Success StoryAssisting with Sustainability



Assisting with Sustainability

Author: Daniel Allen

Planning Unit: Kenton County CES

Major Program: Water and Soil Quality and Conservation

Plan of Work: Home & Commercial Horticulture

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

A lot of conversation of late has been around sustainability and how everyone can be good environmental stewardship.  The website greendreamer.com currently lists 35 nonprofit membership organizations where people may participate in the sustainability cause.  For residents and homeowners many want to play a part in good stewardship practices that aid in environmental sustainability. Kenton County Extension receives a lot of inquiry about reducing lawn fertilization and composting for gardening.  In reaction to these recurring inquiries, the Kenton County Extension Service offered a two- part sustainability series, an online Fall Lawn Class, and Basic Composting.

There were 17 residents in the Fall Lawn Class held in August.  The program consisted of how to reduce the amount of fertilizer used on lawns, which grass to use, alternatives to chemical weed control and low impact maintenance.  A poll was later sent to participants, 14 said they had or intend to reduce the amount of fertilize on their lawns.  Seven of the participants had reseeded their lawns in an effort to establish good grass to help eliminate the early spring weeds, and all 17 indicated that they were satisfied with the content and quality of the curriculum of the class.  

For the Composting Basics class there were 12 Kenton County residents who participated.  This class was designed in two parts, an indoor conventional classroom session and demonstration that included what can be added to a compost, when to begin a compost system, and how to build a three bin compost system from reconditioned wooden pallets.  A post class evaluation was used to determine the effectiveness of the class.  All twelve participants felt that the class was exactly what they were looking for and the content answered their questions.   All participants felt they were now prepared to begin or improve their composting system, and all participants were very satisfied with the quality of the instruction and the publications shared with the class.







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