CED  Duval County Extension

University of Florida

Institute of Food and Science

Mike’s Quick Formula for Growing your very own Salad!!! It’s so easy a cave man can do it!  Mike Sweat, CED for Duval County enthusiastically endorsed hydroponics as a simple and easy way to grow lettuce and other similar foods without a lot of trouble and no dirt and brought samples of this highly underrated process. 

Duval County experiences a 2 billion dollar impact each year through all the different agriculturally based businesses. Once upon a time Duval County’s residents considered the Extension Department’s role as that of helping only the dairies and farmers manage cows and other farm animals. Mike shared that while we still have around 6,000 head of livestock, the Extension Service provides assistance in many different areas.

Some of which are: holding training classes for Lawn Care services, pest management companies, and even marriage counseling for those desiring to be wed.  Last year alone over 200,000 people were attendees of those classes offered by the service.

One of the areas also served by the Extension service is the 4H program. Youth development is a top priority in the extension service with over 21, 000 students participating in school rooms and community clubs.

Mike also shared with the large attendance that there is much information available to anyone who calls in and speaks to a Master Gardener or can go online to the web based sites.

duval.ifas.ufl.edu       Institute of Food and Agriculture Science

solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu/map/duval_county.html     Solutions for Your Life

duval.ifas.ufl.edu/4-H_duval_4-H_foundation.shtml     Duval County 4H Foundation

Mike also reported that during the month of January 2010 over 38,000 hits (visits to web pages) were recorded!

Duval County Has a great Extension Service and we need to continue to support all the efforts  of those who serve our county.