Focus on increasing the amount of vegetables and fruits you and your family eat, instead of focusing on trying to decrease holiday treats. The holidays are coming! With all the sweets and carbohydrate-loaded dishes around, it is easy to lose ... READ MORE
Category: Health & Nutrition, Relationships & Family, Work & Life
With all the competition for community garden grant funds and donation requests, being able to tell the story of how your garden impacts your community is a key component to garden success. Often, funders and supporters want to see that impact ... READ MORE
Category: Fruits & Vegetables
Save all fear for the haunted house, it is possible to have a Halloween that will meet the approval of your children and also your their doctor. Sixteen percent of children’s total calories comes from added sugar, according to data from the ... READ MORE
Category: Health & Nutrition, Work & Life
by UF/IFAS Extension Polk County Master Gardener, Celia Beamish My favorite native tree is the native pine. Of course, there are several native pines, so a person with a bigger yard than mine could have a collection! Would that be cool or ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Home Landscapes, Wildlife
As we head into the marking and branding season, now is a good time to think about the impact of stress on cattle productivity. Stress induced by handling agitates and excites animals, resulting in elevated body temperature, increased heart ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Livestock
Plants and animals that live outside of their native ranges as a result of human activity are known as nonnative species. Although not all nonnative species become invasive, those that do have the ability to harm ecology, economy, and human ... READ MORE
Category: Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Wildlife
Agritourism is Increasing in Florida Did you know the number of Florida farms offering recreational experiences increased dramatically from 2008-2012? According to USDA Census of Agriculture statistics, that number jumped from 281 in 2008 ... READ MORE
Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture
Polk County and Florida LAKEWATCH are looking for volunteers for 22 Polk County Lakes! Lakewatch is a citizen volunteer lake monitoring program that facilitates "hands-on" citizen participation in the management of Florida lakes, rivers and ... READ MORE
Category: Community Volunteers, Conservation, Natural Resources, Water
Blind mosquitoes are a type of freshwater midge. This particular type of midge does not bite, suck blood, or carry diseases. However, blind mosquitoes can still be a nuisance and their populations are often extremely difficult to manage. Read ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Water
Succulents are tough, drought-tolerant plants that come in an array of colors, shapes and sizes. The are fun to plant in both shady and sunny locations and require very minimal maintenance when grown outdoors. UF/IFAS Extension Polk County ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes