Category: UF/IFAS Extension

Chickpeas – A healthy legume

by Brenda Marty-Jimenez
July 27, 2026

Do you like hummus or falafels? If yes, then you enjoy chickpeas, which continue to grow in popularity as a food and snack choice. A program participant told me this week that she loves to snack on crisp chickpeas made in her air fryer. What ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: A Healthy Diet, Broward County, Chickpeas, Eating For Good Health, Focus On Your Health, Food Is Medicine, Garbanzo Beans, Healthy Diet, Hummus, Legumes, Nutrition

Fire Safety: Kitchen and Cooking Safety

by Brenda Marty-Jimenez
July 22, 2026

With wildfires making headlines across the country, it's a good time to revisit an important topic: kitchen and cooking safety. While wildfires are a significant concern, the kitchen remains one of the most common places for fires to start in ... READ MORE

Category: Disaster Preparation, Food Safety, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: 10 Kitchen Fire Safety Tips, Call 911 In The Event Of An Emergency, Dangers Of The Risk Of Fire, Fire Preparedness, Fire Preparedness Plan; Wildfires; Stove Safety; Supervise Children; Supervise Young Children When Cooking; Film And Photograph Contents Of Home, Fire Safety, Kitchen And Cooking Safety, Kitchen Safety, Prevent Kitchen Fires, What Can I Do For Fire Safety?

Papaya: A Tropical Nutrition Powerhouse

by Brenda Marty-Jimenez
June 3, 2026

This tropical fruit has bright orange-pink flesh, small black seeds in the center, and a naturally sweet flavor. Ripe papaya is typically enjoyed fresh, peeled, seeded, and sliced into cubes or wedges. Papaya is packed with nutrients while ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Eating Fruit And Vegetables May Reduce Your Risk Of Chronic Disease, Fruit, Fruit As A Treat, Fruit In Salads, Fruit Salad, Fruit Smoothies, Papaya, Tropical Fruit

From Wasteland to Wonderland: A Food Forest Journey Part 4 – Iguanas: A Challenge, A Question, A Lesson.

by Giuseppe Di Giacinto
May 12, 2026

The challenge with iguanas has been, without a doubt, the toughest part of working on this food forest. At times, it felt like they made my life almost impossible. But somewhere along the way, a different mindset was necessary. ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife, Work & Life
Tags: Extension, Food Forest, Iguanas, Plants Damage, Uf Ifas Extension Solutions

From Wasteland to Wonderland: A Food Forest Journey PART 3

by Giuseppe Di Giacinto
April 1, 2026

As this food forest continues to evolve, the focus has shifted from site preparation and design to one of the most exciting and revealing phases: plant selection and performance. This stage has brought both rewarding harvests and unexpected ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Health & Nutrition, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Alternative Lawns, Alternatives To Pesticides, Edible Landscape, Edible Landscaping, Food Forest, Horticulture, Sustainability, Sustainable Landscaping

Stories from the Yard: Fostering a Healthy Environment for Pollinators

by Lorna Bravo
March 8, 2026

Florida-Friendly Landscaping for Pollinators: Growing a Garden with a Purpose Join us as we share real stories from local gardeners transforming their yards into Florida-Friendly Landscaping for pollinators. Discover practical tips, successes, ... READ MORE

Category: Community Volunteers, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Wildlife

Welcome Cathy Whitt to Broward 4-H!

by Kenan Bridges
February 25, 2026

We are excited to welcome Cathy Whitt to the Broward 4-H team as our new 4-H Program Assistant for Health Rocks! Cathy is not new to 4-H—she brings years of leadership, advisory experience, and a deep passion for youth health and wellness. ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, UF/IFAS Extension

A Nearly Perfect Tree

by Donna Corbelli Castro
February 25, 2026

Is there a perfect tree? I think this question has fueled much of historic plant exploration and discovery. Sometimes it is beauty that draws us, like the Jacaranda tree native to Brazil, with its beautiful lavender blooms each spring. ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: Black Ironwood, Broward County, Ironwood, Krugiodendron Ferreum, Urban Trees, Water Matters Day

From Wasteland to Wonderland: A Food Forest Journey PART 2

by Giuseppe Di Giacinto
February 13, 2026

Restoring degraded urban landscapes is rarely linear. It requires observation, adaptation, and a willingness to rethink initial goals. After the first phase of plant relocation and site assessment, it became clear that the project needed a more ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life

From Wasteland to Wonderland: A Food Forest Journey PART 1

by Giuseppe Di Giacinto
January 24, 2026

Every transformation begins with a question. For me, it started with a thought: What if a forgotten piece of land could come back to life? From this question, a vision began to take root. There was a garden along the west side of the FLREC ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Colorful Fruits And Vegetables, Cultural Foods, Florida Gardening, Food Forest, Fragrant Trees, Home Landscape, Horticulture, Therapy, UF/IFAS Extension, Work&Life

Subscribe For More Great Content