The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted Kentuckians’ lives during the past year, sometimes resulting in food insecurity due to to stay-at-home orders, higher unemployment and grocery shortages. The Nutrition Education Program’s SNAP-Ed Assistants normally hold in-person classes about healthful eating, resource management and other topics, but the pandemic restricted in-person instruction. In response to this challenge, new projects and materials were developed for reaching clients. These included the Victory Garden campaign and “Growing Your Own” publications. 

The Victory Garden social media campaign was developed in partnership with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and Kentucky State University, and was launched during 2020 in response to increasing requests for gardening information. Support from state officials increased visibility of the campaign via news and media outlets. Nutrition Education Program Assistants, often working side-by-side with other Cooperative Extension Agents, provided gardening supplies and tools, seeds, and instructional materials via mail, porch delivery or in Grab and Go bags distributed at County Extension offices. Community partners such as farmer’s markets and food pantries also helped with distribution. These materials, supplies, and information encouraged gardening at community sites, public schools, recovery centers, and family gardens. 

An estimated 44,342 gardening supplies and materials have been distributed since July 2020. Clients and Nutrition Education Program Assistants were surveyed during the fall of 2020 to determine the impact of gardening efforts. According to survey results, 256 family gardens were grown during the summer of 2020. Almost half (45%) of the gardens reported were grown by first-time gardeners. The amount of garden produce harvested totaled over 1,050 bushels. In addition, over half (65%) of survey respondents reported that gardening had helped them spend less on their family’s food. Some also increased their food security by canning, freezing and drying their produce, and reported preserving over 3,420 quarts of fruits and vegetables. These accomplishments were reported as part of a region-wide request for SNAP-Ed program responses to the pandemic, and was included in the Public Health Institute’s Center for Wellness and Nutrition Southeast Regional Success Story Booklet.