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| Success Stories | |
| Excessive and unnecessary use of pesticides and fertilizers in the home landscape threatens water quality, harms beneficial insects, and makes turf and many landscape plants more susceptible to disease problems. Based on a survey of horticulture newsletter subscribers, 198 readers reduced fertilizer use, 126 reduced pesticide use, 418 gained knowledge about proper pesticide use, and 126 fertilized their property based on soil test results. In addition, as a result of this information 537 newsletter readers saved either time or money, estimated by the readers for a total of $23,000 | |
| Many home gardeners contact the Extension center seeking information on plant selection, cultural practices, and pest control. The Urban Horticulture Newsletter is mailed to an average of 1300 county residents each month. Based on a survey, 99.8 percent indicated the newsletter increased their knowledge and 75 percent indicated it helped them save time or money. Increasing their knowledge of environmental stewardship, they learned: correct fertilizing practices (58%), correct pruning (52%), selecting plants suited to the location (47%), mulching (37%), soil testing (37%), and pest identification (26%). | |
| Urban Horticulture is a major interest and concern to home owners in our county. This year we conducted 75 landscape and home gardening meetings, workshops, and demonstrations with 2,487 participating. Two hundred professionals and 1,290 home owners adopted at least one recommended practice, resulting in an average savings of $35.00 per individual for a cumulative total of $45,150. | |
| Residents of public housing had always wanted vegetable gardens, but didn't have space, money, or know how to get started. We initiated a community raised-bed gardening venture. Master Gardener volunteers built raised bed gardens for 40 families, and met regularly with them during the growing season. The raised beds were highly productive. The average garden fed each family four meals per week, worth $160 per family. The gardens enhanced the nutrition, health, and pride of these families. | |
| Hurricanes Fran and Bertha caused extensive damage to barrier frontal dunes and beachfront property. Extension organized and conducted a coastal plants workshop for homeowners and town personnel. Extension mobilized MG volunteers, Garden Council club members, and US Marines to conduct two planting days. Over 25,000 sprigs of American beachgrass were planted on 2,100 feet of public beach access frontage (an estimated value of $1,000 per linear foot). The plantings have begun to establish and stabilize the areas. Plans are to follow with longer term plantings of sea oats and bitter panicum. | |
| Many Hispanic families living in low income housing do not add fresh fruits and vegetables to their diets. The Agriculture agent, working with the nutrition program assistant, and volunteers, placed three raised vegetable garden beds in a predominate Hispanic housing unit. Sixteen individuals from 8 families successfully grew vegetables in the raised beds. Participants reported new gardening skills, the use of new vegetables and greens in their diet, and increased self-esteem. | |
| Realizing the need for fresh fruits and vegetables to be used by the local food bank, we worked with a local church to initiate a community garden. Most of the volunteers were novice gardeners They met weekly with Extension to learn gardening skills. The volunteers grew and donated 3,741 pounds of tomatoes, 3,966 ears of corn, and 521 pounds of squash to the food bank. | |
| In one case, a tree service had quoted work for two trees at $1,400. Subsequent to the agent's on site visit the disease problem was correctly identified and the resident followed the recommended practices for a net savings of $1,000. | |
| County residents want to know plant materials to install into their landscapes that would reduce water and fertilizer usage. Grant funds allowed the establishment of four herbaceous perennial plant beds. An estimated 330 persons adopted environmentally sound gardening practices, such as proper plant selection, soil management, and water and nutrient wise methods. | |
| The need to educate home gardeners on proper cultural practices is increasing. The Extension Service held educational programs on specific gardening practices. Gardeners have adopted best management gardening practices such as calibrating pesticide sprayers, reading pesticide labels, fertilizing based on a soil test, using water wisely and disposing of pesticides safely. By adoption of these useful practice it was estimated to save each participant $25 for a total savings of $22,700. | |
| Participants in four workshops were surveyed. They indicated they would save $3,650 from the new practices they learned. 99 per cent learned a new practice, such as, when to use herbicides and how to conserve energy. | |
| In response to the demand for urban horticulture information, a Horticulture Newsletter was initiated. In a recent survey, subscribers indicated that by using the information contained in the newsletter they had saved over $19,000. | |
| A mother called the Extension center in urgent need of information on what she believed was a poisonous plant eaten by her child. After referring to various Extension references, I identified the plant and its toxicity. Eating small amounts of this plant are not fatal. The child was not sent to the hospital, thus saving the parents and insurance company "unnecessary costs." | |
| Our county is facing a water shortage. Lawn sprinkler systems have a place but frequently are installed incorrectly and apply more water than is needed. Responding to a phone call, we were able to teach a gentleman how to best put in and maintain his fescue lawn. This gentleman saved $4,000 by not putting in a sprinkler system and several hundred gallons of what would have been wasted water, while still maintaining a healthy vigorous lawn. | |
| A program was developed to inform 800 people how to protect, build, and stabilize beachfront property from erosion through dune fencing, plant selection and management. Of the 800 people informed, 180 attended a workshop on dune building and stabilization and 368 people purchased American Beachgrass to build and stabilize dunes ravaged by Hurricanes Birth and Fran. Over 759 beachgrass bundles were sold to oceanfront property owners. This number of bundles could cover a 50 foot wide by 6.3 mile long swath of beachfront property offering erosion protection to approximately $68,000,000 of beachfront property (based on average value of $2,000 per linear foot of beachfront). Additionally, property owners behind the beachfront properties share the benefit of protection from storm surge due to this program, at a total value to the communities of well over $102,000,000. | |
| A client was delighted to find four loropetalum at a garden shop. He was told they would not get over 2 foot tall and would do great in front of windows that started 2 foot off the ground. He called the Extension center seeking additional cultural information. He was provided the information requested and was informed that the plants would grow 10 to 12 feet tall and just as wide. He returned the plants and bought a compact holly, thus saving him maintenance time and reducing the amount of yard waste produced. | |
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