The problem

Since the onset of COVID-19, increased cost of food and access to a consistent supply of nutritious foods has become a challenge across the U.S and Kentucky.

The educational program response 

The garden kits contained enough seed for a family of four, to grow green beans, zucchini squash, summer squash, cucumbers, beets, and herbs. The kits also contained general gardening publications from U.K. & KSU, publications specific for the vegetables & herbs seeds provided, SNAP publications, Chop Chop magazines for families with children, “Healthy at Home” newsletters, nutrition articles, recipes, and gardening calendars. The kits were distributed to:

1. Hartford Food Bank – 802 families; 2000 total family members
2. Fordsville Food Bank – 85 families; 327 total family members
3. Hispanic Stores and Catholic Church – 225 families; 900 total family members
4. Ohio Co. Headstart Program – 4 families; 14 total family members
5. Ohio Co. Library Learning Program – 10 families; 20 total family members
6. Senior Citizens Program – 20 total participants         

The participants/target audience

To support Ohio County’s limited resource citizens in attaining nutritious vegetables, the ANR agent and FCS program Assistant expanded the garden kit program, by providing programming & kits to not only the Hartford & Fordsville Food Banks, but added the Senior Citizens Program, Ohio Co. Headstart, and the Ohio Co. Library Learning Program.

Other partners (if applicable)

Senior Citizens Center, Hartford Food Bank, Fordville Food Bank, Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, & 2-Hispanic groceries

Program impact or participant response.

Impacts seen include:

1. Average family size = 4
2. 25% planted a garden for the first time
3. 70% canned or froze produce for winter consumption 
4. One family canned 60 pints of pickled cucumbers, 75 jars of squash and 50 jars of green beans to share with 3 other families

Testimonials from participating families:

1. “Having the garden gave us easy access to nutritious vegetables”
2. “I love going into my backyard to pick my own vegetables, rather than going to the grocery. This way I know they are fresh.”
3. “I don’t know what we would have done without the garden kits. With the cost of living this year, my three grandchildren and their parents moved in with me. We all worked together and canned enough vegetables to support us through the winter. We would not have made ends meet without it.”