Manatee--The Manatee County Extension Service is offering a variety of classes and nature tours for February 2011. If you do not have time for a class, keep reading for information on other ways to obtain educational information.
REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS
Unless otherwise noted, all classes are held at the Manatee County Extension Office, 1303 17th Street West, Palmetto, Florida 34221, in Kendrick Auditorium. All class sizes are limited; minimum class size is required. Register in advance online via our web site at http://manatee.ifas.ufl.edu or call 941-722-4524 for all workshops. Call the Master Gardeners at 941-722-4524 to register for tours. Classes and tours are free unless otherwise noted.
RAIN BARREL WORKSHOP
Let us provide you with great water conservation tips and trivia. Learn how to install, paint, and maintain a functional rain barrel. Start conserving today. This class will be held at the Braden River Library, 4915 53rd Avenue E, Bradenton. Register online or call Cindy. Date/Time: February 2, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
LANDSCAPING ON REDUCED WATER USE
An introduction to micro-irrigation. Learn how to select, install, and operate your own water-saving irrigation system. Pros and cons, parts and pieces and what things are called. Presented by Jack Tichenor, Water Conservation Agent. Register online or call Cheryl. Date/Time: February 2, 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
KEEPING THE PRESSURE DOWN
This four-week class is designed to help people at risk for high blood pressure and for those who have this condition to make healthy lifestyle choices to lower their blood pressure and to reduce their health risks. Presented by Samantha Kennedy, Family & Consumer Sciences Extension Agent. Class size is limited. Register online or call Samantha. Registration deadline date is January 28. Date/Time: February 3, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. every Thursday evening for 4 weeks.
COMPOST WORKSHOP
Learn how to turn your kitchen scraps and yard waste into useful soil amendments. Participants will learn Florida-Friendly Landscapingª concepts and details about how to set up a home compost bin. Register online or call Cindy. This class will be held at Rocky Bluff Library, 7016 US Highway 301 North, Ellenton. Date/Time: February 8, 10:30 a.m. to Noon.
THE LOWDOWN ON LAWN IRRIGATION
Tune up your sprinkler system for the dry season. Learn how to adjust the timer and sprinklers, improve uniformity, eliminate water waste, and cut costs. There is also an introduction to micro-irrigation. A free lawn sprinkler tune up kit will be given to each attendee. This class satisfies the irrigation education portion of the Manatee County Water Conservation Rebate Program. Presented by Jack Tichenor, Water Conservation Agent. Register online or call Cheryl. This class will be in Peridia Golf & Country Club’s Community Building, 4950 Peridia Blvd. East, Bradenton. Date/Time: February 8, 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
COOKING WITH HERBS
Throw that salt shaker away! Come learn about different kinds of herbs and how to use them to spice up your life. Topics include selecting, drying, storing, and meal preparation. Presented by Samantha Kennedy, Extension Agent. Register online or call Samantha. Date/Time: February 9, 10:00 a.m. to Noon.
SPRING VEGETABLE GARDENING & ALTERNATIVE ORGANIC GARDENING WITH AEROPONICS
Learn the basics on how to start and what to plant for a spring vegetable garden. The basics include soil dynamics, pest and disease pointers, and correct fertilizer applications for the most fruitful yield. Aeroponics is the new ”Hydroponics.“ Presented by Lisa Hickey, Extension Agent. Register online or call the Master Gardeners. Date/Time: February 9, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
BACKYARD BEEKEEPING
Provides tips on how to start backyard beekeeping, safety concerns and awareness of Africanized Honey Bees, and the importance of the pollinators. Presented by Kevin Lossman, local beekeeper. Register online or call the Master Gardeners. Date/Time: February 12, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
PLANT ID & NATURE TOUR - DESOTO MEMORIAL/RIVERVIEW PRESERVE
Stroll through DeSoto National Memorial and Riverview Pointe Preserve with a Master Gardener volunteer to learn about Florida’s native plants and inhabitants of a coastal habitat. Program suitable for all ages. Call the Master Gardeners to register. Date/Time: February 12, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
PERIDIA – WATER WISE LANDSCAPES
This class satisfies the landscape portion of the Manatee County Water Conservation Rebate Program. Even in Florida, the key to smart landscaping is to develop a landscape to save money, energy, water, and time. Learn practical design tips, landscape pitfalls, garden chores, hardscape choices, texture combinations and remedies for difficult areas. Should you need identification of a plant, arrive early to class and make sure to bring a long branch with leaves (and ideally with flower or seed). Presented by Elissa Mirabelli, Horticulture Program Assistant. Register online or call Elissa. This class will be in Peridia Golf & Country Club’s Community Building in the Palm Room, 4950 Peridia Blvd. East, Bradenton. Date/Time: February 15, 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
PLANT ID & NATURE TOUR – EMERSON POINTE PRESERVE
Stroll through Emerson Point Preserve with a Master Gardener volunteer to learn more about Florida’s native plants and inhabitants of a coastal habitat. This program is suitable for all ages. Call the Master Gardeners to register. Program suitable for all ages. Date/Time: February 19, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
PLANT ID TOUR AT ROBINSON PRESERVE
Stroll through the Robinson Preserve’s salt marshes with a Master Gardener volunteer to learn more about Florida’s native plants and inhabitants of a coastal habitat. This program is suitable for all ages. Call the Master Gardeners to register. Date/Time: February 20, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
PLANT ID & NATURE TOUR – RYE PRESERVE
Stroll through Rye Preserve with a Master Gardener volunteer to learn what grows in a dry, sandy upland habitat. Master Gardener Bob Egolf will be leading this new tour through the scrubs and pointing out the native wildflowers and shrubs. Call the Master Gardeners to register. Date/Time: February 27, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
In addition to the workshops identified above, several other opportunities are offered that provide free gardening information:
1. The Manatee County Master Gardener monthly newsletter, The Master Gardening Bench, is available to download at http://manatee.ifas.ufl.edu/lawn_and_garden/master-gardener -- look for The Master Gardening Bench on the right of the page and click on ”Monthly e-Newsletter.“
2. Are you unable to come by the Manatee County Extension Office to get advice or to solve your gardening problems? E-mail us at manateemg@gmail.com. Be sure to include as much information as you can in your e-mail and include your telephone number in case additional information is needed. Attach photos if possible. Remember, a photo can be worth a 1,000 words.
3. Get FYI from the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Program (FYN) by following our blog at http://manateefyn.blogspot.com/. Sign up as a follower to receive updates.
4. Interested in having a beautiful landscape while saving water at the same time? The Manatee County Extension Service offers a Mobile Irrigation Lab with a free evaluation of your landscape and irrigation system. Call Elissa or Bob at 941-722-4524 today to schedule your free evaluation. Extension programs are open to all persons without regard to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions, or affiliations. Persons requiring special accommodations per the Americans with Disabilities Act should contact Millie Hernandez at (941) 722-4524 at least five working days prior to the class/workshop.
The Manatee County Extension Service provides the educational resources of the University of Florida through materials and training to the citizens of Manatee County. Topics relate to gardening, landscaping, water conservation and more. It is cooperatively funded by Manatee County Government, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (I.F.A.S.) and the United States Department of Agriculture (U.S.D.A.). Some programs are partially funded by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) Manasota Basin Board.
Comments
No comments on this item
Only paid subscribers can comment
Please log in to comment by clicking here.