Cooperative Extension
Update & Exploration
Gardens
Board of County Commissioners
Meeting
October 8, 2013
Cooperative Extension Update
Background
Presentation Outline
• Overview
• Exploration Gardens
• Action Requested
Cooperative Extension Update
Background
Presentation Outline
• Overview
• Exploration Gardens
• Action Requested
Cooperative
BackgroundExtension-Overview
• Smith Lever Act 1914 – Established
Cooperative Extension Service.
• Extension is a federal, state, and county
partnership formed to extend the knowledge
at land grant universities to help solve local
needs in the counties.
• First Orange County Extension Agent, Charles
Baker, was hired February 14, 1914.
Cooperative Extension-Overview
Extension Partners
•
•
•
(FY ꞌ12-ꞌ13)
Orange County BCC
$1,141,961
University of Florida Institute of Food
and Agricultural Sciences
$1,217,885
United States Department of
Agriculture – FNP Grant
$242,499
Cooperative Extension-Overview
Major Program Areas
• Agriculture / Horticulture/ Natural Resources
• Family and Consumer Sciences
• 4-H Youth Development
Orange County Extension has access to hundreds
of University of Florida specialists to help address
local needs.
Cooperative Extension-Overview
2012 Highlights
•
1,985 educational events attended by 69,540
adults and youth.
•
571 volunteers contributed 45,998 hours
worth $838,083 of service to the County.
•
488,991 television, newspaper, radio,
website & magazine contacts per month.
•
Exploration Gardens Grand Opening!
Cooperative Extension Update
Background
Presentation Outline
• Overview
• Exploration Gardens
• Action Requested
Cooperative Extension
Exploration Gardens
Cooperative Extension
Exploration Gardens
Background
• Garden design began in 2007 in conjunction
with construction of the new Extension Center
on Conway Road.
• 2009 construction began with an $800k
budget.
• Recession necessitated cost savings.
• In 2010, basic shell of garden completed – no
electricity, irrigation or teaching pavilions.
Cooperative Extension
Exploration Gardens
Purpose
• Commercial and residential clientele learn
techniques for conserving water, fertilizer, and
reducing pesticide use while growing food and
ornamental crops.
• This education supports the County’s National
Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
permits.
• Research shows “Learning by Experience” and
“Hands On” activities increases knowledge and
retention of classroom teaching.
Cooperative Extension
Exploration Gardens
Since 2010
• Eight themed gardens built.
• Industry, County, City
partners & volunteers.
• Tree Trust Fund money was
used to build greenhouse in
2012 at a cost of $75,000
• Official Grand Opening in
Spring of 2012.
Cooperative Extension
Exploration Gardens
Grand Opening
Cooperative Extension
Exploration Gardens
Small Farm & Vegetable Garden
• Master Gardener volunteers contributed 3,000 dollars
and sweat equity to build this theme garden.
• Raised beds, square foot gardens, floating hydroponic
and solar powered vertical systems, permiculture plots.
• Used to teach urban farming techniques to small
farmers, market and urban gardeners.
•
Cooperative Extension
Exploration Gardens
Eco & Butterfly Gardens
• Teaching the importance of Florida Friendly
Landscaping – right plant, right place!
• Landscapes that attract bees, butterflies and native
pollinators for fruit and vegetable cross pollination.
Cooperative Extension
Exploration Gardens
Events Garden
Cooperative Extension
Exploration Gardens
Bog Garden
Right Plant Right Place
Cooperative Extension
Exploration Gardens
Garden Utilization (2013)
• Over 116 Self Guided Tours per week
• Group tours averaging 4 per week
• Small group and individual agent consultations
averaging 4 per week
• 4-H Clubs and 4-H Explorers Camps have “hands
on” activities throughout the year
Cooperative Extension
Background
Exploration Gardens
Benefits of Teaching Gazebo
• Research shows “Learning by Experience” and
“Hands On” activities increases knowledge and
retention of classroom teaching.
• Having a location to get out of the weather, rest,
and continue teaching in the garden extends the
time frame for “Learning by Doing”, thus
increasing knowledge gained.
• This is especially important with youth and elder
programs and tours during the hot months of the
year.
•
Cooperative Extension
Exploration Gardens
Cooperative Extension
Exploration Gardens - Design
Cooperative Extension
Exploration Gardens
Teaching Gazebo Funding
• Tree Replacement Trust Fund allows funding for
“educational programs which promote the
objectives” of the County’s landscape code.
• Since 2002, over $700k has been expended from the
Fund.
• $75,000 was spent from the Fund for the
Greenhouse Learning Center in 2011.
• Presently, the Fund has a balance of $1.5 Million.
• Cost to construct gazebo and ancillary amenities is
less than $120k.
Cooperative Extension Update
Background
Presentation Outline
• Overview
• Exploration Gardens
• Action Requested
Cooperative Extension
Exploration Gardens
Action Requested
• Board approval to spend up to $120,000 from the
Tree Replacement Trust Fund to construct a
teaching gazebo in the center of the Exploration
Garden, including plans, a connecting boardwalk
and bringing electricity to the building.
Cooperative Extension
Update & Exploration
Gardens
Board of County Commissioners
Meeting
October 8, 2013