Practicing stewardship of local natural resources
Strengthening Agriculture and Natural Resources
Bryant, Hinton
Natural Resources 4-H Core Curriculum
Pesticide Safety – Plant Pests
Home & Consumer Horticulture
Master Gardener
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. Unsolved worldwide social problems need to be addressed by Kentucky youth and adults, including 1) there is a shortage of scientists and people understanding natural resource stewardship, 2) women and minorities are under-represented in Natural Resource careers, 3) our communities need a diverse pool of trained scientists to frame and solve problems and educate others in natural resource related areas, and 4) finally, the general population in Breckinridge County and throughout the United States, lack a basic understanding of environmental resources in their own backyard.
Breckinridge County community members will use scientific techniques, responsible practices and innovative technologies that will positively sustain the natural resources in the home, community and world. Youth will engage in community projects related to natural resource conservation. Home owners will begin to utilize their knowledge from the Master Gardener Programs to teach other on utilization of natural resources.
Local adults and youth will make decisions in their daily lives that positively impact natural resources, adopt practices to conserve and protect the environment in their home and community, and use problem solving skills and apply them to environmental issues. Home owners work to utilize raised beds in their home vegetable garden program to provide more locally grown produce. Accessible gardens will be used to allow homeowners to gain control of their gardens and begin to increase their mobility and their knowledge of small garden production.
Local adults and youth will develop an interest in environmental sciences and sustainable practices and technologies, gain knowledge of the interrelationship and interdependencies with an ecosystem, and identify and gain knowledge of the natural resources that are used within their home and community. Farm and homeowners will break those barriers and begin implementing raised beds as well as increase their knowledge and their use of small accessible gardens with demonstrations in each small community area, such as the senior Citizen Center, and Communicare adult workshop, and branch libraries.
Initial Outcome: Adults and youth will identify and gain knowledge of the natural resources that are used within their home and community.
Indicator: Number of individuals who can identify natural resources in the community.
Method: Kentucky 4-H Evaluations
Timeline: Throughout program implementation
Intermediate Outcome: Adults and youth will adopt practices to conserve and protect the environment in their home and community.
Indicator: Number of individuals reporting using their skills to conserve natural resources.
Method: Follow-up surveys, personal interviews, and observations
Timeline: 1-3 month follow-up to program implementation
Long-term Outcome: Adults and youth will use scientific techniques, responsible practices and innovative technologies that will positively sustain the natural resources in the home, community and world.
Indicator: Number of individuals participating in a community service project related to natural resource conservation.
Method: Personal testimonials, follow-up surveys, observations
Timeline: 1-3 month follow-up to program implementation
Audience: 4th Grade Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Environmental Day Camp
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H approved curriculum (Project WET, Project WILD, Forensic Entomology, etc.)
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, Kentucky 4-H Camp staff and facilities, volunteer leadership, community leaders, public schools, curriculum and program resources
Date: 2018-2019 program year
Audience: Local Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Cloverbud Club
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H approved curriculum
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, public library, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program resources
Date: 2018-2019 program year
Audience: Local Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Bug Club
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Entomology curriculum, Butterfly WINGS curriculum, and other Kentucky 4-H approved curriculum
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents and facilities, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program resources
Date: 2018-2019 program year
Audience: Local Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Shooting Sports Club
Content or Curriculum: 4-H shooting sports policies and certification, and other Kentucky 4-H approved curriculum
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents and facilities, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program resources
Date: 2018-2019 program year
Audience: Local Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Adventurers Club
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Entomology curriculum, Butterfly WINGS curriculum, Outdoor Adventures, and other Kentucky 4-H approved curriculum
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents and facilities, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program resources
Date: 2018-2019 program year
Audience: Local Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H School Clubs and Afterschool Programs
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H approved curriculum
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, public school, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program resources
Date: 2018-2019 program year
Audience: Local Farms
Project: Insect Traps set out in key areas
Content or Curriculum: Work with specialists in diagnosis and treatment
Inputs: local farms, Entomology specialists
Date: 2017-2018 program year
Audience: Local Farms
Project: Cover crop meetings, work with SCS to identify county needs
Content or Curriculum: Work with specialists in analyzing problems and resolution to problems
Inputs: local farms, State and local NRCS office and local SCS
Date: 2018-2019 program year
Audience: Home owners
Project: Raised bed gardening
Content or Curriculum: Work with Vegetable specialists to design crops for maximum use of raised beds
Inputs: Adult Master Gardener Graduates, Fruit and Vegetable Specialists.
Date: 2018-2019
Audience: Detention Center participants
Content or Curriculm: Program designed by using Specialists and Publications on gardening on a budget, plus gardening small spaces
Project: Providing fresh fruits and vegetables
Inputs: Local detention center, Graduated Adult Master Gardeners, Extension Agents and UK Specialists
Date: 2018-2019
Audience: Detention Center participants
Content or Curriculum: Adult Master Gardener Program
Project: Adult Master Gardener Program
Inputs: Local Detention center, graduated Adult Master gardeners, Extension agents and UK Specialists
Date: 2018-2019
Audience: Senior Citizens, Citizens with physical limitations
Content or Curriculum: Accessible gardening through UK Ag Engineering
Project: Develop feasible and accessible garden areas in small communities
Inputs: Master Gardeners, UK Ag Engineering, Extension Agent
Date: Summer and Fall 2018-19
Audience: Beef Producers
Content or Curriculum:
Project: Develop an IRM plan for the farms that meet the standards of the committee.
Inputs: Beef Specialists, Ag Agent, Local Veterinarian, and selected producers.
Date: Summer 2017 through Spring 2022
Author: Carol Hinton
Major Program: Tobacco
Breckinridge County is 44% cropland, producing forage, soybeans, corn, and wheat. However, Breckinridge farmers, when the tobacco buyout was finished, were deeper into tobacco production than any other time in history. Tobacco production in the county accounts for 50% of the total farm income and is deeply rooted into the county. With the absence of the tobacco quota system, producers have to rely on the contracts with the companies. Contracts are hard to obtain, and also hard
Author: Carol Hinton
Major Program: Woodland Education
About the 2019 Getting to Know Your Woodlands Webinar Series: A Primer for BeginnersThe 2019 Getting to Know Your Woodlands Webinar Series: A Primer for Beginners was targeted at Kentucky’s private woodland owners and designed to assist private woodland owners in the management of their woodlands, as well as, those with an interest in forests and wildlife. It was a partnership of UK Forestry Extension and numerous Forestry Extension Units from other nearby universities and the Southern Reg