Victory Gardens
Author: Susan Fox
Planning Unit: Lyon County CES
Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home
Plan of Work: Home Horticulture
Outcome: Intermediate Outcome
Victory Gardening became a theme with a surge of interest in home gardening. Because of COVID-19 restrictions home horticulture educational programs were moved to mostly online formats.
- A fall vegetable gardening program was held with 14 participants receiving plants, floating row cover, hoops and tent pegs so that they could grow a fall garden. Plants included cabbage, bok choi, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach and beet seeds. Vegetables continued to be harvested in January.
- A church was assisted with growing fall vegetables in eight raised beds. Technical assistance including plants, hoops and row cover was provided. Vegetables were planted in late August. Weekly bags of greens, bok choy, broccoli and other vegetables were provided to 30 lower-income families for two months and the beds are still producing with beets and Brussels sprouts nearing harvest.
- The opportunity to participate in a community garden was offered. One person participated grew okra, squash, tomatoes, pumpkins and more in a raised bed. Her three grandchildren helped and were excited about the pumpkins and vegetables.
- Provided a tomato production class, 'From My Head Toma Toes', for a Horticulture Wednesday Webinar that was attended by 100 people and counted as in-service training for 11 participating agents.
- Four varieties of strawberries were given to participants in a Home Strawberry Production Class which was offered March 23, 2020. First harvests were obtained this spring!