2024 Master Gardener Volunteer Plant Sale – May 4, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at the Alachua County Agriculture & Equestrian Center (23100 W. Newberry Road, Newberry, FL 32669) View flyer.

The Master Gardener Volunteer Plant Sale will have a variety of herbs, annuals, perennials, natives, trees and more will be available at exceptional prices. Master Gardener Volunteers will be on site for advice on selection and care for your plants. In addition, there will be plant and gardening presentations along with informational booths. Admission and parking are free. 

This annual plant sale is a fundraiser for the Alachua County Master Gardener Volunteer Program. The proceeds are used to support school and community gardens, summer camp scholarships for youth and other educational workshops for the Alachua County community.

Raised Bed & Square Foot Gardening – May 14, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m., at the Alachua County Ag Auditorium (22716 W. Newberry Road, Newberry, FL 32669) View flyer.

This session combines two popular garden methods, the raised bed vegetable gardening and square foot gardening. Discussion will include both the assets and liabilities of each of these gardening methods. 

There is no registration fee, but participants must register online. Limited to 100 participants.
 

Follow the Water May 2024 – May 16 through June 6, 2024 (Refer to program schedule for the locations and times for this event.) View flyer.

Follow a drop of water from southern Georgia to the Gulf of Mexico to see first-hand how natural hydrology, watersheds, and the urban environment affect Florida and our everyday lives. For more information about this event visit the Follow the Water website. 

This program will be held over 4 days and participants must attend all sessions. Please note that each day is scheduled for a different location and time. This is an active workshop with lots of walking. Please plan to carpool and bring a brown bag lunch. There will be reserved weather make-up days if needed. 

Program schedule:

-       Beginning of the Watershed, May 16^th, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge (4159 Suwannee Canal Road, Folkston, GA 31537)

-       Rivers, Springs & Agriculture, May 23^rd, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the Big Shoals State Park & Suwannee Valley Farm Tour (White Springs, FL 32096)

-       Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ & Sweetwater Wetlands Park, May 30^th, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Gainesville, FL 32609)

-       Steinhatchee Falls, June 6^th, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (SR 51, 2 miles South of Tennille US 19/27, Steinhatchee, FL 32359) 

The registration fee to attend all 4 days is $125.00 (plus $10.23 Eventbrite fee). You cannot register for individual days. Participants must register online by May 10^th. This event is limited to 15 participants. There will be no refund for the registration fee.  

Master Gardener Volunteer Program

The Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program is a volunteer-driven program that benefits UF/IFAS Extension and the citizens of Florida. The program relies on dedicated volunteers who have an interest in gardening and giving back to their communities. With training from UF/IFAS Extension, Master Gardener Volunteers are active in their communities, offering leadership and education in gardening, landscaping, and water conservation projects. Master Gardener Annual Agreement - please read.

This year’s training course will begin on August 14^th and run through mid-November 2024. The class will meet every Wednesday, from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m., at the Alachua County Ag Auditorium (22716 W. Newberry Road, Newberry, FL 32669). The cost of the training is $175.00 and includes a student manual and handbook, soil test, and other educational materials and resources. Seating for this program is limited and placement is selective. There are typically more people who apply than we can accept. 

After successful completion of the training, interns are required to volunteer a minimum of 75 hours the first year to achieve their Master Gardener Volunteer certification. Thirty-five volunteer hours and ten continuing education units are required in subsequent years to maintain an active status within the program. 

To apply for the 2024 Master Gardener Volunteer training course, go to Master Gardener Volunteer Application and you will be directed to create an account in our volunteer management system. You will need to provide three references. The deadline to submit your application is May 24, 2024.

Beekeeping Series: Honey Extraction – May 18, from 9:00 a.m. to 12 p.m., at the UF/IFAS Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory (1881 Natural Area Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611) 

This class will cover honey extraction from honey bee hives and keeping a healthy hive. Live bees will be used; please dress in protective clothing (closed toe shoes, long sleeves, please bring your beekeeping suit if you own one).

The registration fee of $20.00 (plus $3.18 Eventbrite fee) will include materials and refreshments. Participants must register online by May 15^th. A late fee of $10.00 (plus $3.85 Eventbrite fee) will be applied for registrations after May 15^th, or if paying at the door. The class is limited to 30 participants. There will be no refund for the registration fee.

If you would like to be added to our beekeeping ListServ for information about upcoming classes, email to [log in to unmask], subject: please add to bee ListServ.

Limited Commercial Maintenance Landscape Workshop – May 22, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at the Alachua County Ag Auditorium (22716 W. Newberry Road, Newberry, FL 32669) View flyer for more dates.

Individuals seeking recertification may attend the class for four hours if pre-registered on Eventbrite. The registration fee is $30.00 (plus $3.85 Eventbrite fee) per person and includes lunch. Participants must register online by May 20^th. A late fee of $10.00 (plus $4.52 Eventbrite fee) will be applied for registrations after May 20^th. There will be no refund for the registration fee.