Author: Kathryn Wimberley
Major Program: Master Gardener
The Covid pandemic created a problem for continuing education opportunities for the Extension Master Gardeners. Having a virtual educational program was a good solution. What began as a short term stop-gap for in person programming during the 2020 Pandemic, has become a much-attended weekly horticulture program. Due to the continuing popularity of the Horticulture Webinar Wednesdays program a team of Kentucky Horticulture Agents have continued to present weekly Wednesday Webinars at 12:30 E
Author: Amy Aldenderfer
In October 2020, the Lincoln Trail Area Master Gardener Association, with the guidance and technology experience of the Horticulture Agent, presented a one-day, virtual state-wide Master Gardener Conference. There were over 125 Master Gardeners in attendance for 5 continuing education credits. There were 5 speakers, a virtual garden tour,and tips from local Master Gardeners. The conference was a huge success, given the new technology and the limitations on travel. The Lin
Author: Amanda Sears
The Madison County Master Gardener Club meets once a month for continuing education and to help retain volunteers. Historically, each month different members or someone from the community speaks to the group about a horticulture topic. Due to COVID 19 the group was unable to continue to meet face to face. The Madison County Horticulture Agent organized ZOOM meetings each month during the pandemic to help keep the members engaged. The Agent chose topics based on ideas from the group, put together
Author: Annette Heisdorffer
The Extension Master Gardener Program develops leadership skills and contributes to the community. A strategic plan was developed by the Extension Master Gardeners, with the help of Dr. Nicole Breazeale, Department of Community and Leadership Development, and the horticulture agent to make the most impact with the volunteers’ time in the community through horticultural programs. The plan was started with a Ripple Effect Mapping session attend by 29 Green River Area Extension Master
Author: Richard Durham
Because of COVID-19 restrictions, Master Gardener Training was different in 2020. Training usually occurs at the county or adjacent multi-county level, and 10-15 programs may conduct training in any given period (usually fall or spring). In 2020, I worked with several extension agents for horticulture/Master Gardener coordinators to plan a virtual training. Amy Aldenderfer, Harden County extension agent for horticulture, led this effort with significant contributions from Kristin Hildebrand, ext
State-wide Virtual Extension Master Gardener Program 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 co
Hardin County has almost 40,000 households with over 105,000 residents. Extension Master Gardeners enable residents to access research based information as an extension to the county Horticulture Agent. The Extension Master Gardener Program consists of 15 classes of intense training in various areas of interest to a horticulture enthusiast. After the classroom training is complete a minimum of 40 hours of volunteerism is required to be given back to the community through extensi
Author: Gina Ligon
Boone County Master Gardener Virtual Garden Tour Master Gardener projects and activities were reduced due to Covid-19, but this became an amazing opportunity for Master Gardener volunteers to show off their own landscapes. Nine Boone County Master Gardener volunteers chose to open their landscapes to our cameras. We viewed home vegetable gardens, to front landscape beds, dry creek beds to reroute water to stop erosion issues, and gardens that looked like magazine covers.  
Author: Bethany Wilson
Extension Master Gardeners are required to volunteer hours of service back to the community or in efforts that help Cooperative Extension. Over the course of this fiscal year, even with lack of engagement events due to COVID, the Lake Cumberland Master Gardeners have volunteered over 1000 hours of community service. Using hourly wage data from the Independent Sector, this amounts to roughly $23,500. Not only do Master Gardeners help maintain three public ga
Author: Adam Leonberger
In order to supply affordable plants to the community, the Capital Area Extension Master Gardeners have held an annual plant sale for over 12 years. The Covid-19 pandemic has lead to an explosion of homeowners that started gardening that made this effort especially important. This sale not only provides county residents access to affordable plants, but also raises funds for their outreach activities and two academic scholarships for students studying horticulture degrees.The Ca
Need: Due to Covid pandemic guidelines in early months of 2021, the Horticulture Agent, Horticulture Assistant, and the McCracken County Extension Master Gardeners (MCEMG) were faced with the challenge of how to conduct the annual flower show in Floral Hall of the county fair. Planning begins in January of each year for the June edition of the County Fair. An alternative to the usual was needed to fit last-minute decision by the Fair committee to hold the 2021 Fair. Agent and Assista
Author: Paul Andrew Rideout
Master Gardener Program; Re-Envisioned For several years, the Henderson Master Gardener program has seen declining numbers and declining active participation. Starting with over 60 volunteers in 2016, 2020 ended with only 21 active volunteers. The Master Gardener Association’s mission is education, but most members enjoy the social aspect just as much. Learning from each other. Mid 2020, the officers set up a committee to look at member recruitment and mem
Author: Kristin Hildabrand
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
Author: Lori Bowling
Extension Master Gardener volunteers help to expand the outreach efforts of the Horticulture program in Boyd County. They are a vital part of Cooperative Extension Service in the community by helping to present educational programs using their gardening experiences and knowledge they have gained through the Master Gardener class and the educational programs they have at their monthly meetings. They volunteer to help plan and execute such extension programs as Farmers Market, the Holi
Author: Keith Hackworth
The Floyd County Extension Master Gardeners continues outstanding programs and community service. At this point in the year and limited due to COVID restriction, ten master gardeners have completed 202 volunteer hours and reached 812 individuals through their efforts. Several are doing community service projects by working with raised bed gardening at nursing home facilities, senior housing sites, and low-income housing centers. The newest site is two raised bed gardens at the county’s hom
Author: Sharon Flynt
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Kentucky Horticulture agents, headed by Andrea Stith and Amy Aldenderfer, started the Horticulture Webinar Wednesdays as an alternative to in-person horticulture lessons. The live webinars are Wednesdays at 2 p.m. ET and 1 p.m. CT. Utilizing a volunteer scheduling website, agents, specialists, and other experts were recruited to present a 30-45 minute lesson to the public, with time at the end for questions. All the presentations were recorded,
Author: Erika Wood
The Extension Master Gardener program is a volunteer organization dedicated to teaching and training people about horticulture related topics. This program is a part of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service and assists county extension agents in providing education and outreach in the community. Master Gardeners are required to undergo training and complete 40 hours of volunteer service in their first year before becoming certified. After the first year, Master Gar
Author: Chris Ammerman
The worldwide health pandemic has shifted outreach options and the steady uptick in positive cases linger doubts over the heads as to when we will see the end. In an effort to provide some positive energy into an otherwise dreary winter season, local Master Gardeners virtually collaborated to create a bulb starting initiative to place some spring blooms in the homes of the citizens of Grant County.Lead by Extension Master Gardeners, a take home planting and propagation program was develope
