Information from McCracken County/ Paducah Chamber of Commerce , September 2021: 35% of residents rent their homes.  There is a need to show residents how to grow a garden without damaging the landscape. 

Residents who rent were offered the opportunity to learn how to grow vegetables, herbs and flowers outdoors without disturbing the soil from the McCracken Extension Demonstration and Research Garden.  

A tour of the garden was offered to the public by the horticulture assistant in September 2021 in the evening hours. The event was advertised on social media, the Horticulture News electronic newsletter, and on the electronic sign: 2025 New Holt Road. Around 25 residents attended the event. The horticulture assistant handed out several publications, herbs from the garden, and SNAP recipe cards were handed out. Twenty people asked about how to build a wicking-raised bed as demonstrated and inquired about a publication about the raised bed. The horticulture assistant handed out the UK publication at the general meeting that followed the Twilight Tour.  The horticulture assistant sent out an email requesting master gardeners to volunteer at the tour. Six of the master gardeners agreed to volunteer and help with questions. They were stationed at different locations around the barn to help with distancing. Every weekend during the warmer months the master gardeners volunteer to help water and plant the raised beds a the barn. The master gardeners have donated around 45 hours of their time at the barn. 100% percent of the attendees learned something about new ways of gardening.