Extension
It Starts With Us
Horticulture
Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources
Goodman
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
Master Gardener
Horticulture, Commercial
According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, McCreary County ranks 101st in the state for total agriculture receipts, which were $2,550,000. Top crops reported (in acres) include 3,341 for forages, 14 for apples, and 21 for vegetables. The county agriculture profile is primarily beef and forage-based. There is an educational need for diversified agriculture and horticulture. The McCreary County Farmers Market is three years old and has slightly grown since opening. There is now a more diversified selection, including an interest in selling meats at the market for next season. McCreary County residents can also participate in Berea’s Grow Appalachia program with neighboring Scott County residents.
McCreary County gardeners will gain the knowledge needed to practice sustainable agriculture at home and produce better quality food for their families. McCreary County farmers will be able to diversify their operations by utilizing sustainable agriculture concepts to improve practices and maximize profits, while also providing access to local goods to the community.
McCreary County horticulture operations will continue to expand in size and diversification of products and attract people to the county to purchase goods at the Farmers Market or through on-farm purchases. Home gardeners will produce better quality produce in larger quantities by applying recommended practices, thus reducing food costs for their families.
Commercial horticulture producers will gain knowledge in diversification practices, marketing, sustainable agriculture, and organic production. Home gardeners will gain knowledge about sustainable practices to incorporate at home such as composting, food preservation, and seed-saving. They will also gain knowledge in non-traditional high-yield gardening techniques that are adaptable to any area, such as small space/container gardening and intensive planting.
Outcome: Expansion of local horticultural operations
Indicator: Number of acres in commercial horticulture production/increased crop diversity on existing farms, amount sold through the Farmers Market or direct farm sales, number of gardens through Grow Appalachia and extension gardening workshops
Method: Surveys and farm visits
Timeline: March - October
Outcome: Knowledgeable home gardeners/future Master Gardeners
Indicator: Number attending gardening workshop
Method: Surveys and observations, client contacts
Timeline: March - July
Outcome: Farmers Market growth
Indicator: Number of vendors, amount of sales and number of products sold
Method: surveys, attendance at market, observations
Timeline: May-October
Audience: Farmers, homeowners, and youth.
Activity: Apple Grafting & Pruning Workshop
Content or Curriculum: How to graft apple trees from rootstock and prune fruit trees
Date: March
Audience: Farmers, homeowners, and youth.
Activity: Gardening Workshop
Content or Curriculum: Soil testing & site selection, seed germination & propagation, planting & maintenance, alternative gardening techniques (small-space/container, intensive planting, vertical, raised bed), composting, common gardening mistakes, pest/disease control, extending garden season into fall, food storage & preservation
Date: March-July
Audience: Farmers, Gardeners
Activity: Grow Appalachia
Content or Curriculum: Monthly meetings with participating gardeners
Date: January - October
Audience: Farmers and public
Activity: Farmers Market
Content or Curriculum: Agriculture demos/information packets (mushroom inoculation, heirloom varieties, SNAP recipe materials)
Date: May - October
Audience: Farmers, homeowners, and youth.
Activity: Newsletters, social media, news articles, online programs, radio spot
Content or Curriculum: All Agriculture Topics
Date: July -June
Author: Tracie Goodman
Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home
McCreary County Extension has partnered with the Scott County, TN Extension Office for several years to implement the Grow Appalachia Program through Berea College for both McCreary County residents and Scott County residents. The mission of this program is to distribute garden resources and classes, provide technical assistance to farmers and market gardeners, and facilitate a network of organizations and leaders working to support food security across the region. During Covid-19, the program w
