Transcript Slide 1
Developed by: Cinda Williams, UID Ext. Kevin Laughlin, UID Ext. Susan Donaldson, UNV Coop. Ext. Univ. of Idaho Extension The whole-property concept Integrating the lessons you’ve learned Viewing your property through a sustainability lens How others are making it work Monitoring and assessing progress How you’re making it work “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” (U.S. EPA) “involves farming systems that are profitable, environmentally sound and good for people and communities.” (SARE) These systems must be: ◦ Economically sustainable ◦ Environmentally sustainable ◦ Socially sustainable USDA NRCS Steward: a person who manages another's property or financial affairs Environmental stewardship: the responsibility to take care of our natural resources to ensure they are sustainably managed for current and future generations “The practice of carefully managing land usage to ensure natural systems are maintained or enhanced for future generations.” -The Land Stewardship Center USDA NRCS Caring for the system as a whole ◦ Holistic approach Conserving resources ◦ Renewable and non-renewable Maintaining, building and enhancing stability in nature ◦ Encourage biodiversity Honoring cultural values and ethics ◦ Think long term Use what you’ve learned about: Inventory and goals Soils Water Wildfire threat reduction Plants Animals Management Redrawn by A. Miller from System: a group of interacting, interdependent elements that function together as a complex unified whole www.unesco.org National Center for Atmospheric Research www.extension.org/pages/Whole_Farm_Nutrient_Balance Inputs Managed outputs Feed Meat and milk Animals Feed Irrigation water Manure Crops Manure Fertilizer Farm boundary, Legume N Losses or soil storage Livestock and Poultry Environmental Stewardship but remember to think outside the box too! What are the components of your system? How are they interrelated? How does an action on one component affect other parts of your system? www.icra-edu.org Seeks to understand the big picture Observes how elements within systems change over time, generating patterns and trends Changes perspectives Identifies the circular nature of complex causeand-effect relationships, i.e. interdependencies www.sare.org Environmental concerns Economic factors Social issues Soils Short-term Actions Long-term Goals 1. Do a soil test for nutrients, organic matter content, etc. Outcome: Improved soil quality 2. Plant cover crops and till in as green manure Plants Short-term Actions Long-term Goals 1. Assess existing vegetation Outcome: Healthy pastures and healthy animals 2. Improve grass mixture 3. Implement rotational grazing Business Short-term Actions Long-term Goals 1. Research and identify a feasible niche market Outcome: Make a profit from your small-acreage enterprise 2. Develop a business plan Short-term Actions Long-term Goals How do the practices we employ on our land influence the soil? USDA NRCS Work on the basics of high-quality soils ◦ ◦ ◦ Reduce tillage Add organic matter (plant cover crops) Reduce applications of synthetic-based chemicals Monitor for: •Earthworms, •Organic matter, •roots and residues, •Subsurface compaction, •Soil tilth, •Erosion, •Water-holding capacity, •Drainage and infiltration, •Crop condition, •Nutrient-holding capacity, •pH Water quantity Water quality ◦ Reduce unnecessary water loss by covering soil (cover crops, mulch, etc.) ◦ Increase water-use efficiency by proper irrigation ◦ Prevent runoff of soil into water bodies ◦ Prevent contamination by livestock by installing buffers or providing off-stream watering USDA NRCS For your crops or pasture? For your animals? In your landscape? In your home? NDEP Build well-structured soils that retain water Design for infiltration of water, rather than runoff Plant species that are drought-tolerant and disease-resistant Capture, conserve and recycle water Drought index http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/prelim/drought/palmer.html In the short term? In the midterm (3 years)? In the long term (5 years)? What is your contingency plan? What will you do differently? Was wildfire part of your long-term plan? Make a plan for protecting and preserving your space Promote ecological balance with plant diversity Maintain vegetative cover Enhance or provide organic matter Enhance nutrient recycling Promote pest population balance through biological strategies Pasture rotation ATTRA You can manage parts of the system to decrease internal parasites and their effects Make use of renewable energy ◦ Solar Pumps for watering and irrigation Greenhouses ◦ Wind Electricity for buildings ◦ Biofuels Oils or fuel from plants ◦ Energy from animal waste (which is not a waste after all!) Methane digesters Choose your production system Develop your niche ◦ Your uniqueness is the key ◦ Tell your story! Value-added products Connect to customers and the community Understand the bottom line For you and your family ◦ Physical health: exposure and safety ◦ Mental health: stress and depression For employees ◦ Fair treatment ◦ Decent wages and living conditions For animals ◦ Humane treatment of animals ◦ Low-stress handling USDA NRCS Links between the landowner or farmer and the community Networking Partnerships and collaboration Lifelong learning What can you do? ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ Host public and school tours Share what you’ve learned Donate food to local food banks Buy fresh and buy local Join a co-op or support group Focus on systems sustainability by looking at all aspects of your property: land, soil, water, plants, animals, etc. Protect ground and surface water resources Conserve water, practice efficient application Stabilize, amend, and cover soil ◦ increase organic matter ◦ Increase moisture content ◦ decrease erosion Improve vegetative cover and better manage vegetated areas to increase occurrence Host field trips for schools Encourage students to participate in the farm Create school gardens Support youth programs Volunteer Before you took this class, how were you interacting with your resources? What are you doing differently now? What do you plan to do differently in the future? What results do you want? How will you achieve your goals? How will you know if you succeeded? How are you making progress toward making your property more sustainable? SARE – www.sare.org ATTRA – www.attra.org Local organizations ◦ CSU Ext. http://www.ext.colostate.edu/sam/ ◦ USDA-NRCS ◦ Conservation District http://www.mountsopriscd.org/ ◦ CSFS http://csfs.colostate.edu/pages/grandjunctiondist.html What do sustainability and stewardship mean to you? How will you be a better steward? How can you help your neighbors become better stewards? How does systems thinking help you achieve your goals? How are you integrating what you’ve learned about your resources? How have you affected your own property? How have you affected your community? Have your long-term goals changed? Why? What do you hope to accomplish? How will your property be more sustainable? Are you a better steward? You’re on your way to a sustainable approach to managing all the resources on your small-acreage property! UNCE, Reno, NV