S2 Ep1755: GARDENING in FLORIDA - Green Thumbs Wanted! IF/FAS Master Gardener Volunteers

In this episode of Gardening in Florida, Nanette Wiser talks with IF/FAS Theresa Badurek, Urban Horticulture Extension Agent and Master Gardener Program Leader about the Master Gardener Volunteer Training Program application program is now open through March 29. Their mission? To train a core of volunteers to assist the county agent in delivering information to residents on how to design, plant and care for their plants and landscapes in a Florida-Friendly way. Master Gardener Volunteers offer education to the citizens of Pinellas County on environmentally sound Florida-Friendly Landscape practices.Click here to apply!  Applicants must 18 years or older at time of application, and must be Pinellas County residents.  👉Classes run from Aug./Sept. through Nov./Dec. (10-12 weeks). Most of the coursework is done online with an in-person class once a week on Wednesday mornings. Some of the areas where Master Gardeners volunteer include: our Lawn & Garden Help Desk, presenting educational programs for the community, community gardens, helping with 4-H programs and school gardens, etc.  👉Topics covered include Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM, botany, plant propagation, native plants, landscape planting and maintenance, weeds, palms, turfgrass, vegetables, dooryard fruits, plant pathology, entomology, nematology, pesticides and pesticide safety, soils, nutrients, and fertilizers, irrigation, pruning, wildlife, and invasive plants.👉This is a very popular volunteer training, and we typically have more applicants than spaces in the class. Based on application information, references, and sometimes interviews, a select set of applicants is chosen. The 2026 class is anticipated to cost $225 and a limited number of scholarships are available each year. Local Gardening Events around Pinellas County#theresabadurek #if/fas #pinellascounty #mastergardenervolunteers #nanettewiser #gardeninginflorida #stpete #stpetefl  #tampabay #radio #radiostpete #cityofstpete  #dtsp #downtownstpete