Part 2 in a series.
In the pages of their annual reports, UF/IFAS Extension agents and specialists share stories about the impacts made by their work. Sometimes, they tell of a whole community affected, at other times, it’s the story of a single person who was changed by Extension education. Here we present a few more of our agents and their 2024 success stories.
Planting Knowledge: How an Educational Gardening Podcast Empowered a New Florida Resident
In today’s busy, technology-driven world, podcasts are an effective way to reach a broad and engaged audience, including busy professionals seeking information that fits into their hectic schedules. That’s why UF/IFAS Extension has been embracing podcasts as an educational tool.
Recognizing a gap in the availability of gardening and landscaping resources tailored to central Florida residents, UF/IFAS Extension Polk County horticulture agents Anne Yasalonis and Julie Schelb launched a podcast based on their science-based programming. “Your Central Florida Yard” aims to provide practical guidance and research-backed recommendations specifically designed for central Florida’s unique climate and environmental conditions. The podcast launched in January 2024 on Apple, Spotify and other platforms; so far 17 30-minute episodes have been produced.

“Sam”, a listener who recently relocated to central Florida from the northeast, was struggling to adapt to the region’s vastly different gardening conditions. Searching for a reliable source of information, she discovered “Your Central Florida Yard” and immediately felt a sense of relief.
“All of my gardening knowledge is from the northeast, and it’s been difficult to find some resources for the Floridian gardener,” she explained. “I put on your episodes on my lunchtime walks and it’s helping beef up my knowledge of my Florida lawn so much!”
Through the podcast episodes, which cover topics ranging from vegetable gardening to lawn care to water conservation, Sam gained a deeper understanding of the local landscape. She learned practical techniques for managing her yard through the principles of Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM, starting with choosing plants that thrive in central Florida climate. The podcast not only provided Sam with step-by-step instructions but also shared insights on creating a healthy and sustainable landscape that she can learn about wherever and whenever it works for her.
You can listen to “Your Central Florida Yard” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcast platforms.

Resiliency kits help Sarasota residents prepare for disaster
Florida suffered three major hurricanes in 2024, causing widespread damage and loss of life. There’s no doubt that devastation from hurricanes and other climate related disasters are a way of life in our state. Every Floridian needs to know how to prepare for extreme weather to mitigate damage and preserve well-being.
UF/IFAS Extension disaster preparedness education provides participants with information on how to plan and prepare for a weather disaster through education on creating a plan, assembling an emergency kit and basic supplies, foods to consider, sheltering options, generators, and post-disaster precautions.
In Sarasota County, family and consumer sciences agent Dr. Maria Portelos-Rometo has been working for years to help residents prepare for the worst. Through participation in her disaster preparedness education programs, last year 76 resiliency kits were provided to clients of low-income individuals and/or families.
The resiliency kits included an LED flashlight with batteries, hand-cranked radio, duct tape, stainless steel whistle with lanyard, first aid kit, an emergency mylar thermal blanket, refrigerator thermometer, and a freezer ice pack. These essential supplies came in a re-useable cloth bag, together with UF/IFAS Extension disaster preparedness factsheets in Spanish and English, and all ADA compliant.
All these life-saving preparations help citizens be more resilient in the face of an emergency. Disaster preparedness education prepares residents so that they will require fewer immediate government services and suffer less loss of quality of life. This education can reduce costs to local governments. Maria partners regularly with the Sarasota County Emergency Operations Center to broaden the scope of education to the community.
You can watch Dr. Maria Portelos-Rometo’s disaster preparedness series on YouTube.
Disaster preparation for your pets
Disaster preparation: Filling your pantry
Program brings citizen awareness of food systems and the environment
It takes a village to raise a tomato. The network of people who grow, process, package, deliver, market and purchase the food we eat is known as a “food system”. Food systems can be as large and complex as a global market, or as small and direct as a local farmers market. The more we know about food systems, the better we’re able to make food choices that benefit our health, our family, and our community.
Morgan Pinkerton is an Extension agent and doctor of plant medicine in Seminole County, Florida. She teaches a food systems program that plays a pivotal role in educating her community about farming and food production. People who’ve been to her workshops come out with a greater appreciation of local agriculture, know more about the benefits of locally grown produce and where to find it in their community, and are more likely buy locally sourced goods.
Not only are people learning to engage more with their local food systems, but attitudes about careers in agriculture are beginning to change, too. Youth who have a better understanding of food systems are more likely to consider careers in agriculture or food production. Additionally, the majority of adults who have participated in Morgan’s program have gone on to encourage their children to explore careers in agriculture. She hopes this will lead to a brighter future for the agricultural workforce.
You can check out Dr. Pinkerton’s guide to Seminole County farms and farmers markets in her recent blog.