Home & Commercial HorticulturePlan of Work

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Kenton County CES

Title:
Home & Commercial Horticulture
MAP:
Home & Commercial Horticulture
Agents Involved:
Michele Stanton
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Home & Consumer Horticulture
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Master Gardener
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Commercial Horticulture
Situation:
Homeowners, landowners and existing growers are looking to produce more of their own foods, flowers, or other plants; or expand existing operations by growing additional (and maybe new) crops. They are looking for information on what to grow, and how to do it.
Some members of the community face significant mental, emotional, and physical challenges. Horticultural activities are therapeutic for these persons in many areas.
Long-Term Outcomes:
• Increase the number of homeowners and landowners who are growing food and other horticultural crops on an ongoing basis.
• Increase income derived from horticultural crops.
• Expand offerings at local farmers’ markets.
• Expand the number of crops grown in the county on an ongoing basis.
• Increase the quality of life for members of our community with physical, mental and emotional challenges.
Intermediate Outcomes:
• Homeowners, growers, farmers, and landowners produce new horticultural crops for the first time.
• Residents take GAP training for the first time.
• New growers are selling at one or more Farmer’s Market locations.
• Members of the community with significant physical, emotional or mental challenges can look forward to “days in the garden”.
Initial Outcomes:
• Homeowners, landowners, farmers, and others understand the value of local production of diverse horticultural products.
• Homeowners, landowners, farmers, and others learn how to grow many new kinds of horticultural crops: vegetables, fruits, cut flowers, landscape plants, forest products, etc.
• Members of the community with physical, mental and emotional challenges will enjoy new experiences and learn new skills through horticulture.
Evaluation:

Outcome: Increased vendors at county Farmers’ Markets

Indicator: Greater numbers of Farmers’ Market vendors as measured against 2015.

Method: Vendor lists.

Timeline: Yearly.


Outcome: Greater numbers of products offered at local Farmer’s Markets.

Indicator: Compare available lists of available products at local farmer’s markets from year to year. Base year: 2015

Method: Survey, farmers’ market records.

Timeline: Yearly.


Outcome: Homeowners, landowners, farmers and others understand the value of local production of diverse horticultural products.

Indicator: Class attendance

Method: Surveys

Timeline: Ongoing


Outcome: Homeowners, landowners, farmers, and others grow new horticultural crops.

Indicator: Class attendance

Method: Surveys

Timeline: Ongoing


Outcome: Members of the community with mental, physical, and emotional challenges participate in therapy through horticulture.

Indicator: Continued class attendance.

Method: Smiles, cheers, and signs of appreciation

Timeline: Monthly or seasonally, as needed



Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Homeowners, farmers, landowners and others

Project or Activity: Classes and demonstrations on all kinds of horticultural crops: vegetables, fruits, cut flowers, landscape plant production, forest products, etc.

Content or Curriculum: Extension and other materials.

Inputs: UK Extension specialists and county agents

Date: Ongoing


Audience: Farmers and others

Project or Activity: GAP training

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky GAP training manual and videos

Inputs: Kentucky GAP training materials and videos; county agents; state specialists

Date: Yearly, winter/spring; rotated through the three northern counties


Audience: Residents of Rosedale Manor, and other Long-term-care facility residents as needed

Project or activity: demonstrations, garden crafts, hands-on garden and memory activities

Content or curriculum: Variable. 4H, American Horticultural Therapy Association publications

Inputs: County agents and MG volunteers






Success Stories

Horticultural Therapy at a Long-term Care Facility

Author: Michele Stanton

Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture

Horticultural practices add greatly to our quality of life.  A relatively unknown aspect of horticulture is its therapeutic uses, which can be specifically beneficial in institutional settings.  Horticultural therapy is benefits people in many ways—it can help lower blood pressure, decrease the need for certain medications, help maintain muscle tone, elevate mood, and more.Kenton County Extension Horticulture, aided by Master Gardener volunteers, provides monthly therapeutic hort

Full Story

Grafting Apple Trees

Author: Michele Stanton

Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture

Success Story: Apple GraftingMichele StantonHomeowners have more questions about vegetables and fruit trees than most other plant-related topics, if our callers are any guide. They want healthy plants, and they are very likely to be persons of a do-it-yourself mindset. Additionally, the cultivars that are most disease-resistant and best to grow here—the ones I would recommend—are not always available locally, and may be hard to find on line. When homeowners grow well-a

Full Story
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