Author: Sharon Flynt
Major Program: Community Gardens and Horticulture Therapy
The problem - Increase accessability to fresh, locally grown foodThe educational program response The 2023-2024 Seed Giveaway Program, started during the pandemic, continues to be a highly successful program, further fostering the community’s interest in gardening and sustainability. This initiative not only promotes healthy eating but also encourages environmental education and hands-on learning for individuals interested in learning to grow their own food from seeds
Author: Savannah Gilbert
It is important to provide gardening knowledge, materials and supplies to the community, especially those who face challenges and have limited resources. Many people have never had the opportunity to see or work in a real garden, which means they have never had the chance to watch something they plant grow and produce fresh vegetables to eat. The McCracken County Cooperative Extension Service received a Community and School Garden Grant from the Kentucky Nutrition Education Program which helped
Author: James Morgeson
Each year the Washington County Extension Horticulture Agent offers numerous programs for residents. These programs are offered because of surveys and requests from the community. Over the last year, participants learned about insect identification and control, soil health and composting, how to grow perennials, bulbs, house plants, living wreaths, annuals, vegetables, small fruits, citrus in Kentucky, and much more.There were over 450 participants in total. Statements by participants are as fol
Author: Sarah Imbus
Introduction to horticulture therapy programs for adults. Horticulture therapy programs has been an increased need in Campbell County over the years. Response from previous programs, participants have shared the need of adult horticulture therapy programs: to resources to help with stressful times in their lives, a place to meet new people and engage in new friendship, learn a new skill. This four part series offered programs on botanical candle making, fairy lantern, garden peace pole, and bota
Author: Matthew Futrell
Community Gardens are a two fold approach to supporting our local community. From first look, a garden is a way of providing wholesome produce to members of a community. A secondary impact of our garden is that it provides master gardeners with a purpose. It gives them the ability to share their knowledge and experience with a younger generation. This was a hope that our Junior Master Gardener leaders had for the youth that signed up to participate. The Jr Master Gardener
Author: Jamie Dockery
There is a well documented link between gardening and physical and mental health. As our population ages we are increasingly aware of health issues and many seniors struggle to eat healthy meals on limited incomes. These issues are often exacerbated for those in low income or marginalized populations. In an effort to address some of these concerns The Fayette Extension horticulture agent and Senior NEP assistant developed a hybrid curriculum and program utilizing the healthy choices lessons
Author: Lorin Fawns
Over two enriching days, a community witnessed the power of collaboration and healthy living through a pizza community garden program. Residents of all ages gathered at a local community center, rolling up their sleeves to plant and nurture a variety of fresh vegetables.Guided by the horticulture agent and experienced master gardeners, participants learned the essentials of sustainable gardening and the joy of growing their own food. Children giggled with excitement as they dug into the earth, d
Author: Brandon George
Brandon George, Kenton County Horticulture Agent Kenton County Cooperative Extension’s Arboretum Tour On Saturday, June 8th, the Kenton County horticulture agent delivered the first public tour of the arboretum at the extension office. Fifteen people, including adults and children, attended the two-hour tour that included highlighted features such as the no-mow lawn, meadows, and pollinator garden, that showcased the diversity of plant species, as well as the commitment to sustai
Author: Samuel Cofield
Community GardensThe Trigg County Cooperative Extension Service in partnership with the Trigg County Senior Citizens Center have worked to provide our community members with many opportunities to improve their quality of life by encouraging healthy habits. One of these projects is a community garden located by the pavilion at the senior center. 2024 will be the eighth year of the garden project started at the Trigg County Senior Citizens center. Since starting the project
According to the USDA Farm to School Census (https://farmtoschoolcensus.fns.usda.gov/), school gardening across the country is on the rise. Research continues to show that engaging students in gardening promotes healthier eating habits, improves mental and physical health, builds awareness in agriculture and horticulture career opportunities, builds a sense of community and belonging, and provides a safe space for hands on experimental learning (https://www.naae.org/profdevelopment/magazine/arch
Author: Jennifer Palmer
The problem was lack of access to land and not having access to farming and business classes. The educational program response was overwhelming this year with increased class size and and we split the track into business track and a track focused on farming practices. The participants/target audience - Immigrant farmers that are newly arrived and farm teams that have been participating in the program since 2011. The farmers farm on multiple sites including the seventeen plots that are
Author: Holly Bowman
To follow Bracken County’s plan of work to improve health and well-being our office offered a Lunch & Learn Terrarium Workshop. This workshop was offered to everyone in the county at no cost. The goal was to bring the community and families together as it was held during spring break. A My Plate recipe was served while I went over the benefits of Horticulture Therapy before beginning the terrarium demonstration. I stated the stress relieving and mood benefits associated with horticultu
The problem was infrastructure issues as Farnsley-Moreman community garden that created unsafe gardening space at times. The community garden faced infrastructure issues that caused concern with the gardeners. These concerns were brought to my attention via calls, emails and at the garden meeting. These concerns were with the road and individuals going to the portion of the the garden that was not associated with the garden. Other issues were theft with produce. The gardeners w
The problemResearchers at Rutgers University attested to an increasingly large body of research that demonstrates activities in horticulture can be used “as a therapeutic modality for people with physical, mental, emotional, and social disabilities, as plants are non-discriminating and non-threatening, and anyone can be successful utilizing this medium.” It was further stated that working plants and successful participation in horticultural activities “have unique qualiti
Author: Evan Tate
Exercise and Activity for residents of assisted living centers is a necessity for good health. Residents often enjoy have day to day task and these routines can be apart of an exercise regiment that promotes mobility and wards off obesity. Additionally, assisted living centers often operate on tight budgets and are constantly looking for sources of healthy food at an affordable price.The Hancock County Cooperative Extension Service, Audubon Area Community Services and local businesses all
Drug and alcohol addiction is a growing concern across America. As we look for ways to help individuals recover, the Mason County Extension Office partnered with the local outpatient recovery center. The NEP assistant has worked with the recovery center for several years, offering nutritional education; the horticulture agent asked to partner to make it an experience that included gardening. The horticulture agent applied for a grant through the recovery garden program at the University of Kentu
AVOL Kentucky is an essential component of the Fayette County community with the goals of helping medically vulnerable people navigate to permanent and stable housing, access medical care (health screenings and preventative medications for HIV) and receive social support. Their mission is to collaborate with community partners to end HIV in Kentucky. Fayette County Extension strives to provide programming and resources, reduce barriers to healthy living, and introdu
Author: Mary Dossett
The horticulture agent was contacted by the Paducah McCracken Senior Center in McCracken County because they needed more plants for their raised beds. The agent donated a couple trays of tomato and lettuce plants to the Senior Center. The agent has helped them previously with their raised garden beds last summer with serving on their committee as president, watering, and tending to the plants. The plants were donated originally from the UK Horticulture Farm located in Lexington, Kentucky. The pr
