Practicing stewardship of local natural resourcesPlan of Work

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Breckinridge County CES

Title:
Practicing stewardship of local natural resources
MAP:
Strengthening Agriculture and Natural Resources
Agents Involved:
Bryant, Hinton
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Natural Resources 4-H Core Curriculum
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Pesticide Safety – Plant Pests
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Home & Consumer Horticulture
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Master Gardener
Situation:

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.

Long-Term Outcomes:

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.

Intermediate Outcomes:

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. 

 

Initial Outcomes:

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.  

Evaluation:

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

Learning Opportunities:

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



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