This course is designed to help you develop S.M.A.R.T. (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely) goals for your property, which consider the importance of land stewardship and sustainability. The course introduces the dynamic relationships among natural resources on your property. You will utilize tools to understand driving variables in the system, which helps inform land management decisions. As you become more aware of the realities, opportunities, and challenges of your property, you will be far more equipped to manage a property you love while also creating a space that is environmentally sustainable.
In this course, you will:
- Develop S.M.A.R.T. goals for your property.
- Be introduced to the dynamic relationships among natural resources (soil, water, plants, animals, air, and humans).
- Utilize tools to understand driving variables in the system, which helps inform land management decisions.
- Become more aware of the realities, opportunities, and challenges of your property.
Learning the fundamentals of soil health and management is the first step in becoming successful at growing a crop, pasture, or garden. Understanding your property's soil characteristics in relation to potential uses can save a lot of time, money, and frustration.
In this course, you will:
- Learn the fundamentals of soil health and management, including physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils.
- Understand your property's soil characteristics in relation to potential uses.
- Participate in hands-on activities that will guide you to learn more about soil fertility and soil texture.
- Be introduced to five soil health principles as a sustainable approach to long-term soil health.
Water is an essential resource for life, but is limited in the arid West. In this course, you will explore how water laws guarantee security, assure reliability, and create flexibility in the development and protection of water resources in Colorado. We depend on good water quality for drinking, irrigation, wildlife habitat, recreation, municipal uses, industrial uses, and simple enjoyment of the landscape. We all have the potential to degrade our water supplies through daily activities.
In this course, you will:
- Explore how water laws guarantee security, assure reliability, and create flexibility in the development and protection of water resources in Colorado.
- Understand the interactions between humans and water quality.
- Become familiar with the major laws created to protect our water.
- Learn how you can protect water resources on your property.
How can I improve my pasture? Do I need to reseed? How many animals can I graze on my land? Balancing livestock needs with the needs of pasture and rangeland species can be complicated. This course will prepare you with the knowledge and resources needed to answer these questions and understand why. You will develop a pasture management plan in this course and explore how grasses and pasture plants grow. Hands-on activities help you identify the specific grass and forb species on your property and understand their life cycles and growth patterns. You will then apply your understanding of grasses to basic principles of grazing management. Good grazing strategies, and pasture establishment and renovation options, will help you improve grass health and reduce the amount of bare ground and weeds.
In this course, you will:
- Develop a pasture management plan.
- Explore how grasses and pasture plants grow.
- Identify specific grass and forb species and understand their life cycles and growth patterns, and apply your understanding of grasses to basic principles of grazing management.
Weeds affect us all. They steal moisture and nutrients from desirable plants, shade out older plants, decrease nutritional value of forage, and some are toxic to livestock or humans. Weed infestations can decrease forage yields and lower the value of pastures. In this course you will learn to identify, prevent, and manage weeds on your property. Proper weed management is dependent upon several factors, including weed life cycles and timing of treatments. You will learn integrated pest management (IPM) principles in which mechanical, biological, and chemical controls are discussed. Not all weeds are managed the same way. Utilizing the appropriate control method will ensure reduced costs and weed impacts over time. This course explores organic control options, as well as chemical controls, and highlights real-life examples of how specific weed infestations were successfully managed.
In this course, you will:
- Learn to identify, prevent, and manage weeds on your property.
- Learn integrated pest management (IPM) principles in which mechanical, biological, and chemical controls are discussed.
- Explore organic control options, as well as chemical controls.
Managing wildlife on your property is a multifaceted process. First and foremost, landowners must determine the wildlife species that inhabit the property and surrounding areas. Are wildlife permanent residents, seasonal, or migratory? What diseases could wildlife bring? In this course, you will complete a wildlife inventory for your property and explore wildlife needs and habits. You will learn how water and habitat are important components to attracting wildlife, and understand tools for altering or deterring wildlife. Whether you are trying to attract or deter wildlife, you will gain the knowledge and resources to create a wildlife plan for your property.
In this course, you will:
- Learn how to identify wildlife that are permanent residents, seasonal, or migratory.
- Identify diseases that wildlife could bring.
- Understand the needs and habits of local wildlife.
- Learn how water and habitat are important components to attracting wildlife, and the tools necessary for deterring wildlife.
Managing for disasters is complex and can be frightening to think about. But making a plan and being prepared can safeguard you and your family in an emergency. In this course, you will develop a comprehensive emergency preparedness plan for your family, house, pets, livestock, and property. You will determine the risks for your property and surrounding areas and decide what needs to be addressed in your plan. You will be guided through all the considerations to being fully prepared when disaster strikes.
In this course, you will:
- Be guided through all the considerations to being fully prepared when disaster strikes.
- Determine risks for your property and surrounding areas.
- Develop a comprehensive emergency preparedness plan for your family, house, pets, livestock, and property.
