Residential Horticulture
People are helped through classes, seminars, clinics, and workshops. With most of our residents coming from other areas of the country, delivering research based University of Florida information is very important to help them care for their landscapes in an environmentally friendly manner.
Electronic Mail Assistance
If you cannot stop by the Clinic, Orange County Master Gardener's may still be able to help you by email. Please provide your Name, Address and Telephone Number in the event we need to mail you additional information. Select this link and ask your question. You should receive a response within a couple of days.
Community Gardens
When economic problems loom on the horizon, homeowners often turn to gardening in the backyard to provide fresh vegetables and extend their shopping dollars when they visit the grocery store. Community Gardens are a means of providing a gardening space for those who do not have sufficient space in the backyard or do not have a backyard to grow vegetables. Many well meaning organizations and agencies sometime fail to meet these community needs because they do not understand how to start a successful Community Garden. The information below will answer many questions that are asked when considering the creation of a Community Garden.
What is a Community Garden? A Community Garden is a shared plot of undeveloped land in which the participants share in both the maintenance and the rewards. Community Gardening has its roots firmly planted in the Liberty Gardens of World War I and the Victory Gardens of World War II.
Where do you start? A very good beginning would be to determine if there is a group of individuals really interested in creating a Community Garden. Select this link get a copy of the Community Garden Start-Up Guide from the American Community Gardening Association . Also select this link to get a copy of the University of Florida Publication "Starting a Community Garden". You will need both resources to understand the responsibilities of starting a Community Garden.
Who do you contact once you have reviewed the Start-Up Guide and have a committee formed that is interested in starting a Community Garden? Contact the Neighborhood Services Department/Division in the City or County to determine if there is support for the Community Garden. At times, there are grants available to assist in this effort.
How do you get started once you have a committee, a group of interested gardeners, a site, and funding? Contact the County Cooperative Extension Office. The Cooperative Extension System provides education to enable Community Garden development throughout the state. Cooperative extension agents and Master Gardeners can provide educational assistance for Community Garden projects. An extension agent or Master Gardener may be available on occasion for a garden site visit to assist community gardeners at key stages of garden development. Select this link for more Tips in Establishing a Community Garden
Additional References may be selected from the following list:
- Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide
- Organic Vegetable Gardening
- Compost Tips for the Home Gardener
- Fertilizing the Garden
- Insect Management in the Home Garden
- Natural Products for Pest Management
- Producing Garden Vegetables with Organic Soil Amendments
- Seeding the Garden
- Soil pH for the Home Landscape or Garden
- Starting the Garden with Transplants
Ask An Agent
The place where you can ask a question or send a picture to an Extension Agent and get an answer
within 24-72 hours.
Did You Know?
Florida receives an average 52 inches of
rainfall each year. Learn how to store some of this water by making a rain barrel.
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4-H Youth Development 