This document discusses the history and current state of answering consumer horticulture questions submitted to eXtension. It began in 2005 with 8 pioneer communities of practice, including consumer horticulture. By 2008, over 2,600 questions were being answered annually by over 100 experts across 28 states. Currently there are over 400 experts representing 47 states. The majority of questions are still answered by extension master gardeners and specialists. More recently, county extension staff have increased their participation in answering questions. For most recent data analyzed, around 90% of questions were answered by experts located within the question's state of origin, improving local support. Sustainability remains a concern as question volume grows each year.

1. Who Answers Consumer Horticulture Questions submitted to eXtension?Rick Durham and Candace Harker University of KentuckyConsumer Horticulture CoP

2. AaE Answered Questions

3. HistoryeXtension work by CoPs began in 2005Consumer Horticulture was one of 8 pioneer CoPsProject Leaders: Rick Durham, UK with Candace Harker – FAQsMary Meyer, UMN with Karen Jeannette – Basic contentPublic launch of eXtension Gardens Lawns and Landscapes was February 2008 Prior use of AaE beginning in 2007 by Mn Master Gardeners

4. Even before public launch, Consumer HortAaE became activeAsk a Minnesota Master Gardener redirected to the site in 2007Horticulture questions asked by users visiting other content areas

5. Gardens, Lawns and LandscapesVery popular content~50% of requests for information to county Extension offices related to consumer horticultureExtension Master Gardeners were already heavy users and advocates of on-line Extension informationOur vision was to use MG as Experts to answer AaE questions

6. Extension Master GardenersNationwide network of trained, certified and motivated Extension volunteersDiverse interests and expertiseWell connected to county Extension officesAlready answering public questions

7. Early data from GLL/Consumer Horticulture

8. eXtension FAQ/AAE ActivityMarch 30, 2006 – July 20, 2008

9. Who answers our questions?July 2008 dataStates with >/= 1 responder = 28*Responder demographics:State specialists = 32County agent/educator = 42EMG volunteers = 35Other = 7Total = 116*Some responders cover more than one state

10. Questions keep coming, and coming, and coming….

11. AaE Questions2006 – 172007 – 5512008 – 26372009 (Aug) - 4029

12. Who answers questions-2009?275 “Experts” historically for Hort (200 current representing 40 states)MGs, county staff, state specialists, part-time eXtension project employee34% answered 1 question48% answered 2-25 questions8.5% answered 26-50 questions5% answered 51-100 questions2% answered 101-250 questions1.5% answered 251-500 questions1 person has answered 1890 questions

13. Dilemma-sustainabilityMinnesota MGs – 25% of questionsCandace Harker – 25% of questionsWhat do we do in 2010 when we have 10,000 questions?What do we do in 2011 when we have 20,000 questions?When will we be unable to answer all these question?

14. Problems and SolutionsScalability Reassigning questions was a problemQuestion wranglers have been a big helpBuy-in by state/county staffSlow in the beginning - “Coalition of the willing”Institutionalization of eXtension and widgetsEngagement of Extension Master Gardener Coordinators with social media and on-line discussions

15. blogs.exetnsion.org/mastergardener

16. Trends in Ask an Expert activity for eXtension Consumer Horticulture

17. Hypotheses:Institutionalization of eXtension should result in more AaE activity at the county level.As more activity become localized, the number of questions answered by “local” experts should increase.

18. Procedure:Answered AaE in category Horticulture8 data sets from public siteApril 1-8 in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011September 20-27 in 2007, 2008, 2009, 20104 data sets from widgetsApril 1-8 in 2010 and 2011September 20-27 in 2009 and 2010Experts categorized by Master Gardener, Specialist, or County staffGeographical origin of question and expert

19. Number of Questions analyzedApril – Public Site2008 – 622009 – 762010 – 1642011 – 129April – Widget2010 – 952011 – 67September – Public Site2007 – 22 2008 – 542009 – 782010 – 88September – Widget2009 – 502010 - 66Total of 960 answered questions analyzed

20. Results

21. Who answers AaE Questions for September - Public?

22. Who answers AaE Questions for April - Public?

23. Who answers AaE Questions - Widget?

24. Totals – Percentage by sub-group

25. Geographic origin of question and expert answerSeptember 20-27April 1-8

26. DiscussionCurrently have 405 Experts with horticulture preference representing 47 states.Master Gardeners remain a very important component of Consumer HortAaE.Question answering by county staff appears to be increasing.For most recent data, ~90% of the questions were answered by an expert from the question’s state of origin.

27. Questions?