We have Solutions for YOU

Ramona Madhosingh-Hector,
Urban Sustainability Agent

Did you make your New Year’s resolution? Are you on your way to a great start? No matter your goal, Pinellas County Extension can help you accomplish it. We offer a range of information on healthy living, family finances, nutrition, and youth development. And, Pinellas County Extension offices are closer than you think – we are located in mid-county at 12520 Ulmerton Road with satellite offices at Weedon Island Preserve and Brooker Creek Preserve. Each of our outstanding facilities offers traditional and non-traditional educational opportunities.

If your goal is to get fit this year, join us for regular Saturday morning hikes at Weedon Island and Brooker Creek Preserve. These facilities also offer special guided hikes for bird enthusiasts and photographers. The Extension Office in Largo offers guided garden tours once a week and each facility has boardwalks, walking trails, and amenities to help you stay on track.

If you set your sights on eating healthier, our Family Consumer Science expert can provide you with healthy eating tips and new recipes that will encourage you to try out new foods. Pinellas County Extension also provides information about farmers’ markets and home gardens so that you can eat healthier from start to finish!

If you pledged to become more eco-conscious in 2013, sign up for classes in energy efficiency, rain harvesting, or composting. Most of our classes are free and open to public - saving the environment couldn’t be easier and you will pocket the savings!

If you are looking for educational opportunities for you and your family, each of our locations provides ongoing learning through hands-on classroom activities or week-long training sessions. Salty Topics, Going Coastal, Nature in the Classroom, and Brooker Creek Explorers offer programming for young and old alike on the marine and natural environment in Pinellas County. Our Master Volunteer programs provide more in-depth knowledge and training in specific areas. You can become a Master Gardener, Master Money Mentor , or a Sustainable Floridian!

Solutions for Your Life is a mouse-click away when you visit www.pinellascountyextension.org. We look forward to serving you in 2013!

Want to become a Master Wildlifer?

New Master Wildlifer Program Begins January 29

Landowners, land managers and wildlife enthusiasts can learn how to manage wildlife on their land by participating in the 2013 Master Wildlifer Program.

The award-winning Master Wildlifer Program brings together a panel of renowned wildlife biologists, conservation experts and habitat managers for educational sessions on wildlife ecology and management and will include sessions on white-tailed deer, coyote, wild hog, non-game wildlife conservation and wild turkey.

This series of interactive seminars is delivered live to your computer   every Tuesday evening from January 29 through February 26, 2013, from 7 – 8:30 pm (EST).

Landowners without computer access or broadband internet may be able to view and participate in the 2013 Master Wildlifer Program at live sites available through select county extension offices.

Master Wildlifer is a continuing education program designed to provide the latest research-based information to landowners and managers to help in designing sound approaches to managing wildlife. The cost for the course is $100 and includes access to all five live sessions, recordings of each session, and program materials.

To learn more or to register, visit: http://www.clemson.edu/extension/natural_resources/master_wildlifer/

For more information about live site locations contact your local county extension office at: 727-453-6905 or lmiller@pinellascounty.org 

Sustainable Floridians

Ramona Madhosingh-Hector
Urban Sustainability Agent

Get Started with Sustainability
For many of us, sustainability is a challenge and we don’t know where to start. The University of Florida recently introduced a new training program to help citizens learn about sustainability and connect with others who are already involved in local, sustainable community projects.

Sustainable Floridians is a 7-week course that provides a forum for education and action to address Florida specific concerns about water, transportation, energy, and land use. The program uses a hybrid teaching approach with instructor led sessions and facilitated peer-to-peer exchanges to create and provide a lively classroom learning experience. UF/IFAS Extension faculty teach all sessions and participants receive valuable sustainable living devices like rain barrels and energy materials to promote behavior change. Although this is a non-credit adult education program, UF faculty provide many opportunities for ongoing learning through the UF/IFAS Extension network and monthly mentoring meetings.

In order to be considered for the program, participants must submit an application to the program coordinator. This year, the Pinellas County Extension office will offer two training opportunities -

• April 12 to May 24 at Pinellas County Extension office in Largo (Application due March 15)


• September 13 to October 25 at Brooker Creek Preserve in Tarpon Springs

Classes meet every Thursday during the 7 week session from 9 am to 1 pm. Participants must complete the training and required volunteer hours to be considered a certified Sustainable Floridian graduate. Participants meet the 30 hour volunteer requirement and 15 hour ongoing training requirement by completing Extension approved projects. These may include working at community outreach events, writing articles, and working with schools to educate youth about sustainability.

Pinellas County Extension is currently the only Extension office in the Tampa Bay area that is providing this training. Since the pilot launch of this program last year, Pinellas County trained 47 volunteers who contributed more than 700 hours to extend the mission of Extension.

When you complete this program, you will be a sustainability aware citizen who will be able to work at the grassroots level to improve the resiliency of your local community.

Join us for this exciting program and become a part of the Sustainable Floridian network of graduates!

Fall into Knowledge!

Attend Pinellas County Extension’s September Classes

Pinellas County Extension offers residents a wide variety of classes to help them make sustainable decisions. Be sure to check out our lunch break on-line classes, Solutions in 30.

The classes being offered in September are:

Solutions in 30:
September 2nd - Incentives for Saving Energy
September 9th - Healthy Home, Healthy Family
September 16th - Don’t get Scammed!
September 23rd - Saving Money by Going Green
September 30th - Green Office


Lawn & Garden:
September 9th @ 2:00pm and 6:15pm - Exploring the World of Bromeliads
September 9th - Landscaping for Wildlife
September 16th - Hurricane Preparedness for the Landscape
September 23rd - Gardening with Wildlife
September 24th - Drought Tolerant Plants
September 26th - Compost Happens
September 30th - Managing Common Landscape Problems


Sustainable Living:
September 12th - Healthy Home, Healthy Family



4-H Youth Development:
Starting September 17th – Embryology 101

You can register for classes on-line at http://www.pinellascountyextension.org Please look for the “Online Class Registration” button on the right hand side near the top of the page.

Pinellas County Extension’s May Classes

Pinellas County Extension offers residents a wide variety of classes to help them make sustainable decisions. Be sure to check out our lunch break on-line classes, Solutions in 30.

The classes being offered in May are:

Solutions in 30:
May 6th - Strong Families Work together in Tough Times
May 13th - Parenting Teens in Tough Times Part 1
May 20th - Parenting Teens in Tough Times Part 2
May 27th - Managing Stress in Tough Times

Commercial Horticulture:
May 19th - 4 hr ID Card Holder Training
May 19th (1pm-3pm)- 2 hr ID Card Holder Training
May 19th (3pm-5pm)- 2 hr ID Card Holder Training
May 21st - Limited Pesticide License Training and Testing


Sustainable Living:
May 6th - Green Office Webinar
May 19th – Green Purchasing Webinar
May 21st – Lighting Your way the Energy Efficiency Webinar


You can register for classes on-line at http://www.pinellascounty.org. Please look for the “Online Class Registration” button on the right hand side near the top of the page.

Time Marches On!

Pinellas County Extension offers residents a wide variety of classes to help them make sustainable decisions. Be sure to check out our lunch break on-line classes, Solutions in 30.

The classes being offered in March are:

Solutions in 30:
March 4th - Bully No More! Webinar
March 11th - Parenting Tips for the Teen Years – Part 1 Webinar
March 18th - Parenting Tips for the Teen Years – Part 2 Webinar
March 25th - Making the Most of Youth Activities Webinar


Pesticide CEUs:
March 4th - Integrated Pest Management
March 11th – Aquatic Update
March 13th - Pesticide License Training and Testing


Families and Consumers:
March 14th – Get Cooking Demonstration: Delicious Squash Shines in Summer & Winter
March 28th – Get Cooking Demonstration: Meet Spinach: The Green Nutritional Powerhouse


Lawn and Garden:
March 5th - Florida Style Gardening: Landscape Management
March 11th - Pruning Basics and Benefits



4-H Youth:
March 14th – Family Fun Learning: Lady Bug, Lady Bug
March 26th - Sharks


Sustainable Living:
March 4th - Green Home Webinar
March 17th – Green Purchasing Webinar
March 19th – Lighting Your way the Energy Efficiency Webinar



You can register for classes on-line at http://www.pinellascountyextension.org/. Please look for the “Online Class Registration” button on the right hand side near the top of the page.