Success StoryOrganic and Sustainable Approaches to Home Gardening In-Service Training – Empowering Agents through Needs-Based Hands-On Training



Organic and Sustainable Approaches to Home Gardening In-Service Training – Empowering Agents through Needs-Based Hands-On Training

Author: Nicole Gauthier

Planning Unit: Plant Pathology

Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

Kentucky agriculture and natural resources and horticulture county Extension agents reported an increase in number of inquiries related to organic and sustainable home gardening. In 2015, two agent in-service workshops were conducted by Extension professionals in Departments of Plant Pathology, Horticulture, and Entomology. Workshops consisted of presentations and hands-on activities addressing management of diseases, insects, and weeds, as well as plant nutrition and composting. Twenty percent of Kentucky’s agriculture and natural resources/horticulture agents participated in the workshops.

A survey measured skill retention and implementation 12 months after attending the training. Agents reported a high level of retention for each of the program topics including plant disease management, insect management, weed management, and plant nutrition/composting, with values of 4.20, 4.00, 4.10, 4.30 (on a 5-point scale) respectively. On average, agents rated their ability to assist homeowners with questions on the topic of organic and sustainable gardening as a 3.80 on a 5-point scale. Attendees indicated that information obtained from the training has been used to advise homeowners (90%) of attendees, in newsletters (70%), to provide presentations to the public (60%), in media articles (40%), on radio/tv (40%), and on social media (30%). In total these agent activities have generated 1,062 direct contacts and 44,952 indirect contacts. Agents also stated that “the training was excellent” and that they “would love to continue to have advanced trainings on this topic.”   






Stories by Nicole Gauthier


Using Solarization to Manage Sclerotinia sp. in High Tunnels

about 4 months ago by Nicole Gauthier

Diseases caused by the soilborne fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum can affect a wide range of plants w... Read More


Disease Scouting Resources: Technological Upgrades for Specialty Crop Growers

about 4 months ago by Nicole Gauthier

Integrated pest management practices are the foundation of disease management, and proper identifica... Read More


Stories by Plant Pathology


Development of "Scabinar 2024", a successful multi-state webinar on management of Fusarium head blight of wheat

about 3 months ago by Carl Bradley

Fusarium head blight (also known as “scab”) of wheat is the most damaging disease that regularly occ... Read More


University of Kentucky Crop Pest Management Webinars--2023

about 3 months ago by Carl Bradley

The University of Kentucky Grain Crops Integrated Pest Management group organized a 4-week webinar s... Read More