September classes cover cottage foods, canning, finances, Medicare and more

Hillsborough County, Fla. (Sept. 1, 2026) - Hillsborough County residents can sharpen their gardening skills, learn safe food preservation, strengthen financial knowledge, and explore agriculture and sustainable living this September through Hillsborough County Extension Service's lineup of educational classes and workshops offered both in person and online.

From backyard chickens and composting to Medicare education and pesticide applicator training, Extension experts continue to provide research-based programs designed to help residents save money, conserve natural resources, and build practical life skills. Many programs are beginner-friendly and open to residents across the county.

The programs listed below highlight just a portion of Extension Service offerings available throughout September. Advance registration is required for most classes. For more information, call (813) 744-5519 or visit the Extension Service Calendar of Events.

Gardening and Landscaping

  • Composting Workshop, in-person Sept. 5
  • Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Webinar Series: Recycle Yard Waste, virtual Sept. 17
  • Plant Propagation Workshop, in-person Sept. 24

Water Conservation and Sustainable Living

  • Microirrigation Workshop, in-person Sept. 5
  • Rainwater Harvesting Workshop, in-person Sept. 5
  • Patio Microirrigation Workshop, virtual Sept. 10

Food Preservation and Agriculture Education

  • Backyard Chickens 101 Seminar, in-person Sept. 3
  • Water Bath Canning 101: Pickling, in-person Sept. 5
  • Introduction to Cottage Foods in Florida, virtual Sept. 10

Financial Education

  • One-on-one financial education appointments, available throughout September
  • Financial Building Blocks online class, self-paced throughout September

Health and Wellness

  • Medicare Basics, virtual Sept. 2
  • Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention Training, virtual Sept. 9
  • Medicare Part C, virtual Sept. 10
  • Medicare Part D, virtual Sept. 16

Professional Development and Industry Training

  • Ag Pesticide Applicator Exam Preparation Course, in-person Sept. 1
  • Respirator Training for Pesticide Applicators, in-person Sept. 8
  • CEUs2U for Landscape Professionals, virtual Sept. 17
  • Central Florida Sports Turf Managers Association Chapter Meeting, in-person Sept. 17
  • Green Industries Best Management Practices (GIBMP) Certification for Fertilizer License, in-person Sept. 30