Progress Reports > Urban Extension

CENTER FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE
Submitted by: Gil Landry

The "Synopsis of Models for Improving Extension Program Delivery" document gives the following option which has been endorsed by Extension administration:

"Create an "urban initiative" with a state-level coordinator similar to the current program area coordinators and state staff from all the program areas focused on supporting agents and activities responding to urban issues and opportunities."

 

The Extension Response

The Center for Urban Agriculture focuses on urban agricultural issues which not only impact the large metropolitan areas of Georgia, but also all population centers in every county. Many urban programming initiatives have and will continue to be originated in the Center. To date the following issues have been identified and are being addressed.

 

Issue Teams

Several issue teams have been formed through the Center. Teams include county Extension agents, state staff faculty, and external partners. Teams include:

• Urban Forestry Team, chaired by Sheldon Hammond, received a $20,000 grant from the Georgia Urban Forestry Council to develop a train-the-trainer program on 'Urban Forestry' for county agents including power point presentations and reference materials. The team held two programs and trained 40 county agents. One of the goals is to develop 'Master' programs, like the Master Gardener program, ultimately providing volunteer service hours to the county. This team also received contingency funds for professional improvement via the International Society of Arboriculture.
  
  
• Information Technology Team has focused on improving the Center Web site (http://gaurbanag.org). Activities include development of:
• password-protected site for county faculty with:
• an online message board for agents to share questions and answers which are catalogued by subject and are searchable
• news articles - more than 120 agent authored news articles organized by topic and time of year for agents to use in their media and other educational efforts
• PowerPoint library where agents and specialists can post presentations for others to use, the site will also host the new Master Gardener Training presentations
• fact sheet library with more than 100 topics that is archived by subject
• feature article on current news items in the industry
• calendar of urban Extension programming

• Water Quantity & Quality Team, chaired by Wade Hutcheson, received contingency funds for 2005 to purchase educational materials for team members to examine as potential tools for county faculty.
  
  
• Turfgrass Management Team, chaired by Steven Pettis, received contingency funds for 2005-2006 to produce a Sports Turf Management training module for county faculty including PowerPoint presentations, handouts and reference materials.

 

Other Center-facilitated Activities

• The Center formed a committee to produce "Best Management Practices for Water Conservation in the Landscape," which is posted at http://gaurbanag.org. The information is being printed for distribution to industry, government officials and regulators. Co-chairs: Clint Waltz, Gary Wade.

• The Center's Diversity Task Force received a $105,000 grant from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to produce "Landscape Safety Training Manual for Hispanic Workers" and train 300 workers in 2005.
  Co-chairs: Alfredo Martinez, Marco Fonseca.

• The Center has partnered with the following groups:
• Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) & Clean Water Campaign (CWC) for environmental education programming. In 2004 county agents conducted 28 programs with 777 total attendees.
• Metro Atlanta Landscape & Turf Association (MALTA) for pesticide recertification programming. In 2004 county agents conducted two programs with 76 total attendees.
• The Georgia Certified Landscape Professional (GCLP) program in cooperation GGIA (Georgia Green Industry Association), MALTA (Metro Atlanta Landscape and Turfgrass Association) and GTA (Georgia Turfgrass Association). In 2004 111 individuals participated and 28 were certified.

• An on-site Wastewater Management committee has received a $100,000 grant from DHR (Department of Human Resources) for training regulators on proper installation and maintenance of on-site waste systems. Co-Chairs: Larry West, Mark Risse.

• The Center recently received legislative funding for a Certification Coordinator position to manage the GCLP (Georgia Certified Landscape Professional) program and similar certification programs. This individual will be charged to advance the professional competence of the commercial landscape industry and foster the link between UGA and the industry. The position replaces current faculty and staff time that conducted these activities.

• The Center is in the process of hiring a Program Coordinator. This position will serve as a liaison between County Extension Agents, District Program Development Coordinators, state Extension faculty, research faculty, state agencies, professional associations, and industry regarding urban agricultural activities. The position will also help facilitate partnership development with state agencies and professional associations, participate in grant writing and other extramural funding efforts, and facilitate marketing and information transfer for the Center.

 

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