The University of Florida/IFAS Extension Service performs many valuable services for Florida’s residents. Many of the programs that Extension deals with involve horticulture: working with local farmers, teaching classes on gardening, and working in the local schools. But since most counties have maybe one horticulture agent, we get spread a little thin sometimes. This is where our volunteers, the Master Gardeners come in handy.
Florida Master Gardeners assist UF/IFAS Extension agents by providing research-based, horticultural education to Florida residents. In 2014, more than 4,500 Master Gardener volunteers gave 423,968 hours in 60 Florida counties. This equals $9.78 million or the equivalent of 203 full time employees provided to Florida’s economy. In Hernando County last year, our Master Gardener volunteers donated almost 5,000 hours of volunteer time, worth over $100,000. We are planning to offer our next class soon, and we are always looking for individuals who want to learn not just gardening, but the science behind gardening; and who want to make a difference in their community.
The requirements for becoming a Master Gardener are that you must attend (and pass) a 13-week training course, donate 75 hours of volunteer time your first year, and 35 volunteer hours per year after that. In addition, all Master Gardeners must attend a minimum of 10 hours of continued training each year. This may sound like we are asking a lot; but if you get involved in a project you are really interested in, you can meet the hours requirements without any problems. The classes will be on Mondays from 9AM-4PM beginning on May 2. You are only allowed one excused absence, so it is important that you are available for all of the classes. There is a cost of $140, but this includes a training manual, printed materials, and University level instruction. The topics we cover include botany, plant pathology, plant pests and pesticides, propagation, soils, and a whole lot more! You will be taught by University of Florida guest faculty, and we even throw in a field trip or two.
The programs we are currently involved in include helping with school gardens, our Master Gardener nursery (which now includes a large hoop house), and most importantly assisting with staffing our help desk at our office and at local Lowe’s stores. Teaching and answering the public’s questions is one of our most important missions, and this is the area where we need the most help at the moment. Now don’t think that you need to know everything – I’m asked questions I don’t know the answer to every day. We will teach you the basics of diagnosing plant issues. Our new advanced Master Gardener training is designed to give you the tools and resources including where to find answers to assist residents with their lawn and garden problems.
We will have informational meetings in early April where you can ask all of your questions and speak with current Master Gardeners about their experiences. For more information please contact our office at 352-754-4433 and leave your contact information so we can put you on the list.