60 sets of seeds, 30 gardening calendars (until supplies ran out) and informative packets were distributed throughout the community by way of the Highland Community Food Basket and the Farmer’s Market. This was in part inspired by the Victory Garden Initiative and the need to communicate that there are three gardening seasons in Kentucky. These packets contained various fall seeds, recipe cards, a measuring spoon, fall planting seed information, along with other various forms of information regarding health, nutrition, and safety. 

Earlier in the summer we distributed another 30 packets of gardening information and seeds to the public with many reporting positive results as well, many posting pictures and comments both of progress in the development of their garden as well as in preserving their produce.  

Some of the Comments received from the follow-up evaluation from the fall garden packets were: 

?    “Very Appreciative!”

?    “Love the measuring spoon!”

?    “Very excited about these recipe cards!”

FCS also hosted a Free Pumpkin Promotion for those who reported actually having planted a Fall garden with the seeds! 

To help encourage the planting of a fall crop, we offered those who received packets to send in pictures of their seedlings or gardens, telling us something that they may have learned, or a recipe that they tried. Those who sent in that information were given the opportunity to pick up a free pumpkin from the Farmer’s Market. We had six people claim pumpkins, of which they were much appreciative of the gesture.

Reports from 15 of the 60 responded, the following were some of the statements:   

?    “I learned good information from the seed packet about fall planting, as normally I only do spring planting.”

?    (From one of the informational refrigerator magnets in the packet.) “I learned how long leftover meat can be saved for, I was surprised by the length of some.”

?    “I appreciate those seeds so much!”