DRIVING THE POINT HOME: THE VALUE OF EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAMS FOR HOMEOWNERS IN HENRY COUNTY, GA
Horticulture & Turfgrass
Timothy Daly
County Extension Agent
University of Georgia
McDonough
Abstract
As Henry County, GA, has become heavily urbanized over the past decades, large-scale agriculture has declined while small-scale home gardening has risen rapidly. UGA Extension Henry County must adjust programming to accommodate this shifting demographic. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Henry County has a population of 248,000, with an estimated 100,000 residential homes. Many homeowners do not have the knowledge or skills to maintain their home landscapes. UGA Extension Henry County has developed and implemented a monthly ‘Lunch and Learn’ program that covers numerous horticultural topics of interest to homeowners. The presentations are given by Extension Agents, specialists, and other with expertise form outside Extension. The programs various topics of interest to homeowners, such as landscape design, vegetable gardening, lawn care, honeybees, and pruning. After the program, participants received an evaluation of the program. 97% said they learned something new and will make changes to their home landscape because of the program. On the honeybee presentation, one commented, “The program on honeybees has encouraged me to start beekeeping as a new hobby.” Another said: ‘The program information has encouraged me to use more caution and seek the reduction of using pesticides to prevent from harming honeybees.”
Authors: Timothy Daly
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Timothy Daly County Extension Agent, UGA Extension, Georgia, 30252