Home & Consumer Horticulture 2023Plan of Work

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Warren County CES

Title:
Home & Consumer Horticulture 2023
MAP:
Horticulture
Agents Involved:
Kristin Hildabrand
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Master Gardener
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Plant Disease ID
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Pollinators
Situation:

In 2018, the National Gardening survey indicated that 77% of American households garden in some way. Recent trends indicate that more and more Americans are growing their own food (35% of households) while interests in ornamentals remains high, particularly in the area of gardening to support pollinators and other ecological uses of plants. American gardeners will continue to look to the Cooperative Extension Service for specific answers to their gardening questions.


Demand for home horticulture information continues to increase for Kentucky county Extension offices.  Horticulture program representatives from the Warren County Extension Council identified these areas for the Extension Agent to focus on: consumer horticulture education, identification of plant issues in the home garden and landscape, and the Extension Master Gardener program. The Kentucky Extension Master Gardener (EMG) program helps to develop trained volunteers to assist county Extension staff in meeting this need for research-based information and public outreach.

Long-Term Outcomes:
Intermediate Outcomes:
Initial Outcomes:
Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Knowledge gained in the area of Horticulture

Indicator: Individuals state that they gain knowledge and aspire to implement the practice

Method: Post program evaluation

Timeline: Throughout the year


Intermediate Outcome:   Individuals implement practices learned during educational activities

Indicator: Number or practices implemented

Method: Follow up survey, phone calls, and testimonies 

Timeline: 6-8 weeks following program 


Long-term Outcome: Consumer and Commercial Horticulturalist

Indicator: Participants who adopt recommended practices or see a positive economic impact

Method: Word of mouth, observation, follow up surveys

Timeline: Ongoing

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Homeowners, gardeners and enthusiasts

Project or Activity: Blog Entries & Facebook Posts

Content or Curriculum: CES materials & curriculum, Plate it Up! Kentucky Proud, KY Pests Newsletter, Horticulture publications, etc. 

Inputs: Promotional materials, visual aids

Date: Spring, Summer, Fall & Winter  


Audience: Consumers & Garden Enthusiasts 

Project or Activity: Media Appearances via Get the Scoop Radio Show, Farm and Home TV Appearances, and mid-Day Live through WBKO Television 

Content or Curriculum: CES Extension materials & curriculum 

Inputs: Promotional materials, visual aids

Date: Ongoing throughout the year


Audience: Avid Home Gardeners 

Project or Activity:  The Sunshine Gardening Podcast

Content or Curriculum: CES Extension Curriculum & Materials 

 Inputs: Extension Agent, Podcast Media Hosting Channels, WordPress Blog

 Date: Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter


Audience: Home Gardeners & Homeowners 

Project or Activity: Rain Barrel & Composting Workshops

Content or Curriculum: CES Curriculum and Materials 

Inputs: Extension Agents, Warren County Conservation District staff, meeting room space 

Date: Spring, Summer, and Fall 


Audience: Home Residents & Gardeners 

Project or Activity: Horticulture Happenings Newsletter

Content or Curriculum: CES Horticulture Resources & Materials, Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud, etc. 

Inputs: Extension agents, paper, mail out, and staff processing time 

Date: Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter


Audience: Home Residents & Gardeners 

Project or Activity: Herb Gardening & Cooking Series 

Content or Curriculum: CES Horticulture Curriculum, Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud, etc. 

Inputs: Extension agents, food demonstrations, meeting room space  

Date: Spring, Summer 


Audience: Home Horticulturists 

Project or Activity: Extension Master Gardener Program

Content or Curriculum: Extension Master Gardener training material & curriculum

Inputs: Extension agents, specialists, funding, state and regional EMG conferences, and tours

Date: Fall 2020, Fall 2022, Fall 2024 


Audience: Warren County Extension Master Gardeners 

Project or Activity: Master Gardener Monthly educational meetings 

Content or Curriculum: CES Extension Master Gardener Curriculum 

Inputs: Extension agents and specialists, Printed resources and publications, local experts, etc. 

Date: 4th Tuesday of each month  


Audience: Warren County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers

Project or Activity: Managing trained volunteers & approving volunteer time   

Content or Curriculum: CES Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Guidelines & Service Hours 

Inputs: CES Agent, EMG volunteers

Date: Spring, Summer, and Fall 


Audience: Home Residents 

Project or Activity:  Master Gardener Help Desk

Content or Curriculum: CES publications, resources & other materials   

Inputs: CES Agent, EMG volunteers

Date: Spring, Summer, and Fall 


Audience: Home Gardeners, Homeowners, and Pollinator Enthusiasts

Project or Activity: Pollinator Gardens & Certified Monarch Waystation

Content or Curriculum: CES publications, resources & other materials 

Inputs: CES Agent, EMG volunteers, gardening equipment, etc. 

Date: Spring, Summer and Fall



Success Stories

First Annual Tree Week Event in Bowling Green

Author: Kristin Hildabrand

Major Program: Wildlife Habitat and Damage Management Education

The Warren County Cooperative Extension Service and the Warren County Extension Master Gardeners collaborated with the City of Bowling Green during the first ever Tree Week in October 2022 to offer butterfly garden tours and free tree giveaway. The City of Bowling Green hosted Tree Week during the second week of October from the 10th until the 15th to celebrate trees in and around the Bowling Green and Warren County communities. This event was especially important to the community to try and reb

Full Story

Warren County Extension Master Gardener Program 2023

Author: Kristin Hildabrand

Major Program: Master Gardener

In response to clientele requests, the Allen, Simpson and Warren County Extension Agents for Agriculture and Horticulture collaborated together to offer the Extension Master Gardener Volunteer program in the Winter/Spring of 2023. Educational classes were offered for a total of 12 weeks with 14 home consumer horticulture topics being covered. Consumer horticulture topics covered in the program were home vegetable gardening, small and tree fruit production, home lawn care practices, woody tree an

Full Story

Extension Master Gardener Volunteers Reaching Diverse Audiences through Community Garden Projects

Author: Kristin Hildabrand

Major Program: Master Gardener

Extension Master Gardeners are a valued volunteer group to the Warren County Extension Service and the community. Currently, 15 Extension Master Gardener volunteers in Warren County have kept their Master Gardener certifications up-to-date by maintaining 20 hours of volunteer service and 10 hours of continuing education credits on an annual basis. Volunteer service hours include providing home horticulture education and answering questions through garden related events, serving on leadership cou

Full Story
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