Sally Scalera
| For FLORIDA TODAY
If you, or someone you know, enjoys gardening, making new friends, and continually learning, then consider becoming a UF/IFAS Brevard County Master Gardener. In 2026, there will be a traditional Wednesday in-person class and a Saturday hybrid class with in-person classes and online learning.
Gardening provides many health benefits, as does making new friendships. Continue reading to learn the history of the Master Gardener program and specific information on our Brevard County program.
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.
Master Gardener programs are now found in 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, held Master Gardener classes for the first time. Now, 60 of Florida’s 67 counties, maintain an active Master Gardener program with a total of more than 4,000 volunteers throughout the state.
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.”
The UF/IFAS Extension Brevard Master Gardener classes cost $250. The Wednesday class will be held on 11 Wednesdays beginning on Jan. 14 and ending March 25. The Saturday hybrid class will be held in person on six Saturdays: Jan. 17 and 31, Feb. 14 and 28, and March 14, and ends on March 28. Fifteen class topics will be addressed online. All classes are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and only two classes out of the 11 can be missed. During the first year, when attending either class, a minimum of 75 volunteer hours will need to be logged to receive a UF/IFAS Brevard County Master Gardener nametag and class completion certificate at the December Master Gardener meeting.
Every year after that first year, only 35 hours are required to remain an active Master Gardener. 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 residents can find help either in person, by phone, or by email with their questions Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. 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 p.m., and the other is at the Cocoa Library clinic, which is held on Sunday afternoons from 1-3 p.m.
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 weed the potted plants for future planting in the garden or for a plant event, which are often held on Saturday.
I also train Master Gardeners to conduct “My Brevard Yard Site Visits.” During the site visit, 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 questions. The homeowner 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 across the county throughout the year. These are fun events, where Master Gardeners 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 gardeners can attend, which could be another source of volunteer hours for those who work during 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: 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. If you would like an application for the UF/IFAS Brevard County Master Gardener Class of 2026, contact the Master Gardeners at brevard-mg1@ifas.ufl.edu and let them know if you are interested in the Wednesday or Saturday class. After we receive your completed application, we will hold interviews so you can meet with a couple of Master Gardeners to learn more about the program and ask any questions you may have.
Sally Scalera is an urban horticulture agent and master gardener coordinator for the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agriculture Science.
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