ABOUT AUTHOR
Sara MacDonald
Dr. Sara Salgado MacDonald is the Urban Horticulture Agent and the Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator for UF/IFAS St. Lucie County. She holds a Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Florida and a M.Sc. in Entomology from Rhodes University in South Africa. In her role, Dr. MacDonald designs, implements, and evaluates science-based educational programs to support homeowners in adopting sustainable landscape practices. She leads the county’s Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ (FFL) and Urban Horticulture programs, focusing on water conservation, water quality protection, and climate-resilient landscaping. Sara also coordinates and trains a dedicated group of UF/IFAS Master Gardener Volunteers, guiding them in delivering impactful outreach and educational services to the community. She incorporates a variety of teaching methods, including site visits, in-person workshops, webinars, and social media to reach St. Lucie County’s diverse urban population. She can be reached at 772-462-1132 or sara [dot] macdonald [at] ufl [dot] edu