Author Archives: Amy Sohner

Students at Garrard County Middle School have been studying the problem of floating plastic litter getting into our water.  The force of gravity and flowing stormwater can pull pollution, like litter, into our local waterways. The debris follows the path of the creeks and rivers and eventually empties into the ocean. Our educator, Kara Sayles, provided lessons to help students understand the detrimental effects littering can have on aquatic habitats and water quality and then posed the question, “How do we remove this litter from the water?”

Using the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Concepts, the students created a device to clean the floating plastic litter out of the water. In this process, students identified a need, researched the problem, imagined solutions, planned by selecting a promising solution, created a prototype, tested the process, and improved their designs. They used critical thinking and built their teamwork skills while developing solutions.

Students studied litter-trapping devices that are in use today before creating their models. They enjoyed making a prototype, but the real excitement was counting how many pieces of litter their device could retrieve from the water. It was a wonderful learning experience for all!

This activity is part of Bluegrass Greensource’s Water/Litter Abatement Environmental Education Program for Middle School. To learn more, visit bggreensource.org/prek-12-education/.

Our education team recently attended the Kentucky Association for Environmental Education 46th annual conference in Berea, where we enjoyed time to learn, reflect, and (re)connect with other environmental educators. We were excited to lead a curriculum training and to present on our work developing and facilitating the Junior Energy Explorers program, funded by Kentucky’s Office of Energy Policy.

Throughout Central Kentucky, Bluegrass Greensource (BGGS) empowers students to help shape the world around them. No better example is that of the Riparian Buffer Program BGGS helps facilitate from the Kentucky Division of Water. Several of our regional partners have participated in the program and are starting to see the results of their efforts.

Bourbon Christian Academy was one school that planted a riparian buffer on a tributary of Hinkston Creek. This is what their principal Terry Smith had to say about the project, “This experience of our students planting 600 plants for the riparian project was, by far, the most meaningful volunteer project we have ever done as a student body. It was an honor to be a part of it. Our students and staff enjoy visiting this area every year to see our progress and how it has beautified the stream bank has become. Thanks for letting us participate.”

During our last visit to Bourbon Christian Academy’s riparian buffer, some of the students mentioned that there is not only a visual difference in the stream but a massive change in the abundance of plants and life now taking shape along the creek’s edge.

On November 12th BGGS held the Farmer to Farmer Field Day event in Millersburg KY, which is part of The Licking River Basin. This event was in partnership with UK College of Agriculture, Food & Environment Cooperative Extension Service and the Bourbon County Conservation.  BGGS staff was on hand to answer questions and present about the programs we offer, also staff from UK Ag, Bourbon Co. Conservation and The KY Division of Water were able to speak to farmers directly about programs and cost share opportunities available for some of the conservation practices highlighted during the event.

The goal of the day was to educate farmers and local landowners on the effect agriculture has not only on water quality locally, but how a local watershed can have a great impact on the overall water quality of the planet. 21 participants joined for the event. As part of the field day, our host Charlotte Box led us on a tour of Box Farm, during which we made several stops to showcase some best management practices that are in use on the farm.

The highlight of our tour was learning the unique way of watering that is in place on the property. Utilizing a combo of tire waterers, gravity flow and a pump located in a tributary of the Hinkston Creek, they are able to provide water to livestock with little maintenance. Because of this they are able to use rotational grazing for livestock and place exclusion fencing to prevent livestock from getting directly in the creek, allowing riparian zones to re-establish, not only does this provide habitat for wildlife it also helps to combat erosion, this will have a direct effect on the water quality in the area.

The F2F program is funded in part by a farmer conservation grant from Mississippi State University.

The following article is sponsored content by Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives.

Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives’ Who Powers You contest is back for 2022, and now is the time to think about who powers your community. You can nominate someone who plays a vital role in your community by going to http://www.whopowersyouky.com/.

If you know of someone who’s making a positive impact on the environment in their community, nominate them for Who Powers You. If someone you know is modeling positive environmental behavior such as organizing cleanups, planting trees or working to make their community a nicer, more beautiful place to live, they could be rewarded for their efforts.

Nominees are eligible to win cash prizes – $1,000 for the winner, $750 second and $250 for third place.

The #WhoPowersYou contest in which we invite the public to submit photos and stories about co-op members who are making a positive impact in their co-op community.

The 2021 winner and Jackson Energy member Gabbi Hartzel (pictured above) was nominated for her creation of a women’s ministry at The Creek Church in London, Ky. Hartzel’s community outreach job at the church means that she’s often looking for ways for the church to give back to the under-privileged in the community. “Angel Tree giving, backpack drives and things like that,” Hartzell said. She also interacts virtually with churchgoers during online services, and her women’s ministry, The Well, serves women in the church and does community services like Prom Prep, which helps girls who couldn’t otherwise afford the amenities get ready for prom.

The contest was created to reward and support co-op members who are making a difference in the communities served by Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives. Co-ops serve more than 1.1 million people in 87 counties.

To make a nomination, go to www.whopowersyouky.com. You’ll simply share a photo of the nominee and a brief description of how he or she makes a difference in the community.

Nominees must also be at least 18 years old, a member of Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives (see website for complete list of co-ops) and a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident.

The contest ends October 31. Winners will be selected by a panel of out-of-state judges.