2026 Brevard County Master Gardener Volunteer Program (Info Page)

Do you enjoy gardening, making new friends, and learning new things? Join the UF/IFAS Brevard County Master Gardener Volunteer Program and turn your passion into a way to give back to your community!

The Master Gardener program was created in 1972 in Seattle, Washington, by two extension agents. They were looking for ways to meet the needs of backyard gardeners. They felt that well-trained volunteers could help with many of the day-to-day homeowner questions they received. Since then, there is now a Master Gardener program in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program relies on trained and dedicated volunteers interested in gardening and giving back to their communities, benefiting both UF/IFAS Extension and the residents of Florida.

In 1979, three counties in Florida, one of which was Brevard County, held Master Gardener classes for the first time. The Mission of the Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program is “To assist Extension Agents in providing research-based horticultural education to Florida residents.” The Vision is “to be the most trusted resource for horticulture education in Florida.” Out of 67 Florida counties, 60 counties maintain an active Master Gardener program with a total of over 4,000 volunteers throughout the state.

We’re offering two class formats to fit your schedule:

Wednesday In-Person Class: will be held on eleven Wednesdays beginning on January 14th and ending on March 25th. 9 AM – 3 PM at the extension office located at 3695 Lake Dr., Cocoa, FL 32926.

Saturday Hybrid Class: 6 in-person sessions will be held in person on six Saturdays, January 17th and 31st, February 14th and 28th, and March 14th, and will end on March 28th. Fifteen class topics will be learned online for anyone with a busy schedule or those who work during the weekdays.

Cost: $250 | Attendance: Only 2 classes out of 11 can be missed.

*We will need an application before payment can be accepted. You will be contacted about a short survey/interview to make sure this is the best fit for you because it does require volunteer hours!

Volunteer Requirement: 75 hours in Year 1, 35 annually after

• Learn valuable, science-based horticulture skills
• Connect with fellow gardening enthusiasts
• Improve your physical and mental well-being
• Make a lasting impact in your community

If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected] or call (321) 633-1702

To learn more about the Master Gardener Program and its history, visit: https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/mastergardener/about/

There are various ways that Master Gardeners can volunteer to support the Urban Horticulture program and UF/IFAS Extension in Brevard.

In our main office in Cocoa, at 3695 Lake Drive, we have a Master Gardener desk where the residents can find help either in person, by phone, or by email with their questions Monday through Friday between 8 am and 5 pm. Helping the public with their various questions is also a great way to learn!

Due to the geographical shape of Brevard County, which is 72 miles long and averages 26.5 miles wide, there are currently 15 Master Gardener clinics held throughout the county. Most Master Gardener clinics are held on weekdays, but we have two clinics, one at West Melbourne Library on the first Saturday of each month from 1-5 pm, and the other is at the Cocoa Library clinic, which is held on Sunday afternoons from 1-3 PM.

We also have the Brevard Discovery Garden for those who enjoy getting their hands dirty. The areas that Master Gardeners work in include the garden, nursery, and greenhouse. Each area provides different volunteer opportunities. In the garden, there is planting, pruning, and weeding. In the greenhouse, they propagate new plants from seeds or cuttings and care for them, and in the nursery, they care for and W**d the potted plants for future planting in the garden or for a plant event, which are often held on Saturday.

Master Gardeners conduct My Brevard Yard Site Visits. During the site visit, the Master Gardener(s) collect soil and water samples (if the irrigation source is from a well) for testing. Master Gardeners can also help with plant ID and answer their questions. The homeowner also receives fertilizer recommendations based on their soil test results. Master Gardeners who work through the week could schedule site visits on the weekend to help accrue the required 75 hours.

Another volunteer opportunity is to staff a UF/IFAS Extension Brevard County table at special events held throughout the county throughout the year. These are fun events that the Master Gardeners attend, answer residents' questions, hand out our gardening information, and get the word out about the UF/IFAS Extension Service. We are also continually looking for more events to attend, which could be another source of volunteer hours for those who work throughout the week.

Many benefits come with training and being a Master Gardener. The benefits begin in the Master Gardener class, where you will learn a lot of new information! Learning new information is always fun, and if it has to do with gardening, that makes it extra fun! Along with learning, you will have the opportunity to make new friends. The social aspect is a great benefit, especially for anyone new to the area. Another benefit is that gardening is a great way to exercise, such as walking, stretching, digging, and lifting. Gardening can also be a mood booster because working with vegetable plants, flowers, trees, etc., can improve our mood, either from the beauty of the plants and/or the feeling of accomplishment from making an area look prettier.

The Master Gardener program is a win-win for both the Master Gardeners and Brevard County, so if you enjoy gardening, consider becoming a Master Gardener.

NOTE: Classes and events may be canceled at any time due to low registration or other circumstances, with full refunds issued for paid events. Similar classes or events often are offered on future dates.

The University of Florida is committed to providing universal access to all of our events. For disability accommodations such as sign language interpreters and listening devices, please contact the UF/IFAS Brevard County Extension Office at [email protected] or (321) 633-1702 at least 2 weeks in advance. Advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility needs.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution

Host or Publisher UF/IFAS Extension Brevard County