My Brevard Yard: Residential Education for the Protection of the Indian River Lagoon

The Indian River Lagoon contains the most diverse ecosystem in the continental United States. Years of nutrient loading and pollution from septic systems, fertilizers, and storm-water run-off have contributed to the IRL’s impaired status. In Florida, landscape professionals are required to have a license to apply fertilizer, whereas homeowners require no such education. Realizing the need for homeowner education, UF/IFAS Brevard County Extension horticulture agents adapted the Green Industries Best Management Practices training to develop My Brevard Yard, a creative approach to teach homeowners how to apply fertilizer and irrigate their properties in an environmentally sound way.  My Brevard Yard consists of a one hour classroom and ‘hands-on’ workshop plus an optional site visit. Collaboration with local municipalities helps promote the workshops in their local communities. Five My Brevard Yard workshops with 64 participants have been held. Pre and post tests indicated a 23.4% knowledge gain in topics such as proper walking speed for applying fertilizer, the recommended amount of slow release nitrogen for turfgrass, and the importance of using a soil test to develop a fertilization program. The My Brevard Yard workshops and site visits were designed to capture a variety of practice changes.  These changes can range from applying the recommended amount of fertilizer, applying fertilizer at the correct time, and using proper irrigation practices.  The adoption of various practices, multiplied by a large number of residents, can result in the improved health of the Indian River Lagoon.