If you, or someone you know, enjoy gardening, making new friends, and continually learning, then consider becoming a UF/IFAS Brevard County Master Gardener.
In 2025, there will be a Wednesday class and a Saturday class. Gardening provides many health benefits, as does making new friendships. Continue reading to learn the history of the Master Gardener program and specific information on our Brevard County program.
The Master Gardener program began in 1972 in Seattle, Washington, started by two extension agents looking for ways to meet the needs of backyard gardeners. They felt that well-trained volunteers could help with many of the day-to-day homeowner questions they received. Fifty-two years later, there's a Master Gardener program in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
The Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program relies on trained and dedicated volunteers interested in gardening and giving back to their communities, benefiting both UF/IFAS Extension and residents of Florida.
In 1979, three counties in Florida, one of which was Brevard County, held Master Gardener classes for the first time. The mission of the Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program is “To assist Extension Agents in providing research-based horticultural education to Florida residents.” The Vision is “to be the most trusted resource for horticulture education in Florida.” Out of 67 Florida counties, 56 counties maintain an active Master Gardener program with a total of over 4,000 volunteers throughout the state.
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The Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator is typically a horticulture Extension agent who runs the Master Gardener class and oversees the county’s volunteer recruiting and management of the program. Here in Brevard County, I am the Master Gardener Coordinator, and since 1995, I have offered the Master Gardener class. The class costs $250 and will be held on 11 Wednesdays in January through March and on Saturdays starting on Jan. 11th and ending on April 19. All classes run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and only two classes out of the 11 can be missed. The first year, when attending either class, a minimum of 75 volunteer hours will need to be logged to receive a UF/IFAS Brevard County Master Gardener nametag and class completion certificate at the December Master Gardener meeting.
Every year after that first year, only 35 hours are required to remain an active Master Gardener. There are various ways that Master Gardeners can volunteer to support the Urban Horticulture program and UF/IFAS Extension in Brevard.
In our main office in Cocoa, at 3695 Lake Drive, we have a Master Gardener desk where the residents can find help with their questions Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Helping the public with their various questions is also a great way to learn.
Due to the geographical shape of Brevard County, which is 72 miles long and averages 26.5 miles wide, there are currently 14 Master Gardener clinics held throughout the county. The current Master Gardener clinics are held on weekdays, except for the Cocoa Library clinic, which runs from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday.
We also have the Brevard Discovery Garden for those who enjoy getting their hands dirty. The areas that Master Gardeners work in include the garden, nursery, and greenhouse. Each area provides different volunteer opportunities. In the garden, there is planting, pruning, and weeding. In the greenhouse, they propagate new plants from seeds or cuttings and care for them, and in the nursery, it would be caring for and weeding the potted plants for future planting in the garden or a fundraising plant event, which is often held on weekends.
I also train Master Gardeners to conduct "My Brevard Yard" site visits. During the site visit, the Master Gardener(s) collect soil and water samples (if the irrigation source is from a well) for testing. Master Gardeners can also help with plant ID and answer questions. The homeowner also receives fertilizer recommendations based on their soil test results. Master Gardeners who work through the week could schedule site visits on the weekend to help accrue the required 75 hours.
Another volunteer opportunity is to staff a UF/IFAS Extension Brevard County table at special events held locally throughout the year. These are fun events: The Master Gardeners answer residents' questions, hand out our gardening information, and get the word out about the UF/IFAS Extension Service. We are also continually looking for more events to attend, which could be another source of volunteer hours for those who work during the week.
Many benefits come with training and being a Master Gardener. The benefits begin in the Master Gardener class, where you will learn new information. Learning new information is always fun, and if it has to do with gardening, that makes it extra fun! Along with learning, you will have the opportunity to make new friends. The social aspect is a great benefit, especially for anyone new to the area. Another benefit is that gardening is a great way to exercise, such as walking, stretching, digging, and lifting. Gardening can also be a mood booster because working with vegetable plants, flowers, trees, etc., can improve our mood, either from the beauty of the plants or the feeling of accomplishment from making an area look prettier.
The Master Gardener program is a win-win for both the Master Gardeners and Brevard County, so if you enjoy gardening, consider joining us. If you would like an application for the UF/IFAS Brevard County Master Gardener Class of 2025, contact the Master Gardeners at brevard-mg1@ifas.ufl.edu and let them know if you are interested in the Wednesday or Saturday class. After we receive your completed application, we will hold interviews so you can meet with a couple of Master Gardeners to learn more about the program and ask any questions you may have.
Sally Scalera is an urban horticulture agent and master gardener coordinator for the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agriculture Science.
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