water schools for master gardeners · 2018. 7. 9. · water schools for master gardeners 2018...
TRANSCRIPT
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
Did you Know? • UF/IFAS Initiatives – Water http://pdec.ifas.ufl.edu/teams/u.pl Water conservation Water quality: Urban & Agriculture Public awareness of water issues
• Shaping Solutions for Florida’s Future: The UF/IFAS Extension Roadmap 2013 – 2023 https://extadmin.ifas.ufl.edu/media/extadminifasufledu/agentx2fspecialist/docs/lrp2.pdf
Focus on
Water
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
Discussion
In what ways do you talk with clients
about water?
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
Our Process • Think about key topics
– 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
Photo credit: Marisol Amador, UF/IFAS
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
Agenda: H2O for Master Gardeners in the Know • Single day format focused on current/pressing topics
• Saturday, June 24, 2017
• 8:30 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
Agenda: H2O 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.
Educational Methods • Extension Specialists
• Hands-on demonstrations
• Fertilizer knowledge quiz/worksheets
• Pledge
• Hike in Preserve
• Post-workshop survey
Photo credit: Nicole Pinson
Conservation Strategies
• Identify water issues/solutions
• Communicate Inground irrigation calibration
Inground vs. micro
Plant selection decisions
Potable vs. non
HOAs
Help desk, seminars, demo gardens, media
Photo credit: UF/IFAS
Focus on Water Conservation
Irrigating Your Florida Lawn: Calibrating a
Sprinkler System Worksheet
Focus on Stormwater Runoff
10 Things You May Not Know About Fertilizer
Worksheet
Results (see handout)
Results • Knowledge increase: 21 MGs completed a post-test
(57%)
100% don’t fertilize new lawns &
prior to rain events
100% leave grass clippings
95% use palm fertilizer on entire landscape
43% water in fertilizer
Photo credit: UF/IFAS
Results Pledge:
• 94% increased confidence talking with the public
• 41% will talk about water with clients
• 35% will talk about water in their programs
Photo credit: UF/IFAS
Results Top conservation strategy volunteers pledged to implement:
• 43% pledged to conserve water
Photo credit: UF/IFAS
Photo credit: Tyler Jones, UF/IFAS
Learning Opportunities
• Fertilizer use Not during winter
Local ordinances
Near palms
Soil test for P
K is important nutrient
Photo credit: UF/IFAS
Discussion
How can you use this information?
Photo credit: UF/IFAS
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
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
Example slide from a Hillsborough PPt
How Can YOU Use this Information?
• Sneak it in: Help Desk
library presentations
booths and events
• Educate the public in water-conserving methods and practices
• Plan a water school for Master Gardeners
Photo credit: Tyler Jones, UF/IFAS
Focus on Water Awareness
Complete
the Pledge
References
• Estimated Water Savings Potential of Florida-Friendly Landscaping Activities. Boyer, M. and M. Dukes. (2015). http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/AE/AE51500.pdf
• How to Calibrate Your Sprinkler System. Trenholm, L.E., J.B. Unruh, and J.L. Cisar. (2009). Archival copy. http://ufdc.ufl.edu/IR00003389/00001
Photo credit: Michael Gutierrez, UF/IFAS
References
• Reclaimed Water Use in the Landscape: Frequently Asked Questions about Reclaimed Water. Toor, G.S. and M. Lusk. (2015). http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/SS/SS54400.pdf
• 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. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/AE/AE47900.pdf
Questions? Thank you!
Dr. Whitney Elmore
County Extension Director, Urban Horticulture Agent, Master Gardener Coordinator
UF/IFAS Extension Pasco County
(352) 518-0156
Nicole Pinson
Urban Horticulture Agent/Master Gardener Coordinator
UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County
(813) 744-5519