Plant Sciences
Project Description
Plant Sciences projects are designed to teach how plants and soils are exciting and interesting. You will learn to identify plants, develop skills in caring for and using plants, recognize undesirable and poisonous plants, grow crops properly, harvest and process crops and to use them or market them. You will also learn about the relationships between all phases of natural resource management including wildlife, range, forestry, water and soils and develop an appreciative attitude toward sound management of natural resources and a broad understanding of relationships between agriculture and nature. You will also be able to seek out the scientific principles of plant growth and develop an interest in further work or careers.
Gardening Project
You will learn a lot in the gardening project with 4 different levels. Each level is geared toward a certain grade.
Level A: grades 3-4 Learn how to plan an in-ground or container garden.
Level B: grades 5-6 Learn how to modify garden plans, plant families and how to grow new plants from plant parts.
Level C: grades 7-9 Learn different planting methods, photosynthesis, identify and prevent weeds.
Level D: grades 10-12 Learn how to maximize garden space, how to harvest, store, preserve, and/or sell vegetables and herbs.
Those are just a few topics the youth will learn within this project
Project Requirements
Project Books Required? Yes
Project books can be purchased here
*** Please note, if you do not attend at least one workshop in your project area during the 4-H year, you will be required to complete activities in your project book and turn it in with your record book. The number of activities required to complete a 4-H year in each project book can be found here.
what needs to be accomplished to move forward from level A book?
- 2 years in 4-H gardening
- attend at least 4 gardening workshops
- grow at least 2 plants from seed
- Show at least once at the fair or demonstration at a workshop
- Complete book and project sheets
What needs to be accomplished to move forward from Level B book?
- Make a garden plan and plan a garden
- Attend 4 gardening workshops
- Grow 4 plants from seed
- Show in fair or demonstration
- Complete book and project sheets
What needs to be accomplished to move forward from Level C Book?
- Complete Level C book activities
What needs to be accomplished to move forward from Level D Book?
- Complete Level D book activities
Project age limit? 8 and up
Project Superintendent Information
Gardening Superintendent: Jennifer Van Syckle
Contact: jennifervansyckle(at)yahoo.com or 406-459-9666
How will you be contacted?
This project is suggested for youth in grades 5–12. Level 1 and 2
members can study plant variety and selection, display stages of
plant development, test seed germination and methods of seeding,
learn about seasonal pests and determine pesticide hazards. Level
3 and 4 members can take soil samples, learn to recognize diseases,
pests, and weeds, study production costs and market prices, learn
about necessary nutrients and determine field acreages.
Project Requirements
Project Books Required? Yes
Project books can be purchased here
*** Please note, if you do not attend at least one workshop in your project area during the 4-H year, you will be required to complete activities in your project book and turn it in with your record book. The number of activities required to complete a 4-H year in each project book can be found here.
Project age limit? 8 and up
Project Superintendent Information
Crop Science Superintendent: Vacant
Contact:
How will you be contacted?
Weed Science looks at one of the most important environmental problems in Montana. You will develop your knowledge and understanding of agriculture, nature and biodiversity. You'll also and agriculture and recognize important weeds in Montana. Learn how to make a plant press, how to display and mount weeds, the science of weed control, various biological methods for controlling weeds, the beneficial uses for weeds and which weeds you can cook and eat. You will study how weeds use different dispersal methods for propagation, why weeds are fierce competitors and you'll have the opportunity to instill in others the desire to actively control weeds.
Project Requirements
Project Books Required? Yes
Project books can be purchased here
*** Please note, if you do not attend at least one workshop in your project area during the 4-H year, you will be required to complete activities in your project book and turn it in with your record book. The number of activities required to complete a 4-H year in each project book can be found here.
What needs to be accomplished to move on to level 2?
- 2 years in 4-H weed science
- collect and identify at least 25 weeds
- attend at least 4 weed science workshops
- Participate in fair or do a demonstration at a workshop
- Build a plant press
- Complete book and project sheets
What needs to be accomplished to move on to level 3?
- collect and identify at least 25 new weeds
- Complete 9 activities in the book
- Participate in a weed pull
- attend at least 4 weed science workshops
- Participate in fair or do a demonstration at a workshop
Project age limit? 8 and up
Project Superintendent Information
Weed Science Superintendent: Jessica Bushnell
Contact: jgatesiws(at)gmail.com or 406-370-3209
How will you be contacted? Email
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Montana State University and the Montana State University Extension Service prohibit discrimination in all of their programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital and family status. Issued in furtherance of cooperative extension work in agriculture and home economics, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Director of Extension, Extension Service, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717