Hello, everyone. I am David Pelphrey, your UK Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent for Martin County. I have had the opportunity to meet a lot of you folks and am looking for more opportunities to do so.

Here is some good news. We have written for and received a GROW APPALACHIA grant for 2024. This grant is designed to assist individual families in growing their own food and supplementing their food supply.

The gardening program that Grow Appalachia encourages is organic. We will be using organic fertilizers and pest and disease control.

Each participating family will probably be required to participate in up to 8-10 education meetings beginning in January.

Our second program goal is to encourage better health through exercise and activity. Gardening can help! More information to follow.

I have plans to restart the Beekeepers Group, a Sheep and Goat group, and a beef organization. I am certified to teach the Beef Quality and Care Assurance program and have already visited some of our Extension Specialists on campus, who can conduct some programs for us. We will also be looking at having some joint meetings with our surrounding counties on special pieces of training.

Watch here for announcements in late December and early January.

Now is the best time to have your soil tested for your garden, pastures, or hayfields. Martin County Cooperative Extension provides this as a free service. So, contact me today at 606-298-7742 or david.pelphrey@uky.edu for details on how to take your samples or have me come out and assist you.

We look forward to being at your service!