Assessing Master Gardener Volunteers’ Involvement in and Knowledge of Food Preservation

Accessing science-based practices for safe-home food preservation (FP) can prevent unnecessary foodborne illness. An Extension program called Grow It, Eat It, Preserve It allows trained Extension agents to teach and advise on FP topics. Meanwhile, the Home & Garden Information Center delivers sc...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Shauna C. Henley, Jon Traunfeld
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Mississippi State University 2021-03-01
Series:Journal of Human Sciences and Extension
Subjects:
Online Access:https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/jhse/vol9/iss1/6/
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author Shauna C. Henley
Jon Traunfeld
author_facet Shauna C. Henley
Jon Traunfeld
author_sort Shauna C. Henley
collection DOAJ
description Accessing science-based practices for safe-home food preservation (FP) can prevent unnecessary foodborne illness. An Extension program called Grow It, Eat It, Preserve It allows trained Extension agents to teach and advise on FP topics. Meanwhile, the Home & Garden Information Center delivers science-based gardening education, supporting the Master Gardener Volunteer Program (MG), increasing community outreach. MGs conduct the Grow It, Eat It, Preserve It partner program, Grow It Eat It, which teaches residents to grow edible gardens. MGs are not legally trained in FP, and a knowledge gap exists regarding how often MGs are asked FP questions during community events and what resources they provide to clients. An online survey was administered to 1,810 active MGs in Maryland, providing insight on MGs’ current knowledge and community interactions pertaining to FP. A total of 586 MGs responded to the survey. Results indicated that MGs were asked FP questions during community events (65.5%) and often went beyond the scope of their training to provide non-Extension resources for FP. Most MGs were unsure whether FP workshops took place in their county Extension office (65.8%). The survey results can improve cross-programming communication and inform future MG training, marketing, and programming.
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spelling doaj.art-80d3c172ab544a28b5cc289ad29b0db02022-12-22T04:39:40ZengMississippi State UniversityJournal of Human Sciences and Extension2325-52262021-03-0191110https://doi.org/10.54718/BZSB6810Assessing Master Gardener Volunteers’ Involvement in and Knowledge of Food PreservationShauna C. Henley0Jon Traunfeld1University of Maryland Extension, Baltimore CountyUniversity of Maryland Extension, Home & Garden Information CenterAccessing science-based practices for safe-home food preservation (FP) can prevent unnecessary foodborne illness. An Extension program called Grow It, Eat It, Preserve It allows trained Extension agents to teach and advise on FP topics. Meanwhile, the Home & Garden Information Center delivers science-based gardening education, supporting the Master Gardener Volunteer Program (MG), increasing community outreach. MGs conduct the Grow It, Eat It, Preserve It partner program, Grow It Eat It, which teaches residents to grow edible gardens. MGs are not legally trained in FP, and a knowledge gap exists regarding how often MGs are asked FP questions during community events and what resources they provide to clients. An online survey was administered to 1,810 active MGs in Maryland, providing insight on MGs’ current knowledge and community interactions pertaining to FP. A total of 586 MGs responded to the survey. Results indicated that MGs were asked FP questions during community events (65.5%) and often went beyond the scope of their training to provide non-Extension resources for FP. Most MGs were unsure whether FP workshops took place in their county Extension office (65.8%). The survey results can improve cross-programming communication and inform future MG training, marketing, and programming.https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/jhse/vol9/iss1/6/food preservationmaster gardenersfamily & consumer servicesvolunteers
spellingShingle Shauna C. Henley
Jon Traunfeld
Assessing Master Gardener Volunteers’ Involvement in and Knowledge of Food Preservation
Journal of Human Sciences and Extension
food preservation
master gardeners
family & consumer services
volunteers
title Assessing Master Gardener Volunteers’ Involvement in and Knowledge of Food Preservation
title_full Assessing Master Gardener Volunteers’ Involvement in and Knowledge of Food Preservation
title_fullStr Assessing Master Gardener Volunteers’ Involvement in and Knowledge of Food Preservation
title_full_unstemmed Assessing Master Gardener Volunteers’ Involvement in and Knowledge of Food Preservation
title_short Assessing Master Gardener Volunteers’ Involvement in and Knowledge of Food Preservation
title_sort assessing master gardener volunteers involvement in and knowledge of food preservation
topic food preservation
master gardeners
family & consumer services
volunteers
url https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/jhse/vol9/iss1/6/
work_keys_str_mv AT shaunachenley assessingmastergardenervolunteersinvolvementinandknowledgeoffoodpreservation
AT jontraunfeld assessingmastergardenervolunteersinvolvementinandknowledgeoffoodpreservation