Tag Archives: Sarasota County Extension

Upcoming Classes at Phillippi Mansion

Posted by Lesley on March 29, 2011 None comments

I had a blast learning how to keep bees last week, but the how-to on keeping chickens will have to wait.  Chicken 101 was sold out by the time I went to register.  It’s not surprising since the city passed an ordinance in January allowing residents to keep up to four chickens per backyard.  But no roosters allowed!  They can’t keep their beaks shut. 

Chicken 101 is being offered through the Sarasota County Extension office so expect more classes to be scheduled.  The four-hour class costs $15; I’ll post an update on Facebook and Twitter when they schedule another one. 

For now, check out a free class at Phillippi Mansion.  The mansion itself is a gorgeous and historic setting, but take some time afterward to walk the hammock trail, let the kids explore the exceptionally cool playground and/or shop the farmers market.  Even if you’re not local, it’s worth a day trip. 

Class Schedule

March 30, 2011 at noon
The Healthy Home
Betty Alpaugh, Education Specialist

Americans spend more than 90% of their time indoors where air quality is often ten times more polluted than outdoors.  Fortunately, this is one health risk that we can reduce by learning how to improve the environmental quality inside our homes.  This class will discuss how families can make their homes safer, healthier and more comfortable by choosing more sustainable materials and maintenance methods.  (1 hour class)

April 6, 2011 at noon
Herb Gardening
Robert Kluson, Ph.D., Extension Agent
 
Florida vegetable gardening includes many potential herb crops. Learn which herbs are best suited to Sarasota County and seasons. (1 hour class)

April 13, 2011 at noon
Irrigation Display and Demo
Angela Antonucci, Program Specialist
 
Do you know how your irrigation system works? If you did, you would know about the water savings you could have each and every month by becoming a “water wizard.” Learn how to calibrate and set your time clock and fix problems. (1 hour class)

April 20, 2011 at noon
Fruit Trees for Sarasota County
Robert Kluson, Ph.D., Extension Agent
 
Florida food gardening includes many potential fruit crops. Learn which fruits are best suited to Sarasota County and seasons. (1 hour class)

April 27, 2011 at noon
Turf Alternatives
Angelo Randaci, Extension Agent

Florida Friendly Landscaping means using low-maintenance plants and environmentally sustainable practices. We will explore options to turf that will create a beautiful landscape, while helping to protect Sarasota County’s natural resources.  (1 hour class)

Useful Links:

February’s Free Gardening Classes

Posted by Lesley on February 1, 2011 8 comments

It can be pricey living in Sarasota.  There are galas and shows, fundraisers and festivals, but the fun isn’t only for the beautiful people.  There are a surprising number of free things to do around this ritzy city.  February’s free classes through the Sarasota County Extension are listed below.  Not only are the classes free but several are being held at Sarasota County parks, which makes for a nice morning or afternoon out.  Add to the fun and try letterboxing.  Here’s your first clue: After learning about beneficial insects, search for an antique key.  Enjoy!

Call the Sarasota County Extension at 941-861-9900 if registration is required.

  • February 2, 2011:
  • February 3, 2011:
    • Creating Wildlife Habitat In and Around Stormwater Ponds
  • February 4, 2011:
  • February 5, 2011:
  • February 8, 2011:
  • February 9, 2011:
  • February 12, 2011
    • Florida Yards & Neighborhoods: Creating Your Florida Yard
  • February 16, 2011
  • February 17, 2011
    • Chinch Bugs and White Grubs
  • February 19, 2011
  • February 22, 2011
  • February 23, 2011

Before you go to the Phillippi Farmhouse Market…

Posted by Lesley on January 18, 2011 None comments

Check out their blog!  It’s great for planning your grocery list ahead of time; I’ll be buying lettuce and snap peas from Geraldson Community Farm tomorrow.  The blog has vendor information, entertainment line-ups, and menus.  It’s also a place for vendors to announce any specials they’re running.  Tomorrow’s special is 50 cents off per pound at Maggie’s Seafood, but get there early – it’s only available to the first fifteen customers.

And this mid-week market just keeps getting better!  In addition to the blog, they have partnered with the Sarasota County Extension to offer free gardening classes from 12 – 1, January through April.  Tomorrow’s class is Container Gardening.  And what’s even better than taking a free class is taking said free class in a historic mansion overlooking a rose garden and Phillippi Creek.  Built in 1916, the Edison Keith mansion is an Italian Renaissance-style beauty surrounded by a 60-acre park complete with a nature trail and playground.      

Free Gardening Classes

Posted by Lesley on June 4, 2010 None comments

Sarasota County Extension sent out their summer schedule of classes this morning:

summer-schedule

If you want on their mailing list, email pporchey@scgov.net.  My picks for this summer are Partnering with Pollinators, Creating Your Florida Yard and the Rain Barrel Workshop, which is also a freebie because you don’t have to buy a rain barrel.  It’s a demonstration on how to construct and use them.  If you want to make your own you can, or you can buy one from the county for $37 after class. 

Laurel Park Community Garden

Posted by Lesley on September 21, 2009 1 comments

Great class on Saturday!  It was the first in a series of free classes on organic gardening offered through the Sarasota County Extension.   They’re held on the third Saturday of the month at Laurel Park and the first Saturday of the month at Orange Blossom Park.  This is the series line-up for October through February:

  • Soil Management
  • Crop Management
  • Pest Management
  • Water Management
  • Cover Crop & Compost Management

After the organic gardening overview, I walked around the Laurel Park Community Garden.  It’s smaller and sunnier than the Orange Blossom garden, but it has everything you need.  The hoses are conveniently located in a line down the center aisle. 

Here’s a peek inside the shed…

and at the compost pile.

Orange Blossom Community Garden

Posted by Lesley on September 18, 2009 4 comments

Preparing for the fall garden has me searching for inspiration.  Don’t look at the weather widget, it’s back in the nineties again.  I started to sweat a little carrying my groceries in from the car this morning.  Instead of doing any planting of my own, I headed over to the Orange Blossom Community Garden to see what other people were doing.  I’m already feeling better about my late-September start.  I didn’t find any seedlings, but there were a few leftover crops from summer. 

Watermelon

Peppers

     

Pineapples

There aren’t any pineapples left, but I love the way this person designed their plot.  Someone else has a miniature white picket fence around theirs.  It’s fun to walk around and see the different garden personalities.  No one was out today, no doubtedly because of the heat, but it seems like a nice place to gather.  There are benches in the shade and a couple of tables and chairs.  Compost and mulch are ready and waiting.

There are four community gardens in Sarasota County – two are in the city and two are in South County.  The plot sizes vary, but an average size is about 12′ x 12′.  They’re priced right.  It only costs $20 a year plus a fully-refundable deposit of $30 up front.  All four gardens are full right now, but there’s a waiting list that apparently moves pretty quickly.  People make other arrangements in the meantime and it’s right on down the list.

http://sarasota.extension.ufl.edu/Hort/commgarden.shtml     

Organic Gardening Class Update

Posted by Lesley on September 17, 2009 None comments

9:30 was a misprint; the class is at 10:30.  Call 861-9900 to register – it’s free!  This is the class description from the Extension’s schedule: 

“Third Saturdays” Class on Organic Vegetable Gardening

September 19, 2009 10:30am – Sat

Robert Kluson, Ph.D.

Extension Agent

Agriculture/Natural Resources

Laurel Community Garden, Laurel Park

509 Collins Rd., Laurel

This is part of a series of monthly classes about organic vegetable gardening for growing your own food. Today’s topic is “Overview of Organic Vegetable Gardening.” (1.5 hours)

80′s Revival

Posted by Lesley on September 17, 2009 None comments

Check out the weather widget, people - 85 degrees at noon!  My plants are no longer drooped into the dirt and I took a walk yesterday without sweating!  These are good signs for my motivation and future fall garden.  I just signed up for an organic gardening overview through the Sarasota County Extension.   That should get me geared up and ready to go.  The class is at Laurel Park on Saturday at either 9:30 or 10:30am.  Sheila will let me know, and I’ll let you know.