OSU “Living on the Land”
Publication Series
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Brian Tuck – Oregon State University
Susan Kerr – Washington State University
Shilah Olsen – Wasco County SWCD
Ellen Hammond – Oregon Department of Ag
Ariel Ginsburg & Jeff Hino– OSU Extension
& Experiment Station Communications
Need
• Lack of publications targeted for new and small
acreage producers
• Need concise, easy-to-read materials
 2 pages max
 Tables
 Color and photos
 A few key points
• Links to more detailed info
• Portable format to increase accessibility
Methods
• Collaborated with EESC
 Refined concept through extensive
discussions
 Created two-page pdf publication template
• Free pdf downloads
• Expanded concept to include
podcasts on iTunesU
• Provided multiple platforms to
access these publications
Methods continued
• Team effort
• A team member takes the lead to
develop first draft
• All team members review
• Final draft peer reviewed
• Submitted to OSU for publication
OSU Extension Publications Catalog Home Page:
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog
Podcasts available through OSU
and iTunesU
Managing Manure audio files A, B and C:
http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/instructionaldesign/?s=Jeff+Hino+writing+for+podcasts
Writing for the Ear…Some Tips
• Be conversational
• Avoid numerical data
• Look for metaphors
• Keep sentences simple
• Watch out for tongue twisters
Writing for the Ear…Some Tips
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Break into manageable chunks
Offer one or two main ideas
Use active language
Use positive examples
Watch for the interesting turn of a phrase
Outputs
Each title has a two-page pdf and three-part podcast.
• Pasture and Livestock Essentials
• Winter Livestock Care
• Managing Manure
• Spring Pasture Essentials
• Birds of Prey for Rodent Control
• Youth Farm Safety
• Water Issues
• Food Preservation
• Soils
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Next Steps
• Expand titles: Marketing, Soils,
Water, Agencies, Forestry, Farm
Safety, other titles recommended
by audience
• Other applications: audiences
with greater cell phone than
computer access, 30 second
podcasts, video, Spanish
• Collaboration with National
Immigrant Farming Initiative
• Evaluate impacts
Questions?