Online 4-H Crop Production Lessons for Grades 4-8: Soil-based and Soilless Systems

Earth’s population growth and concurrent decline in farmland pose great challenges for food security across our planet.¹ The challenge of how to feed 9.9 billion people calls for new methods to grow and distribute food.² Having access to fresh and nutritious food is a basic need for all people. We invite youth to be learners and leaders who meet these challenges with a new vision for crop production that combines soil-based and soilless farming.

To engage youth in these global challenges, WVU Extension Service, Iowa State University Extension, and PLANTS, LLC have partnered to create a series of online lessons. Youth can gain a foundation by digging deep into crop growth and development in conventional and hydroponic systems. Youth learners in this online program will also explore their role and possible career opportunities in sustainable agriculture and ag technology.

Questions that students will explore in the online lessons include:

• How do plant seeds differ in terms of germination rates, structures, and plant types? 
• What type of plant maintenance is important for each stage of plant growth?
• How does light intensity and duration affect photosynthesis? 
• What are key elements of a healthy soil, and how does soil quality affect plant growth? 
• When are soilless plant production systems good alternatives to soil-based farming?
• What plant growth strategies can be used to conserve water? 
• How can farmers apply new plant growth technologies to increase crop yield and integrate sustainable agricultural practices?

1 Read more about world population growth projections presented by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) at: https://sdg.iisd.org/news/world-population-to-reach-9-9-billion-by-2050/

2 Read more about New and Emerging Technology for High Quality and Sustainable Horticulture Production in Gonnella, M., & Renna, M. (2021). The evolution of soilless systems towards ecological sustainability in the perspective of a circular economy. Is it really the opposite of organic culture? Agronomy 2021, 11(5), 950; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11050950.

4-Hers: Understanding How You Prefer to Solve Problems is an online course for 4-H Members who are interested in learning more about problem-solving styles and how they can use their problem-solving style when working with others.  

For more information contact:  Dr. Curtis R Friedel, Director, Center for Cooperative Problem Solving at Virginia Tech – cfriedel@vt.edu or Ms. Sarah Bush, Teaching Assistant, Center for Cooperative Problem Solving at Virginia Tech – sabush17@vt.edu

For more information about this course contact Nathaniel Tablante, University of Maryland at nlt@umd.edu.

The audience for this course is Youth and families who raise backyard poultry. 

Learning objectives are Best practices for the care of backyard poultry including disease prevention, behavior observation, housing and daily care.

The key to enroll in the course is backyard chicken

For more information or to enroll please contact, Course leaders, Martin H. Smith (mhsmith@ucdavis.edu); Richard Blatchford (rablatchford@ucdavis.edu)

The audience for this course is: Youth in grades 3 through 6

For more information or to enroll please contact: Bob Bertsch at robert.bertsch@ndsu.edu

The fee for this course is $25.  To purchase and enroll in the course, click the following button:

The iCook 4-H curriculum supplementary training site is a self-directed course for Extension Educators and Health Professionals Working with Families. By participating in this course participants will gain access to additional information, supplementary materials, and trainings to learn how to better implement the iCook 4-H curriculum. The iCook 4-H curriculum is available for purchase through the National 4-H Mall. With purchase of the curriculum, course access information on enrollment is provided. For more information contact Lisa Franzen-Castle, University of Nebraska-Lincoln at lfranzen2@unl.edu.

Intermediate Horseman: 4-H  Level 2 is a course for youth 8 to 18 years old

Youth will learn basic horse science, health, and care principles for the intermediate horseman.

For more information contact: Lena Luck at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, email address at lena.luck@unl.edu

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