Progress 08/01/08 to 07/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The intent of this project was to increase the capacity for Cooperative Extension programs within the University of Rhode Island to meet the information and technology needs of the Rhode Island Nursery Industry and develop outreach programs promoting horticulture in schools. (1) Maintain and Expand Grower Resources. One staff person was employed for two years to maintain grower resources and respond to grower requests for information and technical support. More than twenty five direct requests for assistance were received from green industry partners, and 330 pest-related industry requests were handled by the URI Plant Clinic. Approximately 600 hours of support time were used to meet the need of the industry for expanded grower resources. (2) Enhance the URI-CE/RINLA Partnership. One staff was hired to work directly with nurseries and related sites in Rhode Island to solve production problems. Thirty six on-site visits were completed, representing about 120 contact hours. Production problems were largely weather related due to high precipitation during the first year of the project period, and drought the second year. Other issues were pest- and nutrition-related. Handing these requests required about 300 hours of effort in the laboratory testing media, identifying pests, and researching solutions to grower issues. A camera and macro lens were purchased to facilitate the use of digital photography in documenting and analyzing grower issues. (3) Increase Programming within the URI Botanical Gardens. One part-time staff was hired to develop the URI Botanical Gardens as a horticultural and educational resource. This staff person maintained the gardens, supervised student and volunteer interns, and started developing a series of brochures describing the mission of the URI Botanical Gardens. This staff person also initiated a weekly blog, press contacts and is collaborating on the development of a website for the gardens. (4) Expand URI's Capacity to Provide Horticultural, Inquiry-Based Learning for RI Youth. The Learning Landscape Environmental Education Program was expanded to the Roger Williams Botanical Gardens with the intent of reaching more children throughout the state and from urban areas in particular. Staff also continued to work with the Children's Garden Network to create school gardens to provide rich learning opportunities for children. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals: Brian Maynard, URI Plant Sciences, PI Richard Casagrande, URI Plant Sciences, Outreach Support Larry Englander, URI Plant Sciences, Outreach Support Heather Faubert, URI Plant Clinic (funded 10%) Nicholas Castrataro, URI Greenhouse Manager (funded 100%) Gabrielle Torphy, URI Botanical Gardens Staff (funded 100%) Partner Organications: Rhode Island Nursery and Landscape Association (programming, planning) The Rhode Island Nurseries (nursery outreach planning) Morning Star Nursery (nursery outreach planning) Training and Professional Development: Site Visits - 25 participating firms; Learning Landscape Environmental Education Program - 36 Master Gardener volunteers, ~562 students. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target Audiences: students (diverse population), agricultural firms, horticultural professionals, arborists, nurserymen and landscapers, Master Gardeners, grade school students, youth. Approximately 10% minority representation among students and landscapers. Efforts: inquiry-based learning, hands-on experiential learning, demonstrations, web-based content, newsletter articles, workshops, outreach. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Two websites were maintained and upgraded:www.rinla.org and cels.uri.edu/hort-turfnews. A new site linking industry employers to jobseekers was implemented - GreenJobsNE.org. All of these sites received thousands of hits. b. Green Share Winter School was offered 2 days in winter 2009 and 2010. The program included lectures, workshops, certification examinations and tours of demonstration projects. c. An existing remote diagnostic plant clinic with one staff person and a microphotography system was linked by internet access to the main plant clinic on campus. We employed a greenhouse manager for two years. (2) a. Existing staff were employed 1-2 days per week to provide on-site extension to nurseries and landscapers. Extension trainings were presented at three nurseries on plant production and maintenance. (3) a. A garden manager was hired to maintain the plantings, accession plants, prepare interpretive signage, oversee docents during weekly garden tours, and educate visitors about sustainable landscapes and plant care methods. b. The garden manager sought opportunities to highlight issues such as water quality/conservation, native/invasive plants, composting and sustainable turf. c. Three brochures about the history and layout of the Botanical Gardens, the sustainable landscapes themes, and use of perennials to support population of beneficial insects were developed and printed. d. No GreenShare Field day was held during the period of the grant due to the impact of the economy on the industry. It will be held in 2011. e. We held 3 garden classes for the general public. URI faculty, Master Gardeners and green industry professionals covering garden topics ranging from sustainable roses, to new developments in perennial, vegetable gardens and sustainable trees and shrubs. (4) a. The URI Learning Landscape Program and URI CELS 4-H joined forces to provide greater depth of science-based programming for teachers. All teachers participating in the Learning Landscape Program are introduced to the 4-H program and provided with guidelines regarding how to take advantage of resources offered by the state and national 4-H program. b. Over 5,400 students attended Learning Landscape Environmental Education Programs conducted at the URI Botanical Gardens in Kingston, RI and at the Roger Williams Park Botanical Center in Providence, RI. Field trips were lead by the Learning Landscape Program Coordinator with the assistance of 36 specially trained Master Gardener Volunteers. Participants in the program at the Roger Williams Park Botanical Center, new in 2009, included 562 children from low-income schools. c. All Learning Landscape Field Trip topics have been aligned with the Rhode Island Department of Education Grade Span Expectations to enhance and strength learning outcomes from program participation. d. A series of Life Science Lessons aids have been developed to further aid teachers in incorporating field trip topics in lesson plans. (http://www.uri.edu/cels/ceoc/documents/CEOCLessonPlanningAid-LS1-K-6 .pdf) e. URI environmental educators maintain an active partnership with the Children's Garden Network.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 08/01/08 to 07/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The intent of this project is to increase the capacity for Cooperative Extension programs within the University of Rhode Island to meet the information and technology needs of the Rhode Island Nursery Industry and develop outreach programs promoting horticulture in schools. (1) Maintain and Expand Grower Resources. One staff person was employed to maintain grower resources and respond to grower requests for information and technical support. Fifteen direct requests for assistance were received from green industry partners, and 180 pest-related industry requests were handled by the URI Plant Clinic. Approximately 300 hours of support time were used to meet the need of the industry for expanded grower resources. (2) Enhance the URI-CE/RINLA Partnership. One staff was hired to work directly with nurseries and related sites in Rhode Island to solve production problems. Twenty four on-site visits were completed, representing about 70 contact hours. Production problems were largely weather related due to high precipitation during the project period. Other issues were pest- and nutrition-related. Handing these requests required about 150 hours of effort in the laboratory testing media, identifying pests, and researching solutions to grower issues. A camera and macro lens were purchased to facilitate the use of digital photography in documenting and analyzing grower issues. (3) Increase Programming within the URI Botanical Gardens. One part-time staff was hired to develop the URI Botanical Gardens as a horticultural and educational resource. This staff person maintained the gardens, supervised student and volunteer interns, and started developing a series of brochures describing the mission of the URI Botanical Gardens. This staff person also initiated a weekly blog, press contacts and is collaborating on the development of a website for the gardens. (4) Expand URI's Capacity to Provide Horticultural, Inquiry-Based Learning for RI Youth. The Learning Landscape Environmental Education Program was expanded to the Roger Williams Botanical Gardens with the intent of reaching more children throughout the state and from urban areas in particular. Staff also continued to work with the Children's Garden Network to create school gardens to provide rich learning opportunities for children. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
(1) a. Two websites were maintained and upgraded: the RINLA site (www.rinla.org) and the URI Hort-TurfNews website (cels.uri.edu/hort-turfnews). A new site linking industry employers to jobseekers was developed and implemented - GreenJobsNE.org. All of these site received hundreds of "hits" per month. b. Green Share Winter School was offered 2 days in winter 2009. The program included lectures, workshops, certification examinations and tours of demonstration projects. c. An existing remote diagnostic plant clinic with one staff person and a microphotography system was linked by internet access to the main plant clinic on campus. We employed a greenhouse manager for one year. (2) a. Existing staff were employed 1-2 days per week to provide on-site extension to nurseries and landscapers. Extension trainings were presented at three nurseries on plant production and maintenance. (3) a. A garden manager was hired to maintain the plantings, accession plants, prepare interpretive signage, oversee docents during weekly garden tours, and educate visitors about sustainable landscapes and plant care methods. b. The garden manager sought opportunities to highlight issues such as water quality/conservation, native/invasive plants, composting and sustainable turf. c. Three brochures about the history and layout of the Botanical Gardens, the sustainable landscapes themes, and use of perennials to support population of beneficial insects were developed and printed. d. No GreenShare Field day was held this year due to the impact of the economy on the industry. It will be held in 2010. e. We held 3 garden classes for the general public. URI faculty, Master Gardeners and green industry professionals covering garden topics ranging from sustainable roses, to new developments in perennial, vegetable gardens and sustainable trees and shrubs. (4) a. The URI Learning Landscape Program and URI CELS 4-H joined forces to provide greater depth of science-based programming for teachers. All teachers participating in the Learning Landscape Program are introduced to the 4-H program and provided with guidelines regarding how to take advantage of resources offered by the state and national 4-H program. b. Over 2, 671 students attended Learning Landscape Environmental Education Programs conducted at the URI Botanical Gardens in Kingston, RI and at the Roger Williams Park Botanical Center in Providence, RI. Field trips were lead by the Learning Landscape Program Coordinator with the assistance of 36 specially trained Master Gardener Volunteers. Participants in the program at the Roger Williams Park Botanical Center, new in 2009, included 286 children from low-income schools. c. All Learning Landscape Field Trip topics have been aligned with the Rhode Island Department of Education Grade Span Expectations to enhance and strength learning outcomes from program participation. d. A series of Life Science Lessons aids have been developed to further aid teachers in incorporating field trip topics in lesson plans. (http://www.uri.edu/cels/ceoc/documents/CEOCLessonPlanningAid-LS1-K-6 .pdf) e. URI environmental educators maintain an active partnership with the Children's Garden Network.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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