Jefferson County CES

Title:

Promoting Sustainable Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Urban Forestry

MAP:

Promoting Sustainability

Agents Involved:

P. Adkins, C. Hall, W. Long, B. Pratt, K. Smith and P. Thompson

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Local Food System Development and Mapping

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Farm Management, Economics and Policy

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Active Living and Health Promotions General

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Volunteer Development

Situation:

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. 

Long-Term Outcomes:

• 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 

Intermediate Outcomes:

• 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 

Initial Outcomes:

• 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 

Evaluation:

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 

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Adults 

Project or Activity: Master Gardeners program 

Content or Curriculum: Master Gardener manual 

Inputs: speakers, lab class, quizzes, tests, agent time 

Date: May 2022 – October 2023

Program Code: 1032 

 
 

Audience: Youth 

Project or Activity: summer programs, after school clubs 

Content or Curriculum: activities, project wild, Jr MG program 

Inputs: Jr. MG program curriculum 

Date: July 2022 – June 2023

Program: 4001 

 
Audience: Adults 

Project or Activity: Community Garden Facilitation & Seasonal Education 

Content or Curriculum: Extension publications 

Inputs: Master Gardener volunteers; agents; specialists. 

content curriculum 

Date: year-round 2020-2024. 

Program Code: 1031 

 
Audience: Youth & Adults 

Project 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. 

Program Code: 1031 

 

Audience: English Language Learning Commercial Producers 

Project or Activity: Incubator Farm Program 

Content or Curriculum: Curriculum developed by CommonEarth & Jefferson Co. Extension 

Inputs: Farms, KDA, agents, buyers, farmers, CommonEarth Gardens, farmers markets, KCARD 

Date: Jan.-Nov. 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 

Program Code: 1053 

 

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 

Program Code: 1053 

 
Audience: Senior Citizens 

Project or Activity: Food Demonstrations 

Content or Curriculum: CES publications, Plate It Up, Farmers Market 

Inputs: All CES Agents, CES publications, extension publications 

Date: July 2022 – June 2023

Program Code: 2062 

 
Audience: Youth 

Project 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: September 2022 

Program Code: 4011 

 
Audience: Youth 

Project or Activity: Louisville Water Company Festival 

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: Oct. 2021, 2022, 2023

Program Code: 4061 

 
Audience: Youth 

Project 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: September 2022 – August 2023

Program Code: 4041
 

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: September 2022 – August 2023

Program Code: 4011 

 

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: September 2022 – August 2023

Program Code: 4081 

 
Audience: Youth 

Project or Activity: School Gardening 

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: Academic years  2021-2022; 2022-2023 

Program Code: 4011 

 
 

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: September 2022 – August 2023

Program Code: 4011
 

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: September 2022 – August 2023

Program Code: 4011  

 

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 

Program Code: 1051 

 

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 

Program Code: 1126 

 

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

Program Code: 1031 

Success Stories