Success StoryPlastic Layer/ Demo Garden



Plastic Layer/ Demo Garden

Author: Garrard Coffey

Planning Unit: Rockcastle County CES

Major Program: Commercial Horticulture

Plan of Work: Strengthening Local Food Systems

Outcome: Initial Outcome

In the spring of 2018 the Whitley County Extension Service and Whitley County FFA collaborated to put on a series of commercial vegetable production classes.  The first class was a demonstration of how to use the shared use plastic layer that is owned by the extension service.  The plastic layer was used to lay a row of plastic and install drip line irrigation.  This class also demonstrated how to hook up irrigation equipment and fertilizer tank for vegetable production in plastic.  The second class in this series was planting the vegetable crops.  Tomatoes, peppers, watermelons, cantaloupe, green beans, and corn were planted.  The third class in the series was a demonstration on how to stake tomatoes and green beans.  A California weave and a tomato cage was demonstrated on tomatoes and and a net was put up for the beans to climb on.  This demo plot is located next to the farmers market pavilion so it can be viewed by farmers market vendors and customers throughout the growing season.  In total 23 youth and adults participated in the program. Six of the participants are using the equipment and growing vegetables with the skills learned.  Five other participants are making plans for next growing season to use the skills they learned to produce vegetables for sale.    






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