FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. (September 15, 2023) – Bringing together businesses and agencies committed to conservation, preservation and green principles, the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) Flagler Extension Office hosted the inaugural Green Expo on Thursday, September 14, 2023.
From Florida-friendly landscaping to maintaining the plants, Master Gardeners and IFAS staff were on hand to guide residents in making the best selections for the Florida outdoors.
Workshops throughout the day provided training opportunities packed with information and a chance to ask the experts questions, of which audience members had plenty.
It’s the first time an expo has offered a platform for eco-conscious residents to explore the local options and for environmentally-friendly businesses to be the headliners.
Extension Agent Judy Jean oversees urban horticulture for Flagler’s Extension Office, and was very happy with the first event’s turnout.
“It was really important to do this event because I wanted to make sure everyone in the county has all the information they need to make informed decisions,” said Jean.
“We’re doing our best on our end to continue educating. We have a lot of hard workers here and we’re willing to continue making sure everyone has the information they need. Everybody’s had so many great questions, and I love hearing all these questions. I can’t answer a lot of these questions, but these professionals are here to answer these questions,” she said.
Now that the precedent has been set, Jean is planning another Green Expo for April 2024, and hopes more eco-friendly businesses will come forward to participate.
“We’re looking to another one in April, fingers crossed,” she said. “We’ll have more information coming out, but due to the response, we’re planning on doing another one in April.”
