Water Schools for Master Gardeners

Transcription

1 Water Schools for Master Gardeners 2018 Master Gardener Leadership School Theresa Badurek, UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County Lynn Barber, UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County Whitney Elmore, UF/IFAS Extension Pasco County Jim Moll, UF/IFAS Extension Pasco County Nicole Pinson, UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County Photo credit: Nicole Pinson

2 Did you Know? UF/IFAS Initiatives Water Water conservation Water quality: Urban & Agriculture Public awareness of water issues Focus on Water Shaping Solutions for Florida s Future: The UF/IFAS Extension Roadmap nifasufledu/agentx2fspecialist/docs/lrp2.pdf

3 Did you Know? 54,839 miles rivers & streams 49,128 miles canals & ditches > 1.8 million acres of lakes > 1,000 springs Various water sources New residents (+25% by 2020) New MG trainees Sneak it into many conversations Focus on Water Photo credit: Tyler Jones, UF/IFAS

4 Discussion In what ways do you talk with clients about water?

5 Why a Water School for MGs? Advanced training CEUs Practical knowledge Awareness Reclaimed Irrigation Conserve water Master Gardeners Public Promotes FFL principles Photo credit: UF/IFAS

6 Our Process Think about key topics Photo credit: Marisol Amador, UF/IFAS What do we want MGs to learn? What are the knowledge gaps? What are our local issues? How do we want to structure the training? Single day or multiple day format Working lunch? Lunch provided by Interactive, hands-on demos

7 Our Process ID collaborative opportunities Focus and cooperation on a watershed scale moving beyond county boundaries. Urban Water Quality Offer regional training; disseminate research Schedule guest speakers Complete evaluation tool

8 Agenda: H 2 O for Master Gardeners in the Know Single day format focused on current/pressing topics Saturday, June 24, :30 AM 2:00 PM, Brooker Creek Preserve 8:30 9:00 Coffee and Networking 9:00 9:10 Announcements 9:10 10:00 Florida-Friendly Landscaping Demonstration Research Findings, Dr. Gail Hansen, UF/IFAS Associate Professor, Environmental Horticulture 10:10 11:00 Reclaimed Water in the Landscape, Dr. Mary Lusk, UF/IFAS Regional Specialized Agent for Water

9 Agenda: H 2 O for Master Gardeners in the Know 11:10 12:00 Concurrent Sessions: Simple Irrigation Calibration, Dr. Whitney Elmore, UF/IFAS Pasco CED/Urban Horticulture Agent/MG Coordinator and Nicole Pinson, Urban Horticulture/MG Coordinator, Hillsborough County Revised FFL Yard Recognition Evaluation, Lynn Barber, UF/IFAS Hillsborough FFL Agent and Jim Moll, UF/IFAS Pasco 12:10 1:00 Lunch and Evaluation Survey 1:00 2:00 Guided Hike to the Watershed (optional), Lara Milligan, UF/IFAS Pinellas County Natural Resources Agent *Speakers and topics subject to change without notice.

10 Educational Methods Extension Specialists Hands-on demonstrations Fertilizer knowledge quiz/worksheets Pledge Hike in Preserve Post-workshop survey Photo credit: Nicole Pinson

11 Conservation Strategies Identify water issues/solutions Communicate Inground irrigation calibration Inground vs. micro Plant selection decisions Potable vs. non HOAs Photo credit: UF/IFAS Help desk, seminars, demo gardens, media

12 Focus on Water Conservation Irrigating Your Florida Lawn: Calibrating a Sprinkler System Worksheet

13 Focus on Stormwater Runoff 10 Things You May Not Know About Fertilizer Worksheet

14 Results (see handout)

15 Results Knowledge increase: 21 MGs completed a post-test (57%) Photo credit: UF/IFAS 100% don t fertilize new lawns & prior to rain events 100% leave grass clippings 95% 43% use palm fertilizer on entire landscape water in fertilizer

16 Results Pledge: Photo credit: UF/IFAS 94% increased confidence talking with the public 41% will talk about water with clients 35% will talk about water in their programs

17 Results Photo credit: UF/IFAS Top conservation strategy volunteers pledged to implement: 43% pledged to conserve water Photo credit: Tyler Jones, UF/IFAS

18 Learning Opportunities Fertilizer use Not during winter Local ordinances Near palms Soil test for P K is important nutrient Photo credit: UF/IFAS

19 Discussion How can you use this information? Photo credit: UF/IFAS

20 How Can YOU Use this Information? Help your Agent/MG Coordinator with his/her reports Discuss the whole picture with clients when it comes to disease, cultural controls, fertilization, etc. Consider programs on indoor water use Photo credit: Tyler Jones, UF/IFAS

21 Example slide from a Hillsborough PPt Help Protect Florida s Water Quality Test the soil before using fertilizers Fertilize only when needed Irrigate properly Read the fertilizer label carefully Follow UF/IFAS recommendations

22 How Can YOU Use this Information? Sneak it in: Help Desk library presentations booths and events Educate the public in waterconserving methods and practices Plan a water school for Master Gardeners Photo credit: Tyler Jones, UF/IFAS

23 Focus on Water Awareness Complete the Pledge

24 References Photo credit: Michael Gutierrez, UF/IFAS Estimated Water Savings Potential of Florida-Friendly Landscaping Activities. Boyer, M. and M. Dukes. (2015). How to Calibrate Your Sprinkler System. Trenholm, L.E., J.B. Unruh, and J.L. Cisar. (2009). Archival copy.

25 References Reclaimed Water Use in the Landscape: Frequently Asked Questions about Reclaimed Water. Toor, G.S. and M. Lusk. (2015). Accounting for the Nutrients in Reclaimed Water for Landscape Irrigation. (2014). Martinez, C., M.W. Clark, G.S. Toor, G.J. Hochmuth, L.R. Parsons.

26 Questions? Thank you! Dr. Whitney Elmore County Extension Director, Urban Horticulture Agent, Master Gardener Coordinator UF/IFAS Extension Pasco County (352) Nicole Pinson Urban Horticulture Agent/Master Gardener Coordinator UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County (813)