McCreary County CES

Title:

Horticulture

MAP:

Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources

Agents Involved:

Goodman

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Horticulture, Consumer and Home

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Master Gardener

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Horticulture, Commercial

Situation:

According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, McCreary County ranks 101st in the state for total agriculture receipts, which were $2,550,000. Top crops reported (in acres) include 3,341 for forages, 14 for apples, and 21 for vegetables. The county agriculture profile is primarily beef and forage-based. There is an educational need for diversified agriculture and horticulture. The McCreary County Farmers Market is three years old and has slightly grown since opening. There is now a more diversified selection, including an interest in selling meats at the market for next season. McCreary County residents can also participate in Berea’s Grow Appalachia program with neighboring Scott County residents.   

Long-Term Outcomes:

McCreary County gardeners will gain the knowledge needed to practice sustainable agriculture at home and produce better quality food for their families. McCreary County farmers will be able to diversify their operations by utilizing sustainable agriculture concepts to improve practices and maximize profits, while also providing access to local goods to the community.   

Intermediate Outcomes:

McCreary County horticulture operations will continue to expand in size and diversification of products and attract people to the county to purchase goods at the Farmers Market or through on-farm purchases. Home gardeners will produce better quality produce in larger quantities by applying recommended practices, thus reducing food costs for their families.  

Initial Outcomes:

Commercial horticulture producers will gain knowledge in diversification practices, marketing, sustainable agriculture, and organic production. Home gardeners will gain knowledge about sustainable practices to incorporate at home such as composting, food preservation, and seed-saving. They will also gain knowledge in non-traditional high-yield gardening techniques that are adaptable to any area, such as small space/container gardening and intensive planting.  

Evaluation:

Outcome: Expansion of local horticultural operations 

Indicator: Number of acres in commercial horticulture production/increased crop diversity on existing farms, amount sold through the Farmers Market or direct farm sales, number of gardens through Grow Appalachia and extension gardening workshops  

Method: Surveys and farm visits

Timeline: March - October

Outcome: Knowledgeable home gardeners/future Master Gardeners 

Indicator: Number attending gardening workshop

Method: Surveys and observations, client contacts

Timeline: March - July

Outcome: Farmers Market growth

Indicator: Number of vendors, amount of sales and number of products sold 

Method: surveys, attendance at market, observations

Timeline: May-October

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Farmers, homeowners, and youth.

Activity: Apple Grafting & Pruning Workshop  

Content or Curriculum: How to graft apple trees from rootstock and prune fruit trees  

Date: March

Audience: Farmers, homeowners, and youth.

Activity: Gardening Workshop  

Content or Curriculum: Soil testing & site selection, seed germination & propagation, planting & maintenance, alternative gardening techniques (small-space/container, intensive planting, vertical, raised bed), composting, common gardening mistakes, pest/disease control, extending garden season into fall, food storage & preservation 

Date: March-July

Audience: Farmers, Gardeners

Activity: Grow Appalachia

Content or Curriculum: Monthly meetings with participating gardeners

Date: January - October

Audience: Farmers and public

Activity: Farmers Market

Content or Curriculum: Agriculture demos/information packets (mushroom inoculation, heirloom varieties, SNAP recipe materials)  

Date: May - October

Audience: Farmers, homeowners, and youth.

Activity: Newsletters, social media, news articles, online programs, radio spot 

Content or Curriculum: All Agriculture Topics

Date: July -June

Success Stories