1. Harris,* A.S.1, Carroll, D.L.2, East, W.T.3, Mitchell, C.C.4, Smith, K.P. 5, Kelley, M.J.6
1. Regional Extension Agent, Alabama Cooperative Extension, Tallapoosa County, Dadeville, Alabama 36853
2. County Extension Agent, Alabama Cooperative Extension, Lee County, Opelika, Alabama 36801
3. Regional Extension Agent, Alabama Cooperative Extension, Clay County, Ashland, Alabama 36251
4. Extension Agronomist, Alabama Cooperative Extension, Auburn University, Alabama 36849
5. Home Grounds Team Co-leader, Alabama Cooperative Extension, Auburn University, Alabama 36849
6. Regional Extension Agent, Alabama Cooperative Extension, Elmore County, Wetumpka, Alabama 36092
ABSTRACT
In 2008 and 2009, there was a renewed interest in home gardening and a greater demand for information on growing fruits and vegetables. This movement may have been due to a turn in the economy, higher food prices,
demand for known sources of local grown produce, and desire to be self sustainable. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System responded by offering a series of seasonal ‘Home Grown’ Gardening Workshops across the
state in 2009 to educate beginner and experienced gardeners in the areas of home fruit and vegetable production. Approximately 623 people representing 17 counties participated in these workshops. After the workshops, a
post survey was mailed to the participants. When asked “as a result of attending the 2009 ‘Home Grown’ Workshop(s), which of the following did you do?”, - 52% started a home garden, 33% took a soil test, 37% built a
raised bed garden, 11% installed drip irrigation, 31% adopted daily or weekly pest monitoring, 41% used less pesticides, 51% consumed more fruits and vegetables, 5% purchased a home pressure canner, 28% felt they
saved money and lowered their food bill, 41% began composting, 58% added organic matter to their garden soil, and 34% purchased and broadcasted a fire ant bait product. The most significant response was that 69% of
the participants told us they shared their knowledge or information with others. When asked, “How would you rate the value and importance of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and its public educational programs,
including the ‘Home Grown’ workshops?,” 183 participants out of the 183 surveys returned responded “Very High” to “High.”
 2010 Winter Series: Home Orchard
OBJECTIVES Management, Home Fruits Pruning
 Meet the increased demand for Demonstrations, Hands-on Trainings.
home gardening information.
 2010 Spring Series: Tomatoes -
 Develop educational programs and
Starting Seeds, Tomato Varieties,
resources for home food production.
Insects, Diseases and Disorders,
 Offer in-depth public trainings: Homemade Salsa Demonstration, Soil
Night Courses, Day Courses, Preparation, Planting & Training Demo.
Weekend Courses, Online Courses.
 Target and educate both beginner IMPACT
and experienced gardeners.
 Approximately 623 people from 17 counties participated in 2009.
 Reach the underserved rural
populated counties throughout the  An additional 275 people participated in the 2010 programs.
region as well as the urban areas.  In a 2009 follow-up survey, 183 post surveys were returned out of
394 mailed (a 46% return). Participants were asked “as a result of
PROGRAM ACTIVITIES attending the 2009 ‘Home Grown’ Workshop(s), which of the following
did you do?”. The results were:
Eighteen seasonal ‘Home Grown’
workshops were held in the East
Central Region of Alabama from March
2009 to April 2010:
 2009 Spring Series: Garden Soils &
Plant Nutrition, Vegetable Garden
Basics, Benefits of Eating Fruits and
Vegetables, Raised Bed and Container
Gardening, and Home Fruit Selection.
 2009 Summer Series: Sun
Protection for Gardeners, Garden
Bugs, Garden Diseases & Disorders, a
Drip Irrigation Demonstration, Harvest
and Storage Methods, and Home Food
Preservation Tips.
 2009 Fall Series: Fall Garden Soil “The class gave me confidence to start a small vegetable garden. I consider it more of a
Maintenance, Cool-Season Vegetables, success in terms of lessons learned rather than a success in yield. We will definitely try it
again - maybe even a little bigger. I suspect that gardening, like most things, is best
Gardening with Herbs, a Composting learned by doing, but without the classes, I would not have known where to start. I am
Demonstration, and a Fire Ant Bait also glad to know where I can turn for help in the future. Thank you!”
Demonstration. - Jennifer L, Montgomery, AL