Toolbox Class Oct 2021 on Houseplants The Need: The Covid-19 pandemic was still an issue when the Horticulture Agent, Assistant and McCracken County Extension Master Gardeners (MCEMG) recognized the need to help residents learn how-to prepare houseplants to winter indoors. Shortage of availability of professional potting mix at local retailers through the 2021 growing season indicated that residents are gardening at home more in these unusual times.  MCEMG had a supply of 12 large and overgrown houseplants donated for use in the sunroom of the Nuckolls Barn. Preparing these for winter provided an opportunity for MCEMG to teach the public at the free event known as the Toolbox Class. 

The Program: 18 MCEMG met together and developed the Toolbox Class for October 2021. This is a free event and was advertised in the McCracken County’s Horticulture Newsletter, on social media, the local newspaper and on the electronic sign at the Extension office. This was held outdoors, and chairs were spaced 6 feet apart. Weather cooperated and 29 residents attended. Twelve questions and answers were exchanged while 4 MCEMG lifted plants from containers, divided them and then replanted them correctly in containers. The crowd was enthusiastic and delighted when new divisions of these houseplants were handed out.  For additional education, the Horticulture Agent and Assistant had UK publications available as hand-outs.  

The Long-Term Outcome: This program, among the many taught by MCEMG, showed that this group of volunteers, which began as Purchase Area Master Gardeners Association (PAMGA) in 1999, has stayed together and worked together and educated the residents of McCracken County for 22 years.