Extension
It Starts With Us
Horticulture Problem Solving, Food Systems Development and the Environment
Horticulture, Forestry & Environmental Education, Advancement and Sustainability
Smith, Hagler, Howard
Master Gardener
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
Beekeeping
Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Agriculture continues to be a strong force in Nelson County. In 2017 the U. S. Agriculture Census stated that nearly 74% of the county was in farmland, equaling 1434 farms. Nelson County farmers boast nearly $68,000,000 in goods and services sold in 2017. While a great majority of production is still traditional agriculture the popularity of local grown produce continues to show strong demand among many demographics. Fifty-four percent of vegetables and fruits are consumed fresh and each person consumes nearly 700 pounds of produce annually. If each of our 45,000 citizens consumes their average portion there would be a direct need for at least 15,000,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables. We currently produce nowhere near those quantities locally. The 2019 Community Assessment stated that 13% of respondents identified a need for more food production skills within our community. Consequently, there seems to be enormous potential for growth and farm income with the addition of fruit and vegetables into the farm crop rotation. the need for reeducation of adults and the education of youth about where food comes from and how to grow your own will remain a focus. This large task will call for help from our Extension Master Gardeners who are trained, ready and willing to educate the community.
Kentucky’s natural resources play an important role in our state’s social, economic, and environmental well-being. Today’s youth spend less time outdoors than previous generations (Clemonts, 2004; Karsten, 2005; Carver et al., 2008). Every five years (since 1999) the Kentucky Environmental Education Council (KEEC) conducts a survey to assess Kentuckian’s environmental knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. According to KEEC’s 2015-2020 Environmental Education Master Plan (2015), “…the average Kentuckian is able to answer correctly slightly more than half of the environmental knowledge questions included on the survey. This result leaves ample room for improvement” (p 27). Kentucky 4-H provides environmental education opportunities by engaging youth in hands-on, interdisciplinary educational experiences that foster an increased understanding and appreciation for natural resources and environmental sciences. Programs and projects are offered in the areas of environmental science, entomology, forestry and wood science, geology, soils, water, wildlife, and shooting sports.
- The desire of this program is to increase the population base that understands the factors that affect plant growth and processes.
- Homeowners will become more aware of the amounts of pesticides and fertilizer they are putting into the environment and work to decrease those inputs
- More homeowners will be converted to an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach to horticulture maintenance, therefore decreasing their need for other inputs.
- More profit will be realized from active management of forested areas of owned land.
- More families will grow gardens and understand the necessity to produce at least part of their own food needs.
- Families will become more active in their own health by producing and eating their own foods.
- Youth will seek careers in horticulture and related fields.
- Urban agriculture will become an accepted way of life by policy makers
- Homeowners will select plants based on desirable qualities and not just what is being sold to them through retail operations.
- Native Plants will be looked upon as viable options in our landscapes
- Youth will be environmentally literate.
- Youth will make informed decisions and take responsible action regarding natural resources conservation, protection, and restoration.
- Youth will be advocates for environmental sustainability and stewardship.
- We will see an increase in soil testing by homeowners.
- Less chemical inputs will be needed with an increase use of IPM.
- Selection of plant material will be made based on the site situation.
- Homeowners will understand and change the way they undergo site preparation to avoid compaction.
- More management will take place in woodlands.
- A better understanding of the differences between insects will occur.
- A better understanding of how various inputs affect different parts of the infrastructure and environment.
- Youth will demonstrate the knowledge gained by competing at the ?4-H Forestry and Envirothon Contests.
- Youth will explain the importance and role of natural resources in daily life.
- Youth will adopt practices to conserve and protect natural resources.
- Youth will utilize and practice life-skills in 4-H natural resources and environmental projects and clubs, and life situations.
• Homeowners will gain knowledge regarding disease management.
• When purchasing plants homeowners will know what to look for in regards to quality and condition.
• Homeowners will use chemicals in a responsible manner.
• Homeowners will gain the skills needed to carryout home improvement projects.
• Homeowners will become aware of the needs and habitat of plants and how that affects the plants lifespan.
• Landowners will understand the value of their forested acres.
• Families will better understand the vegetable and fruit gardening process.
* Youth will increase their knowledge of forestry and horticulture principles and demonstrate their new skills at state forestry field days and horticulture judging contest.
Youth will gain knowledge and skills in environmental sciences and natural resources content.
Youth will gain an understanding of environmental sustainability and stewardship.
Youth will develop valuable life-skills, including decision-making, critical thinking, communications, record-keeping, wise use of resources, and leadership.
Outcome: Homeowners, families, and landowners will gain understanding and knowledge that will help with their economic stability.
Indicator: Progressively more difficult subject matter will be requested and Master Gardener enrollment will increase.
Method: Surveys, group discussion, topic evaluation.
Timeline: Following the educational event, with a follow-up 1 month later.
Method: 4-H Programs will begin implementing the National 4-H Common Measures evaluation tools
Timeline: Gradually phased in over 2021 program years
Outcome: All areas of commercial horticulture will see prosperity due to more marketing options, increased yield and quality, and a better understanding of how their operation functions.
Indicator: Progressively more difficult inquiries will be made, more acreage will be planted, and stability will occur.
Method: Surveys, group discussion, one on one, interaction, evaluation, monitoring of Ag, statistics, and number of horticulture business licenses granted.
Timeline: Following each educational event that happens throughout the year.
Audience: The population of Nelson County interested in gaining knowledge and understanding of various horticulture topics.
Project or Activity: Master Gardener Training
Content or Curriculum: Master Gardener Curriculum
Inputs: Instruction, meeting space, supplies,
Date: Fall and winter
Audience: Vegetable and Fruit Producers
Project or Activity: KY Vegetable Growers Winter Meeting
Content or Curriculum: Varied and Thorough topics
Inputs: Transportation
Date: Annually in the winter
Audience: Fruit and vegetable growers
Project or Activity: Good Agriculture Practices
Content or Curriculum: Food Safe handling
Inputs: Teaching
Date: Annually in the Spring
Audience: Farmers’ Market Vendors
Project or Activity: Farmers’ Market Fair
Content or Curriculum: Display and marketing workshop, Sampling demo and scale testing
Inputs: Teaching,
Date: Annually in the Spring
Audience: Commercial Vegetable Growers
Project or Activity: Vegetable Field Trial Program
Content or Curriculum: Onsite production trials for new growers
Inputs: Equipment, Teaching
Date: Annually in the Summer
Audience: Beekeepers and Vegetable Growers
Project or Activity: Beekeeping 101
Content or Curriculum: Series of classes designed to increase beekeepers understanding of their craft.
Inputs: Teaching, Transportation, Tools
Date: Spring 2022
Audience: Nelson County Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Bee Ambassadors
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Bee Ambassadors Curriculum
Inputs: Program Materials, Meeting Space, Volunteers
Date: Ongoing
Audience: Fruit and Vegetable Growers
Project or Activity: Home-based Microprocessor training
Content or Curriculum: Safe food handling and preservation
Inputs: Teaching, equipment, and facilities
Date: Winter
Audience: Potential Commercial Growers
Project or Activity: Vegetable Growers Academy
Content or Curriculum: Series of Workshops aimed at introducing potential growers to various commercial crops
Inputs: Teaching, facilities, specialists
Date: Fall and winter
Audience: Potential Commercial service providers
Project or Activity: Horticulture Service providers Academy and certification
Content or Curriculum: Series of Workshops aimed at introducing commercial clientele to the horticulture services sector.
Inputs: Teaching, facilities, specialists
Date: Fall and winter
Audience: The population of Nelson County interested in gaining knowledge and understanding of various horticulture topics.
Project or Activity: Master Gardener Training
Content or Curriculum: Master Gardener Curriculum
Inputs: Instruction, meeting space, supplies,
Date: Fall and winter
Audience: The population of Nelson County interested in gaining knowledge and understanding of various horticulture topics.
Project or Activity: Bloomfield Library Garden Series
Content or Curriculum: Various Horticulture Topics
Inputs: Instruction,
Date: Year-Round
Audience: Horticulture Enthusiasts
Project or Activity: Blooming Bardstown Garden Tour
Content or Curriculum: Visual display of proper gardening techniques
Inputs: Instruction, Site hosting,
Date: June
Audience: Nelson County Residents
Project or Activity: Nelson County Community Garden Projects
Content or Curriculum: Vegetable Gardening
Inputs: Site, Education, Literature
Date: Spring and Summer
Audience: Nelson County Residents
Project or Activity: Bee Keeping Club
Content or Curriculum: Bee Keeping from install to harvest
Inputs: Site, Education, Literature
Date: Year-Round
Audience: Nelson County Residents
Project or Activity: Woodland Owners Short Course and Field Day
Content or Curriculum: Forestry Curriculum
Inputs: Site, Education, Literature
Date: Winter
Audience: Nelson County Youth
Project or Activity: Horticulture Judging teams
Content or Curriculum: National Junior Horticulture Judging Contest Curriculum
Inputs: Site, Education, Literature, transportation
Date: Winter, Spring, and Summer
Audience: Nelson County 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: Natural Resource Educational Programs-Project clubs, School Enrichment, etc
Content or Curriculum: 4-H curriculum
Inputs: Site, Education, Literature
Date: ongoing
Audience: Youth interested in Environmental Sciences
Project or Activity: Junior and Senior Forestry Field Days, Envirothon Contests, Forestry Leadership Program, Entomology Programs, Geology Programs
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Forestry Curriculum and Natural Resources curriculums
Inputs: Instruction, meeting space, supplies,
Date: Fall and Spring
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Shooting Sports
Curriculum: Shooting Sports Curricula
Inputs: Training, meeting space, equipment volunteers
Date: Oct- Sept
4-H Evaluation
The outcome to be Evaluated: Youth plan and implement a natural resource project (e.g., entomology project, forestry project, etc.).
Indicator of Success for Outcome: Youth complete a natural resource project.
Method of Evaluation: 4-H Common Measures Experience Survey
Author: Robert Smith
Major Program: Master Gardener
This past fall another graduating class joined the ranks of nearly 100 other Master Gardeners in Nelson County. Eight participants completed the 12-week training that consisted of online, in-person, and applied fieldwork. The collaboration of the state offered programming and the helpfulness of local gardeners for the use of their gardens as labs created a unique opportunity to learn together in different ways.
Author: Marsha Hagler
Major Program: Natural Resources
Nelson County, Kentucky is county that has very diverse ecosystems. Driving through the county you see knobs areas, flat areas, karst areas, farm land, residential and so much more. One common thread throughout our community is that it all parts of our culture and economy are very closely tied to water. The agriculture community and the bourbon industry thrive because of easy access to water that is rich in minerals from the limestone in the area. The community has seen a
Author: Robert Smith
Major Program: Water and Soil Quality and Conservation
The City of Bardstown is growing and the growing pains come in many forms. The city has recently been designated a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) community. This means that the city now has to comply with the rules outlined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Bardstown is considered a small (phase II) MS4 community and Phase II regulation requires small MS4s in U.S. Census Bureau defined urbanized areas, as well as MS4s designated by the permitting author
