Success StoryHorticulture Outreach During COVID



Horticulture Outreach During COVID

Author: Bethany Wilson

Planning Unit: Pulaski County CES

Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture

Plan of Work: Unrelated to a specified County Plan of Work

Outcome: Initial Outcome

     With the nation at a standstill for several months during early 2020, all Extension programs were cancelled or postponed. To stay relevant, the Pulaski County Horticulture Agent developed two Grab N Go curbside pickup programs and developed a YouTube channel. 

     Earth Day Grab N Go bags were distributed to 50 Pulaski County residents. According to the survey results, 67% had not participated in an Extension program before. All respondents planned on planting the items in the bags and some even posted pictures on Facebook to show how the plants were doing.

     Victory Garden Grab n Go bags were provided in late June 2020. UK Nutrition Education provided social media visuals for promotion of the program. Reusable garden calendars, seeds, recipe cars, sunscreen, gloves, and UK and KSU gardening resources were part of the grab bag.  Results of the survey are pending.

     Sky Hope Rehabilitation Center was without Extension garden support during prime planting season. This is a 100-bed drug rehabilitation center for women. The Pulaski County Horticulture Agent provided 100 plant propagation kits for the residents during May 2020.  One of the coordinators who work with the residents said ‘They love their plants.  I always tell them that if they can keep a plant alive, they will probably do well with taking care of their children and a pet.  They can even stay clean too’.

     Approximately 30 short videos were made by the Horticulture Agent during the spring and summer 2020. These were designed to be shorter than 3 to 4 minutes. Overall for all 30 videos, there were 410 views.  This was a new form of outreach and has been fairly successful in engaging new people. The Pulaski County Horticulture channel has 19 subscribers as of this reporting time.






Stories by Bethany Wilson


Recovery Gardens at Sky Hope Rehabilitation Center

about 1 years ago by Bethany Wilson

In Pulaski Countys 2018 Community Assessment, substance abuse treatment ranked as important to very ... Read More


Master Gardener Program

about 1 years ago by Bethany Wilson

Extension Master Gardeners (EMG) are volunteer educators serving across the country in local communi... Read More


Stories by Pulaski County CES


Thriving Cloverbud Club

Thriving Cloverbud Club

about 1 years ago by Erica Spurgeon

Within the Kentucky 4-H program, most clubs and activities become available to youth at age nine. By... Read More


Pulaski County Loves 4-H Day Camps

Pulaski County Loves 4-H Day Camps

about 1 years ago by Erica Spurgeon

One of the greatest aspects of the 4-H program is the plethora of ways that programs can be provided... Read More