Living On The Land
Living þn the Land
Stewardship for Small Acreages
Authors: Susan Donaldson, UNCE; Holly George, UCCE; Bob Hamblen, CSUCE; Melody Hefner, UNCE; Susie Kocher, UCCE;
David Martin, MT DNRC; Bruce Miller, USU; Rhonda Miller, USU; Hudson Minshew, OSUES;
Douglas Stienbarger, WSUCE; Sherman Swanson, UNR; Cinda Williams, UICES; Wendy Williams, MT NRCS
Funded by a grant from the Western Region
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program
Copyright ã2001, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension/WSARE
To order: Contact Sue Donaldson, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, PO Box 11130, Reno, NV 89520
(775) 784-4848 (phone), (775) 784-4881 (fax), donaldsons@unce.unr.edu
| Module 1: Setting the Stage – Inventorying Resources | |||
| Lesson 1: q The good, the bad, and the ugly of small acreage properties q Setting property goals q Identifying existing resources q Making a map of the property q Legal descriptions q Calculating acreages | Lesson 2: q Review of the property map q Photodocumentation q Non-physical resources (financial and human) q Being a good neighbor q Identifying limitations q Modifying goals | | |
| Module 2: Your Living Soil | |||
| Lesson 1: Getting Down and Dirty with Soil q Soil texture and structure q Soil biology q Understanding and reducing soil erosion q Improving soil | Lesson 2: Managing Soil to Keep It Productive q Soil test results q Plant nutrient needs q Fertilization q Symptoms of nutrient deficiencies q Using a soil survey map q Map units and descriptions q Soil ratings and capabilities | Lesson 3: Got Water? q Sources of irrigation water q Matching available water to soils and plants q Irrigation timing q Methods of irrigation | |
| Module 3: All Life Depends on Water | |||
| Lesson 1: Water Quality: Making Connections Between You and the Water q Defining water quality q Water quality regulations q Categories of pollutants q Sources of pollution q Managing land to decrease water pollution | Lesson 2: Protecting Household Drinking Water q Watersheds and water pollution q How wells work q Testing drinking water q Protecting well water supplies q Septic systems and their management | Lesson 3: My Place on a Stream q Reasons for living on a stream q Riparian areas and floodplains q Signs of a healthy stream q Signs of an unhealthy stream q Tips on taking care of streams and watersheds | |
| Module 4: Love Your Grass as Much as Your Animals | |||
| Lesson 1: How Grass Grows q How plants work q Plant roots and parts q Plant identification q Determining forage yield q Carrying capacity and stocking rate q Exercise runs and paddocks | Lesson 2: What to Do About Weeds q Weed impacts and regulation q Weed biology q Preventing weed spread q Weed identification q Weed control (mechanical, cultural, biological and chemical) q Common weeds (ID and control) | Lesson 3: Pasture Establishment and Renovation q Seedbed preparation q Forage establishment q Factors to consider prior to renovation q Plant characteristics q Characteristics of individual grasses and legumes | |
| Module 5: Don’t Forget the Animals! | |||
| Lesson 1: So You Want to Be an Animal Owner q Legal considerations q Reasons for owning animals q The costs of animal ownership (time and money) q Animal needs (food, water, space, shelter, health care, TLC, and methods of providing the needs) | Lesson 2: Caring for Your Animals q Ruminant and non-ruminant digestive systems q Animal nutritional needs q Preventative health care q Tips for health and safety | Lesson 3: Managing Animals to Avoid Negative Impacts q Negative impacts animals have on land and wildlife q Avoiding or minimizing impacts q Manure management q Strategies for dealing with wildlife q Setting wildlife goals q The farm game | Lesson 4: Grazing Management q Benefits of implementing grazing management q Steps to effective grazing management q Estimating available feed and forage q Monitoring methods q Grazing systems and pasture configurations q Grazing tips |