University of Maryland Extension
Talbot County
URBAN HORTICULTURE
The need for environmental horticulture education and enrichment in Talbot County
continues to grow as population and development increases. Residents are eager to learn
how to grow their own food and learn of new ways to create more environmentally
sustainable lawns and landscapes. Talbot UME provides environmental education,
community outreach, volunteer commitment and educational demonstrations for the
residents of the County.
VOLUNTEER
COMMITMENT
Talbot, Queen Anne’s, and
Dorchester
County
joined
together to train 20 new
volunteers in fall of 2013.
Talbot MG volunteers logged
1,021 hours of service, which
is valued at $23.05 per hour
according to the Independent
Sector
for
represents
in-kind
MD,
which
$23,534.05
volunteer
service
provided in the county.
part
of
obligations,
their
of
As
volunteer
203.75
hours
were logged for continuing
education.
Demonstration
sites
are
located within Talbot County
to help residents learn proper
construction, plant material,
and serve as an example to
the public. Rain gardens are
located at the University of
Environmental Education - Opportunities to educate both adults and youth was offered at
community events such as Pickering Creek’s Harvest Hoedown, Talbot Ag Center’s Harvest
Festival, and the Waterfowl Festival Weekend in downtown Easton. With over 750 visitors
to these events, Extension continues to spread the word about our programs, information,
and other outreach opportunities. Talbot UME also partnered with Philips Wharf
Environmental Center on Tilghman Island for advisement on developing a landscape in
their new location at the Oyster House just off of
Knapps Narrows. Master Gardeners additionally
teamed with Talbot County Public Works and
Environmental Concern to develop a bio-retention
garden to address the run-off concerns on Bay St. in
Easton. In 2014, Master Gardeners anticipate
partnering with Public Works and Environmental
Concern to deliver education for utilizing residential
ditches as rain gardens.
Community Outreach
“Ask a Master Gardener” continues to advise local residents through plant clinics, phone
calls, emails, local events, and visits to the Talbot UME office. 230 in person questions
related to home and garden issues, insect, and plant disease identification were solved.
Master Gardeners educate community members with advice on plant selection, landscaping for water quality, and proper environmental care through public demonstration. They
also offered a series of lectures through the Speaker’s Bureau for Cabin Fever Relievers
programming through the winter months. Topics covered were planning vegetable
gardens, proper soil amendments, winter gardens, and intensive gardens in small
locations.
Urban Landscapes and Nutrient Programs - Master
Maryland
Talbot
County
Gardeners continue to communicate to homeowners
Extension Office, as well as the
the importance of soil tests, proper fertilization, and
Talbot County Agriculture
landscaping in respect to the Chesapeake Bay. In 2013,
Center and the Oxford
the Bay-Wise program gave 10 home consultations and
Community Center.
certified 4 landscapes in Talbot County for
demonstrating environmental sensitivity. The Bay-Wise
program focuses on practices in urban and rural
landscapes to promote healthy waterways.
The Talbot County Office strives to
be accessible, reliable and relevant
to all residents of
Talbot County and the
Mid-Shore Region.
ANNUAL REPORT
2013
We are located at the Agriculture
Service Center on Mary’s Court and are
housed with other agricultural
agencies that serve Talbot County. Our
funding is a cooperative agreement
between the Federal, State and County
Governments and also includes grants,
sponsorships and in-kind donations for
programs.
28577 Mary’s Court Suite 1
Easton MD 21601
410-822-1244
TALBOT COUNTY EXTENSION
FACULTY and STAFF
Mikaela Boley, Urban Horticulture/MG
Nicole Barth, Water Quality Educator
Pam Chollet, Administrative Assistant II
Victoria Corcoran, Program Specialist
Sherman Councell, Nutrient Management
Shannon Dill, AGNR Educator
Tom Hutson, 4-H Youth Educator
Pat Murphy, 4-H Program Assistant
Sara Rich, Area Extension Director
Allison Roe, Ag Program Assistant
*(Includes volunteer hours valued at $23.05 Independent Sector)
Matt Wood, General Assistant
The University of Maryland Extension programs are open to any person and will not discriminate against anyone because of race, age,
sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information,
political affiliation, and gender identity or expression.
AGRICULTURE and NATURAL RESOURCES
4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
Agriculture and Natural Resources are the foundation of Talbot County’s economy, rural character and
rich history. Talbot UME provides outreach and research based information and education for agriculture
production and farming.
UME 4-H programs incorporate essential elements of youth development: mastery (Head),
VOLUNTEER
belonging (Heart), service (Hands), and independence (Health). 4-H is open to all youth of ages COMMITMENT
5 through 18. Extension personnel and volunteers provide engaging hands-on learning
48 Talbot 4-H
experiences. Participation in 4-H helps members develop skills including communication and
volunteers donated
leadership. Talbot 4-H strives to reach diverse youth within the county and across the state.
2,300 hours valued
at $53,015.
4-H Clubs and Outreach Education
Talbot County Corn Club – Acknowledged as the oldest continuous corn
club in the country, the Talbot County Corn Club’s 62nd year hosted 20
adult participants and 8 youth participants. The goals of the club include
increased production, yield and profitability. The average yields for entries
were 209 bu/ac while the Maryland average was 155 bu/ac.
Mid-Atlantic Women in Agriculture delivered risk and farm management
training to women in the region through
a variety of learning environments.
Annie’s Project is an eight week course for farm women. This year’s classes were held at 4 locations
through out Maryland with the 39 participants learning about risk management.
Managing for Today and Tomorrow was a six week course attended by 17 women giving a more in-depth
focus on financial and farm transition planning held at 2 locations across Maryland and Delaware.
Regional Women in Agriculture Conference was attended by 158 participants across five states featuring
three keynote presenters. The conference also offered twenty breakout sessions.
Recertification Classes are conducted to renew Maryland licenses for private pesticide applicator and
nutrient management voucher training. In 2013, there were 91 participants recertified. A statewide
study reports those attending the training increase safety precautions for themselves, farm and
environment (75%), 69% reduced pesticide use, 90% better managed pesticides, 94% determine the
amount of nutrients to apply and 70% reduced nutrients.
Nutrient Management 2013
Total Talbot Co Acres Planned:
Total number of Plans:
Total Talbot County Producers:
26,133 acres
345 plans
51 farmers
Farmers following nutrient management plans save
money and protect the environment by efficient use
of manure and fertilizer.
The Talbot County Extension Office plans over 32% of
the agricultural acres in Talbot County required to
maintain a nutrient management plan.
Beginning Farmers A statewide grant
from USDA builds on
existing
Extension
resources
and
partnerships with regional nonprofits,
agricultural organizations, and experienced
farmers to provide beginning farmers with
easily accessible tools and practical,
experience-based training on farm production, marketing, land management, business
planning, and financial resources. This
program has reached 919 beginning farmers
and has expanded educational opportunities
and a web-based curriculum.

147 youth were members of community clubs; 1,700 youth and adults participated in
GRANT SUPPORT
school and community educational programs.
4-H generated
 Members exhibited their accomplishments at public speaking contests, the county and
state fairs, and other community events.
$53,086 in
 4-H clubs performed community service projects including creation of a Historical Society collaborative grant
“History of Cordova” exhibit, beautification of the Talbot Hospice visitor wing, and funds to support
recycling of aluminum cans.
county and state
 3 members completed the Diamond Clover, the highest level of 4-H community service.
science and healthy
“I competed in a college-level regional public speaking contest, ended up winning, and now will
living programs.
be competing in nationals. I have 4-H to thank for my public speaking skills.”
Michelle McCulley, Talbot 4-H member
Science Literacy and Environmental Science Education
Science literacy of U.S. residents is declining. Projections for the next 20
years suggest that the U.S. will not produce enough qualified applicants for
science jobs. To address this need, 4-H offers programs that improve
science literacy and generate science career interest.
Adventures in Health Science enabled teen participants to interact with
medical professionals and explore health care careers; 96% reported that
the program made them more interested in working in health care.
236 youth learned strategies for contributing to improved water quality in the Chesapeake Bay
watershed. In-service trainings prepared teachers to incorporate lessons that helped 300
students understand the importance of agriculture in their lives and in Maryland’s economy.
Safety and Health Education
Poor nutrition and preventable accidents are major causes of illness
and injury among Maryland residents. Talbot County 4-H programs
empower youth to make healthy diet and activity choices and
reduce safety hazards. 372 youth learned strategies for preventing
hearing and vision damage by eliminating threats and using
protective equipment.
4-H made 1,893 youth and adult teaching contacts that helped participants learn to make wise
food choices, prepare nutritious meals, and stay physically active.
COMMUNITY
PARTNERSHIPS
“The Talbot 4-H
program has been a
key partner in
delivering quality
enrichment
programming to our
demographic of
students that are from
low-income and
non-English speaking
families.”
Matthew Peters,
Director, Chesapeake
Multicultural
Resource Center