Campbell County CES

Title:

Home Horticulture - - Master Gardener Volunteers and the Lakeside Commons Educational Gardens

MAP:

Home Horticulture

Agents Involved:

Imbus, Turner,

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Horticulture, Consumer and Home

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Master Gardener

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Community Leadership Development

Situation:

The Northern Kentucky Master Gardener program is a joint effort between Boone, Kenton, and Campbell Counties. This unique collaboration allows us to consistently have a quality program of 130 Northern KY residents returning 80% of their hours to extension programs. Demand for home horticulture information continue to increase for Kentucky County Extension offices. The KY Ext. Master Gardener (EMG) Program develops trained volunteers to assist county Extension staff in meeting this need for research-based information and public outreach. 50 counties in Kentucky have a Master Gardener Program with an annual savings of $900,000/year while conducting over 300 education classes throughout the state. 

 

In Campbell County, we have at least 35 dedicated volunteers who provide assistance with programming throughout the county reaching a diverse audience in many communities. Majority of outreach programming takes place in the Lakeside Commons Educational Gardens. These gardens provide an educational and research resource for gardeners of all ages and experiences with up-to-date techniques and varieties. These hands-on gardening technique demonstrates to our community sustainable approaches that they can implemented into their landscaping decisions. Campbell County is centrally located within a population of approximately 90,000.  Eighty-five percent of the county is considered urban. Teaching youth and families in the urban communities will increase awareness of food security and provide resources to make better healthy life-style choices. 

Long-Term Outcomes:

The public has a positive perception of EMG volunteers as reliable sources for home horticulture information. EMG Volunteers extend the educational outreach of the Cooperative Extension Service in areas such as community gardens, youth gardening, environmentally sustaining lawn and garden practices, educational gardens, and other topics. EMG Volunteers continue to be recognized for the demonstration of new production methods as well as proven releases of varieties and plants. 

Intermediate Outcomes:

The addition of new demonstration/trial beds/ allows safe space for volunteers to plant, care and harvest produce and flowers. Produce will be donated to local food pantry at St. Bernards Church in Dayton, KY.

Initial Outcomes:

Participants gain knowledge in many aspects of home horticulture.

Increase the number of visitors and programs in the educational gardens.

Evaluation:

Long-term Outcome: Increase in certified Master Gardeners to expand programming throughout the county
 Indicator: participants become certified Master Gardeners
 Method: completing volunteer hours at extension-approved sites
 Timeline: 2024-2025

 Intermediate Outcome: Increase in knowledge and use of environmental BMP gardening practices
 Indicator: provide resources and demonstration for small scale fruit and vegetable production
 Method: hands-on programming
 Timeline: 2024-2025

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Train and mentor new participants in the Master gardener program  Project or Activity: Campbell County will host December 2024 class Inputs: Horticulture Agent, Horticulture Technicians, UK Specialists, Master Gardener Volunteers Date: 2024-2025   Audience: Gardening Enthusiasts  Project or Activity: Demonstrations and hands-on programming held in the Lakeside Educational Gardens Inputs: Horticulture Agent, Horticulture Technicians, Master Gardener Volunteers Date: 2024-2025   Audience: Youth, families and community exploring nature Project or Activity: Interactive displays to adopt sustainable best management practices for the home landscape and lawn Inputs: Horticulture Agent, Horticulture Technicians, Master Gardener Volunteers Date: 2024-2025   Audience: Home gardeners  Project or Activity: Provide soil testing and plant diagnostics services to help gardeners implement BMP into their landscape  Inputs: Horticulture Agent, Horticulture Technicians, UK Specialists, Master Gardener Volunteers Date: 2024-2025

Audience: Food Pantry 
 Project or Activity: teach growing techniques to participants, harvest produce and donate to local pantry. Provide educational material for cooking and meal prep
 Inputs: Horticulture Agent, Horticulture Technicians, Master Gardener Volunteers, FCS agents, SNAP, and collaboration with local agencies such as: FUEL NKU Food Pantry and St. Bernard Food Pantry
 Date: 2024-2025