Author: Dianna Reed
Planning Unit: Johnson County CES
Major Program: 4-H Agriculture Core Curriculum AND Natural Resources
Plan of Work: Sustainable Farming
Outcome: Intermediate Outcome
The Johnson County Extension Council, 4-H Program Council and State 4-H Office identified Agriculture and Natural Resource Education as a program priority for 4-H Youth Development Education. This long-term project begun in February 2020 was part of our Seeds, Sprouts and Seedlings Workshop Series with 155 Paintsville Elementary 4th-6th graders at the Extension Office and the Eagle and 4-H Enrichment partnership with Johnson Central High School and Middle School's Afterschool School 21st Century Program. The participants learned about agriculture and natural resources by attending workshops educating them on the needs of plants to survive and thrive and natural pollinators that assist us with our agricultural needs. They gained hands-on experience by planting their own seeds, germinating seeds using grow lights, transplanting seedlings, transferring seedlings to our greenhouse, and as a last step, participants were given the opportunity to take plants home. They were also provided nutrition information about the daily consumption of fruits and vegetables and given SNAP recipes to try using their fruits or vegetables. One young person reported back to us that he wanted to be a farmer and actually started container gardening at home. His mom says "Everyday is exciting for him as he checks his garden", He collects his produce and is so excited to show it to her and says "look at THIS new vegetable"! This young person even journaled about his garden from the beginning and kept records of planting and weather conditions. Some participants planted outdoor raised beds and started pollinator habitat plants. As an added bonus, we received a monarch caterpillar and some participants were able to view the chrysalis and photos of the emerged monarch butterfly were later shared with schools. To wrap up our educational efforts after COVID 19 restrictions were implemented, the plants were transferred for the participants by Extension staff to the outdoor butterfly migration and pollination station. I think it is safe to say that 4-H Grows young people who understand agriculture, gardening and natural resources!
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