Home and Consumer Horticulture, Master GardenersPlan of Work

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Daviess County CES

Title:
Home and Consumer Horticulture, Master Gardeners
MAP:
Home and Consumer Horticulture
Agents Involved:
Heisdorffer
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Home & Consumer Horticulture
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Master Gardener
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Urban Environments (water issues)
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Pesticide Safety – Plant Pests
Situation:

The horticultural industry is experiencing the popularity of gardening again. Gardening trend reports indicate that millennials are interested in growing some of their own fruits and vegetables. With the Millennials living in urban areas and the Baby Boomers downsizing, raised bed and container gardens allow them to grow fresh produce in small spaces.

Another trend is to protect pollinators. This was one of the issues identified by the County Extension Council as important and needs to be addressed in our community. When needed, understanding how to use pesticides correctly is a step in the right direction to help protect pollinators and the environment.  In addition, interest in beekeeping is increasing.

Growing succulents is another trend.  These plants can be grown in containers or in the ground.  They also take less water to thrive.

Long-Term Outcomes:

- Clientele will make informed decisions in the area of implementation of cultural practices and proper pesticide usage to manage food production and maintain the landscape to minimize environmental impact.

- Extension Master Gardeners continue to be a valuable resource of science based information for the community as volunteers for the Cooperative Extension Service.

- Insect pollinators will be protected and preserved in the community to ensure pollination of flowers to encourage a diversity of species in the community and to maintain fruit and vegetable production in home gardens. 

- Pesticides will be used properly and handled carefully.

- Homeowners participating in the program will manage storm water on their properties with rain barrels.

-Participants will grow succulents to enjoy and reduce the amount of water needed in the garden.

Intermediate Outcomes:

- Pest management decisions will be made to protect the environment.

- Extension Master Gardeners will adopt at least 2 practices from the Master Gardener training in their own garden and landscape.

- Extension Master Gardeners will conduct a soil test and understand the results on the report.

- Participants in programs will protect pollinators in their landscape and garden.  

- Individuals will grow plant species that benefit insect pollinators and honey  bees.

- Participants will grow succulents.

- Individuals participating in the rain barrel program will build a rain barrel. 

Initial Outcomes:

- Extension Master Gardeners will learn how to collect soil for a soil test and will gain knowledge on how to understand the results.

- Extension Master Gardeners will learn how to read and comprehend directions for applying pesticides.

- Participants will recall the different parts of a pesticide label.

- Individuals will learn how to protect pollinators.

- Participants in programs will gain knowledge on how to develop a pollinator garden.

- Individuals will gain knowledge on how to manage plant pests including diseases and insects in the vegetable garden and landscape.

- Participants will learn about the benefits of using a rain barrel and how to make one.

-Participants will learn about growing succulents.

- Participants will learn about beekeeping.

Evaluation:

Evaluation:

Indicator: Initial

Outcome: Participants in the "Growing Succulents" program will gain knowledge about succulents, ways to grow them, and ones to include in the garden.

Method: Pre-post test written survey

Timeline:February/March 2020


Evaluation:  

Indicator:  Initial 

Outcome: Participants will receive a passing score of 70% on the Extension Master Gardener final exam.

Method:  Homework and final exam

Timeline:  September - December 2019


Evaluation::

Indicator: Intermediate

Outcome: Extension Master Gardeners Interns will adopt at least 2 practices from the Extension Master Gardener Training in their own garden.

Method: Self reporting survey, observation

Timeline: May 2020

 

Evaluation: 

Indicator: Intermediate

Outcome: Over half the reporting participants of the Rain Barrel Workshop will use their barrels. 

Method: Post program survey

Timeline: August/September 2019

Learning Opportunities:


Audience:  Home Gardeners and Extension Master Gardeners

Project or Activity: Managing Disease and Insect Pests in the Vegetable Garden and Landscape while protecting the environment and pollinators. 

Content or Curriculum: UK home vegetable gardening information, handling pesticides safely, reading a pesticide label, Extension Master Gardener Manual, and ENTFACTS.

Inputs: Horticulture Agent, Specialists, and Horticulture Technician

Date: Summer/Fall 2019, Winter/Spring 2020


Audience: Homeowners

Project or Activity: Rain barrel workshop

Content or Curriculum: UK publication

Inputs: Specialists, Horticulture Agent, Horticulture Technician, and Representative from Regional Water Resource Agency

Date: April/May 2020


Audience: Gardeners and Homeowners

Project or Activity: Gardening to encourage and sustain pollinators.

Content or Curriculum: Information from UK Entomologists

Inputs: Horticulture Agent

Date: February/March 2020


Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: UK Flower Trial Demonstration Garden

Content or Curriculum: UK Information

Inputs: Horticulture Agent, Extension Master Gardeners, and Horticulture Technician

Date: May through September 2019


Audience: Home Gardeners

Project or Activity: "Growing Succulents" 

Content or Curriculum:  Extension information

Inputs:Horticulture Agent and Extension Master Gardener

Date: Winter/Spring 2020


Audience: General Public

Project: Growing vegetable transplants and raised bed gardening

Content or Curriculum: UK information

Inputs: Use Master Gardener seed library, Horticulture Agent, and Extension Master Gardeners

Date: January/February/March 2020


Audience: Extension Master Gardeners

Project or Activity: Continuing Education on Horticulture topics

Content or Curriculum: UK Information

Inputs: Horticulture Agent, Horticulture Technician, Master Gardeners, and Community Gardeners

Date: July 2019-June 2020


Audience:  New Extension Master Gardener Intern volunteers

Project or Activity:  Conducting a soil test and learning how to interpret the results.

Contest or Curriculum:  UK Publication, Extension Master Gardener Manual, and Extension Master Gardener Class

Inputs:  Extension Master Gardener training, Horticulture Agent, and Horticulture Technician

Date:  Fall 2019


Audience:  Volunteers with an interest in the Extension Master Gardener Program, who will assist the Extension Agent

Project or Activity:  Conduct and teach the Extension Master Gardener Program

Content or Curriculum:  UK Extension Master Gardener Training Manual and Extension publications

Inputs:  Horticulture Agent, Specialists, Extension Master Gardeners, and Horticulture Technician

Date:  September - December 2019



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Extension Master Gardeners Contribute to the Community

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Major Program: Master Gardener

Green River Area Extension Master Gardener Association plays an integral role in Daviess County. In the fall of 2019, we conducted an evaluation of individual and community-level impacts of GRAEMGA. We found that individuals participating not only increased their garden and environmental education competency, but they also gained leadership skills in teamwork, communication, and working with diverse populations. They also developed new social networks with organizational partners and fellow volu

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Webinar Wednesday Used to Teach about Fall Gardening

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Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Kentucky Extension Agents for Horticulture Education, headed by the Barren County and Hardin County agents, started the Horticulture Webinar Wednesdays as an alternative to in-person horticulture lessons during the shelter in place order.  Agents, specialists, and other experts were recruited to present a 30 minute lesson to the general public across the Commonwealth with time at the end for questions.  Live webinars were Wednesdays at 2 p.m. ET and 1

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