Commercial and Homeowner Horticulture EducationPlan of Work

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Taylor County CES

Title:
Commercial and Homeowner Horticulture Education
MAP:
Enhancing Commercial & Consumer Hort. Advancement
Agents Involved:
Kara Back, Amanda Sublett
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Local Food Systems
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Master Gardener
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Commercial Horticulture
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Farmer's Markets
Situation:

Homeowners are wanting to have a more sustainable lifestyle by raising their own fruits and vegetables and caring for their landscape. There is also an increase in commercial horticulture to sell in produce auctions, and an increased interest in local food systems. Under the direction of the Extension Council and Farmers' Market, educational programs are needed to enhance these interests.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Improve food management skills and healthy eating habits through raising own foods, while commercial producers are sustaining profitability.


Help commercial growers reach profit sustainability, by providing educational opportunities to implement within their operations. 


Having a sustainable Farmers' Market.


Residents within the county will have the opportunity to participate in the Master Gardener's Program to gain education, which can be used to improve not only their own home / farm, but also the community through educational projects.  

Intermediate Outcomes:

Homeowners will implement best management practices to ensure a bountiful harvest.


Citizens have access to more local foods.


More households will plant, harvest, and preserve produce.


Commercial producers adopt recommended practices that lead to more profitability.


Increase number of patrons at Farmers' Markets.


Homeowners are motivated to improve landscapes.


Residents will be able to participate in projects within the Master Gardener's Program. They will gain knowledge in botany, disease, entomology, soil composition, etc., which they can use to educate others.

Initial Outcomes:

Understand the importance of sustainable local agriculture to their health and financial well-being.


Homeowners learn about different varieties and best management practices of fruit and vegetables.


Commercial growers learn about best management practices, new methods, and new technologies.


Residents will be able to participate in projects within the Master Gardener's Program will gain knowledge in botany, disease, entomology, soil composition, etc

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Individuals, homeowners, and commercial growers will gain knowledge about horticulture's role in their daily lives and economic endeavors.

Indicator: Number of individuals who report changes in knowledge, opinions, skills, and aspirations.

Method: Post-test

Timeline:End of program series.


Intermediate Outcome: Individuals, homeowners, and commercial growers will implement gained knowledge within their lifestyles, and economic endeavors.

Indicator: Number of people who implement at least one practice which was taught during any of the horticulture classes / series. 

Method: Follow up survey / interviews.

Timeline: Annually.


Long-term Outcome: Individuals, homeowners, and commercial growers will enjoy a healthier lifestyle, and sustainable profitability through education provided by UK Extension.

Indicator: Individuals enjoy a healthier & more self-sufficient lifestyle, while commercial growers will gain a more sustaining profit.

Method: Pre and post evaluation in addition to monitoring of health statistics & social economic indicators within Taylor County.  

Timeline: Beginning and end of program.

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Commercial Vegetable Producers 

Project or Activity: Class Series: Alternative bio control methods for vegetable and ornamental commercial production. 

Content or Curriculum: Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers, UK Publications from: http://www.uky.edu/hort/documents-list-commercial-vegetable

Inputs: UK Specialists & Taylor Co. Horticulture Agent

Date: November 2018


Audience: Small-Scale Commercial Fruit Tree Producers 

Project or Activity: Class Series: Tree Selection for Kentucky

Content or Curriculum: Midwest Fruit Pest Management Guide, UK Publications from: http://www.uky.edu/hort/document-list-home-fruit, & http://www.uky.edu/hort/documents-list-commercial-fruit-nut

Inputs: UK Specialists & Taylor Co. Horticulture Agent

Date: January 2019


Audience: Residents of Taylor and surrounding counties

Project or Activity: Master Gardener Program

Content or Curriculum: Master Gardener Program Manual

Inputs: UK Specialists, Additional Horticulture Agents, & Taylor Co. Horticulture Agent

Date: September 2018


Audience: Residents of Taylor and surrounding counties

Project or Activity: Fall Lawn Care Class

Content or Curriculum: Resources and publications from: http://www.uky.edu/Ag/ukturf/lawns.html 

Inputs: UK Specialists & Taylor Co. Horticulture Agent

Date: August 2018


Audience: Adults & Children Living within Campbellsville Housing

Project or Activity: Campbellsville Housing Horticulture Program

Content or Curriculum: Home Vegetable Gardening in Kentucky, & The Master Gardener's Handbook

Inputs:  Campbellsville Housing Event Coordinator & Taylor Co. Horticulture Agent

Date: July 2018 - June 2019 -  Adult & Children Classes 3rd Monday & 3rd Wednesday of every month


Audience: Residents of Taylor & Surrounding Counties

Project or Activity: Floral Design and Wreath Class

Content or Curriculum: The AIFD Guide to Floral Design

Inputs: Florists & Taylor County Horticulture Agent

Date: November 2018, December 2018, & April 2019


Audience: Residents of Taylor & Surrounding Counties

Project or Activity: Farmers' Market Health Fair

Content or Curriculum: Home Vegetable Gardening in Kentucky & SNAP-ED Resources

Inputs:  Taylor County Health Department, Farmers' Market Association, Inc. of Taylor County,  and the Taylor Co. Cooperative Extension Office Agents.

Date: July 2018


Audience: 9 - 18 year old youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Horticulture Judging Contest 

Content or Curriculum: NJHA Material, 4-H horticulture curriculum 

Inputs:  Local nurseries, grocery stores, producers, forestry specialists, & Taylor Co. Horticulture and 4-H Agent

Date: June - August 2018, 2019, 2020



Success Stories

Taylor County's First Master Gardener Program

Author: Kara Back-Campbell

Major Program: Master Gardener

Taylor County had its first Master Gardeners' class on the 6th of September. The Master Gardeners' Program was one of the reasons a horticulture agent was hired for Taylor County. Upon arrival, the agent was asked numerous times when the program would be held. During the month before the agent's second year, the first two classes of the program were held. The importance of the program is the heart of extension's mission; teaching individuals to be teachers / leaders within t

Full Story

Annual 4-H Horticulture Day Camp

Author: Kara Back-Campbell

Major Program: Agriculture 4-H Core Curriculum

     The second annual Horticulture Day Camp was held this past summer for 4-Hers. This camp not only gives kids an opportunity to participate in fun summer activities, but it also is a fun educational opportunity as well. The 4-H kids learned about various horticulture topics such as plant propagation, pollinators, and how the care of different types of plants can be unique, for example succulents in relation to a willow tree.      The 4-Hers also prepared the

Full Story

Family Farm Field Day

Author: Kara Back-Campbell

Major Program: Commercial Horticulture

The Taylor County Extension Office partnered with two local producers to provide agriculture education to the residents of Taylor County. The primary focus of this years Family Farm Field day was agriculture safety, along with showcasing the producers' operations. This was chosen as the theme, because everyday about 100 agriculture workers suffer a lost-work-time injury, and in 2016, 417 fatalities occurred according to the CDC. Extension agents, local first responders, RECC, the MS4 Co

Full Story

Clay Hill Pollinator Garden

Author: Kara Back-Campbell

Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture

One of the challenges of the Master Gardeners' program is finding volunteer opportunities to fulfill the required hours needed to be certified, or continue to be certified. This however, has not been the case with the Taylor County Master Gardeners. Long before the Master Gardeners' program began, Clay Hill Memorial Forest reached out to the extension office for help with their educational facility, which is owned by Campbellsville University. They were desiring to have a pollinator gard

Full Story
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