The WVSU Extension Service has been conducting various workshops and programs over the last two years related to climate change, including planting more than 250 trees, constructing over 50 rain barrels and 80 cold frames, and using solar and wind technologies. These programs aim to educate homeowners, local producers and governments on techniques for carbon sequestration, water and nutrient conservation, season extension, and alternative energy use in order to help adapt to climate change impacts.

1. • More than 250 trees
planted in West Virginia
• Six Arbor Day
celebrations over the last
two years
• More than 50 rain barrels
constructed during
workshops or in garden
locations
• Approximately 30
aeroponic growing
systems being used at
various locations around
the state
• More than 80 cold frames
constructed during
workshops
• Two high tunnels
constructed for
production and applied
research
• Wind turbine in use in
Huntington, W.Va., to
power technology in the
garden
• Solar panel technology
being used to power
12 aeroponic growing
systems in Huntington,
W.Va.
Impact
A pressing issue faced by plant and animal producers is
to adapt to the ever-changing conditions and impacts of
global change and climate. Another critical issue is the need
for scientific information that producers can use to plan and
make decisions to ensure economic viability. According
to the Natural Resources Defense Council, West Virginia
is vulnerable to such climate-change threats as increased
air pollution, extreme heat, infectious diseases, drought,
flooding and other extreme weather scenarios that can
negatively impact our state’s plants and animals.
WVSU Extension Service is committed to enhancing the knowledge of
West Virginians on the issue of climate change. Through a variety of
workshops, programs and other interactions with both homeowners and
local governments our participants are increasing the amount of carbon
sequestered, applying water and nutrient conservation methods, using solar
and wind technologies, and green methods of growing-season extension.
We are working with homeowners, local municipalities and even right on
our own campus to make others aware of the benefits of trees in their
landscapes and cities.
Climate Change

2. Our climate change programs focus on hands-on learning
opportunities for participants of all ages. Local food producers
are learning season-extension methodologies that can make
their production enterprise more profitable, while our children
are learning about the newest technologies in large-scale food
production. Homeowners are learning proper techniques for
planting and maintaining the trees in their landscape, while
municipal workers are learning these same techniques to be
incorporated throughout their city.
Educational workshops have been provided for homeowners to
learn the proper planting and maintenance practices to use on
the trees in their landscape in order to keep trees healthy and
sequestering carbon at optimum levels, as well as programs
around the state focused on tree health, reduced energy costs,
and also creation of green space in both cities and on campus.
We use workshops and demonstration areas to show different
methods of water and nutrient conservation ranging from
rain barrels for water collection to the use of hydroponic and
aeroponic growing systems. As part of the youth SCRATCH
project, both solar and wind technologies are being used as a
power source. Lastly, we are educating producers on the use of
cold frames and high tunnels as methods of season extension
without the use of power from the grid.
Focus
Urban Forestry: Participants are learning about urban forestry
through a variety of different methods. Homeowners are attending
hands-on workshops in which they learn proper site and species
selection, appropriate planting techniques, and also pruning
and maintenance. The Memorial Tree Program in Ravenswood,
W.Va., allows participants to purchase trees in memory of loved
ones or an important life event. The trees are chosen to align with
the city’s parks and recreation management plan, and also to
add to the aesthetics of the city. Tree Campus USA is a national
program sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation and focuses
on tree health, reduction of energy costs on campus, reduction
of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the creation of green
space for student activities. This program will help to energize the
students, staff and faculty of WVSU on the importance of trees to
the environment and to the campus.
Water Conservation: The use of rain barrels can prevent
thousands of gallons of water running off the mountains of West
Virginia during the course of a year, while also helping food
producers reduce the costs associated with watering their crops.
The use of hydroponic and aeroponic growing systems also helps
to conserve water and nutrient resources by using recirculating-
pump technology and also water-soluble nutrient solutions to
feed and water crops. By comparing one month of watering
between traditional gardening in a container and using an
aeroponic tower garden, it was found that it takes approximately
half of the watering requirements per plant in the aeroponic
system.
Sustainable Agriculture: The implementation and use of cold
frames and high and low tunnels help to create a sustainable
agriculture program for producers. In the case of cold frames, we
are teaching participants about using recycled materials as a way
to create a low-cost cold frame that will meet their small-scale
needs of season extension. For large-scale producers, the use of
a high or low tunnel can increase production by 60 days or more.
Both of these options use the sun as a power source and can be
used completely off the grid.
Alternative Energy: As we look to become even more
sustainable in our production methods, we have turned to
energy sources like solar and wind technologies. The SCRATCH
program, based in Huntington, W.Va., utilizes these energy
sources to power technologies like an iPad for research to
be done in the garden and aeroponic production systems.
The children of the SCRATCH program, as well as adults that
also interact with these children, are learning about the latest
technologies related to alternative energy sources.
Scope
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Contact
For more information, contact 304-204-4305 or email extension@wvstateu.edu.