Extension
It Starts With Us
Insure Water quality through adoption of approved Best Management Practices.
Promoting Environmentally Sound Practices
Jay Stone, Kelly Jackson, Matt Futrell, Kaitlyne Metsker, Kendrianna Price
Ag Water Quality Program
Forages
Chemical Crop Management Tools
Natural Resources 4-H Core Curriculum
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. Producers and consumers are constantly seeking ways to produce crops and maintain productive home gardens and landscapes while remaining environmentally friendly. Urban home horticulture calls, emails, and walk-in visits indicate the need for additional classes and seminars in managing environmental resources at home. There is an increasing need for educational assistance on home and garden issues as Kentucky’s urban population grows. The rising cost of fuel energy conservation is also becoming increasingly important.
Green Living is common terminology that includes energy conservation, recycling, preservation, water quality and nature appreciation. Outdoor education provides a perfect opportunity for youth to develop an understanding of the concept of green living. Research has shown that outdoor education has an impact on four main areas--personal, interpersonal, academic, and environmental awareness. Specific results include an increase in test scores, environmental action / personal responsibility, and an increase in teamwork and relational skills as a result of working together with classmates.
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.
* To improve environmental quality in the home, landscape, and farm throughout Christian County.
* To create safe homes within environments that promote and support the physical and mental well-being of families throughout the life-cycle.
* To improve the built and natural environment.
* To increase active and healthy lifestyles.
* Producers will implement recommendations outlined in their Ag water quality plans
* Producers and residential home owners will implement UK soil tests and recommendations
* Residents will demonstrate the skills needed to become Master Gardeners
* Producers will implement recommended practices while applying pesticides
* Land owners will implement food plots to meet the needs of wildlife populations in areas where supplemental nutrition is necessary for optimal performance and good overall herd health
* Homeowners will implement environmentally conscious decisions regarding home landscape maintenance
* Homeowners will implement environmentally conscious decision regarding home energy use and conservation practices
* Youth will practice being green by implementing one or more practice related to conservation and recycling
* Youth will increase teamwork, improved test scores and environmental actions
* Livestock Producers will utilize proper waste management practices
* Producers and consumers will aspire to form positive opinions about water quality and waste management
* Producers and consumers will gain knowledge on safe chemical usage pertaining to weed, disease and insect control
* Producers will complete and implement forest stewardship plans
* Master Gardener participants will gain knowledge in many aspects of home horticulture
* Producers will utilize pesticide container recycling program
* Homeowners will adopt landscaping practices that can improve the health and appearance of lawn and gardens while protecting and preserving natural resources
* Youth will learn the importance of being green
* Youth will learn to identify birds, learn the uses of trees, identify trees by leaf, develop an understanding of global warming and climate change, understand the need for water conservation and storm water run off
Initial Outcome: Increase knowledge of home horticulture topics
Indicator: Number of Master Gardeners trained and passing the course exam
Method: Pre and Post-Test of Master Gardener participants as they are trained
Timeline: Fall 2017
Intermediate Outcome: Homeowners will adopt landscaping practices that protect and preserve our natural resources
Indicator: 75% of participants will indicate an increased knowledge change when evaluated at the end of the program
Method: Retrospective survey; Follow-up survey
Timeline: Spring 2018
Outcome: Increased awareness of alternative fuels and energy consumption
Indicator: 10% will show a practice change which conserves energy
Method: Post program survey
Timeline: December-2018
Outcome: Increased awareness in wildlife habitat maintenance
Indicator: 75% of participants will indicate an increase in knowledge on the topic
Method: Post program evaluation
Timeline: September, February 2017-2018
Outcome: Youth will adopt “green” habits
Indicator: Increased green habits
Method: Student/Leader evaluations
Timeline: Fall and Spring
Outcome: Improved teamwork and test scores
Indicator: Teacher responses
Method: Teacher Evaluations
Timeline: Fall and Spring
Outcome: Producers will utilize container recycling program
Indicator: Containers processed for recycling
Method: Measure number of containers collected
Timeline: Summer-2018
Outcome: Producers will utilize proper waste management techniques
Indicator: Frequency of Usage of manure spreader
Method: Record number of producers using county spreader
Timeline: Spring and summer
Outcome: Campers will become educated on outdoor activities and Ecosystems
Indicator: Number of Campers
Method: Camper Evaluations
Timeline: Summer 2018
Audience: General population, Extension Homemakers, Landowners, 4-H families, and producers
Activity: Newspaper and Newsletter articles
Content or Curriculum: University of Kentucky programing
Inputs: Kentucky CES Publications, eXtension Resources, Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association, Newsletters
Date: All year
Audience: Extension Master Gardeners
Activity: Master Gardener Volunteer Training
Content or Curriculum: Master Gardener Curriculum
Inputs: facilities, agents; staff, fee-based; State specialists; Master Gardener training materials
Date: Fall 2017
Audience: Homeowners
Activity: Landscape maintenance and gardening videos
Content or Curriculum: Supplied by agents and specialists
Inputs: facilities, staff, volunteers; county funding
Date: Spring 2018
Audience: Landowners and woodland managers
Activity: Wildlife habitat improvement
Content or Curriculum: Supplied by agents and specialists
Inputs: Faculty, Staff, County funding and volunteers
Date: 2016/2017 program year
Audience: Landowners, Master loggers
Activity: Woodland management
Content or Curriculum: Agent and specialists
Inputs: Faculty, Staff, State Agencies, volunteers
Date: 2017-2018 program year
Audience: Producers
Activity: Efficient energy usage workshops,
Content or Curriculum: Supplied by state specialists and agents
Inputs: Faculty, staff, county funding, energy auditors
Date: 2017-2018program year
Audience: Producers
Activity: Water quality workshops and testing
Content or curriculum: State specialists and agents
Inputs: Faculty, staff, USGS, county funding, local consortium
Audience: Youth
Activity: Summer Camp
Content or Curriculum: Natural Resources Core Curriculum
Inputs: Camp and Camp Staff
Author: Jay Stone
Major Program: Ag Water Quality Program
The Little River Watershed area in Christian County has been listed by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Kentucky division of Water as an impaired watershed, which brings along with that designation certain cautions for humans and animals alike. To address this issue, The Little River Water Quality Consortium was formed to assess the current situation in the watershed, identify the cause and sources of contaminants, and work with those responsible to decrease the overall contamina
