Innovation in Online Noncredit Teaching Award

“Living on the Land” Team

Brian Tuck, Ariel Ginsburg and Jeff Hino – College of Agricultural Sciences and Extension and Experiment Station Communications; and Susan Kerr, Washington State University; Shilah Olson, Soil & Water Conservation District; and Ellen Hammond, Oregon Department of Agriculture

As increasing numbers of people move to small acreages in central and eastern Oregon, the need increases to help them live sustainably within this delicate ecosystem. This need inspired a team from OSU and three other experts from the Pacific Northwest to provide educational outreach that is relevant and accessible to these landowners.

The result is “Living on the Land,” a series of high-quality resource materials related to sustainable and small-scale agriculture that discusses solutions to land management challenges through an innovative marriage of online publications and audio podcasts.

The materials provide an engaging learning experience, and the proof is in the numbers: The publications and podcasts have been downloaded thousands of times by people across the nation and around the world.

Mid-Columbia Agriculture Research and Extension Center director Brian Tuck and individuals from the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Washington State University and the Soil and Water Conservation Districts provided source material for the publications, based on needs identified by state agencies and field faculty across the region.

EESC communicators Ariel Ginsburg and Jeff Hino crafted concise print publications and companion full-script audio podcasts for mobile delivery.