 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. 2024 – Apr. 2025
Audience: YouthProject 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. 2024 – Apr. 2025
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. 2024 – Apr. 2025
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. 2024 – Apr. 2025
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. 2024 – Apr. 2025
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. 2024 – Apr. 2025
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Urban Homesteading Classes
Content or Curriculum: Urban Homesteading Curriculum
Inputs: Paid staff, community partners/volunteers; program fees
Date: Feb.-Sept. 2021; Feb.-Sept. 2022; Feb.-Sept. 2023
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: KY Master Naturalist Program
Content or Curriculum: KY Master Naturalist Curriculum
Inputs: Paid staff, community partners/volunteers; program fees; extension specialists
Date: 2020 – 2023
Audience: youth and adults
Project: High tunnel greenhouse production
Content or Curriculum: Extension publications, extension fact sheets
Inputs: Master Gardener volunteers, extension agents, specialists, content curriculum
July 1 2022- June 30 2023
