Success StoryStraw Bale Gardening



Straw Bale Gardening

Author: Jay Hettmansperger

Planning Unit: Garrard County CES

Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture

Plan of Work: Healthy Lifestyle and Life Skill Education

Outcome: Initial Outcome

The Garrard County Ag and Natural Resource Agent was ask to present a program on straw bale gardening at the Kentucky School Nutrition Association State meeting. The farm to school food program has gained momentum in Kentucky and the State meeting committee wanted to offer something different to the school food service workers.  Straw bale gardening is an alternative for local food service workers to grow vegetables at their schools and homes and use the produce in the school kitchens. The Garrard County ANR agent presented two programs to the food service workers at the conference.  The program demonstrated how to plan and set up a straw bale garden.  Fifty six food service workers attended the programs.  Only 12 percent had heard of straw bale gardening and no one had tried straw bale gardening.  One hundred percent of the attendees reported they could set up and maintain a straw bale garden as a result of attending the program.  The Garrard County ANR agent has received further request for information from attendees so they could present the program to workers that where unable to attend.






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