Due to the success of the “Eat Local, Grow Local” workshop series in 2017, the Jefferson County Extension Agent for Horticulture Education, The Urban Conservationist with the Jefferson County Soil & Water Conservation Service and Louisville Grows decided to partner together to provide a nine month workshop series for more advanced backyard producers called, “Eat Local, Grow Local: Urban Homesteading”. The series primarily utilizes the knowledge and expertise available through these three organizations but will also be including other local experts to inform participants about various topics and community resources.

The class meets bi-weekly and spends each of the nine months focusing on one topic surrounding urban homesteading. The first class session of the month is an introduction to the topic in the format of a participatory lecture and the second session of the month is a hands-on workshop where participants get to practice the skills they have learned or explore a specific topic more in depth. 

As of April first, 28 participants, 88% of whom are first time Extension participants, have attended the first three classes, including one in an unheated hoop house during a snow storm to attend hands-on workshops on seed starting and season extension. During the nine month series, participants will seek to improve their knowledge and abilities on various topics such as urban beekeeping, urban chicken keeping; perennial fruit production & water conservation systems. At the beginning of the series, program participants took a pre-test to determine participant knowledge and interest in the various topics. Some of the results from the pre-test are as follows:

92% DO NOT currently keep bees.

57% indicated that they “definitely yes” or “probably yes” are interested in starting a beehive.

32% definitely cannot or do not know how to conserve water in their outdoor areas

74% DO NOT Have a composting system at their home

81% indicated that they “definitely yes” or “probably yes” are interested in starting a compost system

The course will run through October 31 at which time the participants will receive a post-test that asks about their plans to implement various homesteading topics within the next six months to one year based on their participation in the program.