The problem

Over the last few years, the Harrison County Extension ANR, Horticulture, and FCS Agents have noticed an increase in individuals with an interest in homesteading.  The agents are more frequently receiving phone calls and questions related to how to grow and process their own food.  Due to this, the agents decided to offer a Homesteading Series in 2023.  The series was very successful and there were suggestions to continue it, so the series was offered again in 2024, with new topics.  As in 2023, the 2024 Homesteading Series would be offered once a month, at 6:00 p.m., at the extension office, and they began in January 2024.

The educational program response

When planning for the series the agents took into consideration the specific questions they had been asked and specific courses that had been suggested to offer.  It was decided to offer:  

1. January – Maple Syrup 101, taught by a local maple syrup producer, secured by Harrison County ANR Agent.  The Maples Syrup class shared information on how to tap your own trees and make maple syrup.   Those that attended the session were also offered the opportunity to go to the producer’s farm in February.  The field trip offered a tour of their operation including the trees they tap, and the steps and equipment used in making maple syrup and concluded with a taste testing of the syrup that had been recently made.
2. February – Fodder Systems, taught by Extension Program Assistant and local rabbit and poultry producer.  The Fodder Systems class introduced a new approach on small scale feeding and taught participants how to create an inexpensive system to easily grow fodder for small livestock.
3. March – Dehydrating, taught by Harrison County FCS Agent.  Dehydration is one of the oldest methods of food preservation.  In this class participants learned how to use modern day dehydrators as a dehydrating food method.
4. April – Chopping Block: Chicken, taught by Extension Program Assistant and local poultry producer.  Whether you are raising your own chicken or buying whole birds, knowing the skill to break down a whole chicken is a skill that can save you money, so in this session, participants were taught just that!
5. May – Creating Natural Dyes, taught by Harrison County Horticulture Agent and Harrison County FCS Agent.  This class introduced the basics of using flowers and foliage to naturally dye materials and the sustainability potential involved in it.  Participants learned the supplies needed to get started, plants to use, the steps involved, and saw a natural dying demonstration.

The participants/target audience

Participants ranged from youth to elderly and included males and females.

Other partners (if applicable)

The Harrison County Extension Office agents for Ag, Hort, and FCS, and program assistant worked together through the planning stages of the homesteading series. Additional partners included a county resident established in maple syrup production. This individual served as an instructor for the January session and provided a follow up field trip to see the production in action at her local farm following the session. 

Program impact or participant response

Each course would focus on beginner homesteaders.  Participants would learn how to get started in each of these topic areas.  A survey was provided for each topic and results were as follows:  

1. 100% of survey participants indicated an increase in knowledge in each topic, of each session they attended.  
2. Maple Syrup 101 – when asked if participants plan to begin or continue to produce maple syrup on their own, 70% said yes, 15% said no, and 15% were unsure.
3. Fodder Systems – when asked if participants plan to begin or continue to use a fodder system like shown to produce their own fodder, 14% said yes, 57% said no, and 29% were unsure.  However, 100% of participants claimed the information shared was practical to them and 100% stated they would recommend the program to others.
4. Dehydrating – when asked if participants plan to begin or continue to dehydrate foods that were sampled, on their own, 88% said yes, 6% said no, and 6% were unsure.
5. Chopping Block: Chicken – when asked if participants plan to begin or continue to break down whole chickens on their own, 86% said yes and 14% no.
6. Creating Natural Dyes – when asked if participants plan to begin or continue to grow plants for dying, 88% said yes and 12% said no.  When asked if participants plan to begin or continue to dye their own fabric, yarn, etc., 63% said yes, 25% said no, and 12% were unsure.

When participants were questioned about their level of satisfaction, 100% of participants indicated they agree or strongly agree that the Homesteading Series subject matter was timely, the information was practical, the series of classes were educational, and they would recommend this program to others.

Based upon the positive comments received from participants, continuing the Homesteading Series for a second year was determined to be a positive choice.  On surveys, participants suggested future classes for a future Homesteading Series.  With that information, the Harrison County ANR, Horticulture, and FCS agents are likely to offer the series again and incorporate new sessions based on the suggestions from survey takers.