Grow It Local and Reap the HarvestPlan of Work

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Letcher County CES

Title:
Grow It Local and Reap the Harvest
MAP:
Small Farm Agriculture
Agents Involved:
Shad Baker, Nanette Banks, Crystal Smith, Lee Adams and Mitch Whitaker (Assistants), Extension Staff
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Local Food Systems
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Home & Consumer Horticulture
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Commercial Horticulture
Situation:

Letcher County has depended upon a coal-based economy for over a century. That has led to a loss in vocational agriculture and the related infrastructure and knowledge base. The county also suffers from poor dietary habits and elevated levels of diet-related disease. Recognizing the correlation between diet and disease, many county and state-level specialists have advocated consuming fresh fruits and vegetables. One way to accomplish this is through promotion of local food production, farmers markets, and a certified kitchen to utilize local produce. Given that the county is over 90% forested, timber and non-timber products have the potential to greatly increase small farm agriculture receipts for local people.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Clients will have improved health


Clients will raise local produce


Agriculture will increase in importance to the local economy


Disease Levels will drop


Timber and Non-timber products will increase


Certified Kitchen is in operation

Intermediate Outcomes:

Clients will put knowledge gained from Extension programs into practice by using recommended Forestry and Horticultural practices


Clients will increase fruit and vegetable consumption


The number of farmers seeking access to equipment, master loggers, soil testing, etc. will increase

Initial Outcomes:

Requests for horticultural information will increase


Clients will value local food products and take steps to produce these crops


Farmers Market attendance and sales will increase


Increase in master logger or woodland owner participation


Increased demand for horticulture workshops

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Certified Kitchen will be planned and Farmers Market will expand

Indicator: Home-based Micro-processing

Method: Observation, General Survey

Timeline: July 2019 - June 2020


Intermediate Outcome: Certified Kitchen will be completed and Farmers Market will be used irregardless of grant support

Indicator: Home-based Micro-processing

Method: Observation and markets sales survey

Timeline: July 201\9 - June 2020


Long-term Outcome: Certified Kitchen will be in use and serving local produce to clientele, farmers market will have permanent place in community, horticultural crops will be diversified and receipts will reflect a stable and growing industry in horticulure/silvaculture

Indicator: Home-based Micro-Processing

Method: Observation and Market Sales Survey

Timeline: On-going

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Producers

Project or Activity: Horticultural Workshops, (Fruits, Vegetables, Herbs, Flowering Plants), Greenhouse Production

Content or Curriculum: UK publications/Powerpoints, Woodland Owner Short-course, Pesticide Certification Trainings

Inputs: Agents, Assistants & Specialists

Date: July 2019 - June 2020


Audience: Farmers Market Producers

Project or Activity: Produce Best Practices Training

Content or Curriculum: KDA-approved curriculum (PBPT Power-Point)

Inputs: ANR and FCS Agents

Date:May 2019 and early spring 2020


Audience: Adults and youth 

Project or Activity: Greenhouse- Basics of Horticulture

Content or Curriculum: AG and 4H curriculums

Inputs:  AG, FCS and 4 H Agents, Lee Adams and Mitch Whitaker (assistants) and Extension Staff

Date: 2019-2020



Success Stories

High Tunnels for the Highlands

Author: Shad Baker

Major Program: Commercial Horticulture

Most folks recognize that arable land is at a premium in some parts of the Commonwealth.  This fact forces those interested in agriculture to focus on specialty crops that use small parcels of land. Kentucky has a long history in high tunnels, and the recent explosion of interest in these season extenders has caused many in our region to give consideration to this production option. The Letcher County Extension service partnered with NRCS and GROW Appalachia to offer educational materials,

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Kentucky Maple Syrup School

Author: Shad Baker

Major Program: Woodland Education

Maple syrup production is the second fastest growing agricultural commodity in the United States, second only to hemp. With so much of the state covered in steep, wooded hillsides, this is one commodity that almost every county can make. Kentucky woodland owners have expressed a strong interest in learning more about the industry. To help provide research-based information, the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, through it's offices in Floyd, Harlan, & Letcher Cou

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Extension Helps Launch Kentucky Maple Syrup Day

Author: Shad Baker

Major Program: Woodland Education

How better to launch a brand new commodity day and recognize producers at all corners of the state than to contact the UK Cooperative Extension Service? That was the thinking when the Kentucky Maple Syrup Association partnered with UK Cooperative Extension and forestry department to promote the budding maple syrup industry. The group recognized that Extension has agricultural agents in every county across the state who know better than anyone what is being produced in their counties and that hav

Full Story
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