Commercial and Homeowner Horticulture EducationPlan of Work

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Taylor County CES

Title:
Commercial and Homeowner Horticulture Education
MAP:
Enhancing Commercial & Consumer Hort. Advancement
Agents Involved:
Kara Back, 4-HYD
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Local Food Systems
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Master Gardener
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Horticulture, Commercial
Situation:

Homeowners are wanting to have a more sustainable lifestyle by raising their own fruits and vegetables and caring for their landscape. There is also an increase in commercial horticulture to sell in produce auctions, and an increased interest in local food systems. Under the direction of the Extension Council and Farmers' Market, educational programs are needed to enhance these interests.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Improve food management skills and healthy eating habits through raising own foods, while commercial producers are sustaining profitability.


Help commercial growers reach profit sustainability, by providing educational opportunities to implement within their operations. 


Having a sustainable Farmers' Market.


Residents within the county will have the opportunity to participate in the Master Gardener's Program to gain education, which can be used to improve not only their own home / farm, but also the community through educational projects.  

Intermediate Outcomes:

Homeowners will implement best management practices to ensure a bountiful harvest.


Citizens have access to more local foods.


More households will plant, harvest, and preserve produce.


Commercial producers adopt recommended practices that lead to more profitability.


Increase number of patrons at Farmers' Markets.


Homeowners are motivated to improve landscapes.


Residents will be able to participate in projects within the Master Gardener's Program. They will gain knowledge in botany, disease, entomology, soil composition, etc., which they can use to educate others.

Initial Outcomes:

Understand the importance of sustainable local agriculture to their health and financial well-being.


Homeowners learn about different varieties and best management practices of fruit and vegetables.


Commercial growers learn about best management practices, new methods, and new technologies.


Residents will be able to participate in projects within the Master Gardener's Program will gain knowledge in botany, disease, entomology, soil composition, etc

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Individuals, homeowners, and commercial growers will gain knowledge about horticulture's role in their daily lives and economic endeavors.

Indicator: Number of individuals who report changes in knowledge, opinions, skills, and aspirations.

Method: Post-test

Timeline:End of program series.


Intermediate Outcome: Individuals, homeowners, and commercial growers will implement gained knowledge within their lifestyles, and economic endeavors.

Indicator: Number of people who implement at least one practice which was taught during any of the horticulture classes / series. 

Method: Follow up survey / interviews.

Timeline: Annually.


Long-term Outcome: Individuals, homeowners, and commercial growers will enjoy a healthier lifestyle, and sustainable profitability through education provided by UK Extension.

Indicator: Individuals enjoy a healthier & more self-sufficient lifestyle, while commercial growers will gain a more sustaining profit.

Method: Pre and post evaluation in addition to monitoring of health statistics & social economic indicators within Taylor County.  

Timeline: Beginning and end of program.

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Commercial Vegetable Producers 

Project or Activity: Weekly or Bi-Weekly On-Farm Instruction: Insect Pests, Production & Disease 

Content or Curriculum: Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers, UK Publications from: http://www.uky.edu/hort/documents-list-commercial-vegetable

Inputs: UK Specialists & Taylor Co. Horticulture Agent

Date: July-September 2021 - January-June 2022


Audience:  Home Horticulture  

Project or Activity: Class Series: Production, Disease, Pesticide Classes 

Content or Curriculum: Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers, UK Publications from: http://www.uky.edu/hort/documents-list-commercial-vegetable

Inputs: UK Specialists & Taylor Co. Horticulture Agent

Date: July 2021 - June 2022


Audience: Residents of Taylor and surrounding counties

Project or Activity: Master Gardener Program

Content or Curriculum: Master Gardener Program Manual

Inputs: UK Specialists, Additional Horticulture Agents, & Taylor Co. Horticulture Agent

Date: July 2021 - June 2022


Audience: Adults & Children Living within Campbellsville Housing

Project or Activity: Campbellsville Housing Horticulture Program

Content or Curriculum: Home Vegetable Gardening in Kentucky, & The Master Gardener's Handbook

Inputs:  Campbellsville Housing Event Coordinator & Taylor Co. Horticulture Agent

Date: July 2021 - June 2022 -  Adult & Children Classes 3rd Monday & 3rd Wednesday of every month


Audience: Residents of Taylor & Surrounding Counties

Project or Activity: Wreath Class and Floral Design

Content or Curriculum: The AIFD Guide to Floral Design

Inputs: Florists & Taylor County Horticulture Agent

Date: December 2021 & April 2022


Audience: Residents of Taylor & Surrounding Counties

Project or Activity: Farmers' Market Health Fair, National Farmers' Market Week Celebration, & Farmers' Market Fall Festival

Content or Curriculum: Home Vegetable Gardening in Kentucky & SNAP-ED Resources

Inputs:  Taylor County Health Department, Farmers' Market Association, Inc. of Taylor County,  and the Taylor Co. Cooperative Extension Office Agents.

Date: July 2021 - October 2022


Audience: The Healing Place

Project or Activity: Recovery Garden

Content or Curriculum: Home Vegetable Gardening in Kentucky

Inputs: The Healing Place, and the Taylor County Extension Office

Date:  September 2021 & March 2022


Audience: 9 - 18 year old youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Horticulture Judging Contest 

Content or Curriculum: NJHA Material, 4-H horticulture curriculum 

Inputs:  Local nurseries, grocery stores, producers, forestry specialists, & Taylor Co. Horticulture and 4-H Agent

Date: June - August 2021, 2022


Audience: Category 3 & 20 Commercial Applicator License Holders

Project or Activity: Tri-County Lawn Care CEU Course 

Content or Curriculum: University of Kentucky and surrounding states' publications

Inputs: UK Extension Specialists, KDA Inspectors, County Agents

Date: December 2021




Success Stories

Master Gardeners' class of 2022

Author: Kara Back-Campbell

Major Program: Master Gardener

 In January 2022 the Taylor County Horticulture agent taught her second group of Master Gardeners. Within the previous 2 years it was difficult to obtain participants for classes due to concerns of COVID-19. Zoom options for webinars had not done well in Taylor County. An in-person Master Gardener class began on January 13th and met for 18 weeks. This program met at night because there were several requests for it to occur after 5:00p.m. This was taught solely by the Horticulture agent (a m

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4-H Horticulture County Fair Workshops

Author: Kara Back-Campbell

Major Program: Agriculture

Last year county fair entries were low for 4-H due to the lack of a 4-H agent and the ability for students to participate in 4-H school clubs due to COVID-19. This year the Horticulture agent worked with the 4-H agent to plan a month long horticulture county fair project day each Tuesday to create entries. The projects consist of terrariums, annual containers, dish gardens, herb gardens, window boxes, leaf collections, and houseplants. Taylor County Master Gardeners have been a vital component t

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Kentucky Volunteer Forum - Horticulture Track and Workshop Committee

Author: Kara Back-Campbell

Major Program: Volunteer Development

2022 Kentucky Volunteer Forum Education is critical in preparing volunteers for the role they accepted and should be designed to enhance their knowledge and skills (Kerka, 2003). Volunteer education develops the knowledge and skills volunteers need to execute their roles effectively (Brudney, 1990; Culp, 1997; Cumming, 1998; Wilson, 1976). Volunteers respond more favorably to roles and responsibilities when they understand and are able to perform the tasks required of them (Hoover & Con

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Central Kentucky Women in Ag Conference

Author: Kara Back-Campbell

Major Program: Horticulture, Commercial

The Casey County ANR agent approached the Taylor County Horticulture and ANR agent with the idea to create and host a Women in Ag Conference. The goal of this conference was to provide agriculture / horticulture programming with a focus on women. With knowledge the women gained, the agents are hoping they will take what they learned and apply it to an existing or new farming enterprise. Along with several other ANR and horticulture agents in neighboring counties, the first Central Kentucky Women

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