Be Healthy, Grow Your Own
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Transcript of Be Healthy, Grow Your Own
Be Healthy, Grow Your OwnBeth Shephard & Linda Seals Brevard County UF/IFAS Extension
1
Why We Do This Class
Requests for
Information Increased
Rising grocery prices
Food safety concerns
Interest in organicsSustainability
Healthier eating
2
We have land!
3
Objectives
Increase confidence in vegetable gardening
• Newcomers to Florida are challenged by our unusual growing season
• Water quality/quantity issues
• Many people do not know where to start
Increase consumption of fresh vegetables
• Increasing fruits and vegetables increases health benefits.
• People have heard so many different things about what foods are safe.
• People do not know how to prepare “new” vegetables so they don’t consume them.
4
The Class• 12 Weeks• 2-hour lecture• 2-4 hours in the
garden
Visual
AuditoryKinesthetic
Addresses different learning styles
5
The Class
• Nearly 80 in each class
Participants
• 20 x 20 foot• Usually more than one person per
plot
48 Plots
6
The Participants• They can access the
garden anytime.• They can bring their
own plants and seeds if they want to grow things not on our list• They are encouraged
to be creative, and to experiment with new vegetables 7
Hands-on class sessions are monitored by Master Gardeners who walk around and provide guidance.
Creativity is encouraged!
8
Planting day
9
The Class
Urban Horticulture
Commercial Horticulture
AgricultureFamily &
Consumer Sciences
Program uses a multi-disciplinary approach
10
Topics
Grow Fertilizer
Irrigation
Pest Management
Soil Management
Healthy Harvesting
Cooking
Food Safety
Preserving11
What They Get
Educational Materials
Florida Vegetable handbook
Loupe
Pest ID booklet
Extension marketing materials
Binder of information
Growing Materials
Seeds
Transplants
Soil amendments
Irrigation supplies
Tools & equipment12
Master Gardener Involvement
Growing Assisting
Teaching
Master Gardeners volunteer over 2,000 hours per class!
13
Master Gardeners assist with every phase of the class. Here they are organizing plants to be delivered to the plots. On the first day of class, participants complete a checklist of the plants they want to grow.
14
Transplants Produced by Master Gardeners15
Resources
What we did
• Land• We have 2-5 acres
• Volunteers• Master Gardeners
• Expertise in gardening• Master Gardeners• Other agents, specialists
Alternatives
• Land• Could downsize and have
one plot for everyone
• Volunteers• Master Gardeners
• Expertise in gardening• Master Gardeners• Other agents, specialists
16
Resources
What we did
• Production facility• Built a greenhouse funded
by a grant and class fees
• Preparing the site• Solicited help from other
agencies• Purchased a tractor in
November• Paid to haul mushroom
compost
Alternatives
• Production facility• Purchase or seek
donations for seeds/transplants
• Preparing the site• Solicit help from other
agencies and/or farmers
17
Evaluation• Before and after
reflective evaluations are conducted on the last day of class and 6 months later.• The following data
collected from a 6-month, before and after reflective evaluation of the first class participants.• Respondents = 41
18
Outcomes
19
Before22%
After78%
I am confident I can grow my own vegetables
“Just a note to let you know that I am still getting tomatoes and Brussels sprouts out of my plot #6! Bigger news is that I have started my own garden on my property. I will be planting this March on a 12’ by 8’ plot. Wish me luck!”
Outcomes
Before24%
After76%
I use an Integrated Pest Management Program
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Vegetables and Flowers!
21
Outcomes
Before49%After
51%
I consider the health benefits of eating fresh vegetables
22
Outcomes
Before27%
After73%
I will preserve my excess produce
23
Our Challenges• Program is too large for
one agent to manage• Irrigation issues – who is
going to make those repairs?• Pest issues – who is going to
apply pesticides?• Questions, questions,
questions!!• Must utilize Master Gardeners
to the max!
• Canning/preserving classes for a large group are challenging
• Cooking classes for a large group…challenging!
24
Our Challenges• Weather• In Florida, cold can be
an issue
• Classroom Management• Large class = too many
questions from individuals. Instructors must be able to manage the classroom
25
Work Rain or Shine
26
Changes for the next class• Install different irrigation system to reduce maintenance issues• Incorporate more hands-on activities• Fertilizer lesson moved outdoors to demonstrate calculation and
application methods• Demonstrate seed sowing, planting, harvesting techniques
• Include a lesson on Extension: how we work, who we are, how participants can help us promote Extension in our county
• Offer more training classes for Master Gardeners to increase participation
27
So What?
Growing Participants learn how to properly apply fertilizer and pesticides
Participants develop an appreciation for gardening and nature
Participants teach others
Garden plots attract attention28
So What?
Healthy New appreciation for locally grown/fresh food
Willing to eat vegetables they have never tried
Learn how to cook healthier
Learn about food safety
Increased consumption of fresh vegetables 29
Yum!
30
Beets!
31
So What?
Other New friendships are formed
Sense of community is developed
Extension gets positive publicity
Creates new things for Master Gardeners to do
Recruiting opportunity for Master Gardener programs
32
Take Home Messages
Growing your own food increases consumption
Hands-on education
enhances learning
Collaborating increases
programming efforts
Builds communities and
relationships 33