VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — The UF/IFAS Extension Volusia County is offering a series of educational workshops and classes throughout October. The programs cover topics including personal finance, homeownership, sustainable agriculture, beekeeping, gardening, and coexistence with wildlife.
The educational sessions include both online webinars and in-person events held at the extension office in DeLand, local public libraries, and area nature preserves. Registration costs range from free events to $30, with select courses providing certifications or materials for participants.
On Oct. 6, the extension office will host a free virtual class, “How to Boost Your Credit,” from noon to 1 p.m. and from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm, with Ella Dinkins as the contact person. Extension Agent Lisa Hamilton will instruct a two-part online first-time homebuyer course from 5 pm to 9 pm on Oct. 20 and Oct. 27 for $10 per household. Completing the eight-hour homebuyer course earns a certificate that enables participants to apply for federal down payment and closing cost assistance programs through Volusia County and the City of Deltona. A Spanish-language version of the first-time homebuyer class will take place from 5 pm to 9 pm on Oct. 22 and Oct. 29. Hamilton will also lead a free virtual home maintenance course on Oct. 19 from 3 pm to 5 pm, covering budgeting, utility savings, insurance, and disaster preparedness.
Agricultural and gardening workshops begin Oct. 6 with “Grass Farming 101,” a virtual pasture management class running from 6 pm to 8 pm for $7.18 per person, coordinated by Ashley Stonecipher. On Oct. 10, Stonecipher and local beekeepers will lead a Beginner Beekeeping Workshop from 9 am to 2 pm at the extension office in DeLand, with a $20 fee that includes lunch. Brittany Council Morton will host “Mastering the Art of Strawberry Growing” on Oct. 10 from 10 am to noon in DeLand for $30, which includes a growing kit and strawberry plants. Council Morton will also direct a Green Industry Best Management Practices Certification Training on Oct. 22 from 9 am to 5 pm at the DeLand office for $30, which includes lunch.
Wildlife education starts Oct. 9 with “The Wildside of Florida Living,” hosted by Kalan Taylor from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm at Ormond Beach Regional Library, 30 S. Beach St. Taylor will also lead “Night Flyers – Unveiling the Secrets of Bats,” a free virtual workshop on Oct. 29 from 6 pm to 7:30 pm A separate bat webinar, “Living with Bats in Florida,” presented by the Florida Society for Ethical Ecotourism, will take place online Oct. 21 from 7 pm to 8 pm, coordinated by Carolyn Kovacs. Kovacs is also organizing “Let’s Walk Florida,” a free community series featuring educational presentations and one- to two-mile walks. The walks are scheduled for Oct. 15 at Betty Steflik Preserve in Flagler Beach, Oct. 22 at Michael Crotty Bicentennial Park in Ormond-by-the-Sea, and Oct. 29 at Doris Leeper Spruce Creek Preserve in New Smyrna Beach.
Registration for the strawberry-growing workshop must be submitted by Oct. 2. Participants can register for all virtual and in-person programs via the designated online event links or by contacting individual program coordinators at UF/IFAS Extension Volusia County.
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