Home & Consumer Horticulture 2020Plan of Work

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Warren County CES

Title:
Home & Consumer Horticulture 2020
MAP:
Horticulture
Agents Involved:
Kristin Hildabrand
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Master Gardener
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Plant ID
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Pollinators
Situation:

In 2018, the National Gardening survey indicated that 77% of American households garden in some way. Recent trends indicate that more and more Americans are growing their own food (35% of households) while interests in ornamentals remains high, particularly in the area of gardening to support pollinators and other ecological uses of plants. American gardeners will continue to look to the Cooperative Extension Service for specific answers to their gardening questions.


Demand for home horticulture information continues to increase for Kentucky county Extension offices.  Horticulture program representatives from the Warren County Extension Council identified these areas for the Extension Agent to focus on: consumer horticulture education, identification of plant issues in the home garden and landscape, and the Extension Master Gardener program. The Kentucky Extension Master Gardener (EMG) program helps to develop trained volunteers to assist county Extension staff in meeting this need for research-based information and public outreach.

Long-Term Outcomes:
Intermediate Outcomes:
Initial Outcomes:
Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Knowledge gained in the area of Horticulture

Indicator: Individuals state that they gain knowledge and aspire to implement the practice

Method: Post program evaluation

Timeline: Throughout the year


Intermediate Outcome:   Individuals implement practices learned during educational activities

Indicator: Number or practices implemented

Method: Follow up survey, phone calls, and testimonies 

Timeline: 6-8 weeks following program 


Long-term Outcome: Consumer and Commercial Horticulturalist

Indicator: Participants who adopt recommended practices or see a positive economic impact

Method: Word of mouth, observation, follow up surveys

Timeline: Ongoing

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Homeowners, gardeners and enthusiasts

Project or Activity: Blog Entries & Facebook Posts

Content or Curriculum: CES materials & curriculum, Plate it Up! Kentucky Proud, KY Pests Newsletter, Horticulture publications, etc. 

Inputs: Promotional materials, visual aids

Date: Spring, Summer, Fall & Winter  


Audience: Consumers & Garden Enthusiasts 

Project or Activity: Media Appearances via Get the Scoop Radio Show, Farm and Home TV Appearances, and mid-Day Live through WBKO Television 

Content or Curriculum: CES Extension materials & curriculum 

Inputs: Promotional materials, visual aids

Date: Ongoing throughout the year


Audience: Avid Home Gardeners 

Project or Activity:  The Sunshine Gardening Podcast

Content or Curriculum: CES Extension Curriculum & Materials 

 Inputs: Extension Agent, Podcast Media Hosting Channels, WordPress Blog

 Date: Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter


Audience: Home Gardeners & Homeowners 

Project or Activity: Rain Barrel & Composting Workshops

Content or Curriculum: CES Curriculum and Materials 

Inputs: Extension Agents, Warren County Conservation District staff, meeting room space 

Date: Spring, Summer, and Fall 


Audience: Home Residents & Gardeners 

Project or Activity: Horticulture Happenings Newsletter

Content or Curriculum: CES Horticulture Resources & Materials, Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud, etc. 

Inputs: Extension agents, paper, mail out, and staff processing time 

Date: Bimonthly 


Audience: Home Residents & Gardeners 

Project or Activity: Herb Gardening & Cooking Series 

Content or Curriculum: CES Horticulture Curriculum, Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud, etc. 

Inputs: Extension agents, food demonstrations, meeting room space  

Date: Spring, Summer 


Audience: Home Horticulturists 

Project or Activity: Extension Master Gardener Program

Content or Curriculum: Extension Master Gardener training material & curriculum

Inputs: Extension agents, specialists, funding, state and regional EMG conferences, and tours

Date: Fall 2020, Fall 2022, Fall 2024 


Audience: Warren County Extension Master Gardeners 

Project or Activity: Master Gardener Monthly meetings 

Content or Curriculum: CES Extension Master Gardener Curriculum 

Inputs: Extension agents and specialists, Printed resources and publications, local experts, etc. 

Date: 4th Tuesday of each month  


Audience: Warren County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers

Project or Activity: Managing trained volunteers & approving volunteer time   

Content or Curriculum: CES Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Guidelines & Service Hours 

Inputs: CES Agent, EMG volunteers

Date: Spring, Summer, and Fall 


Audience: Homeowners & Gardeners 

Project or Activity: Annual Flower Trial Gardens     

Content or Curriculum: UK Extension Annual Flower Garden Trials 

Inputs: CES Agents, Extension Master Gardeners & Specialists 

Date: Spring, Summer, and Fall 


Audience: Home Residents 

Project or Activity:  Master Gardener Help Desk

Content or Curriculum: CES publications, resources & other materials   

Inputs: CES Agent, EMG volunteers

Date: Spring, Summer, and Fall 


Audience: Home Gardeners, Homeowners, and Pollinator Enthusiasts

Project or Activity: Pollinator Gardens & Certified Monarch Waystation

Content or Curriculum: CES publications, resources & other materials 

Inputs: CES Agent, EMG volunteers, gardening equipment, etc. 

Date: Throughout the year  



Success Stories

State-wide Virtual Extension Master Gardener Program

Author: Kristin Hildabrand

Major Program: Master Gardener

In 2020, during the height of the pandemic, several people turned to gardening as an outlet for their mental health. In response to this situation, both horticulture and agriculture extension agents across the state banded together to offer the Extension Master Gardener (EMG) program virtually for the first time. Agents utilized the Zoom and Microsoft Teams platforms to plan out the virtual Extension Master Gardener program. Individual committees were formed to look at promotion, program schedul

Full Story

Home Lawn Improvement Guidebook

Author: Kristin Hildabrand

Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home

After receiving several inquiries related to home lawn care from Warren County residents, the horticulture agent developed the Home Lawn Improvement Guidebook to help homeowners better understand the process for improving the appearance of their Kentucky lawns. This home lawn improvement guidebook was also intended to guide residents on the best time to carry out specific lawn care practices and the steps to help them achieve successful results. The horticulture agent designed the guidebook

Full Story

Warren County Extension Master Gardeners Make a Difference with a Certified Monarch Waystation

Author: Kristin Hildabrand

Major Program: Pollinators

In 2017, the Monarch Joint Venture organization reported that the iconic monarch butterfly has steadily declined by approximately 90% over the last 20 years. Warren County Extension Master Gardeners wanted to make a difference so they designed and installed a certified Monarch Waystation to provide habitat and to help increase the population of monarch butterflies. A monarch waystation is a garden that includes milkweed plants which serve as the host plant for the monarch butterfly and a variety

Full Story
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