4-H - positive youth development and volunteerism

Staff will explore potential new volunteer audiences. 4-H will create special interest programming focused on small livestock, distance learning and sustainable agriculture. A healthy, well-nourished population program provides community-based nutrition and lifestyle education to all residents-especially residents at high risk, including low-income audiences. The program also focuses attention on the importance of prevention of childhood obesity. Computer training and technology training will focus on usage of relevant technologies including introductory computer classes that begin with microsoft windows, microsoft word, excel and powerpoint, E-mail/internet usage. The smartphone and tablet workshops will teach how to create and use email accounts and various apps on mobile devices. Food safety education and efnep program will focus attention on the importance of safe food handling and preparation in home kitchens; as well as educating low-income families about basic nutrition and behavior change practices. The program will address and develop culturally sensitive food safety educational products and resources to be made available to targeted clientele. Marketable skills for limited resource residents program will offer workshops, short courses and activities that provide participants with the opportunity to explore career options, entrepreneurship, and workforce preparation. Protecting the VI natural resources and environment activities will encourage the adoption of sustainable natural resource and watershed management practices to preserve the environmental and natural resources base, assist post-hurricane recovery, restore post hurricane landscapes, conserve cultural and natural history resources in recreational areas, and stimulate/grow a vital tourism/ecotourism industry. Sustainable agriculture program will educate and encourage farmers to adopt sustainable agricultural practices that are environmentally responsible, economically viable, and enhance the overall wellbeing of the territory. Cover crops will be evaluated in both livestock grazing scenarios and in crop production. Production of fish and crops in aquaponic and/or hydroponic systems will be evaluated. Tropical horticulture involves AES horticulture and biotechnology research projects with CES urban gardening program to provide information, education, and technical advice to commercial growers, home gardeners, nonprofit organizations, public and private agencies, and residents about caring for and cultivating fruits and vegetables. New varieties of tropical fruits and vegetable crops will be evaluated for production potential. Water requirement and micro-irrigation practices will be evaluated. Tropical livestock production. Senepol cattle and hair sheet management systems and practices to enhance productivity under tropical conditions will be conducted. The program will continue incorporating hardier strains of forages that will withstand more intense grazing practices. Demonstrations and workshops will be conducted to assist producers in evaluating their management practices and determine how improvements can address their problems. Urban forestry. The terrestrial landscape of the virgin islands is changing rapidly. Because of its affiliation with the caribbean urban and community forestry program working group led by the USDA forest service at the international institute of tropical forestry, extension has better access to current science-based information about virgin islands/puerto rico native forests that can increase awareness of local urban forest resources, reduce the severity of the damage to our tree populations and improve our response and recovery processes.