As part of our mission to help improve individual homes and environments throughout Graves County and the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Miranda Rudolph, ANR Agent, and Denise Wooley, FCS Agent, collaborated to develop a program that utilizes houseplants to enhance air quality, improve home environments, and promote personal mental well-being. 

This program was supported by the Graves County Extension Homemakers and advertised to the public across the region as a lunch and learn program. This event attracted a total of 52 people of various backgrounds, ages, and counties. Participants learned about the science and assumptions around how houseplants can be used to filter indoor air, how to care for common types of houseplants, and how including houseplants in their spaces helps to create a calming living space. In addition to the education received, each participant got to take home a small houseplant of their own to keep at their home.

Out of the 52 participants that attended and filled out the provided surveys the following outcomes were observed:

• 44 participants said that they had increased their knowledge of houseplants may or may not contribute to better air quality
• 45 participants said that they had gained new information about proper houseplant care that they did not already know
• 40 participants claimed that they intended to add houseplants to their homes to improve their living environments and/or mental well-being
• 10 participants added their contacts to our program lists and have become regular attendees of other programs that we offer

Some quotes from participants include:

 "Good info on care for plants. The watering of plants will change how I water." 

"Very enjoyable and I learned a lot."

"A very delightful and informative luncheon."

These outcomes clearly show the success of this program in helping community members build awareness of and put into practice practical health-promoting actions to better their everyday lives. Empowering community members in this way helps them to create healthy and supportive living environments for themselves and their families. This program did more than just teach others; it inspired them to apply what they learned and gave them the confidence to choose and care for houseplants correctly.

By planting these seeds of knowledge, we are helping to create greener, healthier, and happier homes all across Graves County.