ASHS 2024 Conference

Fruit Classes Teach Invasive Species Management and IPM Practices to Homeowners, Master Gardener Volunteers, and Pesticide Applicators - Kaydie McCormick
Invasive Potential of Ornamental Landscape Plants in Southern Arizona - Michael Chamberland
Education on Water Saving Landscaping Practices Results in Measurable Water Conservation - Tiare Silvasy
Cultivating Connections: Empowering Professionals through NC Farm to School Training Initiative - Liz Driscoll
The gARTening Program: Fostering Community Engagement through Innovative Education - Clarissa Chairez
Welcome Home to Gardening in Tennessee: Reaching New Audiences with New Collaborative Outreach Models - Natalie Bumgarner
Enhancing Backyard Fruiting Cultivation Efficacy Through Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Techniques for Homeowners - Brittany Council-Morton

Florida's diverse climate offers ample opportunities for cultivating various fruit crops, especially as traditional citrus faces disease challenges. However, accessible information on alternative fruit crops is limited. In response, a series of online classes was initiated in 2020 to address this gap, coinciding with the need for Continued Education Units (CEUs) for pesticide license holders during COVID-19 lockdowns. The objectives of the class series were threefold: to enhance knowledge of fruit crop cultivation in Central Florida, promote the adoption of Best Management Practices (BMPs) in crop selection and care, and provide CEUs for pesticide license holders in Florida. In its pilot year, three Extension Agents developed a five-week class, expanding to a six-week series in 2021 involving five Agents across three counties. Each session focused on BMPs for landscapes and the cultivation of at least three different fruit crops, including discussions on potential invasive pests as well as alternatives to invasive fruit trees that shouldn’t be planted. The classes were conducted via Zoom and archived on YouTube for wider accessibility. Evaluation of the program included a post-class survey to assess knowledge gain and a three-month follow-up to measure the adoption of practices. Over the course of 2020-2023, the series covered care techniques for 29 different fruit crops. The impact of the classes has been significant. Since 2020, 23 episodes have been produced, attracting a total of 2,015 live viewers. Participants earned a total of 361 CEUs. Survey results indicated a substantial knowledge gain, with 96% (1,480/1,540) of respondents reporting increased understanding of the material. Moreover, 79% (195/248) of respondents adopted at least one new Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy after taking the class. According to that same survey 48% (98/202) have altered turf to fruit trees, planting a total of 37,477 square feet with edible plants. In summary, the online class series successfully addressed the demand for information on alternative fruit crops in Florida while providing valuable CEUs for pesticide license holders. Its impact is evidenced by increased knowledge among participants and tangible changes in cultivation practices towards more sustainable and diverse fruit production.

Plants introduced through ornamental horticulture have contributed to exotic species invasions around the world. Fifteen landscape plants commonly used in horticulture in southern Arizona have been evaluated using the Plant Risk Evaluator (PRE) tool developed by PlantRight and Cal-IPC. The evaluations have recognized eight of these species as presenting high potential risk of escaping cultivation and becoming invasive in Arizona. The process of evaluating ornamentals has fostered communication and collaboration between invasive species managers and Extension horticulture agents, who previously had little interaction. The findings have been communicated through several articles on invasive species in the trade magazine, Southwest Horticulture. This information has contributed to two cultivated species (Searsia lancea and Ulmus pumila) and the entire genus Tamarix being newly added to the Arizona State Noxious Weed List. Arizona Master Gardeners have been educated on invasive plant issues to foster outreach to the public and to aid their planting choices.

Florida is facing critical water scarcity due to population growth. The home landscape is an opportune setting to make changes in practices to conserve water. Extension programs on water conservation in the landscape can provide residents with the information they need to adopt new practices to conserve water. In 2021-2023, UF/IFAS Extension residential horticulture programs in Central Florida, educated 6,474 residents about sustainable landscape practices. Based on client self-reported follow-up surveys (n=342), the annual water savings due to adoption of best landscaping practices was approximately 11.6 million gallons. It saved homeowners $49,977 in utility bills (based on regional value of $4.30 per 1,000 gallons). The most adopted practices included calibrating sprinkler systems to deliver ½ inch to ¾ inch of water instead of 1 inch, reducing irrigation frequency during summer, and reducing irrigation frequency during winter. Adoption is lower for water conservation practices that require installing soil moisture sensors and converting or installing irrigation spray heads. Participants reported (n=342): 35% eliminated irrigation or converted to low volume irrigation, 46% reduced irrigation from 3 to 2 days per week, 45% reduced irrigation frequency in winter, 46% reduced irrigation frequency in summer, 25% using a working rain shutoff device, 37% calibrated irrigation to ½” or ¾” rather than 1” or more. Impacts of changes in household water use multiply when life cycle assessment of a water supply system is considered. The reduction of 11.6 million gallons of residential water use resulted in saving 40,022 kWh of energy and $30,162 in treating and delivering water to the end users, reducing 28 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent of greenhouse gas emissions, deferring the need for $98,734 investment in alternative water supply infrastructure, and potentially reducing stormwater runoff and avoiding water quality deterioration. The impacts of these water conservation efforts are even greater than the values represented here based on total program attendance. This shows the efforts of extension agents educational programs resulted in measurable water savings to help Florida households conserve water.

As the Farm to School movement continues to gain momentum, professionals in education, agriculture, and public health are seeking innovative ways to integrate this holistic approach into their practices. In North Carolina, our local, regional, and statewide food system has strengths across various sectors. Local agencies and community organizations now have decades of experience partnering together to maximize opportunities for local farmers and local food businesses. Partnering together, these food system practitioners have clearly begun to see that a systems approach is vital to supporting all sectors and stakeholders, vital to addressing the deep roots of inequity that negatively impacts our communities of color and particularly our children. The central need is in how to facilitate integrated efforts–both across farm to school components and also with multi-sector stakeholders–given that research shows that integration of farm to school programming brings the longest and most significant health and learning impacts on children. Our approach has been to develop the North Carolina Farm to School Training Initiative, a rich space of collaboratively created online content that informs and educates across the farm to school program areas. Through a combination of interactive modules, case studies, and expert-led discussions, our first course, School Gardening, provided participants with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the complexities of Farm to School programming. The results from surveying pilot participants suggest numerous impacts, both on an individual and community level. Preliminary results found participants increased their knowledge and gained a deeper understanding of farm-to-school initiatives, including building community engagement through school garden teams, integrating gardening into curriculum, and the horticulture knowledge to successfully grow a garden. Participants improved their practical skills such as gardening techniques and the application of educational programming in the garden. Part of the course included interactive discussion boards and a qualitative review showed a number of themes emerged including that the course participants strongly benefitted by connecting with a group of like-minded educators and community organizers by fostering collaboration and support for farm-to-school efforts. Community engagement was another emergent theme with participants and they named that they would like to become more involved in their local food systems, finding connections with community partners like growers and Extension for access to resources and materials. These results suggest that fostering a community of practice that transcends geographic boundaries and provides localized and engaging content has significant potential to support great professional engagement in farm to school.

Orange County, Florida, an urban county with a boasting a population of 1.4 million residents, faces a distinctive demographic trend with a homeowner rate of 56%, notably below the national average of 64%. This indicates a higher proportion of renters and apartment dwellers within our community. In order to expand the reach of our horticultural efforts beyond the limitations of traditional homeownership and include all residents, our Master Gardener Volunteer Program developed the Garden Art (gARTening) program, aimed to appeal to a wider audience. Beyond mere attraction of new attendees, our focus was to increase: office foot traffic, awareness of UF/IFAS Extension Services, and create a unique hands-on program that maintained affordability while generating revenue. We developed "The gARTening Program," featuring unique garden-related art projects, to achieve our objectives. Classes ranged from 1-2 hours and $5-35, with topics such as terrariums, kokedamas, pressed flower art, and more. Collaborating with Master Gardener Volunteers (MGVs), we created educational materials such as PowerPoints, handouts, and economical shopping lists. Our diverse approach attracted a broad audience, including young families, mother-daughter pairs, couples, and individuals, fostering inclusivity and engagement. The outcomes of the gARTening Program exceeded expectations: • Revenue generated in one year: $3200 • 47% of participants were new to UF/IFAS Extension and had never utilized our services before. • 70% joined due to the unique hands-on experience. • 95% indicated they gained knowledge of UF/IFAS Extension services as a result of attending the workshop. • Additionally, participants showed continued engagement, with many signing up for additional classes, volunteering with 4-H or becoming an MGV, and promoting our services to others. The gARTening Program not only met, but surpassed its objectives, illustrating its efficacy in community engagement and revenue generation. By offering unique experiences, we heightened awareness of UF/IFAS Extension Services, attracting new participants and fostering long-term engagement. The program's success underscores the potential for innovative education methods to address funding challenges while advancing community outreach and awareness. This model holds broader implications for enhancing community well-being and supporting sustainable organizational growth.

New residents in the state along with new gardeners are an increasingly large Extension audience. As our Extension horticulture team discussed the challenges in individually addressing these questions and meeting the needs of these new stakeholders, we realized new models and resources were needed. While Extension has a great array of publications and resources on lawns, landscapes and gardens, there wasn’t a publication that provided a good entry point for those new to the region or gardening. So, we set out to develop a ‘gateway publication’ to provide a general overview and connect folks to further resources without being overwhelming. A magazine format with easy to digest 2-page spreads on the most common areas of gardening was developed titled “Welcome Home: Gardening in Tennessee.” To extend the reach and impact of this new resource and engage Extension agents and stakeholders across the state, our horticulture team developed a new outreach program that paired live, distance teaching with local hands-on labs and activities. In October of 2023, we had a 5-session workshop series where new residents could come to their local office for an hour of teaching from our best horticulture content folks and then take part in a hands-on teaching demonstration with their local agriculture Extension agent. Nearly 300 participants in 32 counties took part in the series. Evaluation data revealed that over 70% of attendees had attended no or very few prior Extension programs. With a fee of only $30-50 locally, attendees reported a value of over $950 received from information delivered in the class. This presentation will focus on the novel delivery model and evaluation data along with perspectives on opportunities and challenges in reaching these new Extension audiences.

Florida's distinctive subtropical climate renders it a haven for the average backyard gardener. Yet, numerous homeowners grapple with challenges in cultivating dooryard fruits, often due to incorrect planting times or a dearth of expertise. Recognizing this, the University of Florida/Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has introduced the Florida-Friendly Landscaping TM program, illuminating nine core principles. These guidelines equip homeowners with the necessary methods and techniques to optimize plant growth and development. As we continue to increase resident population daily from various parts of the world, educating homeowners on these principles, can significantly elevate their chances of realizing their cultivation aspirations.
To meet the persistent demand for edible landscapes, a series of enlightening workshops unfolded across Flagler, Putnam, and Volusia counties. These sessions honed in on sustainable management strategies tailored for cultivating delectable fruits like blackberries, mulberries, goji berries, and citrus varieties. Spanning two to three hours, participants delved into a comprehensive curriculum covering optimal planting and harvest timings, varietal nuances, cultivation methodologies, fertilizer selection, integrated pest management protocols, and the significance of hardiness zones. These workshops roamed through the tri-county region, shining a spotlight on local agricultural enterprises engaged in the production or promotion of sought-after backyard fruits.

This collaborative initiative not only bolstered our overarching educational goals but also catalyzed a surge in agrotourism intrigue. As each program reached its conclusion, attendees departed armed with two plants of their preference and a wealth of resources, poised to lay down the groundwork for thriving cultivation endeavors.
22 Program participants indicated the following as measured via post evaluation survey:
Participants indicated a 73% (n=16) implementation plan for Florida-Friendly Landscaping TM (FFL) principle of "Right Plant Right Place” as they continue in their gardening endeavors.
Participants indicated an 82% (n=18) knowledge gain on cultivar selection, soil testing, and importance of fertilization.
64% (n=14) of program participants shared a plan to continue backyard fruit production using the information disseminated during this program.

The business environment in the horticultural industry is evolving and consumer preferences for value-added products are shaping market trends. With an increasing emphasis on health, sustainability, and convenience, consumers are seeking horticultural products that offer added value and benefits. This shift in consumer preferences presents both challenges and opportunities for horticultural businesses. Understanding these evolving consumer demands is crucial for horticulture businesses to develop innovative products and marketing strategies that resonate with their target audience.

The session aims to explore consumer behavior and preferences for value-added horticultural products, providing attendees with valuable insights to inform strategic decision-making and drive business growth in the competitive market. Presentations will explore the specific information consumers seek on wine packages and labels, and the influence of state marketing programs on consumer preferences for tomato transplants. Additionally, the session will explore the return on investment of social media marketing for US green industry firms, consumer preferences and willingness to pay for Florida-grown fresh blueberries, strategies for expanding marketing potential to appeal to all horticulture consumers, and the influence of demographics on the perception of flatheaded borer damage on ornamental plants. Through these diverse presentations, attendees will gain insights into key factors shaping consumer behavior, industry dynamics, and marketing strategies in the horticulture sector.

Coordinator(s)

• Alicia L Rihn, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, United States
• Melinda Knuth, North Carolina State University, Horticultural Science, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
• Chengyan Yue, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (Minneapolis, MN), St. Paul, Minnesota, United States

Moderator(s)

• Alicia L Rihn, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, United States
• Melinda Knuth, North Carolina State University, Horticultural Science, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States

Speaker/Participant(s)

• Alicia L Rihn, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, United States
  Do State Marketing Programs Impact Consumer Preferences for Tomato Transplants? (15 mins)
• Ariana P Torres, Purdue University, United States
  The Return of Investment of Social Media Marketing: A Case of U.S. Green Industry Firms (15 mins)
• Chengyan Yue, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (Minneapolis, MN), St. Paul, Minnesota, United States
  What Information Consumers Are Looking for On Wine Packages and Labels? (15 mins)
• Hayk Khachatryan, University of Florida, United States
  Analyzing Consumer Preferences and Willingness to Pay for Florida-Grown Fresh Blueberries (15 mins)
• Melinda Knuth, North Carolina State University, Horticultural Science, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
  Expanding Marketing Potential to Appeal to All Horticulture Consumers (15 mins)
• Ben Campbell, University of Georgia, United States
  Demographic Influences on the Perception of Flatheaded Borer Damage on Ornamental Crops (15 mins)
  Summary: Mounata Dahal, Tate Norman, Ben Campbell, and Alicia Rihn

Whether marketing to a horticulture consumer or educating them, understanding motivations is crucial. In 2023, a nationwide survey of gardening consumers conducted by a regional team of horticulture researchers provided key insights into how backgrounds and experiences impacted motivations of horticulture consumers. Cluster analysis performed on the data provides the ability to group consumers in terms of their interest and spending to enable more tailored education or marketing efforts. This workshop will investigate the key characteristics of those ten groups according to demographics, experience, motivation, and spending and integrate the experience and insight of attendees to best utilize the survey information. The goal of this highly interactive workshop will be to develop representative avatars and actionable outreach and marketing ideas that can be integrated into Extension programming as well as used to equip garden centers and horticultural businesses to be intentional and effective in reaching, educating, and retaining these new consumers. Horticulture professionals with research, Extension, teaching, and/or business focuses are all invited to attend and aid in honing audience descriptions based on current data. This session will set the stage for developing more tools to support Consumer Horticulture outreach and marketing to current and future audiences.

This workshop is grounded in current research findings and will focus on turning findings into tools that can be used by a wide range of ASHS professionals to reach current and future audiences.

Engage a diverse set of Horticulture professionals and define up to 10 core target audiences in today's horticultural market whether that is a retail business, classroom, or other outreach program.

This session will have minimal large-group presentation time. Six team leaders will break the audience into small groups based on interests and lead them through a series of prompts to assign descriptors to different audiences as defined by recent survey data. Participants will aid in coding different types of audience members, report out to the larger group, and group work will be cross-checked to determine key target audiences and best methods of communication with each.

Coordinator(s)

• Kristine Lang, South Dakota State University, Agronomy, Horticulture, and Plant Science, Brookings, South Dakota, United States

Moderator(s)

• Gerald Burgner, Texas A&M University, United States
• Natalie Bumgarner, University of Tennessee, Plant Sciences, Knoxville, TN, United States
• Sheri Dorn, University of Georgia, United States
• Heather Kirk Ballard, Louisiana State University, United States
• Julie Campbell, University of Georgia, Horticulture, Athens, Georgia, United States

Curated Literature as Continuing Education for Master Gardener Volunteers - Alicia Herzog
A Landscape Performance Evaluation of Sun-Loving Impatiens x hybrida in Mississippi - Scott Langlois
Evaluation of Selected Commercially Available Tabletop Hydroponic Systems and Their Performance on Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) Growth Characteristics - Leonard Githinji
Needs Assessment Evaluation to Inform Statewide Horticulture Newsletter - Cynthia Domenghini
Master Gardener Volunteers Learn Basic Plant Research Through the A.R.T.S. Rose Evaluation Program - Jeff Wilson

There has long been demand from the Master Gardener population for approved continuing education credit for reading specific literature. This program aims to fill that gap while defining a clear scope of acceptable reading material and demonstrable learning. A quarterly suite of reading materials was made available to program participants through email. Participants have one quarter (3 months) to read the materials and complete a quiz through Qualtrics. Participants who successfully completed the quarter were awarded one hour of continuing education toward their annually required minimum. Results from the first quarter of the study indicate positive change in knowledge across all areas surveyed from pre- to post-. For the first topic, tree care and planting, participants were asked to rank their knowledge about proper planting techniques, factors affecting decline in trees, selecting appropriate planting sites, identifying tree problems, and managing storm damage to trees. In all areas, at least a few participants reported not being knowledgeable at all prior to completing the educational materials. When asked about their knowledge after completing the materials, no participants reported this level of lack of knowledge. The greatest improvements were seen in the areas of knowledge about identifying tree problems and managing storm damage to trees. When asked about knowledge of managing storm damage to trees prior to completing the educational materials, 43.6% reported being not at all knowledgeable, 30.8% reported being slightly knowledgeable, 23.1% reported being moderately knowledgeable, and 2.6% reported being very knowledgeable. After completing the materials, 12.8% reported being slightly knowledgeable, 48.7% reported being moderately knowledgeable, 33.3% reported being very knowledgeable, and 5.1% reported being extremely knowledgeable. The assessment also included open-ended questions that asked participants to envision how they would put the knowledge to use in their volunteer roles. More research is needed to determine if knowledge gained from literature review is both worthwhile and feasible for volunteer development and continuing education. The study is being conducted over the course of a year, with participants able to opt out of any quarter they do not feel inclined to participate in. First quarter results show high participation and high knowledge gain, but more information is needed to see if engagement and knowledge gain remain high after the initial novelty period has worn off.

A long-standing favorite for shade gardens, Impatiens remain a popular choice for home gardeners who crave the multi-colored bloom options and long season performance. Many varietal choices currently exist for incorporation of these garden favorites into sunny locations. Full sun coupled with high heat and humidity of the deep South can add layers of challenges when growing Impatiens. A variety trial of sixteen cultivars of ‘sun safe’ Impatiens was conducted in Mississippi USDA hardiness zones 8b and 9a. Selected varieties of the SunPatiens® and Solarscape® series were procured as unrooted cuttings in the Spring of 2023 and after rooting and growing out in 3.25” pots, they were planted in the landscape as four 2-plant reps in full sun at two locations. These trials were conducted at the Mississippi State University South Miss Branch Experiment Station in Poplarville, MS and at the MSU Truck Crops Experiment Station in Crystal Springs, MS. Evaluations of flowering quality, plant health and overall landscape performance were made every two weeks on a 1-5 rating scale (5 = top rating). Irrigation was provided via drip tape daily. The summer of 2023 saw some of the driest and hottest weather observed in recent years at these locations with many days recorded over 100 degrees F. Results from the two trial sites showed the same two cultivars with the highest average numerical rating: SunPatiens® Classic White and Blush Pink (results not significant). This variety trial is expected to be expanded to include additional cultivars and locations in 2025.

With increasing urban populations and limited arable land for horticultural production, food security is becoming a growing concern worldwide. Hydroponic systems, defined as cultivation techniques involving soilless media, offers a potential solution to enhance food security by increasing urban food production. For this study three tabletop hydroponic systems, viz., iDOO, INT, and MUFGA were used for cultivating of Rex butterhead lettuce (Lactuca sativa). Three seeding trays, with 200 cells each embedded with rockwool were sowed 9 days before being transplanted into the hydroponic units. Growth parameters were recoded for 6 weeks, viz., plant height, and leaf number, length, and width. Visual rating (1 through 10) were also recorded. Additionally, the pH and the electrical conductivity (EC) of the nutrient solution were monitored. Following the harvest, fresh weight and root length were recorded. The data collected was subjected to ANOVA. Results indicated that plants grown in MUFGA unit were significantly (p

The Kansas State University Horticulture Newsletter is distributed to over 5,000 subscribers on a weekly basis for 50 weeks every year. The purpose of the newsletter is primarily educational, informing Kansas residents of the proper timing for garden-related tasks such as planting and maintenance. Other timely hot topics such as disease, pest monitoring and control methods are also provided. In January 2024 a needs assessment was deployed to all subscribers to evaluate their gardening behaviors and newsletter preferences. Almost 200 subscribers responded during the six weeks the needs assessment was available. Results indicate the primary audience is female (62%) over 60 years old (65%). Most subscribers (57%) use the newsletter to support their home gardening practices while 28% use it to support their community. Seventy-five percent of subscribers access the newsletter through the email distribution. Readers were asked their preferences for content they would like to receive in the newsletter. Thirty percent of subscribers rank vegetables as the topic of highest importance. The second highest ranked topic (18%) is garden spotlight content which features specific gardening practices of gardeners across the state. Sustainable gardening practices is the topic most requested to be added into future newsletters. This presentation will share details about providing an electronic resource to support gardeners and extension agents statewide.

Modern consumers prefer to purchase shrubs and trees for the home garden that can be sustainably grown without using preventative insecticides and fungicides. Roses, which are known to be high-maintenance plants, often requiring these preventative fungicides and insecticides for optimal garden performance. The American Rose Trial for Sustainability (A.R.T.S) program seeks to determine growth data of new rose cultivars that will hopefully require fewer preventative inputs. This trial was one of 13 locations from multiple regions across the country. Seventeen unknown rose cultivars were grown during 2022–2023 and 20 additional cultivars are being grown in 2023-2024, with no additional inputs beyond sufficient irrigation. Plants were installed in production beds amended with ammoniated pine bark and top-dressed with shredded pine bark mulch. A completely randomized block design with one replication per block, with 3 blocks was used. A rating system provided by the A.R.T.S. program was used and based on forty-five percent flowering, forty-five percent foliage health, and ten percent plant form. Plants were evaluated twice monthly from April through November by 2 two-person Master Gardener teams for 2 years. Evaluations are submitted electronically in real-time directly to the national trial site manager. This trial/research opportunity allows Master Gardeners first-hand knowledge of how basic plant research in conducted. The regional and national winning selections from will be released at the conclusion of each two-year trial.

"Vertical Farming in Hawaiʻi: Design Considerations for our Unique Environment"

Kerry Kakazu, PhD is the President of MetroGrow Hawaii, the first vertical farm in the state. He has a masters and PhD in Plant Physiology from the University of California at Davis. After a career in academia doing research, teaching and administration he combined his interests in plant science, technology and the local food scene to create MetroGrow Hawaii in 2014. The farm has been providing premium leafy greens to local restaurants and gourmet markets since its founding and is now exploring ways to expand vertical farming to significantly increase food self-sufficiency and security in Hawaiʻi.

Evaluating Knowledge Gained from Extension Education Provided in a Citizen-Science Gardening Project - Celina Gomez
Using Citizen Science to Evaluate Cultivar Preferences of Compact Tomato Plants - Michael Fidler
Extension Master Gardeners and Pollinator Research: The Challenges and Benefits - Pam Bennett
Utilizing Facebook and Instagram to Distribute a Residential Horticultural Needs Assessment - Claude Judy Jean
Exploring the Ethical Viewpoints of Proplifiting Among Consumers - Leandria Garrett
Consumer Perceptions of Climate-Smart Products - Abigail Lauterbach
Setting Priorities for Managing Extension Work and Home Life - Esther McGinnis

A citizen-science gardening project was conducted in 2023 with 300 participants from Indiana, Iowa, and Tennessee, who were recruited to compare three cultivars of compact tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants in an 18-week experiment. The study used a pre- and post-test format where participants were asked 15 questions that assessed their confidence levels about pest management, healthy cooking, and safe handling and preservation of home-grown tomatoes. Monthly educational sessions were delivered virtually by Extension faculty at Land-grant institutions from each state, covering the aforementioned topics. The pest-management session was the most popular with 81 live participants and 207 views of the video recording. This was followed by the healthy-cooking session with 67 live participants and 129 views. Participation and views of the last session that focused on safe handling and preservation were lower (58 live participants and 43 views), likely attributed to decreases in engagement throughout the project, or due to relevancy, as not all gardeners engage in produce preservation. At the end of the project, 224 participants completed questions from both surveys enabling an evaluation of knowledge gained. Overall, a positive increase in mean scores was measured across all questions, indicating that participants gained knowledge from the Extension programing provided. The largest knowledge increases were observed for pest-management questions, ranging from 6% to 20%. Most other questions had an increase of 1% to 8%, except those pertaining to knowledge about the use of canning and freezing methods, and food-safety practices for preservation, with 16% and 13% increases, respectively. The largest differences in confidence levels between pre- and post-test responses were found in questions about implementing control strategies for garden pests, using eco-friendly pest management methods, and reducing food waste, for which “very confident” responses changed from 10% to 82%, 14% to 76%, and 11% to 41%, respectively. Similarly, for all three questions, “not very confident” responses decreased from an average of 12% to 0%. However, there was a shift in confidence for a question regarding food-safety practices for preservation, with “very confident” responses decreasing from 57% to 35% and “not very confident” responses increasing from 0.5% to 5%. This suggests participants may have overestimated their knowledge initially. Our findings demonstrate the positive impact of Extension education on gardening-related knowledge and highlight the value of collaboration between university researchers, Extension faculty, and stakeholders as citizen scientists.

Citizen science can be used as a research method to evaluate consumer preferences in horticulture. In 2023, 300 participants from Indiana, Iowa, and Tennessee were recruited to grow three cultivars of compact tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants started from seed or as transplants in an 18-week experiment. The cultivars evaluated were Cocoa, Red Robin, and Micro Tom. After completing a pre-experiment survey to characterize demographics and gardening experience levels, participants were provided with a plant kit containing all materials required to complete the experiment. Participant engagement was maintained using a social-media community page, monthly virtual educational sessions, and frequent email communications. At the end of the experiment, 203 participants had completed the post-experiment survey focused on evaluating cultivar and plant-type preferences. Furthermore, three focus group sessions with six random participants each were conducted to further assess survey responses. Cocoa was the preferred cultivar by 41% of participants, followed by Red Robin at 31%. Cultivar preferences of plants started from seed followed the same trend for appearance, fruit number, and fruit taste. However, growth and appearance of ‘Red Robin’ transplants were ranked higher than ‘Cocoa’. Approximately 70% of participants preferred plants started as transplants compared to those from seed, regardless of cultivar. These preferences were attributed to the higher yield, better growth and perceived fruit taste, and lower maintenance required to use transplants. Overall, 69% of participants reported they would be willing to pay between $1.00 to $7.49 more for a transplant of their favorite cultivar compared to currently available tomato plants at local nurseries. Findings from the focus group sessions indicated participants liked the potential gift-use of these compact cultivars, and their versatility to be used in different gardening spaces such as kitchen countertops or windowsills. Results from this study indicate potential consumers value appearance, fruit yield, and fruit taste when selecting compact tomato cultivars, whereas ease of care and plant growth are more important factors when choosing a plant type.

Extension Master Gardeners (EMGs) have participated in a variety of citizen science projects providing new knowledge. This knowledge acquisition may not occur without the assistance of EMGs. Research projects that are focused on consumer horticulture challenges are not typically given a high priority by those who financially support scientific research in consumer horticulture. Therefore, researchers turn to EMGs as citizen scientists to assist with consumer horticulture research. In 2022, Ohio State University partnered with the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanic Garden, Dawes Arboretum, and Ohio EMGs to evaluate 10 cultivars of native plants to determine if they were attractive to pollinators. EMGs were tapped to monitor the cultivars and collect data on abundance and diversity of species. Thirteen Ohio counties with EMG programs were involved in this research along with the partners. The first year of data collection was a pilot year and the second year was the first year for data analysis. In this session you will learn about the steps involved in this research project as well as the challenges addressed and benefits to both the EMGs and the consumer. You will also learn about the results of the research.

Homeowners and gardeners source their landscape education from various media outlets and social media platforms. Leveraging the substantial following of the UF/IFAS Master Gardener social media page, which boasts over 40,000 followers, presents a unique opportunity to discern the horticultural education needs of homeowners and their preferred dissemination methods. In 2023, a Qualtrics horticultural needs assessment survey was developed and distributed via Facebook and Instagram to followers. Prior to survey distribution, an Institutional Review Board was completed and approved under the non-human/exempt auto-determination tool. The Qualtrics needs assessment comprised twelve questions covering topics such as horticultural interests, availability, and preferred learning platforms. Four visually engaging posts were shared, two each in December 2023 and January 2024. Of these posts, 309 respondents agreed to participate in the study. Our findings aligned with current gardening trends, with homeowners expressing a need for information on native plants, pollinators, vegetable gardening, and invasives. Among respondents, 21% favored online classes over 15% for in-person classes. Additionally, digital documents were preferred by 18% of respondents compared to 14% for print documents. Notably, 20% of respondents expressed a preference for short online videos for receiving horticultural information. Survey participants were also queried on their preferred time of year for attending classes, both in person and online, with no clear preference observed. Regarding in-person classes at local extension offices, 54% indicated willingness to attend, while 11% were unaware of their local extension office's location. When asked about their interactions with Master Gardener Volunteers, 31% reported satisfaction, 12% dissatisfaction, and 48% had not interacted with a Florida Master Gardener Volunteer. Interestingly, 62% of respondents expressed a preference for garden-related content on YouTube. While the response rate was relatively low, it suggests that direct email or in-person approaches might have yielded more productive results. Nonetheless, the findings are compelling, indicating a promising direction for extension programming in the digital age. They underscore the potential benefits of transitioning towards short-form video content and utilizing platforms like YouTube to effectively meet homeowners' horticultural education needs. Overall, the study illuminates the evolving landscape of horticultural education and underscores the importance of adapting dissemination strategies to better engage homeowners in the digital realm.

In recent years, the trend of owning and propagating houseplants has steadily grown. Consumers find this hobby to be relaxing and find it rewarding when their cuttings successfully grow roots and new leaves. Because of the ease that propagation gives us to clone plants, many people are exploring methods to acquire more plants for free. One common method is through proplifting. Proplifting is the habit of stealing plant material for the practice of creating new plants; this is done through collecting discarded material (leaves, nodes, roots, seed), or by stealing parts of a plant that are still attached. While proplifting appears harmless, it is important to consider all factors, such as how it might affect the business, non-profit, or individual that one is taking this plant material from. Additionally, taking protected plant material – such as from plants that are being grown from conservation efforts – could drastically harm the preservation of a species. This national survey looks at how consumers view the ethics around proplifting and the degree to which they would consider a situation to be ethically acceptable or unacceptable.

Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) is a broad term referring to agricultural production methods which aim to increase productivity whilst building resiliency to the threats associated with climate change and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Examples include cover cropping, conservation tillage, agroforestry, and any other methods which support climate change adaptation and mitigation. A critical yet still understudied component of the advancement of CSA lies in understanding how consumers perceive and interact with climate-smart commodities, and with nearly two-thirds (65%) of Americans believing that climate change is a global emergency, a need to investigate what qualities they attribute to “climate-smart” commodities became clear. This study investigates the perceptions of “climate-smart” commodities amongst American consumers through a national survey with consideration of demographic impacts on definitions. Survey questions investigated if consumers were familiar with CSA, what production qualities they perceived as “climate-smart,” and if they were interested in climate-smart commodities. Questions about production methods were categorized into the three main pillars of CSA set forth by the FAO: adaptation, mitigation, and sustainable intensification. The implications for far-reaching climate-smart food policies, marketing/promotional decisions, and sustainability education efforts for Americans are discussed.

Extension careers are uniquely challenging for work/life balance. Extension professionals frequently work with stakeholders outside the university and spend a significant amount of time traveling to give presentations and build relationships. In consumer horticulture, an added stress is that most educational programming is scheduled for evenings and weekends. Overflowing email inboxes further compound the stress. High rates of exhaustion and burnout have been documented in Extension professionals. The problem is one of high demand and limited resources. Extension professionals are expected to navigate the problem of scarce resources by individually setting priorities and saying no to low impact requests. A new prioritization method will be introduced that is based upon real estate appraisal law. The highest and best use analysis can be adapted for setting priorities for the busy Extension professional regardless of career stage. This session will emphasize amending position descriptions to articulate clear boundaries, setting aside time to be physically and mentally rested, and prioritizing high impact projects. The highest and best use analysis is meant to be customized for each individual and takes into account unique traits such as introversion/extroversion, age, and topic expertise.

The goal of this workshop is to bring together consumer horticulture stakeholders working to create sustainable, enjoyable, healthy communities and to identify methods for achieving greater impact through effective process of program identification, development, and measurement. Those active in any role of developing and delivering consumer horticulture programs, including Master Gardener activities, are encouraged to attend. Creating impactful programming in this field is influenced by stakeholders with varied goals and resources, content specificity due to planting zones and habitat, and the audience’s diverse economic and social demographics. To achieve greater success, more effort must be invested in the process of goal setting, stakeholder participation, resource allocation, collaborative implementation, and measurement. However, drilling down from a state-wide vision through regional, county-based resources and content to be delivered to locally diverse residents requires effective processes and creative thinking. Through discussion, we will identify internal roadblocks to success and learn the creative ways our peers may have overcome similar situations.

Workshop attendees are assigned a number 1, 2 or 3 upon entry. For the first 5 minutes, the participants of the workshop complete one of three pre-workshop surveys
1 - Your Role in the Field of Consumer Horticulture
2 – Success Indicators of Impactful Consumer Horticulture Programs
3 – Identifying Appropriate Consumer Horticulture Programs). For the next 10 minutes, the participants will discuss the definition of the term ‘consumer horticulture’ to ensure clarity of purpose.
This will include an activity generating a list of potential stakeholders and types of programs to illustrate the complexity of the field and to further clarify national, state and local needs. The presenters will then spend 40 minutes sharing a specific example of a layered, complex program development system including their success indicators and impediments. The moderator will represent the flow of information through the system, illustrating the places, sometimes obvious and others unexpected, where the process stops or gains momentum. Presenters represent state, regional and local roles. Workshop participants spend the next 40 minutes in round-robin breakout groups, rotating through 4 topics. The topics are in the form of questions regarding different aspects of goal setting, stakeholder development, program identification and success measurement. Each break out group will be moderated by one of the presenters. The group will reassemble for 20 minutes to discuss the outcome of their work. Notes will be taken for distribution to the group. For the last 5 minutes the group will take different versions of the pre-workshop test as a post-workshop assessment.

Consumer horticulture is a critical topic for national to local level stakeholders invested in developing healthy, sustainable communities. There are few focus areas that affect the quality of life of communities to the degree that this field can. Successful consumer horticulture efforts result in economic development opportunities, increased food access, strengthened social structures, mental health support and more. Yet, while the importance of integrating gardening on individual and community levels is widely recognized, efforts to develop and conduct programs to achieve consumer horticulture goals are difficult to establish and have little data supporting impact. To achieve greater success, more effort must be invested in the process of goal setting, stakeholder participation, resource allocation, collaborative implementation, and measurement. There is a plethora of information available about specific consumer horticulture activities such as community gardens, schoolyard habitats and classes for homeowners. However, before beginning activity development, the field would be strengthened by discussion of the purpose of these programs and the process of delivering information effectively to the intended audience.

The goal of this workshop is to bring together professionals in the field of consumer horticulture from different geographic and organizational systems and, through guided discussion, identify methods for achieving greater impact through effective program identification, development, and measurement.


Coordinator(s)

• Ruth Carll, Rutgers, Agriculture and Natural Resources, New Brunswick, NEW JERSEY, United States

Speaker/Participant(s)

• Peter Nitzsche, Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension, United States
  Member of Panel (10 mins)
  Summary: Peter Nitzche, Director of the Clifford E. & Melda C. Snyder Research and Extension Farm at Rutgers Center for Sustainable Agriculture, and the Department Head for the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County represents the perspective of county-level program leadership. He leads events, programming and task force teams while overseeing extension staff that implement programs. He also actively conducts research and contributes to departmental goals.
• Belinda Chester, Rutgers, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States
  Panel Member (10 mins)
  Summary: Belinda Chester is a Horticulture Program Associate II and Master Gardener Coordinator with the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Atlantic County. On this panel, she represents the challenges of creating and managing programs with regional and local specificity. She must meet goals of both Rutgers and her county. Her constituents are urban, suburban and rural, including a large farming demographic. This large county also presents a geographic challenge.
• Ruth Carll, Rutgers, Agriculture and Natural Resources, New Brunswick, NEW JERSEY, United States
  Panel Member (10 mins)
  Summary: Ruth Carll, State Coordinator of Consumer Horticulture and Master Gardener Program, leads Rutgers statewide consumer horticulture activities, ensuring that the University’s goals are achieved. Her research involves impact studies designed to guide program development and determine success. Ruth will represent state-level goal setting and program oversight.
• Lisa Chiariello, Rutgers, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States
  Panel Member (10 mins)
  Summary: Lisa Chiariello is an Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Associate II with the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Sussex County. On this panel, she represents the work of developing training for volunteers who deliver programs that meet statewide goals with specific local content and activities.

Arkansas’ research-backed plant assessment initiative known as "Arkansas Diamonds" aims to educate local gardeners on annual bedding plants that consistently thrive in Arkansas's climate. Moreover, it serves to bolster local growers and independent garden centers within the state. Facilitated by the Arkansas Green Industry Association (ARGIA) and the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture (UADA), this collaborative effort engages county agents across Arkansas in annual demonstration plots. In 2023, thirty county agents partook in the statewide evaluation of four annual plant species. Each agent received nine replicants of each species and conducted monthly measurements of height, width, flower quality, and overall health. These findings, integral to the selection process, contribute to designating certain plants as "Arkansas Diamonds," signifying their suitability for the state's gardens and green industry. After evaluations, the selected plants are grown by ARGIA members and marketed on a statewide basis to encourage home gardeners and the landscape industry to incorporate these plants into their home landscapes and support the local green industry and independent garden center within the state.