Home & Consumer HorticulturePlan of Work

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Pike County CES

Title:
Home & Consumer Horticulture
MAP:
Diversification of Agriculture
Agents Involved:
Stumbo, Workman, Froman, Richards
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Home & Consumer Horticulture
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Master Gardener
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Agriculture 4-H Core Curriculum
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Natural Resources 4-H Core Curriculum
Situation:
Gardening is not just a nice hobby it can improve nutrition, reduce stress, and be used as a therapeutic treatment in a variety of individuals. Environmentally, gardening can contribute to a community in providing a sociable environment, improve water quality, and reduce a community’s waste stream through composting of organic material. All of these assertions are supported in the program manual for the Kentucky Master Gardener Program.

Home Gardening is a key to better nutrition and healthier foods. An emphasis is in setting ground work for more home gardening and fruit production.

Landscaping is also an important factor in residential and commercial property as well as increasing the attractiveness of a community. Landscaping both soft-scaping and hard-scaping can add up to 20% to the value of a home.

An effective means for making gardening and landscaping more popular and widespread is through the Kentucky Master Gardener Program (MGP). This well-established program is oriented towards creating leaders as much as it is devoted to increasing the knowledge of its participants. A successful MGP can expand by efforts of gardeners to teach others about the benefits of gardening and demonstrate the benefits of gardening through gardening projects, such as community gardens, community beautification projects, heritage or heirloom gardening, and youth gardening. Since MGP participants tend to come from a variety of backgrounds, this program is an excellent way for people to get involved with Extension programming and for Extension to spread its influence county wide.
Walking and horseback trails are a way for the residents and visitors to Pike County to become healthier and encourage a healthier lifestyle and economic boost to area.

Long-Term Outcomes:
Goal 1: The increase in community involvement in social, environmental, and economic conditions as they relate to agriculture, landscaping, and community beautification and good health.
Goal 2: Youth will utilize the scientific method to solve problems in their daily lives.
Goal 3: Youth will choose a career path in science, engineering or technology subject matter.
Goal 4: Youth will utilize the scientific method in decision making.
Intermediate Outcomes:
Goal 1: Increased community involvement in development of walking/hiking and horseback riding trails
Goal 2: Increased community involvement in development of community beautification both at home and in the community.
Goal 3: Increased individual involvement in improvement of their home situation.
Goal 4: Increased community nutrition and health benefits through support of the Farmers Market and home gardening.
Goal 5: Increased numbers of home gardeners.
Goal 6: Youth will utilize the scientific methods to solve problems in their daily life.
Goal 7: Youth will choose a career path in science, engineering or technology subject matter.
Goal 8: Youth will utilize the scientific method in decision making.
Goal 9:An increase in home beautification projects by participating individuals
Initial Outcomes:
Goal 1: Change awareness, knowledge, opinions, skills, and attitudes needed to make informed choices in the Home and Community Environment
Goal 2:An increase in awareness of Master Gardener program
Goal 3:Increase awareness of community projects supported by the Master Gardeners
Goal 4:Awareness of the health benefits from buying locally at the Farmers Market
Goal 5:Increase in community support of walking and horseback riding trails

Goal 6:Youth will increase interest and engagement in 4-H science, engineering and technology.
Goal 7:Youth will learn new skills in 4-H science, engineering and technology programs.
Goal 8:Youth be introduced to careers in science, engineering and technology programs.
Goal 9:Teens will participate in science, engineering, and technology 4-H programs to acquire new skills.
Evaluation:
Long-term Outcome:
Indicator: Increase in community involvement with healthier lifestyles by more opportunities for physical activity in the environment
Method: Follow-up survey’s and observations of trail use
Timeline: on going

Indicator: Increase in community involvement in beautification of the environment both community and home
Method: Survey and community observation
Timeline: Yearly

Intermediate Outcome:
Indicator: Positive changes related to trails and community safety and appearance
Method: Follow-up, Surveys, observations

Initial Outcome:
Indicator: Clients will gain knowledge of practices to improve responsible gardening and landscaping that involves more efficient techniques and maintenance
Method: tracking of volunteer hours and monitoring of actual projects
Timeline: as appropriate

Indicator: Clients will develop a more efficient ways to grow produce to add dollar value to amounts earned by farmers’ market plus value of home produce
Method: tracking of farmers’ market results, random sampling from individual families, and tracking of applicable volunteer hours
Timeline: year round

Indicator: Clients will change techniques to enhance a safer environment by changes in cultural practices in lawns and gardens to allow for a more environmental safe way of production (measureable)
Method: Tracking of applicable volunteer hours and in-depth interviews with selected gardeners and homeowners to see the benefit of bmp’s
Timeline: Year round

Indicator: The number of individuals involved in walking and riding trails
Method: Surveys, record of meetings, trail rides
Timeline: On going

Indicator: The number of youth participating and exhibiting knowledge of agriculture through 4-H projects and judging activities
Method: Tracking 4 H youths in their activities
Timeline: Year round

Indicator: The number of individuals attending workshops and demo's to gain knowledge of fruit and vegetable production
Method: Follow-up to determine use of training
Timeline: Year round

Indicator: Number of youth who use knowledge and skills from 4-H science, engineering and technology in life. Number of youth who follow scientific methods when making decisions. Number of youth completing displays or exhibits in relation to science and technology.
Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Adults

Project or Activity: Master Gardener Program

Content or Curriculum: Master Gardener Training

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, University personnel

Date: Fall 2014-2016


Audience: Adults

Project or Activity: Master Gardener Meetings

Content or Curriculum: UK materials/programs

Inputs: Agents, volunteers, University personnel

Date: Year round


Audience: Adults from across the county

Project or Activity: Greater Appalachian Trail & the Pike Energy Trail

Content or Curriculum: As needed

Inputs: Agents, Forestry Dept., Health Dept., County Judges office, Fish and Wildlife, Core of Engineers

Date: Year round


Audience: Hikers

Project or Activity: Bob Amos Trail

Content or Curriculum: UK materials

Inputs: Agents, Volunteers, Master Gardeners

Date: Year round


Audience: Hikers/children

Project or Activity: Grants Park Trail

Content or Curriculum: As needed

Inputs: Agents, Master Gardeners, Forestry Dept., County

Date: Year round


Audience: Homeowners

Project or Activity: Landscaping Workshop

Content or Curriculum: UK materials

Inputs: Master Gardeners, UK specialists, Agents

Date: Year round


Audience: Individual Homeowners

Project: Fruit & Vegetable Production Workshops

Content or Curriculum: UK materials

Inputs: Master Gardeners, UK Specialists, Agents

Date: Year round


Audience: Forest owners and community

Project or Activity: Shiitake Mushrooms & other forest products

Content or Curriculum: UK Curriculum

Inputs: Agents, specialists, volunteers

Date: Spring / Fall


Audience: 4-H Age Youth 9-19

Project or Activity: 4-H Science, Engineering and Technology

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Robots Clubs, 4-H Robotic Curriculum, Computer, Technology for Kids, House of Code Program and Tec-Xite program

Inputs: Workshops, project groups and parent lead groups 

Date: 2016-2020


Audience: 4-H Age Youth 9-19

Project or Activity: Science, Engineering and Technology

Content or Curriculum: Bicycle Safety, Electricity, ATV Curriculum, Small Engines & Carteens

Inputs: National 4-H Council Project Books, Project Camps, Project Groups and Self-Directed Projects

Date: 2016-2020


Audience: 4-H Age 9-19

Project or Activity: Science, Engineering and Technology

Content or Curriculum: Aerospace Adventure Series, After School Agriculture

Inputs: 4-H Project Camp, Project Books form the National 4-H Supply, Self-Directed Study and Project Groups

Date: 2016-2020



Success Stories

Manna From Heaven

Author: Deborah Stumbo

Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture

One of the undertakings of the Pike County ANR is providing services to the underprivileged and desperately needy.  Manna From Heaven is a Food Bank that tries to provide for the needs of our most vulnerable.  Extension was asked to provide some trainings that would allow these individuals to become more self sufficient.  Extension has been able to provide training in Beginning Beekeeping, Pasture Poultry, High Tunnels, Low Tunnels, Winter Gardening, & Year Round Gardening. &n

Full Story
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