Lee County Kentucky citizens have below average health as compared to the other counties in the state. Lee County is also considered to have a high ranking compared to other counties in the state when it come to food insecurities. They also rank below the states mean on all health statistical categories. We at the Lee County Extension Office have addressed this problem by educating citizens on production and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables by the use of raised bed gardening and gardening in general.

     We have conducted over 25 gardening lessons in the past four years and had over 1200 people visit or observe the demonstration raised beds. From our surveys we have had over 35 newly constructed raised beds as a result form the educational programs we have conducted. Ninety percent of the participants surveyed stated they had consumed more fresh fruits and vegetables as a result of their participation in the gardening programs. Over 50 percent of participants have increased or started preservation of their own fruits and vegetables that they have produced.