Be Healthy, Grow Your OwnBeth Shephard & Linda Seals Brevard County UF/IFAS Extension

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Why We Do This Class

Requests for

Information Increased

Rising grocery prices

Food safety concerns

Interest in organicsSustainability

Healthier eating

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We have land!

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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.

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The Class• 12 Weeks• 2-hour lecture• 2-4 hours in the

garden

Visual

AuditoryKinesthetic

Addresses different learning styles

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The Class

• Nearly 80 in each class

Participants

• 20 x 20 foot• Usually more than one person per

plot

48 Plots

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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!

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Planting day

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The Class

Urban Horticulture

Commercial Horticulture

AgricultureFamily &

Consumer Sciences

Program uses a multi-disciplinary approach

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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!

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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Outcomes

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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!

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Outcomes

Before49%After

51%

I consider the health benefits of eating fresh vegetables

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Outcomes

Before27%

After73%

I will preserve my excess produce

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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!

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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

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Work Rain or Shine

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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

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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!

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Beets!

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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

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Take Home Messages

Growing your own food increases consumption

Hands-on education

enhances learning

Collaborating increases

programming efforts

Builds communities and

relationships 33