The problem

With growing demand for interest in growing your own food, gardening classes have been offered at the Harrison County Extension Office over the last few years.  Each year a different topic or theme is used to help educate participants about growing their own food and raising vegetable gardens.  With continued interest, it was decided that this year’s theme would be The Three Season Garden.  Often folks think of growing a summer garden and even early spring garden, but many times the fall garden is not considered.  The Three Season Garden series of classes would help with that! 

The educational program response

Each session consisted of a PowerPoint presentation along with class discussion where individuals discussed what worked well for them in the past and troubleshooting different topics they had struggled with.  In the Spring Gardening class participants received copies of the ID-128 Home Gardening in Kentucky publication and giveaways including peat pots, seed starter trays, and a drawing was held to give away heat mats and grow lights.  The Summer Gardening class we discussed insects and their effect on plants, so the giveaway included insect ID cards and a hand lens.  The Fall Gardening Class included a discussion on cover crops, with a Cover Crops publication and the giveaway was a hand gardening tool of their choice.

A survey was given consisting of the following results:

1. There was 100% of growth in level of understanding from before the program to after the program in the following areas: cool season vs. warm season crops, direct seeding vs. transplants, what to plant for the spring garden, the importance of crop rotation, what to plant for the summer garden, what to plant for the fall garden, methods to extend the growing season, and using cover crops to improve soil.

The participants/target audience

The Three Season Garden Series would be open to anyone in the public.  The classes were offered as a morning session as well as an evening Session to make the effort to accommodate schedules.  The first class, The Spring Garden was offered on February 12, the second class, The Summer Garden was offered on April 8, and the third class, The Fall Garden was offered on June 10, 2024.  Participants ranged in age, including male and female, and there were a variety of different gardening experience levels represented in the groups. 

Program impact or participant response.

The survey distributed to participants indicated the following behavior change:

1. 100% of responses indicated they plan to begin or continue to raise a spring garden.
2. 100% of responses indicated they plan to begin or continue to raise a summer garden.
3. 100% of responses indicated they plan to begin or continue to raise a fall garden.

The survey also indicated that all participants either Agree or Strongly Agree that the subject matter was timely, the information was practical to them, the program was educational, and they would recommend the program to others.