Success StoryFamilies Growing Food During the Pandemic



Families Growing Food During the Pandemic

Author: Shannon Smith

Planning Unit: Bracken County CES

Major Program: Nutrition and Food Systems General

Plan of Work: Healthy Families, Healthy Individuals

Outcome: Long-Term Outcome

The COVID 19 pandemic has brought many new challenges to families.  However, one of the positive outcomes has been a resurgence of home gardening and family togetherness.  The Bracken County Extension Agents worked jointly together to provide information, garden kits and videos to help educate and promote home gardening amongst youth and their families.  This past year many people have been interested in growing their own produce to provide for their families, enjoy a fun and educational family activity and make the most of the extra time families have had on their hands.   This also presented an opportunity for people to learn more about Extension programs and the educational publications we offer. Kits included various vegetable and herb seeds, potato bags, starter packs, watering can, garden tools to help with the transplanting of plants, UK publications on, “Gardening in Small Places” and publication on growing Potato’s. Over 100 kits/bags were distributed to families.   Information was published on our County Facebook page as well as put in the family bags. We used our drop box outside for families who requested more information on gardening.   We asked families to upload their pictures to our Facebook page.  We had some families pick up bags who had not been involved in Extension before and many first time gardeners.  The family garden bags help promote many aspects of growth and education in youth and adults.  Families become more involved together, and learned the importance of nurturing plant growth for food.  When asked if participants learned anything new about growing and producing their own food, 100% indicated that information was gained and they felt the time invested was rewarding for them and their children.  Several families have already made plans to expand and continue the project next summer.






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