For years, the EFNEP Assistant has tried to encourage the use of planting a garden at the rehab facility she is currently partnering with.  The different directors of the rehab would consider it, but it has never quite become a reality.  There has always been something to get in the way of this being accomplished and it would be moved to the back burner until a better time, which still only a small part has come to fruition, with the delivery of the Fall Victory Garden packets delivered to the facility.

According to an article in the Kentucky Northern Tribune, Agriculture Commissioner Dr. Ryan Quarles has announced a new Kentucky Department of Agriculture partnership with the University of Kentucky’s Cooperative Extension Service and Kentucky’s Nutrition Education Program to encourage Kentuckians to get in touch with their agricultural roots during the coronavirus pandemic.

The UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment is grateful for this partnership with KDA, which will allow us to serve more citizens,” said Dr. Nancy Cox, dean of UK’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. “This project builds on the successful and dedicated efforts of Family and Consumer Science programs to offer nutrition advice for Kentucky families. We know that the food dollar has never been more stretched, so this collaboration is so important. We thank Commissioner Quarles for his confidence in the Kentucky Cooperative Extensions Service.”

This year if one could say something positive came from COVID-19, it would be the fact that more than ever, people have come together to accomplish things as a team, and that is one of the things that has been accomplished by the agents, program assistants, and staff at the Whitley County Extension Office.  What started as an entire office collaboration in the means of the Victory Fall Garden bags that were handed out at the office and the Farmers Markets, has also helped the EFNEP Assistant get the rehab center’s “gardening” project idea, a step closer to becoming a reality.  There were twenty six of the Extension Fall Victory Garden Bags that she dropped off at the rehab facility.  From those bags in addition to the many educational pubs from everyone in the Whitley County Extension program participating, and publications from the EFNEP’S Healthy Choices for Every Body curriculum, the rehab staff and clients obtained plants and seeds to grow fall vegetables.  This has sparked so much interest that the Director said she would definitely check into the feasibility and rules to possibly start a garden at the facility in the spring.