Having volunteers are a critical component to the effectiveness of county agents. They significantly increase an agent’s ability to reach target audiences and affect change in the community. Volunteers often come from the same areas they work in and see extension agents as a resource to provide education and opportunities that they otherwise may not have access. Technical training and research-based information from University extension programs can provide skill and experience that volunteers and participants can use to educate others and even create financial opportunities for themselves, as is the case with Volunteers Tidal Garret and Carlos Moor. Agent Lewis originally met the two men when they visited the greenhouse hydroponic demonstration he conducted at the People’s Garden in West Louisville. From then, they have stayed in contact and volunteered on various garden projects and have studied numerous extension publications. With the inability to compensate these volunteers for generous work they do, Agent Lewis sought to use his connections with various organizations and knowledge of local resources to help them create financial opportunities for themselves. When Bates Community Development Corp reached out to KSU extension for assistance with starting a community garden, agent Lewis answered the call and employed the assistance of Tidal and Carlos to setup up the garden. The volunteers were able to gain the experience of preparing a community garden. They learned how to till, the principles of using compost and mulch, the science hydroponic gardening and passive irrigation, and where to find free community resources. They used social media to share their activities and eventually became a recognizable face in the urban Ag community. Because of this, people have sought them out for assistance with preparing their gardens and they have been able to earn an income.

They have now expanded from garden installations to other activities that may potentially lead to additional income like mushroom foraging. Successful mushroom foraging relies on knowledge of certain trees that favor particular mushrooms. Agent Lewis has accompanied Tidal and Carlos and several mushroom walks to help them identify particular trees that help positively identify mushroom species. As a result, they have been able to positively numerous medicinal and gourmet mushroom species that a chef seeks after. Some of which have been Morel, Chanterelle, Oyster, Chicken of the Woods, Reishi and Lions Mane mushrooms. They have received a lot of interest in their mushrooms walks and are slowly becoming a community resource on the subject. Since beginning their experience volunteering and receiving educational resources from extension, they have been able to make hundreds of dollars, preparing home gardens, mulching community gardens, and selling wild-harvested mushrooms and garden veggies.