-
To learn about rain barrel installation and maintenance tune into Facebook Live on Sept. 29 at 2 p.m., or watch the recording after at: https://www.facebook.com/WaterCentralFlorida.
By Eva Pabon and Osceola County Faculty
During the last months, UF/IFAS Extension in Osceola County has transitioned from in person activities to offer camps, classes and field days in different ways. So, the good news is that you can still attend many of our classes! We want to share with you some of the programs and activities we are offering, we are not closed, we just went virtual.
Commercial Horticulture
We are providing virtual trainings and in-person pesticide testing by appointment. We are offering continued education courses for the Green Industries Best Management (GIBMP) and Pesticide Licensing. Courses provide continuing education (CEU’s). Find programs at http://occeu.eventbrite.com. There is assistance available to commercial growers.
For information on any topics related to commercial horticulture Grantly Ricketts can be reached at gricketts@ufl.edu.
Family and Consumer Sciences Finance and Housing Department
We are offering a variety of programs. Our classes in budgeting, preparing a crisis budget, understanding your credit, how to manage debt, avoid identity theft, the process of purchasing your first home and how to maintain your home after your purchase it are available online. To register, visit us at http:/ocfcs.eventbrite.com. Most of our classes are offered in both English and Spanish.
Natural Resources
Natural Resources classes are now being offered online via Zoom and Facebook Live. Take advantage of the rainy season with a rain barrel. To learn about rain barrel installation and maintenance tune into Facebook Live on Sept. 29 at 2 p.m., or watch the recording after at: https://www.facebook.com/WaterCentralFlorida. Do you have an invasive Brazilian peppertree in your yard that you want removed? Join the free virtual class on Sept. 17 to learn how. There will also be a Backyard Birding class on Oct. 20. For more information about these classes and others, and to register visit: https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/osceola. In addition, the Florida Master Naturalist Program is now offering hybrid and online courses! Register online at: https://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/fmnp/courses.html.
Residential Horticulture
Do you have a gardening question? Our Plant Clinic is a free service to help you to identify any problems in your garden; you can email your questions and pictures to epabon5@ufl.edu. In addition to the plant clinic, we are offering vegetable gardening classes, composting, Florida-Friendly LandscapingÔ and many more classes all virtually. If you will like to register for classes you can visit https://ocagriculture.eventbrite.com/.
4-H
We are offering many virtual camps. A few more weeks are left to register for Florida 4-H Adventures virtual camps. To register for an array of fun and educational camp adventures, visit http://florida4h.org/programsandevents_/4-h-adventures/
In addition to the virtual camps we’re offering Soccer & 4-H at Home is an at your own pace 10-week program that you could start at any moment. Soccer & 4-H at Home includes various topics such as Soccer Fundamentals, Learn and Earn, Home Challenges, Do and Serve Others and Eat Well. Each Learn and Earn activity is worth a certain amount of points (total amount of points varies by week). When you report back at the Soccer & 4-H at Home Report Back Form, and you answer correctly, you’ll earn those points. Half points will be awarded for an attempt at each question. These points will be accumulated throughout the 10-week program, and each participant’s progress will be recorded. When you’ve reached 100 points, you can claim a soccer jersey or other 4-H swag. For more information, email Laura E. Valencia at lauraval@ufl.edu and to register, go to Soccer & 4-H @ Home http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/osceolaco/2020/05/18/soccer-4-h-home-summer-program/. No cost.
Futbol & 4-H en Casa http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/osceolaco/2020/05/18/futbol-y-4-h-en-casa-programa-de-verano/ No cost.
The new 4-H year will kick off at the end of August. This means that there will be more 4-H virtual programs offered and more ways that you can participate with Osceola County 4-H. Topics will include work force, horses, drones, market animals, etc. To be reminded about the new 4-H year and to hear about upcoming 4-H virtual programs, follow us on Facebook @Osceola4H. If you are interested in joining 4-H and/or have questions about upcoming 4-H virtual programs, contact Jessica Sprain via e-mail at jsprain@ufl.edu.
For more information about all our programs, visit us at http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/osceola/ or contact us at 321-697-3000.
