Growing fresh produce in Southeastern Kentucky can be a challenge for a lot of folks, to say the least. Our soil type along with our unpredictable weather during the growing season and the pests that come with this weather are a few of the primary factors associated with unsuccessful gardening in Kentucky. 

The Whitley County Cooperative Extension Service wanted the folks in our community to be aware of more of the non-traditional ways of growing produce, outside of your typical backyard garden. The Whitley County CES decided that it would be worth looking into trying to build a designated Raised Bed Educational Garden here on the extension office grounds. This Raised Bed Garden area would be able to provide numerous educational opportunities along with providing an awesome/professional look to the back of the property. Providing education on various topics such as designing efficient Raised Beds that are user friendly, proper techniques in planting and harvesting produce, as well educational opportunities doing various field studies and field scouting. 

The Raised Bed Teaching Garden will provide a learning opportunity for a large number of folks in the community from several groups. The Whitley County Horticulture Program will be using this garden area for future programming (Beginning Gardening Classes, Raised Bed and Container Gardening Classes,  as well as for Master Gardener and Jr Master Gardener Events. It is our hope that by introducing the concept of Raised Bed Gardening along with providing folks an area where they can take what they have learned and apply the knowledge in a real "hands on" setting. 

Farm Credit Mid-America provided a small grant to help us with the funding of the project. This funding allowed us to purchase a variety of different styles of Raised Beds and Container Options as well as being able to purchase some quality growing medium for the inside of the garden area. Farm Credit Mid-America was very excited for this project to get underway and will continue to provide assistance to us wherever they can. 

Thus far, the Whitley County Master Gardeners have been working to get the project up and running. We have worked to design an efficient teaching area that can be used for years and years to come. We have had the opportunity to begin showing clientele the beginning stages of this project as they visit the extension office and we have had nothing but very positive responses. The community is very excited for the opportunities this teaching garden will provide the people of Whitley County.