Extension
It Starts With Us
Local Food System Development
Agriculture and Natural Resource Development
Maggard and Faris
Local Food Systems
Nutrition and Food Systems General
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
Vegetables are important sources of many nutrients, including potassium, dietary fiber, folate, vitamin A, and vitamin C. Dietary fiber from vegetables, as part of an overall healthy diet, helps reduce blood cholesterol levels and may lower risk of heart disease. (USDA, Choose MyPlate). The Partnership for a Fit KY reports that 1 in 5 KY adults have difficulty getting adequate fresh produce where they live. In Lawrence County, only 4% of county residents consume the recommended 5 or more fruits and vegetables per day. (KY Health Facts). When compared to supermarket produce, locally sourced fruits and vegetables win with nutritional value. They have the advantage of shorter shipment time, varieties that are full of flavor instead of shelf life and higher quality production methods. (Harvard School of Public Health). The Lawrence County Extension Office serves as an educational source to farmers and consumers about the importance and benefits of growing, purchasing and consuming locally sourced foods.
*Lawrence County population will increase average fruit and vegetable consumption by 1 or more servings per day.
*Lawrence County residents improve food management skills and healthy eating habits.
*Increase in the number of vendors, variety of local food products, sales and/or profits at farmers market.
*Increase access to local foods in restaurants, retail outlets, school and other institutions
*Increase consumer confidence/demand in local foods
*Youth will develop self-help skills by learning to raise and preserve their own foods.
*Individuals and families use Extension resources to make decisions related to food preparation, food management/preservation, and/or food safety skills for improving health and food security
* Increase the number of households planting gardens, harvesting and preparing produce for nutritional value and food security.
*Individuals and families utilize community support services to increase food security
*Lawrence County residents have a reliable source for locally sourced foods
*Increase in producers offering samples at farmers market and apply food safety practices and/or procedures
*Youth will gain lifelong skills in food prep and food preservation.
*Individuals and families gain knowledge and skills in gardening, food preparation and preservation to improve health and food security
*Individuals recognize food safety practices.
*Community partners recognize the need to address food security for all ages
*Lawrence County residents identify and locate where locally sourced foods are sold
*Lawrence County residents understand the importance and benefits of purchasing and consuming locally sourced foods
*Youth will understand the importance of growing their own food and preserving this for future consumption and cost-efficiency.
Initial Outcome: Individuals and families gain knowledge and skills in gardening, food preparation and food preservation to improve health and food security
Indicator: Number of people participating in programs and workshops
Method: Pre/Post evaluations; observation; personal narratives
Timeline: 2021-2024
Initial Outcome: Youth will understand the importance of growing their own food and preserving this for future consumption and cost-efficiency.
Indicator: Number of youth regularly attending programs
Method: pre/post evaluations, observation, classes
Timeline: 2021-2024
Intermediate Outcome: Individuals and families adopt 1 or more skills in gardening, food preparation and or food preservation to improve health and food security
Indicator: Number of individuals reporting adopting 1 or more skills
Method: Pre/Post evaluations, personal narratives
Timeline: 2021-2024
Intermediate Outcome: Youth will gain lifelong skills in food prep and food preservation.
Indicator: Number of youth indicating they've begun/continued to cook, prepare and preserve home grown foods
Method: pre/post evaluations, observation, classes
Timeline: 2021-2024
Long-term Outcome: Individuals and families improve health and food security by positive behavioral changes in gardening, food preparation and food preservation skills
Indicator: Increase number of people improving health and food security
Method: Pre/Post evaluations; KY Health Facts; CDC-BRFSS
Timeline: 2021-2024
Long-term Outcome: Youth will develop self-help skills by learning to raise and preserve their own foods.
Indicator: An increase in the number of youth able to prepare and preserve foods
Method: pre/post evaluations, personal testimonies, pictures, county and state fair entries
Timeline: 2021-2024
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Food Preservation Workshops
Content or Curriculum: UK FCS Extension and KY NEP Resources
Inputs: Farmer's Market participant; Lawrence County Health Dept; NEP audiences
Date: 2021-2024
Audience: Limited Resource Audiences
Project or Activity: Raised-bed/Container Gardening and Food Preparation Skills
Content or Curriculum: UK FCS and NEP curriculum
Inputs: UK FCS, NEP and ANR Lawrence County Health Action Team/Diabetes Coalition, Local Food Pantry, Housing Authority
Date: Spring, Summer, and Fall, 2021-2024
Audience: Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: Gardening in Small Spaces
Content or Curriculum: UK Extension ANR
Inputs: Extension ANR and FCS
Date: 2021-2024
Audience: Farmer's Market
Project or Activity: Lawrence County Farmer's Market
Content or Curriculum: UK Publications and Resources
Inputs: UK Extension Specialists and Faculty
Date: July-October, 2021-2024
Audience: Individual/Families
Project or Activity: Master Gardener Program/Gardeners Toolbox Series
Content or Curriculum: UK Extension Publications
Inputs: UK Extension Resources, Specialists, and Agents
Date: Spring and Fall, 2021-2024
Audience: Children/Youth
Project or Activity: Kids Veggie Bucks Program
Content or Curriculum: UK Extension and NEP
Inputs: UK Extension FCS & ANR and UK NEP; Lawrence County Health Dept; Health Action Team/Community Health Grant
Date: July-October, 2021-2024
Audience: Lawrence County Youth
Program/Activity: Raised Bed Gardening and Food Prep & Preservation Skills
Content/Curriculum: 4-H
Inputs: 4-H Volunteers, Extension Agents and Program Assistants
Date: Spring, Summer, and Fall, July-October, 2021-2024
Audience: Lawrence County Youth
Program/Activity: Super Star Chef
Content/Curriculum: 4-H/FCS
Inputs: 4-H and FCS Volunteers, Extension Agents and Specialists
Date: July-October, 2021-2024
Author: Laura Maggard
Major Program: Local Food Systems
Growing fresh fruits and vegetables became very popular during COVID-19. Families had extra time that they normally didn't have before and a lot of these folks took to the outdoors. They decided to grow gardens for the first time among other activities. The interest in food preservation quickly followed. With this information in mind The Lawrence County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Agent conducted a Virtual Food Preservation Workshop. This workshop was conduct
