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Urban Iowa has agriculture too Agriculture is everywhere, and that means Iowa State University Extension reaches beyond fencerows and into cities. From grass and trees to flowers and bees, ISU Extension provides answers through its urban agriculture programming. “Urban agriculture is the application of agricultural knowledge in and around cities,” said Linda Naeve, ISU Extension coordinator at Reiman Gardens. “With 55 percent of our state’s population in 10 urban counties, the idea is to get people to realize that Extension serves urban populations with their agricultural needs,” Naeve said. “Many new homeowners or acreage owners don’t know where to go to get non-biased, research-based answers.” Individual clients might receive assistance through a consultation with an Extension Master Gardener, a call to the telephone horticulture hotline or a diagnostic report from an on-campus lab. Extension also provides services for groups and institutions, including the School Integrated Pest Management Program. This program helps schools examine their pest management issues and develop plans to address the root causes of pest infestations. ------------------------------------------------------- “We
do all of our education programs ------------------------------------------------------- “Schools generally use some kind of regimented program to solve their pest problems,” said Mark Shour, an ISU Extension entomology program specialist. “That usually means monthly pesticide applications. In that process, they often ignore why the pest is a problem. We’re trying to get the schools to look outside the box. We’re looking at the whole environment, inside and outside the school, to adjust their management programs.” About 60 principals, nurses, staff, custodians and administrators from 22 buildings participated in a two-day IPM training at the Dubuque Community School District. As a result, the district removed all upholstered furniture, reduced the amount of cardboard in the buildings and implemented plastic storage for all food items. “We’ve eliminated probably 90 percent of our pest problem without any chemicals used at all,” said Jim Brimmer, assistant manager of buildings and grounds for the district. They have been able to terminate their monthly contract with a pest management service and work with a contractor on an on-call basis. Brimmer estimates that this will save $6,000. Visitors to the 14-acre Bickelhaupt Arboretum in eastern Iowa also benefit from ISU Extension’s expertise. Educating the public about trees, shrubs and flowers is a primary goal of the arboretum. “We do all of our education programs in collaboration with Extension. I like to think that we’re an arm of Iowa State University out here in Clinton,” said Francie Hill, executive director of the outdoor museum. The arboretum recently used Extension’s Growing
in the Garden curriculum for an eight-week hands-on gardening experience
for youth in the community.
Kindergarteners through third graders hoed weeds, carried buckets, pushed
wheelbarrows, created compost and learned that tomatoes don’t just
come from a can. They also used their newly learned skills to “Plant
A Row for the Hungry” in collaboration with the Garden Writers
Association of America, raising their social awareness by collecting
and distributing extra produce to food pantries. |
The Extension Connection is a quarterly publication of Iowa State University Extension. Laura Sternweis, editor, lsternwe@iastate.edu Nondiscrimination statement and information disclosures Last update: October 2004
* Edible or non-edible -- It's all in the carbs * Optimism rippling through Horizons communities * Iowa and young adults benefit from Extension networks * Iowa soybean rust team prepares for possible Asian disease * Community and Extension planning a future for Lakeside Laboratory |
