Website promotes sustainability
After a year-long process, USU Extension launched the new website Livewellutah.com this summer. Eighteen team members volunteered to create a site anyone can go to as a resource to make educated decisions, as people, property owners and consumers, throughout the recession.
The site has six pillars: Food, Home & Family, Gardening, Energy Conservation, Finance and Just For Kids. Each pillar has information in an easy-to-navigate website. The data for the site was gathered over several months by extension members across the state who want to help serve their community with accessible information.
Marion Bentley, extension specialist and professor in the Applied Economics Department, said, “Even though everyone is busy, there is a need in the community. So, of course people took interest and knew the trends in their area and wanted to help out.”
Livewellutah.com also includes a calender of events open to the public, such as “Basic Landscape Design” and “Free Pressure Canner Lid Testing,” which occurred on Aug. 30. The site also comprises news articles that address topics from “Cupcake Update” to “Boating Safety.”
And, the events and news stories will be ongoing even as economic times improve.
“The site was originally “Sustainable Living,” but when we thought about it we realized that people can use these tips even when the times get better to help enrich their lives, that is when we changed it to “Live Well Utah,” Bentley said.
Many users have found the site to be a real help. Noelle Cockett, Vice President for Extension and Agriculture, said the site is a “first stop” for information on a variety of topics.
“I’ve used it myself for information on a garden I planted this summer, like what seeds to plant, how to prepare the soil, and possible pests. When I have more specific questions, I contact my local Extension agent. For example, I wasn’t sure why the leaves on my tomato plants were curling so I took a picture of the plants with my cell phone and emailed it to the Cache County horticulture agent, who responded back on what the diagnosis was,” she said.
The site was ultimately free-of-cost to the university, as it was paid for by grants and both federal and state government funding. The money from the grants went to marketing and conference calls, Cockett siad. All of those who were involved were volunteers.
“They see a need and want to serve the community and they feel this is how they can help make a difference. The economy is really hammering people and it’s devastating especially in rural areas, like Logan, where dire circumstances are leaving so many unemployed,” Bentley said.
Mike Whitesides, assistant Director of Marketing for Utah State University Cooperative Extension, was choosen for the job of designing, marketing and publicizing Livewellutah.com.
Whitsides said he did this through print and online advertising, and by having the website unveiled at many county fairs around the state. It will also be showcased at the state fair in Salt Lake City in September.
Overall, those involved said they were pleased with the outcome.
“I’m proud of the site because it’s done well and professionally, because it represents the best efforts of a talented group of colleagues and because I think it has a lot of valuable information that will help improve people’s lives,” Bentley said.
“The site is easy to find and easy to navigate, and if people use it I think they will find answers and maybe solutions to some of the problems they face in difficult economic times – how to spend less on food and energy, how to live on a budget and within an income and many more that relate to home, family and personal relationships.”
– kate.auman@aggiemail.usu.edu