Extension
It Starts With Us
Homeowner Horticulture and Environmental Impacts
Community Horticulture Advancement
Smith, Hagler, Fries
Home & Consumer Horticulture
Master Gardener
Forestry Industry Education
Urban Environments (water issues)
Nelson County is in an enviable situation compared to some counties around us. In the next four years our population is expected to grow by 15.4% which is more than twice the growth rate of our state. Our diverse economy and geographic location make our community a desirable location to retire and/or raise a family. With population expansion comes challenges on both systems and services. Our most populous demographic will also be our most aged as well and will present some challenges and opportunities for our community. As we age more services will be needed to make a household run properly. Building and property development continue in Nelson County at a brisk pace and meeting the demands of homeowner questions and concerns will continue to rely on staff and volunteers to help with problem solving.
•The desire of this program is to increase the population base that understands the factors that affect plant growth and processes.
•Homeowners will become more aware of the amounts of pesticides and fertilizer they are putting into the environment and work to decrease those inputs
•More money will be spent on new plantings and less will be spent on replacement plants.
•More homeowners will be converted to an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach to horticulture maintenance, therefore decreasing their need for other inputs.
•More profit will be realized from active management of forested areas of owned land.
•More families will grow gardens.
•Youth will seek careers in horticulture and related fields.
•Urban agriculture will become an accepted way of life by policy makers
•Homeowners will select plants based on desirable qualities and not just what is being sold to them through retail operations.
• We will see an increase in soil testing by homeowners.
• Less chemical inputs will be needed with an increase use of IPM.
• Selection of plant material will be made based on the site situation.
• Homeowners will understand and change the way they undergo site preparation to avoid compaction.
• More management will take place in woodlands.
• A better understanding of the differences between insects will occur.
* A better understanding of how various inputs affect different parts of the infrastructure and environment.
* Youth will demonstrate the knowledge gained by competing at the 4-H Forestry and Envirothon Contests.
• Homeowners will gain knowledge regarding disease management.
• When purchasing plants homeowners will know what to look for in regards to quality and condition.
• Homeowners will use chemicals in a responsible manner.
• Homeowners will gain the skills needed to carryout home improvement projects.
• Homeowners will become aware of the needs and habitat of plants and how that affects the plants lifespan.
• Landowners will understand the value of their forested acres.
• Families will better understand the vegetable and fruit gardening process.
* Youth will increase their knowledge of forestry and horticulture principles and demonstrate their new skills at state forestry field days and horticulture judging contest.
Outcome: Homeowners, families and landowners will gain understanding and knowledge that will help with their economic stability.
Indicator: Progressively more difficult subject matter will be requested and Master Gardener enrollment will increase.
Method: Surveys, group discussion, topic evaluation.
Timeline: Following educational event, with a follow-up 1 month later.
Method: 4-H Programs will begin implementing the National 4-H Common Measures evaluation tools
Timeline: Gradually phased in over the 2019, 2020 program years
Audience: The population of Nelson County interested in gaining knowledge and understanding of various horticulture topics.
Project or Activity: Master Gardener Training
Content or Curriculum: Master Gardener Curriculum
Inputs: Instruction, meeting space, supplies,
Date: Fall and winter
Audience: The population of Nelson County interested in gaining knowledge and understanding of various horticulture topics.
Project or Activity: Bloomfield Library Garden Series
Content or Curriculum: Various Horticulture Topics
Inputs: Instruction,
Date: Year Round
Audience: Horticulture Enthusiasts
Project or Activity: Blooming Bardstown Garden Tour
Content or Curriculum: Visual display of proper gardening techniques
Inputs: Instruction, Site hosting,
Date: June 2019
Audience: Nelson County Residents
Project or Activity: Nelson County Community Garden Projects
Content or Curriculum: Vegetable Gardening
Inputs: Site, Education, Literature
Date: Spring and Summer
Audience: Nelson County Residents
Project or Activity: Bee Keeping Club
Content or Curriculum: Bee Keeping from install to harvest
Inputs: Site, Education, Literature
Date: Year Round
Audience: Nelson County Residents
Project or Activity: Woodland Owners Short Course and Field Day
Content or Curriculum: Forestry Curriculum
Inputs: Site, Education, Literature
Date: Winter
Audience: Nelson County Youth
Project or Activity: Horticulture Judging teams
Content or Curriculum: National Junior Horticulture Judging Contest Curriculum
Inputs: Site, Education, Literature, transportation
Date: Winter, Spring and Summer
Audience: Nelson County 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: Natural Resource Educational Programs-Project clubs, School Enrichment, etc
Content or Curriculum: 4-H curriculum
Inputs: Site, Education, Literature
Date:ongoing
Audience: Youth interested in Environmental Sciences
Project or Activity: Junior and Senior Forestry Field Days, Envirothon Contests, Forestry Leadership Program
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Forestry Curriculum and Natural Resources curriculums
Inputs: Instruction, meeting space, supplies,
Date: Fall and Spring
Author: Robert Smith
Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture
COVID 19 forced us to be creative on how we continued to deliver our research-based educational opportunities. So we ramped up some old techniques and introduced several new ones. In 2012 we partnered with one of the local radio stations to begin a twice-monthly radio show called "Extension Today". Throughout the pandemic, we transitioned to a weekly show and provided insight (as best we could) on how to cope with the situation at hand. This show reaches
