The Hidden Cost: Industry & Manufacturing’s Water Footprint When we think of water conservation, we often picture shorter showers or turning off the tap while brushing our teeth. The heavy cost of industry and manufacturing, on the other ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, Water
Blog co-authored by Mary Ellen Boelhower, Florida Master Naturalist Program (FMNP) graduate Florida Master Naturalist Program (FMNP) helps young professionals round out their skills Biologist Chelsea Dinon lives to go cave diving in Florida’s ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Natural Resources, Professional Development, Water, Wildlife, Work & Life
Sometimes you are blessed to work with wonderful people, and get to call them friends, too. Sometimes this leads to some heartbreak when they leave us. Our dear Wilma Holley, our master gardener volunteer and recently retired Florida Friendly ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
Mushrooms are often celebrated for their unique flavors and textures, but their versatility extends far beyond the kitchen. These fascinating fungi offer numerous health benefits and serve as sustainable alternatives in various dishes. In this ... READ MORE
Category: Food Safety, Health & Nutrition, Work & LifeBlog co-authored by Mary Ellen Boelhower, Florida Master Naturalist Program (FMNP) graduate Meet Suzy Nolan, Volunteer Extraordinaire Indianapolis native Suzy Nolan grew up hiking and observing nature, but it wasn’t until the travel ... READ MORE
Category: Community Volunteers, Conservation, Natural Resources, Professional Development, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
You may have heard the phrase "leave the leaves" before. It was first coined by the National Wildlife Federation, then popularized by the Xerces Society. After that, many other groups followed suit. Before we dive into what that phrase means, ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Farm Management, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
At the Sarasota County UF/IFAS Extension Office, we've been cultivating a Food Forest to showcase the most productive, unique, and often underutilized fruits suited to our distinctive southwest Florida climate. Through this project, ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
All across the state, many disgruntled denizens adjusted their clocks this past Sunday, March 9, to accommodate daylight savings time. While this lets us have longer days, a historically helpful tool for farming...it can be a bit disruptive ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Lawn, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Hurricanes have left lasting scars on our landscapes in recent years, and Arbor Month 2025 offers us an opportunity to heal and rebuild by replanting the trees that are so essential to our communities. We are grateful to the Florida Forest Service ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Home Landscapes, Work & Life
Welcome to our Lawn Ornament blog series, where we explore the plethora of micro-plants that can help create a biodiverse, predominantly green, yet also delightfully colorful lawn that requires much less maintenance than a traditional grass ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn, Work & Life