Master Gardener Volunteers help extend the reach of University of Florida Extension programs across Hillsborough County. We are happy to welcome our new Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator, Tia Silvasy, to lead our program! Here are some of the ways we serve our community:
Speakers Bureau
We have speakers on topics incline Vegetable Gardening, Butterfly Gardening, Native Plants, Irrigation, Succulents, Container Gardens and more. Contact us to speak at your garden club, organization, on join for one of the classes at our Extension Center in Seffner, FL. View our upcoming events. We also do monthly presentations at Hillsborough County Public Libraries, see their schedule at https://hcplc.org/events and click on adults to see the class calendar and register.
Discovery Gardens
Our Master Gardener Volunteers help maintain the Betty S. Walker Discovery Gardens on site at our Extension Center. They showcase Florida-Friendly plants are free and open to the public during business hours. Learn more!
Help Desk
Starting Jan. 23, 2023 our Help Desk will reopen to the public for walk ins and in person consultations on Mondays and Fridays from 10am till 2pm. No appointment needed. Bring in a sample of your plant or pest problem or email photos to hillsmg@mail.ufl.edu or visit our Help Desk.
Outreach Events
Contact us if you would like for us to table or do an educational activity at one of your upcoming events. This spring we will be at GreenFest Tampa from March 25-26.
Join Us!
Interested in joining us? The Master Gardener Volunteer training is a hybrid format where you will learn online and we will meet in person. It’s a 10-week commitment, for approximately 5 hours per day, one day per week. The next class will be held in fall 2023 starting on Sept. 13 through Nov. 15. on Wednesdays from 10am – 3pm. Learn more about becoming a Master Gardener Volunteer. Get started by filling out our Better Impact application online. After completing the application, we will schedule an interview in May, do a reference check, background check, and the class fee is $175 for those applicants that get accepted. Applications will be accepted until May 1st at 5pm EST. Must be 18 or older and a resident of Hillsborough County to apply.
Some of the topics covered include Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM, botany, plant propagation, native plants, landscape planting and maintenance, weeds, palms, turfgrass, vegetables, dooryard fruits, plant pathology, entomology, nematology, pesticides and pesticide safety, soils, nutrients, and fertilizers, irrigation, pruning, wildlife, and invasive plants. After completing the training volunteers are required to serve 75 volunteer hours the first year and 35 hours each year after to remain active in the program.
Follow Us!
We have several ways to connect to UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County
Facebook, Florida-Friendly Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Eventbrite, Blogs
Visit our website: https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/hillsborough/
An Equal Opportunity Institution.
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