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: Production, Disease, Pesticide Classes 

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: September 2019 - February 2020


Audience:  Home Horticulture  

Project or Activity: Class Series: Production, Disease, Pesticide Classes 

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: September 2019 - February 2020


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 2019 - June 2020


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 2019 - June 2020 -  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 2019, December 2020, & April 2020


Audience: Residents of Taylor & Surrounding Counties

Project or Activity: Farmers' Market Health Fair, National Farmers' Market Week Celebration, & Farmers' Market Fall Festival

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 2019 - October 2019


Audience: The Healing Place

Project or Activity: Recovery Garden

Content or Curriculum: Home Vegetable Gardening in Kentucky

Inputs: The Healing Place, and the Taylor County Extension Office

Date: March 2019 - September 2019


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 2019, 2020, 2021



Success Stories

Tri-County CEU course

Author: Kara Back-Campbell

Major Program: Pesticide Safety – Plant Pests

This year we had a tri-county CEU hour course for commercial pesticide applicators for categories 3 and 20. Two general hours were also offered. Lawn care professionals came from Taylor, Adair, and Green Counties as well as surrounding counties.Several lawn care professionals had asked for closer CEU opportunities. These requests are what prompted the horticulture agent to offer this program. The program consisted of extension specialists presenting on the topics of herbicides for athletic turf,

Full Story

Biological Release Study

Author: Kara Back-Campbell

Major Program: Commercial Horticulture

Biological controls have been used for many years but often the price for shipping and lack of knowledge have left many producers turning to chemical control for their primary action of combat for disease. An extension entomology specialist contacted the Taylor County Horticulture Extension Agent for possible producers to participate in a grant study. Three producers showed interest in the research project. One who primarily grows ornamentals had used biologicals before. The grower was

Full Story

Taylor County Public Library

Author: Kara Back-Campbell

Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture

Normal life has changed so much in the last few months. Busy meeting rooms have went from bustling to empty. The methods often used for education have had to be adjusted for these changing times. Before the pandemic the horticulture agent had been holding horticulture classes at the local public library. The classes were held on the 2nd Friday of the month in the morning, and the class was repeated the following Monday in the evenings. Thus, allowing more people to participate. Topics ranged fro

Full Story
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