 Backyard Farming in the River Valley Podcast
June 24, 2009
Learning Fields Open House (2:54 minutes)
Audio/Video Script:
Jesse Bocksnick
County Extension Agent - 4-H[Title slide - River Valley Gardening,
Learning Fields Open House, Jesse Bocksnick County Extension Agent – 4-H,
University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture], Arkansas River Valley
Gardening]
[Jesse Bocksnick standing in a garden planted with corn] Do you have
questions about corn, strawberries, tomatoes, native plants, or even green
houses? Well I am Jesse Bocksnick with the Sebastian County Extension Office and
we’re here today to answer some of those questions at the River Valley Master
Gardeners’ Learning Fields.
[Steve Dobbs talking to a group outside] Summer Gardening, what’s that mean?
Hot. We’re living up to that today aren’t we?
[Jesse Bocksnick – video showing learning fields projects] On June 20 the
River Valley Master Gardeners held their grand opening of their new project The
Learning Fields at Chaffee Crossing. Although hot over one hundred people made
their way out to the open house to learn more about horticulture, socialize, and
have a good time with their families.
[Honorable C. Ray Baker, Mayor Fort Smith] I Mayor Ray Baker of the City of
Fort Smith Arkansas due declare Saturday June 20th 2009 as the Learning Fields
at Chaffee Crossing Day in Fort Smith Arkansas. Woo!
[Jesse Bocksnick – Video showing people participating in open house to view
learning fields] I asked President Isaac Witt about the history and purpose of
the Learning Fields.
[Isaac Witt] The Learning Fields is of course a project of the River Valley
Master Gardeners. We started this idea about over four years or so ago. [Video
of people participating in tours of the open house and children riding ponies.]
We had two or three problems to overcome. Probably our biggest problem was where
we are going to put this greenhouse or Learning Fields. And we were lucky enough
to get a place here at Chaffee. [Aerial view of learning field location] We hope
to continue to develop the different plots out here.
[Jesse Bocksnick – Picture of Trial Gardens and a Strawberry Patch.] Mr. Witt
also said that the purpose of the Learning Fields is to teach horticulture and
that opening it is just the first phase. [Video of a man digging with a shovel.]
They plan to add to it each year and this is a long term project that is
completely run by volunteers. [Video of a loader carrying a large bolder.]
[Mr. Witt] The Learning Fields is a learning tool. We are starting to hold
classes out here. [Video of open house participants.] We had a class out here
the other day on putting in a drip irrigation system. We designed the system
then we installed it and it gave us an opportunity to go back to our own
gardens. And we now know how to put in drip irrigation in our own gardens.
[Dustin Blakey] The Learning Fields is a project of the River Valley Master
Gardeners. The Master Gardeners are an organization affiliated with the Division
of Agriculture. They are a volunteer group that does community service work
involving horticulture. Volunteers will get forty hours of training by
professionals and in return they give forty hours of service back to the
community. The Learning Fields is one of the many projects of the River Valley
Master Gardeners. If you are interested in becoming a Master Gardener we have
information here at the Extension office on how you can join.
For more information on your garden, master gardener program, or extension in
general please contact your local extension office. [For more information
contact dblakey@uaex.edu or
jbocksnick@uaex.edu. U of
A University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture]
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