McCracken County Horticulture Education Outreach Plan of Work

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McCracken County CES

Title:
McCracken County Horticulture Education Outreach
MAP:
Horticulture Education
Agents Involved:
Alsip, Anderson, Bell, Dodson, Osborne, Hank
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Master Gardener
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Local Food Systems
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Chemical Management
Situation:
  1. Cooperative Extension Service (CES) Horticulture Agent is regularly asked about issues encountered in the landscape and garden.  

  1. Extension Master Gardeners (EMG) are needed as community volunteers to help with horticulture education due knowledge gained through training and experiences in the EMG program.  

  1. There are needs and demands for locally-grown food.

      4.  CES is responding to the needs to prevent the misuse of pesticides to protect the environment and the health of the applicators.

Long-Term Outcomes:


Individuals participating in McCracken County CES will apply knowledge gained to benefit themselves, families, and environment. This will have a direct impact on the community. 

Intermediate Outcomes:


An increased number of McCracken County residents participate in Cooperative Extension Service programs and services.

Initial Outcomes:

Youth and Adults recognize the services offered by McCracken CES.

Evaluation:


Long-term Outcome:  

Indicator: The number of individuals and families and individuals with Commercial Pesticide Licenses (CPA) report that they have implemented what they have learned from McCracken CES outreach. 

Method: Surveys, personal interviews, virtual interaction, reports  

Timeline: July to June  

Intermediate Outcome 

Indicator: The number of residents and workers with CPA licenses, including active volunteers who participate in or gain information from McCracken CES programs increases. 

Method: Personal interviews, interviews of and meetings with volunteers 

Timeline: July to June  

Initial Outcome 

Indicator: The number of residents, CPA license holders, and schools that contact McCracken County Cooperative Extension for programming needs and education increase.   

Method:  Call log records, calendars, record of office visits, record of virtual interaction   

Timeline: Ongoing 

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Adults  

Project or Activity: Consumer questions and answers 

Content or Curriculum: Agent training, UK/KSU publications 

Inputs: All agents, volunteers and UK Specialists, virtual trainings and meetings  

Date: July to June


Audience: McCracken County residents, Paducah/McCracken County Schools (non-commercial), commercial horticulture producers 

Project or Activity:  Soil-sampling coupons as described by Extension District Board 

Content or Curriculum:  Soil sampling coupons for McCracken County residents to get up to 7 free basic soil tests with an assigned value limited to $50.00 per resident, soil sample analysis, UK/KSU publications.  

Inputs: Agents, UK/KSU Specialists, virtual trainings and meetings  

Date: Ongoing


Audience: Adults and Youth 

Project or Activity: Educational Programs, including but not limited to: Toolbox Series, Virtual Flower Show

Content or Curriculum: Agent training, UK/KSU publications

Inputs: UK and KSU Agents, volunteers and UK /KSU Specialists

Date: July to June


 Audience: Adults 

Project or Activity: Training of EMG of 12 sessions of approximately 2 hours in length.  Sessions taught by Agents, Specialists or local experts, EMG 

Curriculum:Cooperative Extension/ Volunteerism     Basic Botany.    Soils and Fertility.    Plant Pathology.   EntomologyPesticides, IPM and Pesticide safety. 

Additional Topics defined by the McCracken County Agent 

Annual & Perennial Flowers

Woody PlantsFruits

Vegetables

Landscape DesignInterior Plants

Organic Gardening

Water Quality 

Turfgrass

Others; Hands-on activities

Plant Identification

Insect and Disease identification

Field trips as appropriate

Content or Curriculum: County Offices and Ky Cooperative Extension

InputsStaff time  Extension Agents, Specialists

Extension Master Gardener Volunteers

Funding  Fees from training and other courses; local grants and in-kind support 

Training materialsKY EMG Training Manual; PowerPoint Presentations; purchased books and resources; Extension publications; Tests and quizzes shared by county agents

Internet access through eXtension and potential access and use of eXtensions Ask an Expert

Social media tools including blogs, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Flickr, Google Maps; State, regional and national EMG conferences and tour opportunities

Date: Ongoing



Success Stories

Wicking Raised Bed Program

Author: Mary Dossett

Major Program: Master Gardener

Wicking Raised Bed Program

In March 2021, Mary Hank started as the Horticulture Assistant under the Horticulture Agent, Kathy Wimberley.  Mary and Kathy put together several raised beds with the help of the maintenance man at the time.  Fast forward to August 2, 2022, Mary Hank taught a class at the Extension Office called Toolbox: Wicking Raised Beds. There was about thirty people in attendance included several Master Gardeners. The program was also recorded and added to a YouTube page for a larger audience rea

Full Story

Seed ID Program

Author: Mary Dossett

Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home

On October 12th, 2022, Horticulture Agent, Mary Hank, taught a class for kindergarten and first graders at Lone Oak Elementary School. Mary Hank started out the program by asking the children if they knew what horticulture meant. Several guessed teaching and Mary Hank informed them it meant she works with plants and gardening. Mary Hank showed the students different types of seeds and how they are different shapes and colors. Each sample container of seeds had a picture on the top so the student

Full Story

Master Gardener Graduate Continuing Education

Author: Mary Dossett

Major Program: Master Gardener

During Fall 2022, The horticulture agent taught the Master Gardener training to willing participants. Mrs. Hines, who completed the training, reached out to the Horticulture Agent about volunteer hour requirements. Th agent told her of possible ways to earn her hours. Mrs. Hines then informed the agent how the training class encouraged her to start up a community garden at the a local high school in town. Her daughter had attended the high school. She is also involved in a garden club in town an

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Boy Scouts Horticulture Merit Badge Class

Author: Mary Dossett

Major Program: Community Gardens and Horticulture Therapy

Boy Scouts Horticulture Merit Badge Class

Troop 7 Horticulture Merit Badge Class        On Friday March 10th, the horticulture agent instructed Troop 7 boy scouts on how to obtain their Horticulture merit badge. The class consisted of 10 boy scouts and six adults present. The horticulture agent started the class with a presentation on gardening basics such as how to start a garden, gardening glossary, how to maintain your garden, gardening risks, and how to start a compost bin. The merit badge requires the boy s

Full Story
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