Washington State University -- Impact 2006
Teaching Small Acreage-Owners How to Care for LandSUMMARY
- A curriculum taught in Washington and other states educates small acreage landowners on the edge of urban areas how to manage their land more sustainably. Many of these owners lack the necessary knowledge and skills to prevent erosion, control pests, and manage animal manure to prevent pollution of waterways.
ISSUE
- Large parcels of farm and ranchland become fragmented into smaller parcels as cities in the west expand. Although farming may continue on a smaller scale on these smaller parcels, many of the new property owners may not know how to take care of their land and lack the knowledge and skills about such things as integrated pest management, forage management, grazing management, erosion control, and manure management. Increased numbers of individual parcels also increases the densities of wells, septic systems, and impervious surfaces in these areas. This change in land management practices may increase soil erosion, nutrient loads, pesticides, and dissolved solids in surface and groundwater supplies. This could significantly affect the ability of communities to meet total maximum daily load (TMDL) levels, provide source water protection, and maintain endangered fish populations. Small landholders have a significant cumulative impact on the health of watersheds. As more residents begin living on the land who have long been disconnected from the land, there is a huge demand for information and technical assistance to help them do the right thing for their wildlife, land, and water resources.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE
- The Living on the Land curriculum addresses the growing need to educate small-acreage owners about how they can improve their land management practices vis-à-vis water quality and other natural resource protection. The curriculum presents research-based information on key natural resource issues (goal setting, soil, water, plants and animals). Information from more than 100 publications, along with the knowledge and experience of 12 team members and 17 reviewers from Extension and other agencies is incorporated into the program. As of summer 2005, 1,336 copies of the curriculum had been distributed to 42 states and four foreign countries, and requests continue to be filled. Courses or lessons are being taught in California, Canada, Colorado, Idaho, Kentucky, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, and courses are planned in other states. Colorado State University will present LOL on-line through their continuing education program this year.
IMPACT
- The Washington program evaluation found 75 percent (74) of participants installed 226 Best Management Practices within a year of completing a class series. Fifty percent of the respondents installed one to three BMPs, compared to almost a quarter who installed four BMPs or more (highest was 8). As a result of the class, over 50 percent of those respondents with wells and septic systems stated they had tested their well water or inspected their septic system. About half tested their soils. Over 78 percent of respondents agreed that the information they learned changed the way they manage their property. Eighty-seven percent (86) of the respondents stated they shared parts of what they learned with others (for a total of at least 1,067 other people in their community).
PRIMARY AREA OF IMPACT
- Extension
FUNDING:
- County
Registration fees
USDA SARE
COUNTIES:
- The principal counties served are Clark, Cowlitz, King, Multi-state, Spokane
CONTACT:
- Douglas M. Stienbarger, Director, WSU Clark County Extension
Washington State University
360-397-6060 x7716 (Phone)
360-397-6122 (FAX)
stiendm@wsu.edu