Purdue Extension Floyd County

Purdue Extension’s mission: We deliver practical, research-based information that enhances lives and livelihoods. For Purdue Extension Floyd County, we offer programming in Agriculture and Natural Resources, Community Development, Health and Human Sciences, and 4-H Youth Development. One of the most notable things that people will associate with Extension is the county fair. What we do reaches far beyond the county fair though. We provide programming on almost any topic you can think of! Programs include: Master Gardeners, Master Naturalist, Beekeeping, Dining with Diabetes, Be Heart Smart, youth hiking, robotics, shooting sports, and much, much more! Outside of providing educational programming, we also offer soil testing and presser canning tests as well. We are always here to answer questions about plants, animals, food preservation, ponds, and much more! Purdue Extension Floyd County also works very closely with the Sunnyside Master Gardeners. Anyone who has completed and earned their Master Gardener certification is eligible for membership in the Sunnyside Master Gardener Association. Member benefits include a monthly newsletter, advances training, discounts at local nurseries, and monthly meetings on gardening or gardening-related presentations/tours. Sunnyside Master Gardeners also maintain several gardens and projects throughout Floyd and Clark County, bringing beauty to the community and a home to the native pollinators. Floyd County Projects: Butterfly Garden - It began in 2004 and was designed by Ray Weatherholt to attract native butterflies, with plants selected for bloom in 3 seasons, and is shaped like a butterfly. Floyd County 4-H Fairgrounds Raised Beds - Twelve raised beds are planted with spring and early summer vegetables so they reach their peak for when the Floyd County 4-H Fair takes place in June. The gardens serve as an inspiration and education for those attending the fair. The spring vegetables are donated to the Hope Southern Indiana food bank. In the summer and fall, flowers and herbs are also planted from seeds that had been saved. The gardens attract many pollinators and are also enjoyed by the many joggers/walkers from the surrounding neighborhoods. Ornamental Grasses Garden - The demonstration garden was planted in 2010 with an emphasis on the use of native grasses and companion native plants that provide texture in the garden as well as year-round interest. It demonstrates the ease of care of native plants and grasses that suffer little from pests and diseases. Sensory Garden - The Sensory Garden is exactly that. It engages our senses. It is a winding path in a garden where plants like lilac and viburnum make us breathe in more deeply and Lamb’s Ear makes us reach out to touch. It is where we can taste mint or strawberries and hear bubbling water. Lastly, it is a feast for the eyes and, like most gardens, a balm for the soul. Even though it is small in size, it exhibits the fundamentals for the design of larger spaces. Clark County Projects: Clark County 4-H Fairgrounds Demonstration Garden - The raised beds were constructed by Master Gardeners in 2013 to exhibit both the conventional and organic vegetable gardening techniques to the general public. Practical approaches to limit the need for pesticides, herbicides, and supplementary water are demonstrated in this vegetable garden as well. Falls of the Ohio - The Sunnyside Master Gardeners maintain several areas around the Interpretative Center at Falls of the Ohio. They spread mulch, pull weeds, and perform clean-ups in the spring, summer, and fall to keep the landscaped areas looking nice year-round. Sacred Heart - The garden at Sacred Heart has a mound of perennials and annuals which are added in the spring for additional color. There is a cactus and succulent corner, herb garden, and a grassy lawn. A rose garden was also planted in the center in memory of master gardener Joan Becht who volunteered many hours in the Sacred Heart garden. All the plants, shrubs, and trees have identifying markers and there is also an information mailbox with pamphlets explaining the various herbs planted. Several benches are placed around the garden to invite people to come in and enjoy the garden. Be sure to stop by these sites to admire their beauty! For more information, visit the Sunnyside Master Gardener website at https://www.sunnysidemg.org/