From UF/IFAS
UF/IFAS Extension Orange County provides education and information to residents and businesses through workshops, publications, and mass media in the areas of family life, youth development, natural resources, horticulture, and agriculture. Current December classes/events are listed below and on its events calendar.
Peanut Butter Challenge (Food Drive)
Participate in UF/IFAS Extension’s Peanut Butter Challenge! From now until October 31st, donate unopened jars of peanut butter at 6021 S. Conway Rd., Monday-Friday, 8:00am-5:00 pm, or at any of the 12 Orange County Parks drop-off locations. Your contributions will aid local food pantries and help combat food insecurity. Join us in making a difference this holiday season!
Now through October 31, 2025. 407-254-9200.
4-H Poinsettia Sale (Fundraiser)
Get festive and support Orange County 4-H with our pre-sale of gorgeous red, white, and pink poinsettias and poinsettia/mum bowls, ready in early December. Proceeds fund scholarships for youth programs, and you can also choose to donate plants to local senior centers! Pre-sale is October 1 through November 7, 2025. Suggested donations range from $10 to $25.
Place orders at https://ocextension.eventbrite.com. 407-254-9200.
Take Control of Your Money for Renters (Online)
Money management, renters’ rights, eviction prevention, and more! Offered via Zoom by a team of UF/IFAS Extension Agents, including Orange County Extension Agent Jenny Rodriguez, this class is for residents looking for income-based assistance programs or anyone wanting to become a more savvy renter.
Wednesday, October 1, 2025, 5:00 pm-8:00 pm.
FREE! Registration required at http://ocextension.eventbrite.com. 407-254-9200.
Fall Vegetable Gardening (In Person & Online)
Learn how to create a Florida vegetable garden that grows what you want to eat and produces throughout the fall season! Presented by Orange County Extension Agent Calvin Gardner, this class covers the science of how to grow better, healthier plants and ways that you can grow more garden vegetables with less work. Whether you are a seasoned gardener or just getting started, this class will help you on your way to a beautiful and bountiful fall garden.
Tuesday, October 7, 2025, 10:00am-11:30am.
$10 fee, in person OR $5 fee, online. Registration required at http://ocextension.eventbrite.com. 407-254-9200.
Garden Tour (In Person)
Grab your gardening hat, sunglasses, and some comfy shoes and join Orange County Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Agent Dr. Heather Kalaman for a guided tour through our Exploration Gardens! See unique plants in our 12 themed gardens and learn about Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ principles, smart irrigation, vegetable gardening, and flower species to attract bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects. The tour includes educational materials and pollinator seed packets. Open to ages 13 and up!
Tuesday, October 14, 2025, 10:00am-11:30am.
$10 fee. Registration required at http://ocextension.eventbrite.com. 407-254-9200.
Set It & Forget It Hydroponics (In Person)
Come learn how to grow your own hydroponic lettuce in a non-circulating system! All you have to do is set it and forget it! Join Orange County Extension Agent Hannah Eason to learn about the basic principles of hydroponic growing! You will practice these simple techniques by building your own hydroponic bucket, and you will leave the class with a working hydroponic system, including three actively growing lettuce seedlings. The class will include materials for you to grow a few more cycles of your own hydroponic lettuce, including seeds, nutrients, and some other important materials, so that you can grow your own!
Wednesday, October 15, 2025, 10:00am-12:00pm.
Wednesday, October 15, 2025, 2:00pm-4:00pm.
$45 per person fee, includes all materials. Registration required at http://ocextension.eventbrite.com. 407-254-9200.
Urban Backyard Chicken Class (Online)
Raising chickens for fresh eggs is a fun and practical hobby, even in urban or suburban spaces! Join Orange County Extension Agent J.K. Yarborough via TEAMS to learn how hens can benefit your home garden and how to start and maintain a successful chicken coop in your backyard.
Wednesday, October 15, 2025, 10:00am-12:00pm.
$5 fee. Registration required at http://ocextension.eventbrite.com. 407-254-9200.
Backyard Propagation 101 (In Person)
Presented by Orange County Extension Agent Clarissa Chairez, this hands-on class will introduce simple plant propagation techniques—leaf, stem, and root cuttings—that can help you expand your garden while saving on landscaping costs. Following a classroom lecture, participants will enjoy a guided garden walk to collect cuttings to propagate and take home!
Wednesday, October 15, 2025, 10am-12:30pm.
$25 fee. Registration required at http://ocextension.eventbrite.com. 407-254-9200.
First Time Homebuyer Workshop – ENGLISH 10/16 & 10/23 (Online)
Learn the steps to home ownership and how to obtain an affordable mortgage in this 2-part class offered via Zoom in ENGLISH by a team of UF/IFAS Extension Agents, including Orange County Extension Agent Jenny Rodriguez. The homebuyer workshop meets the education requirements for down payment assistance programs.
Thursday, October 16, 2025, 2025, 5:00pm-9:00pm.
Thursday, October 23, 2025, 2025, 5:00pm-9:00pm.
$10 fee. Registration required at http://ocextension.eventbrite.com. 407-254-9200.
gARTening Series: Creating a Decorative Garden Post
Add a personal touch to your landscape at this hands-on workshop with Orange County Extension Agent Clarissa Chairez. Participants will receive a 4"x4"x4' garden post, post cap, and a variety of supplies to design and decorate their own unique garden art pole. Most will complete one or two sides during class and take the pole home to finish at their own pace. No art experience is needed—just bring your creativity! Installation tips will be provided, though participants are responsible for installing their pole at home.
Friday, October 17, 2025, 1:00pm-3:30pm.
$30 fee. Registration required at http://ocextension.eventbrite.com. 407-254-9200.
StrongBodies Strength Training Program - BEGINNER (In Person)
Want to feel stronger, move better, and stay healthy? Build strength and improve your health with our 12-week BEGINNER StrongBodies strength training class, designed for adults 18+ and led by Orange County Extension Agent and ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist, Patrick Zayas. Join us to build muscle, improve balance, and help reduce the risk of chronic disease. Don’t miss this opportunity to build strength and improve your quality of life! Pre-registration and a physician’s authorization are required.
Mondays & Wednesdays, October 20, 2025 - January 12, 2026, 10:00am-11:30am.
$30 fee. Registration required at http://ocextension.eventbrite.com. 407-254-9200.
StrongBodies Strength Training Program - INTERMEDIATE (In Person)
Want to feel stronger, move better, and stay healthy? Build strength and improve your health with our 12-week StrongBodies strength training class, designed for adults 18+. This INTERMEDIATE-level program will be led by Extension Agent and American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Certified Exercise Physiologist Patrick Zayas. Join us to build muscle, improve balance, and help reduce the risk of chronic disease. Participants will alternate between seated, standing, and lying positions. Pre-registration and a physician’s authorization are required.
Mondays & Wednesdays, October 20, 2025 - January 12, 2026, 1:00pm-2:30pm.
$30 fee. Registration required at http://ocextension.eventbrite.com. 407-254-9200.
The Art of Sustainable Landscape Design 2-part Webinar (Online)
Join Orange County Extension Agent Clarissa Chairez for an engaging 2-part webinar series on sustainable landscape design! Discover how to assess your site, select the right plants, explore various garden themes, and apply artistic techniques to create a stunning, eco-friendly outdoor space. Registration includes access to live webinars, recordings, and valuable resources to help you redesign your home landscape.
Wednesdays, October 22 & 29, 2025, 12:00pm-2:00pm.
$25–$35 fee, includes materials. Registration required at http://ocextension.eventbrite.com. 407-254-9200.
First Time Homebuyer Workshop – SPANISH 10/28 & 10/29 (Online)
Learn the steps to home ownership and how to obtain an affordable mortgage in this 2-part class offered via Zoom in SPANISH by a team of UF/IFAS Extension Agents, including Orange County Extension Agent Jenny Rodriguez. The homebuyer workshop meets the education requirements for down payment assistance programs.
Wednesday, October 28, 2025, 5:00pm-9:00pm.
Thursday, October 29, 2025, 5:00pm-9:00pm.
$10 fee. Registration required at http://ocextension.eventbrite.com. 407-254-9200.
MED Instead of Meds 6-Week Series (Online)
Interested in starting the Mediterranean Diet, but unsure where to begin? Presented by Orange County Extension Agent Hillary MacMichael, the MED Instead of Meds series of classes will help you go MED by exploring simple steps to eating the MED way. Learn tips, life hacks, and recipes that will help you eat the MED way every day.
Thursdays, October 30 – December 11, 2025, 6:00pm-7:15pm.
$10 fee. Registration required at http://ocextension.eventbrite.com. 407-254-9200.
October "Pop Up" Plant Clinic (In Person)
Our Master Gardener Volunteers are hosting a "Pop Up" Plant Clinic at the Windermere Branch Library this month! Visit our booth for all of your plant care questions.
Tuesday, October 7, 2025, 10:30am-12:30pm at Windermere Branch Library
FREE! No registration is needed.
