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Contact Information

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu

Impacts

Contact Information

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu




Fiscal Year:
Jul 1, 2025 - Jun 30, 2026


Success StoryFrom Federal Correctional Inmate to Leading Community Horticulture Classes



From Federal Correctional Inmate to Leading Community Horticulture Classes

Author: Lori Bowling

Planning Unit: Boyd County CES

Major Program: Master Gardener

Plan of Work: Best Management Practices in Home Horticulture

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

Former inmate in a Federal Correctional Institution who went through the Kentucky Master Gardener program while incarcerated has taken his education and used it to teach other gardeners and master gardeners about irrigation.  Many small gardeners struggle with how to set up an effective irrigation system to increase their yields and quality of their produce.  In an effort to reintegrate back into his community the former inmate realized that many of the local farmers were not familiar with setting up an effective, inexpensive way to irrigate.  Using the skills and information he attained while participating in the Master Gardener program while he was incarcerated he developed a hands on workshop to offer to local beginning growers and some veteran growers.  At least 2 of the participants stated that they had learned more about irrigation set up and its importance in this workshop than any of the other classes they had taken on irrigation.  Not only was the Master Gardener program a vital part in teaching a former inmate a marketable skill but he was able to teach others as well.