Boone County CES

Title:

Improving Home Gardens & Orchards for Quality Harvests

MAP:

Agriculture, Horticulture and Environmental Awareness

Agents Involved:

David Koester, Gina Ligon

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Home & Consumer Horticulture

Situation:

Approximately 150-200 new home owners and their families move into Boone County each month. Surveys have shown that many of these people are interested in environmental conservation and also want to grow their own fresh fruit, vegetables and culinary herbs at home. Extension class attendees have indicated on surveys that they want more classes related to these topics. The Boone County Extension Horticulture Advisory Committee has recommended classes related to home vegetable production, organic gardening, home fruit production and pruning, culinary herbs, and "Growing Tomatoes and Peppers at Home".

Long-Term Outcomes:

*Environmental conditions (soil, air and water) will improve as homeowners and hobby gardeners implement best management practices, stop applying excessive fertilizers, lime and pesticides, and put into practice more environmental conservation practices.
* The environment will become cleaner, safer and healthier as homeowners are educated regarding proper pesticide selection and use on lawns and landscapes to prevent pesticide drift, soil and water contamination, and the over-use of pesticides in general.
* Indicators of biological health will improve in local streams, resulting in a higher grade on the annual "Boone County Stream-water Quality Report Card", prepared by the Gunpowder Creek Watershed Initiative and the Kentucky Division of Water.
* Communities and environment will improve as individuals adopt environmental conservation practices to conserve soil, clean air and water, such as mulching, composting, recycling, soil testing, rain gardens, rain barrels, using cover crops, organic pesticides (when effective), etc.
* A cleaner, safer, healthier environment will be the result of "going green", and less dependence on hazardous chemicals and their improper use on food crops. Less pollution of the air, water and soils will occur.
* Property values and real estate values will increase as residential landscapes and communities are beautified and enhanced by new plantings of superior, colorful flowers, shrubs, and trees, and as lawns are improved as well. Property values will increase in response to proper tree pruning, correct lawn and landscape fertilizing, mowing, pest and disease control, mulching and planting techniques, resulting in healthier, faster-growing, longer-lived trees, shrubs and ornamental flowers in home and commercial landscapes.
*Extension horticulture class participants and backyard gardeners will realize significant financial saving or gain, increased profits or a higher standard of living resulting from implementing Extension horticulture recommendations, as they learn how to be more efficient, acquire specific job skills or even a better job, lower their energy consumption, conserve and become better managers of their resources. Those doing their own home landscaping, lawn care and gardening will save money by learning to better manage their plants and thereby reduce the need for some of the costly pesticides, and by not applying un-needed lime and fertilizers, based on soil test results.
* Less of the family food budget will be spent on purchased food, as more fresh produce is grown at home.
*Participants' personal and professional lives, and the community at large will be enhanced as individuals gain decision-making skills, life skills, problem-solving skills, improved communication and leadership skills as they grow in knowledge and confidence, and as they take a more active role in addressing significant community issues and as they offer more volunteer service to the community.
* Social and family interaction will involve more discussion and shared time relating to gardening activities.
* The health and general well-being of families and individuals will improve.
*Communities will become healthier and safer as individuals realize personal health benefits (i.e., stress relief, locally growing and eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, personal weight loss when needed, better overall health, more personal satisfaction in life, etc.) due to working with plants, gardening, observing nature, enhancing and beautifying the environment, finding a fulfilling job they enjoy, and implementing safer practices relating to the use of equipment and pesticides. More people will receive health benefits such as weight loss and stress relief as they get more outdoor exercise, fresh air and sunshine from working in their own lawn, landscape and flower beds as a pleasant pastime or hobby.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Practices:
* More families and individuals will start raising their own fresh produce and will think of gardening as (a) a hobby or a fun outdoor activity; (b) a means of staying healthy and getting some exercise, sunshine and fresh air; and (c) a source for much of their fresh produce for meals.
* Home gardeners will learn to safely apply and not over-apply all pesticides and fertilizers that are used, in order to protect themselves and their environment.
* No lime will be applied unless a soil test recommends it.
* Backyard gardeners will begin using more organic options for pest control.
* Gardeners will plant disease-resistant varieties which will require less pesticide application for quality crop production.

Initial Outcomes:

KOSA:
* Backyard gardeners will learn the importance of pesticide safety, and will learn how to properly measure and apply pesticides.
* People will seek out organic spray options for pest control.
* Gardeners will learn that some diseases and insect pests are preventable simply by planting resistant varieties, or by properly managing the water, fertilizer, mulch, and other cultural growing conditions.
* Home fruit growers will learn the skills of properly pruning their fruit trees, bushes and vines to reduce disease and increase harvest.
* Class attendees will properly plant, fertilize, water and mulch their fruit, vegetable and herb crops for an abundant harvest.

Evaluation:

Impact Indicators and outcome: Changes in home fruit pruning & pest control methods, leading to healthier fruit trees and vines, improved quality and quantity at harvest, and a safer environment.
Indicator: Healthier trees, less pesticide needed, more organic pest control methods used, & more abundant harvest of high-quality fruits.
Method: Follow-up written surveys after fruit care and pruning classes, asking questions about if and how they changed their pruning style, and what results were noted.
Timeline: February/March/April, 2017 and subsequent years in the spring

Outcome: Higher quality home vegetable & culinary herb production, healthier meal preparation using better food preservation and preparation methods, less and/or safer pesticide use, and more organic pest control options used.
Indicator: Healthier plants, more use of resistant varieties, fewer disease and insect problems in the garden. Wise management choices. Healthier diet choices, including more home-grown fruits and vegetables in the diet plan.
Method: Written surveys after home vegetable classes, plus follow-up surveys to determine clientele changes in practices relating to plant variety selection, pest control methods, and quality and amount of produce harvested.
Timeline: Jan/Feb/March/April, 2017

Outcome: "Going green" and conserving and protecting the environment.
Indicator: More people properly doing their own backyard composting, applying the correct dosage of pesticides only as needed, and using resistant varieties, cultural controls and organic options whenever possible.
In addition, indicators of biological health in local streams will be measured by the KY. Division of Water, who will create the annual "Boone County Stream-water Quality Report Card", in cooperation with the Gunpowder Creek Watershed Initiative. This report card will tell if water quality gets better or worse, as compared to the previous year.
Method: Written evaluations at horticulture classes, plus follow-up surveys to determine changes in clientele behavior as a result of the classes.
Timeline: Feb/March/April, 2016

Learning Opportunities:

Audience:

* Social media users visiting the BooneHortNews Facebook.

* Current and future Master Gardeners.

* Apartment dwellers interested in container gardening options.

* Retired individuals interested in gardening as a hobby.

* Housewives, organically inclined people and health-conscious individuals interested in food safety, benefits of fresh, home-grown produce, and conserving the environment.

Education:

Audience: Master Gardeners, retired individuals, or backyard gardening enthusiasts who either have or want to plant a garden, small orchard or vineyard on their property, or apartment dwellers who want to garden in containers, plus users of the BooneHortNews Facebook.

Initial Outcome: Class participants will begin to consider changing what fruit and vegetable varieties they choose to plant, and will consider using correct methods of planting, fertilizing, fertilizing, mulching, watering, pruning and pest control in their home fruit and vegetable crops.

Indicator: Class follow-up surveys and home visits.

Method: Classes on "Introduction to Home Vegetable Gardening" and "Introduction to Home Fruit Production".

Timeline: Jan/Feb/March, 2018

Intermediate Outcome: Class participants begin implementing practices learned in introductory classes.

Indicator: Follow-up surveys show that class participants have begun changing what fruit and vegetable varieties they choose to plant, and are beginning to start actually practicing correct methods of planting, fertilizing, fertilizing, mulching, watering, pruning and pest control in their home fruit and vegetable crops.

Indicator: Class follow-up surveys and home visits.

Method: Lectures and hands-on demonstration classes on proper pruning, mulching and pest control in fruit and vegetable crops.

Timeline: March/April/May, 2018

Long-term Outcome: Class participants routinely practice recommended horticultural plant care methods, using recommended varieties and best management practices. Clientele share with others correct UK approved methods of plant care.

Indicator: Follow-up surveys and home visits. Knowledge of callers and walk-in clientele will increase.

Method: Fruit and vegetable classes, workshops and demos such as those listed below...

Audience: Home gardeners interested in growing tomatoes and peppers.

Project or Activity: Class: "Garden Tasting Party"

Content or Curriculum: Various tomato and pepper-related learning activities, contests and fun activities will help participants learn about 100 different varieties of tomatoes and peppers. A tomato and pepper tasting event will be held for participants to choose the top ten varities of fruits and vegetables grown locally.

Inputs: Participants will bring a harvest of tomatoes and peppers of known varieties that they have planted and cared for all season. Additional varieties will be gathered in advance from all the local Farmers' Market vendors. Horticulture Agent and Technician will conduct the class and activities.

Date: August 2017. Repeats yearly, in response to public requests.

Audience: Home gardeners, hobby gardeners, Master Gardeners and Farmer's Market growers interested in extending their length of fall vegetable harvests.

Project or Activity: Class: "Extend Your Fall Vegetable Garden: Low Tunnels & Raised Beds".

Content or Curriculum: Participants will learn how to utilize, build and maintain low tunnels and raised beds to extend vegetable harvests into Nov/Dec.

Inputs: Horticulture Technicians with input and resources from U.K. Extension specialists.

Date: July, August, Sept. 2017

Activity: "Growing & Pruning Tree Fruits & Small Fruits at Home" class.

Content or Curriculum: How to select resistant varieties, correctly plant, water, fertilize, prune and control pests and diseases to safely produce high-quality produce at a reasonable cost, while all the while protecting and conserving the environment. Instructor: Horticulture Agent and Hort Technician, using research-based info from the Univ. of KY.

Date: Feb/March, 2018 and subsequent years if suggested by the Boone County Horticulture Advisory Council.

Activity: "Home Vegetable Gardening and Organic Options" class.

Content or Curriculum: Class attendees will be taught the importance of selecting resistant varieties of vegetables, crop rotation, organic control methods, and the use of good cultural control and problem prevention by proper plant spacing, mulching, fertilizing, and control of weeds, insects and diseases. Instructor: Horticulture Agent and Hort Technician, using research-based info from the Univ. of KY.

Date: March, 2018 and subsequent years if suggested by the Horticulture Advisory Council.

Activity: "Growing Tomatoes & Peppers at Home" class.

Content or Curriculum: Participants will learn all the tricks to an early, abundant harvest of 100 different varieties of tomatoes and 75 different varieties of sweet/mild peppers, including variety selection, fertilizing, weed control, insect and disease control.

Instructor: Horticulture Agent and Hort Technician, using research-based info from the Univ. of KY.

Date: March, 2018 and repeated as needed.

Activity: "Horticulture Kids Camp" series

Content or Curriculum: Children ages 8-12 will learn hands-on all about growing vegetables, and how plants work, plus discover the interesting world of insects.

Instructor: Gina Ligon, Hort Technician

Date: July, 2017.

Activity: "Getting Plants Ready for Winter" class.

Content: Learn how to do final harvests, prepare perennial vegetable crops for the winter, and clean up the fall annual vegetable crop debris to prevent follow-up problems. Also learn about preparing herbs, fruit crops, lawns and landscapes for winter.

Instructor: Horticulture Agent and Hort Technician, using research-based info from the Univ. of KY.

Date: September, October, November 2017.

Activity: "What's Eating My Vegetables?" class

Content: Learn about how to identify and control various insects and diseases of the vegetable garden.

Instructor: Arboretum and Extension Staff

Date: June/July, 2017

Activity: "Pawpaw Grafting & Tasting" events

Content: Participants will learn how to graft and grow pawpaw trees for their fruits, and will get to taste the fruits of several different varieties, plus learn how to make pawpaw ice cream, custard, etc.

Instructors: Arboretum and Extension staff

Date: May (Grafting) 2018 and September (tasting), 2017.

Activity: "Fruit Grafting"

Content: Participants will learn how to successfully graft apple, peaches, and pears.

Instructors: Extension Staff

Date: March, April 2018

Activity: "School Gardens"

Content: Participants will learn how plants grow by installing a fall and spring vegetable garden.  

Instructors: Extension Staff

Date: September, October, November 2017 March, April, May 2018

Success Stories