Today, we want to bring attention to all the wonderful services offered by the Nassau County Extension. This department is the result of a partnership between the County and the Institute of Food and Agriculture Services at the University of Florida, established by the Smith/Lever Act in 1914. The department provides free, research based information to residents in a variety of areas including horticulture, agriculture, family and consumer services, and 4-H Development.
The County Extension's horticulture and agriculture divisions offer monthly classes on lawns and gardens, landscapes, and plants. They provide free soil samples to help you identify problems in your landscape and can diagnose plant disease for you at no-charge. They also send out monthly calendars to guide you on the proper times to plant, fertilize and prune trees, flowers, shrubs, vegetables, etc. Other services offered include pesticide certifications, plant sales, weed identification, and educating homeowners on Florida family landscaping and invasive species.
The division of Family & Consumer Services helps residents achieve physical and financial health by providing researched based information on obesity, chronic disease, food, finances, housing, food safety, nutrition and more. They offer free courses on food nutrition, cooking, and money management. Another important service offered is assisting seniors with Medicare registration. They spend time with the senior going over all available options and helping the individual find the plan that works best for them.
The 4-H Youth Development division works to develop young people who are empowered, confident, hard-working, responsible and compassionate and encourages development of life-long skills to exceed in life. They offer a large variety of programs, including but not limited to, summer camps, veterinary classes, horse camps, science-based courses, and classes on home economics such as cooking and sewing.
If you haven't yet, be sure to sign up for the Extension's monthly newsletter to stay up-to-date on Extension programs and services. To sign up, email Nassau@ufl.edu. You can also find additional information about the County Extension Office on their website at https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/.
-Sabrina Robertson
Public Information Officer