The Carter County ANR and 4-H Agents worked together with the Carter County SNAP-Ed Assistant Senior to offer a 4-H gardening program in the summer of 2021.   The seven-session series focused on gardening basics, including direct seeding, transplanting, how to read seed labels, succulent and floral care and included in-person and virtual sessions.   Each member received their own gardening tools, UK gardening publications, and a variety of seeds to plant in their own garden.   

The ANR agent assisted 4-H members as they planted a raised bed of cut flowers at the Extension Office, transplanted tomatoes and peppers into their own container gardens, and at a service project at Carter Caves State Resort Park where 4-H members volunteered to help prepare a seed bed and sow wildflowers. The members were able to use the cut flowers to design their own floral arrangements and the tomatoes and peppers to make their own salsa.   

At six of the sessions, youth learned about a healthy snack that related to that day’s session.

Four youth participated in at least one of the sessions.   Verbal evaluations showed that youth gained gardening knowledge throughout the series.   Youth also reported that they had successfully grown items at home.