Cooperative Extension Update & Exploration Gardens

1. Cooperative Extension Update & Exploration Gardens Board of County Commissioners Meeting October 8, 2013

2. Cooperative Extension Update Presentation Outline Background • Overview • Exploration Gardens • Action Requested

3. Cooperative Extension Update Presentation Outline Background • Overview • Exploration Gardens • Action Requested

4. Background Cooperative Extension-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.

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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!

8. Cooperative Extension Update Presentation Outline Background • Overview • Exploration Gardens • Action Requested

9. Cooperative Extension Exploration Gardens

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. Cooperative Extension Exploration Gardens Grand Opening

14. 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 Small Farm & Vegetable Garden

15. 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 Eco & Butterfly Gardens

16. Cooperative Extension Exploration Gardens Events Garden

17. Cooperative Extension Exploration Gardens Bog Garden Right Plant Right Place

18. 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 Exploration Gardens

19. Cooperative Extension Exploration Gardens Background 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.

20. Cooperative Extension Exploration Gardens

21. Cooperative Extension Exploration Gardens - Design

22. 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 Exploration Gardens Teaching Gazebo Funding

23. Cooperative Extension Update Presentation Outline Background • Overview • Exploration Gardens • Action Requested

24. 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 Exploration Gardens Action Requested

25. Cooperative Extension Update & Exploration Gardens Board of County Commissioners Meeting October 8, 2013