The Pike County Family and Consumer Sciences Program worked with the Appalachian Roots Garden Club to encourage local residents in the interest and knowledge of horticulture, gardening, garden therapy, and youth gardening. To further promote the core content of FCS, garden clubs also help encourage beautification of the home, community, and state. Through our partnership together, we have been successful in encouraging appreciation and conservation of wildflowers, wildlife, forests, wilderness areas, and other natural resources and cooperating with other agencies promoting these interests.

In August of 2019 the groups successfully planned and executed the inaugural Pike County Garden Tour. Included on the tour were 3 local homes and the Pike County Extension Office Demonstration Garden. All participants received an educational packet filled with Family & Consumer Sciences related materials, Plate It Up Kentucky Proud recipes that featured herbs or produce seen on the tour, and a full-size muffin to sample. Tour registration began at the Extension Office with a water break, directions, maps and a guided tour of our demonstration garden by the Certified Master Gardner responsible for its upkeep.

In our tour’s inaugural year, 30 participants took part in the program. They all reported gaining knowledge about shade gardening, cultivating herbs, vegetable gardening in small spaces and using that knowledge in the beautification of their home. The Plate It Up Kentucky Proud Blueberry Cream Cheese Pound Cake recipe samples influence participants willingness to purchase and use local blueberries for healthier recipes for their families.