By Norie Flowers
If you are unfamiliar with it, let me introduce you to the St. Johns County Extension Center, located on 52 acres at 3125 Agricultural Center Drive in St. Augustine. Administered jointly by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and the St. Johns County Commission, the center provides research-based support, education and programs to our community. Here is a look at some of the resources available.
The center provides best management practices to keep our local agricultural community sustainable, while also hosting 4-H Youth Development programs that teach leadership, citizenship and life skills to thousands of local children each year.
A major cornerstone of the center is the Master Gardener Volunteer Program. Certified master gardeners undergo rigorous UF/IFAS training and volunteer to provide research-based horticultural education to St. Johns County residents. These dedicated volunteers teach hands-on workshops at local schools and libraries, operate a diagnostic Help Desk, perform soil testing at no cost, host plant clinics and propagate species for community sales.
The extension center property features several specialty gardens maintained year-round by these volunteers. Free educational garden tours are held the first Tuesday of every month starting at 10 a.m., offering expert gardening advice and showcasing Florida’s rich plant diversity. Special group and school tours can also be arranged by contacting the center directly.
Two major events not to be missed are the biannual plant sales held in April and September. Mark your calendars for the upcoming fall sale on Sept. 19 and 20! Plants are sold at low cost and include a rich variety of hard-to-find Florida native species.
Two popular gardening classes will also be held this June. To register, visit ufifas-extension-st-johns-county.eventbrite.com or call the center directly at 904-209-0430:
- June 1: Summer Vegetable Gardening
- June 22: Turf 101
Take advantage of everything the St. Johns County Extension Center has to offer. Start by joining a Tuesday garden tour or planning your visit to the September plant sale to begin your own gardening journey!
Norie Flowers is a certified master gardener with the St. Johns County Extension Center.
