Sustainable Agriculture
This past school year, Forest County Extension, as part of a Well Connected Community grant program, has been actively working with a group of students engaged in sustainable agriculture in Forest County. In Laona, students Gavin Connor and Brady Shepherd, with the assistance of technology education instructor Ryan Kelley, have built both an aquaponics and hydroponics system and are currently growing lettuce, tomatoes, and strawberries for their classmates. The independent project, which included researching the system itself, purchasing materials, budgeting for materials and finally installation, has allowed the students the opportunity to learn the health benefits of locally grown produce, but also the importance of record keeping. Recently younger students were given the opportunity to help Gavin and Connor transplant new lettuce plants into a new nutrient film technique system. The younger students have pledged to carry on these sustainable programs after Gavin and Connor graduate in the spring of 2024.
Environmental Science Books
Laona senior Zoie Cayan also has been busy being a part of the Well Connected Community grant program as the founder of Forest County’s Clean and Green Club. Zoie, a self-proclaimed “greenie” has met with her club mentor several times over the past six month and together they have pulled together a list of award-winning books for both youth and adults on the topic of sustainable agriculture. Using grant funds, the Club has purchased the books for all three public libraries in the county with the intent of improving access to educational materials related to keeping our environment clean and green. The books will be delivered to the three public libraries in May and should be available to library patrons shortly after.
Community Bee-Hive
The Clean and Green club work will continue this summer with an introduction to beekeeping workshop offered by high school students Isak Drangsveit and Bryce Marshall and local community member Jill Krueger. The workshops will focus on equipment needs, honey production, bee behavior and overall beginning beekeeping topics. The classes are open to the public with a location still to be determined. Youth attending the beekeeping workshops must have completed the 2nd grade and must be accompanied by an adult. The six-week workshop series will be held on Thursdays at 10 a.m. beginning on June 22nd. Information on how to register for this event is available on our website at https://forest.extension.wisc.edu
All About Gardens : a Cloverbud gardening project at Crandon School Garden
Youth ages five to seven are invited to participate in “All About Gardens” a six-week gardening project with 4-H leaders Melanie Wagoner and Jill Krueger. The six-week series will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6-7 p.m. at the Crandon School garden. The first session will be held on Tuesday, July 11th.
Like 4-H for older kids, Cloverbuds help kids 5-7 grow as competent, caring, and contributing members in their families and communities through fun, interactive activities, and programming! Parents/caregivers are asked to stay and participate together with their child in order encourage youth to have fun and learn to work together in meetings, activities, and special events. To participate youth must enroll in Forest County 4-H. Enrollment is free and available online at https://forest.extension.wisc.edu/4-h/
For more information about the programs of UW-Madison Extension, please visit our website or visit our office located on the 2nd floor of the Forest County Courthouse.
