OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION

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365 Self-Determined Project

Member determines and designs own project or uses one of these idea starters:

365.01 Astronomy 365.02 Model Railroading 365.03 Weather 365.04 Clowning 365.05 Rocks, Minerals, and Fossils 365.06 American Sign Language 365.07 Computers 365.08 Discovering Genetics 365.09 Canoeing 365.10 Local Foods: Does It Matter What You Eat? 365.11 Camp Counseling 365.12 Miniature Gardens 365.13 Reptiles and Amphibians 365.14 Climate Change 365.16 Viruses, Bacteria, and Fungi, Oh My! (Plant Pathology) 365.17 Babysitting 365.18 Ways of Knowing Water 365.19 The Work World is Calling . . . Are You Ready? 365.21 Skateboarding 365.22 Pigeons 365.23 Native American Artifacts: Arrowheads 365.24 Shale Gas Extraction 365.25 Flower Gardening 365.26 Hedgehogs 365.27 Ferrets 365.28 Chinchillas 365.29 Field to Faucet: What Determines Water Quality

1. Complete all project guidelines as listed in the Self-Determined Project Guide. (see next 5 pages)

2. Neatly create an educational exhibit and/or a poster illustrating and describing some aspect of your project. Yourname and club name need to be visible on the front of the display.

3. Bring to Interview Judging:a. Any accumulated materials needed for project.b. Completed Self-Determined Project Guide #365.

c. Project records. Include pictures, examples of items made, price list, or other records to illustrate what youhave learned.

d. Educational exhibit or poster.e. Know the 4-H Pledge, 4-H Motto, and 4-H Colors.

4. Exhibit at the fair:a. The educational exhibit or poster from Interview Judging. (Project book does not qualify as an exhibit.)

Revised December 2017

Self-Determined Project Guide

by Bob Horton and Kathy Cox, Extension Specialists, 4-H Youth Development

Project BackgroundA 4-H Self-Determined Project is an opportunity for members to go beyond the scope of their current project or to explore a topic that is unavailable as a project book. Self-Determined Projects on the same topic may be repeated if new areas of interest, learning experiences and leadership/citizenship activities are selected.

Not sure what topic to explore? You can get some great ideas by reviewing the Idea Starters available online at ohio4h.org/selfdetermined.

Project Guidelines1. Identify a possible topic for your project.

2. Complete the Planning Your Adventure section (Steps 1 through 3) of this guide by discussing andresearching your topic, by planning and completing at least two learning experiences, and by planning andcompleting at least two leadership/citizenship activities.

3. Complete the Conducting Your Adventure section by identifying and completing three areas of interest andthree activities within each area.

4. Complete the Reporting Your Adventure section of this guide.

Name: ______________________________________________________________________________

Age (as of January 1 of the current year): _________ County: _________________________________

Club name: __________________________________Advsior: ________________________________

Topic you’ve chosen to explore: __________________________________________________________

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4-H 365

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION

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PLANNING YOUR ADVENTURE

Step 1. Let’s Begin (Check off what you plan to do.) ☐ Discuss your ideas with family, friends, and of course, your project helper.

☐ Check books about your topic at the library before you begin.

☐ Visit websites that provide more information about your topic.

☐ Check your county’s project guidelines (if any) for additional requirements, especially if you choose to participate in county project judging or prepare an exhibit for the fair.

Step 2. Learning Experiences

Choose at least two learning experiences from the list below (or create your own). Write them in the table below. Record your progress by asking your project helper to initial next to the date each one is completed. You may add to or change these activities at any time.

• Attend a clinic, workshop, demonstration or speech on a topic related to your project.

• Prepare a public service announcement for school, radio, television or the Internet on a topic related to your project.

• Help organize a club activity on this project.

• Prepare your own demonstration, illustrated talk or exhibit.

• Participate in county judging.

Learning ExperienceDate

CompletedProject Helper

Initials

(Example) Demonstration: Showed different sizes of model railroad cars to club members.

7/15/YR BH

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Step 3. Leadership/Citizenship Activities

Choose at least two leadership/citizenship activities from the list below (or create your own). Write them in the table below. Record your progress by asking your project helper to initial next to the date each one is completed. You may add to or change these activities at any time.

• Assist in setting up and/or cleaning up for a show or event.

• Help someone with his or her project.

• Help organize a workshop or show in your community.

• Encourage a friend to join 4-H and take a project.

• Teach someone something that you learned about 4-H or about your topic.

• Invite someone to talk to your club about your topic.

• Give advice to a member who is a preparing a project for the fair.

• Prepare and exhibit a display promoting your topic or 4-H.

Leadership/Citizenship ActivityDate

CompletedProject Helper

Initials

(Example) Helped younger members set up a model railroad. 8/11/YR BH

CONDUCTING YOUR ADVENTUREEvery self-determined project is broken down into areas of interest. These are the specific things you wish to explore during your project adventure. In the space provided on the next page, identify at least three areas of interest with at least three activities per area.

If you are using an Idea Starter, you will find suggested areas of interest and things to do there.

Ask your project helper to initial next to the date each one is completed.

(Example) My first area of interest is to plan a layout.

Activity 1: Locate a reference book on model railroading to use during the project.

Activity 2: Create a track plan for a model railroad.

Activity 3: Identify a knowledgeable person who is willing to help.

Activity 4: Talk with parents about where to put a layout.

Date completed: 4/18/YR Project helper initials: BH

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CONDUCTING YOUR ADVENTURE (CONTINUED)

My first area of interest is to ________________________________________________________________

Activity 1: _______________________________________________________________________________

Activity 2: ______________________________________________________________________________

Activity 3: ______________________________________________________________________________

Activity 4: ______________________________________________________________________________

Date completed: ____________________________ Project helper initials: __________________________

My first area of interest is to ________________________________________________________________

Activity 1: _______________________________________________________________________________

Activity 2: ______________________________________________________________________________

Activity 3: ______________________________________________________________________________

Activity 4: ______________________________________________________________________________

Date completed: ____________________________ Project helper initials: __________________________

My first area of interest is to ________________________________________________________________

Activity 1: _______________________________________________________________________________

Activity 2: ______________________________________________________________________________

Activity 3: ______________________________________________________________________________

Activity 4: ______________________________________________________________________________

Date completed: ____________________________ Project helper initials: __________________________

My first area of interest is to ________________________________________________________________

Activity 1: _______________________________________________________________________________

Activity 2: ______________________________________________________________________________

Activity 3: ______________________________________________________________________________

Activity 4: ______________________________________________________________________________

Date completed: ____________________________ Project helper initials: __________________________

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Ohio State University Extension embraces human diversity and is committed to ensuring that all research and related educational programs are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDS status, military status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. This statement is in accordance with United States Civil Rights Laws and the USDA.

Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Agricultural Administration; Associate Dean, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences; Director, Ohio State University Extension; and Gist Chair in Extension Education and Leadership.

For Deaf and Hard of Hearing, please contact Ohio State University Extension using your preferred communication (email, relay services, or video relay services). Phone 1-800-750-0750 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST Monday through Friday. Inform the operator to dial 614-292-6181.

Copyright © 2015, The Ohio State University

ohio4h.org/selfdetermined

REPORTING YOUR ADVENTUREIn the space below, summarize what you did and learned. Then arrange for a project review with your project helper, who should review this completed project guide with you. Such evaluations help you assess what you learned and how you grew as a 4-H member. Members who take part in this level of evaluation may receive special membership and project achievement awards such as ribbons, pins and certificates.

In addition, you may want to take part in county project judging. This level of evaluation determines how well you did on your project by assigning a project grade. You may also want to represent your county at the Ohio State Fair. For more information, contact your local Ohio State University Extension office or visit our website at ohio4h.org/selfdetermined.

Your Summary

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PLAN YOUR PROJECTUse this idea starter AND publication 4-H 365 Self-Determined Project Guide as the starting place for your 4-H self-determined project. The Self-Determined Project Guide is available from your county OSU Extension office or on the Web at ohio4h.org/selfdetermined. You may choose to do a little or a lot depending on your level of interest. Be sure to register your project with your county OSU Extension office.

Flower Gardeningby Amy Barr, MS in Horticulture and Crop Science, and Program Assistant, 4-H Youth Development, Ohio State University Extension. Reviewed by Pam Bennett, State Specialist, Horticulture, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Ohio State University Extension.

Do you want to develop your passion for growing flowers? You may have already taken the project How Does My Garden Grow?, which helps beginning flower gardeners understand the basics of annual flowers. This Idea Starter gives you more experience growing annuals and discusses growing other kinds of flowering plants too, namely perennials and bulbs.

First, it helps to know your goal for growing flowers. Are you hoping to have fresh blooms to cut for arrangements? Do you want to hide an unattractive landscape feature such as an air conditioner? Are you trying to attract butterflies or hummingbirds? There are many good reasons for growing flowers, but each requires a different approach. For example, if you want to have cutting flowers available for as much of the year as possible, you might want to plant a variety of perennials that bloom at different times of the growing season. Annuals that bloom all summer, especially those with strong stems, can supply extra blooms during the warmer months. Spring flowering bulbs such as daffodils and tulips also make beautiful additions to flower arrangements. If you get really serious about having indoor blooms in the winter, you might want to force bulbs such as amaryllis, paperwhites and hyacinth.

Second, decide where to plant flowers. Begin by creating a site plan of your house and yard. Start by making a simple drawing of the buildings, trees and hardscapes such as a driveway or patio. Add any large shrubs and flower beds. The site plan can be expanded to include useful information such as shade and sun areas, windy spots and areas that are most vulnerable to critters such as deer and rabbits. You also might want to label your site plan with common uses. For instance, if your family enjoys playing soccer in a certain part of the yard, they will not appreciate a border of hydrangea through their athletic field. You don’t want a soccer ball crushing your plants either! A shaded spot at the end of a shed or garage might be just the place, providing masses of beautiful, fragrant blooms that hide an otherwise unattractive view. Making a site plan allows you to get your landscape ideas down on paper, leading to a more thoughtful process and greater success.

PROJECT IDEA STARTER

4-H 365.25

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION

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Try growing different types of flowering plants. Annuals are plants that die at the end of the growing season. Perennials, which typically take longer to complete their lifecycle, tend to die back to the ground each winter, although their roots remain alive year round. Woody plants include trees and shrubs, many of which have interesting branches that can be used in your fresh flower arrangements. Bulbs and bulblike plants—such as corms, tubers and rhizomes—produce beautiful flowers for landscape or container use. You will discover exotic plants, such as tropical, too. Some are hardy and others need to be dug and brought inside for protection during the winter.

Keeping records is very helpful to the flower gardener. Have a place to record new plant purchases and save receipts. Some plants have warranties, and the receipts can save a lot of guesswork later if something goes wrong. When you want to buy more of a plant that is successful for you, good records allow you to find the names of specific varieties and where they were purchased. You may want to keep track of when plants bloom and how rain and temperature affect them. You may even want to make notes about when your favorite garden centers hold sales so that you can plan your purchases. Notes about insects, diseases and any other problems can help you deal with them as you determine patterns and plan ahead for pest management strategies. Include pictures of your plants and garden. They are helpful reminders when planning future garden projects.

Even in small spaces, many blooms can cascade from hanging baskets, patio pots or window boxes. Plants for these containers need extra consideration. You want flowers

that bloom over a long period of time and that are appropriate for sun and shade conditions. You also can use plants with interesting foliage to accent the container. Plants in containers are likely to dry out quickly, so make sure they are located near a convenient water source. They need daily attention, especially in the hot summer months. They also require

How can a site plan help? If your property contains walnut trees, for example, you might want to draw a zone around them. Black walnut trees excrete a chemical called juglone that is toxic to certain plants. On the other hand, some plants are immune. Anyone with a black walnut tree needs to be careful about selecting plants to grow in the area around the tree.

• Annuals. Plants that complete their lifecycle including flowering and setting seed in one growing season.

• Perennials. Plants that live and grow for many years; the top of the plant dies back in the winter and then grows from the roots again the next spring.

• Bulbs. Underground stems or roots that contain food for the plant.

• Tropicals. Plants native to the tropics typically requiring warm and humid conditions.

Some poppies are annuals and some are perennials.

Tulips are bulbs that can be grown in gardens or containers.

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regular fertilization based on label recommendations.

Ready to get your hands dirty? Your interest in gardening can grow into a lifelong passion and even a career. Get started by exploring the following.

AREAS OF INTEREST AND THINGS TO DO

Every self-determined 4-H project can be broken down into areas of interest. These are the specific things members want to address during their project adventures. Using 4-H 365 Self-Determined Project Guide, identify at least three areas of interest with at least three activities per area to explore. Take your ideas from the list below or make up your own.

Landscape Design ☐ Determine your purpose for

growing flowers. Write down at least two reasons and share them with your project helper.

☐ Make a site plan of your home. Begin by using graph paper to make a scale drawing of your yard and any buildings, driveways, fences, patios or other structures on your property. Add details such as existing trees, shrubs, flower beds and other landscaping.

☐ Make a list of areas that would benefit from the addition of new plants. Determine the light and soil quality of these areas so that you can amend the soil if necessary. Identify plants likely to do well in each area.

☐ Investigate the meaning of the saying “right plant, right place.” Based on what you learn, explain its meaning to other new gardeners in a brochure, display or video.

☐ “Call Before You Dig” is a national program that encourages homeowners and others to call 811 before digging, even for small projects like planting trees or shrubs. Find out more about the program and create a brochure to raise awareness in your community.

Annuals ☐ Investigate what you need

to grow annuals from seed. Start seeds indoors six weeks before your frost free date.

☐ Share seeds or transplants with a friend to increase variety and save money.

☐ Plant and care for at least two types of shade-loving annual flowers.

☐ Plant and care for at least two types of annuals that grow in sun or part sun.

☐ An heirloom plant is one grown through open pollination. Learn more about heirloom plants and pollination, and collect and store seed for future use.

Perennials ☐ Make a list of perennial plants

currently growing in your landscape.

☐ Divide a perennial that is getting crowded. Plant it in a new area at your home or give a portion to a neighbor or friend.

☐ Comparison shop at local nurseries, garden centers and farmers’ markets for new perennials. Make a record of the name, price, size and health of the plants.

☐ Plant and care for two or more flowering perennials in your landscape. Need a good list of plants for certain conditions?

Do an online search for “Perennials for Specific Sites and Uses,” a fact sheet from Ohio State University Extension.

☐ Identify two pollinating insects in your perennial flowers.

Bulbs ☐ Select a reference book on

flowering bulbs for your area from a library or bookstore. Use it to learn about bulbs and to identify ones that interest you.

☐ Look through mail order catalogs or view websites to get inspiration for the types of bulbs you would like to grow.

☐ Force some bulbs for early indoor bloom.

☐ Plant a group of bulbs in the landscape for naturalizing.

☐ Create a cut flower arrangement out of bulbs you have grown.

☐ Lift and store tender bulbs such as dahlias at the end of the season for the next growing season.

Hostas are perennials often used as accents in flower gardening.

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ohio4h.org/selfdetermined

CFAES provides research and related educational programs to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis. For more information, visit cfaesdiversity.osu.edu. For an accessible format of this publication, visit cfaes.osu.edu/accessibility.

03/2019

Garden Journal ☐ Create a journal with plenty of

room for weekly notes, pictures, and gardening information.

☐ Use a gardening mobile app to track the growth of your plants or to look up information about them.

☐ List dates that your flowers are in bloom and number of blooms produced.

☐ Make note of any diseases or pests that disturbed your flowering plants and what measures you took to protect them. Make your own recommendations for next time.

☐ Make weekly observations about weather and its impact on your plants and your watering schedule.

Containers ☐ Look through magazines or

take pictures at a garden center of containers that appeal to you. Make a list of the plants they contain.

☐ Prepare containers by making sure they are clean and have appropriate drainage.

☐ Find suitable flowering plants for your containers’ locations. Be careful to use plants that have similar light and water needs as well as colors that are attractive together.

☐ Check the condition of your container plants daily. Deadhead spent blooms or pinch back plants that are getting leggy. Keep soil moist for optimum growth and fertilize according to the fertilizer label.

Group several containers of flowers to create a pleasing display.

☐ Rotate containers weekly so that all plants receive similar light. This is especially important for containers being grown alongside a building.

☐ Grow a flowering plant indoors. You may want to try something tropical like an orchid that typically would not grow in your hardiness zone.

☐ Take cuttings from your containers to produce more plants. Ivies and sweet potato vine are easily grown by rooting in water.

RELATED RESOURCESPlant Propagation, ourohio.org/food/gardening/265/plant-propagation