Master Gardeners are a group of individuals who receive 60 hours of horticulture training and in return give back a minimum of 75 hours of volunteer time to the Extension Service. In order to remain an active Master Gardener in good standing they are required to obtain 10 continuing education units and fulfill a minimum of 35 volunteer hours after the first year of service is completed.

Flagler County Master Gardeners are a vital part of the Extension Service program. They provide unbiased, research-based horticulture information to the public from the University of Florida and other land-grant universities in many ways. They are available for one-on-one consultation Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Flagler County Extension office or by phone, email, and many local events and in-house educational programs.

Master Gardeners advise and teach:

• Safe and efficient use of chemicals and fertilizers
• The correct selection and placement of plant materials for energy and water conservation
• Mulching and composting practices that reduce, reuse, and recycle yard trash
• The use of plant materials to attract desirable wildlife

Master Gardeners promote environmental awareness while empowering people to do their part in maintaining sustainable plant communities that protect the environment and conserve water and energy.

For more information on this program, please contact Ruth Micieli at (386) 437-7464.