Home HoriculturePlan of Work

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Mason County CES

Title:
Home Horiculture
MAP:
Sustainable Horticulture
Agents Involved:
Macy Fawns, Tad Campbell
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Home & Consumer Horticulture
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Master Gardener
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Pesticide Safety – Plant Pests
Situation:

Mason County has expressed a need for gardening classes that will help citizens prepare and take care of a garden. The classes would be offered to all ages and cover a range of topics from gardening, beekeeping, landscape, composting, disease & insect ID and animal control.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Establishment of gardens with regular caretakers

• Development of knowledge to ID insects and disease to have healthier landscape, fruits and vegetables

• Local residents develop home gardens or container gardens

Intermediate Outcomes:

Establishment gardens and groups to maintain flower garden beds

• An increase in residents who participate in garden & horticulture programs and demonstrate learned garden practices

• Regular volunteers (Master Gardeners, and Garden Club members) who help educate others

Initial Outcomes:

Determine where to put the community gardens

• Teach others how to garden and build up new gardens

• Educate public on how to grow fruits and vegetables

• Develop relationships with the City of Maysville, tourism, and community college in order to collaborate on gardening projects and programs.

Evaluation:

Long-term Outcome: Establishment of gardens for people who have not gardened before, revitalization of local city flower beds, and create regular trained volunteers to assist with gardening needs.

Indicator: Observance of number of gardens, and flower beds. Increase in the Master Gardener program members and others who interact in community projects.

Method: surveys, observation, gardening practices

Timeline: 2019-2022


Intermediate Outcome: Can see the effects in the community and in youth who have learned about horticulture

Indicator: More participation in gardening programs, see more gardening projects in the schools and around the county.

Method: surveys, observation, practices and contests

Timeline: 2019-2021


Short-term Outcome: More participation in extension field days, classes, farmers market, and fair.

Indicator: Track participation

Method:More participation in extension field days, classes, farmers market, and fair.

Timeline: 2019-2020

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Youth and Families

Project or Activity: Container Gardening and Healthy eating 

Content or Curriculum: Container Gardening and Healthy eating

Inputs: Containers, soil, plants, food items agents

Date: Spring


Audience: Local Residents

Project or Activity: Gardening Classes

Content or Curriculum: Master Gardener Program

Inputs: Specialists, program support, time, agents, supplies

Date: Fall


Audience: Local producers

Project or Activity: Beekeeping

Content or Curriculum: Specialist for District 1 and other speakers as needed

Inputs: Specialists, program support, time, agents, supplies

Date: Educational Programs at monthly meetings


Audience: JR. Gardener's Toolbox Classes

Project or Activity: Gardening Classes, Preparing fresh foods

Content or Curriculum: Jr. Master Gardeners Manual activities

Inputs: Specialists, program support, time, agents, supplies

Date: Summer


Audience: Local Residents

Project or Activity: Christmas Wreath Class

Content or Curriculum:hands on project

Inputs: agents, program support, materials, greens

Date: Winter


Audience: Local Residents

Project or Activity: Turf Management Series

Content or Curriculum:  UK Specialist presentations using Skype to District 1

Inputs: agents, program assistant, materials, web-based programming, extension offices, UK personnel

Date: Fall



Success Stories

Container Gardening & Health Eating offered for a second year

Author: Lorin Fawns

Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture

Container Gardening and Healthy Eating is a program offered to a low-income area of Mason County. Classes had been offered to adults at the community center in years past but there was little to no interest. The housing authority director was contacted about starting the program and with her approval residents were allowed to keep potted plants outside of their home. In 2017 we offered our first series with over 17 participants. In 2018 we decided to offer the series in another low-income commun

Full Story

Backyard Fruit Series

Author: Lorin Fawns

Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture

Eastern Kentucky has the highest food insecurity in the United States.  In Mason County, 2,790 individuals (16.2% of county population) are not sure where their next meal will come from. There is a steady increase in interest from clientele wanting to know how they can become more self-sufficient by growing their own food. Agriculture and horticulture agents in Eastern Kentucky have observed an increase in requests from small backyard fruit growers for guidance. In order to reach a lar

Full Story
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