UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County -

Beyond the Classroom: My Experience Interning with UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County

by Evelyn Spencer
June 15, 2026

My name is Evelyn Spencer, and I worked as an Environmental Education and Outreach Intern in the fall of 2025 and spring of 2026 with the UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County Sustainability Program. I graduated in May 2026 from the ... READ MORE

Category: Professional Development, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Careers, Internship, Pgm_Sustain, Professional Development, Sarasota County Extension, Sustainability

World Ocean Day 2026 – Reimagine

by Armando Ubeda
June 8, 2026

World Ocean Day is today. It was created to advocate for and inspire people to take action every day, not just today. This year’s theme for World Ocean Day is Reimagine. The idea behind this year’s theme is to invite people to change ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources
Tags: Marine Education, Ocean Conservation, Pgm_Marine, Pgm_SeaGrant, World Oceans Day

Blue-Green Algae Are Blooming

by Mike D'Imperio
June 8, 2026

Here in Florida, we are no strangers to algae. It occurs naturally in both saltwater and freshwater ecosystems. Our warm climate, ample sunlight, and slow-moving, shallow waters provide excellent habitats for many algal species. If you have ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Work & Life
Tags: Algae, Algal Bloom, Blue-green Algae, Cyanobacteria, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Harmful Algae, Pgm_Water, Sarasota, Sarasota County, Water Quality

Suncoast Florida Drought Update: What It Means for Your Landscape, Water Supply, and Fire Risk

by Forest Hecker, Valeria Yon and Mike D'Imperio

June 4, 2026

How Bad Is the Current Drought? Since the end of our rainy season in early fall, rainfall totals across west-central Florida have dropped dramatically. Local meteorologists report this has been one of the driest fall–winter periods in over ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, Water
Tags: Drought, Fire, Landscape, Landscaping, Pgm_HortRes, Pgm_Water

Meet Kristen Sturgeon: A Florida Master Naturalist Success Story

by Katherine Clements and Zahir Ringgold Cordes

June 3, 2026

Blog co-authored by Mary Ellen Boelhower, Florida Master Naturalist Program (FMNP) graduate Meet Kristen Sturgeon Meet Kristen Sturgeon, an Environmental Specialist III with Sarasota County Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources. In this ... READ MORE

Category: Community Volunteers, Conservation, Natural Resources, Professional Development, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Wildlife, Work & Life
Tags: Florida Master Naturalist Program, Fmnp-in-srq, Nature, Pgm_EcoNR, Volunteers

Seven Simple Steps to a Healthier You

by Amber Daniels
May 29, 2026

Many people underestimate the power of small shifts in their daily diet and lifestyle habits. These changes can create meaningful improvements in your health in terms of achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, reducing risk for chronic disease, ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Aging Healthy, Eating Locally Grown, Food Is Medicine, Healthy Eating, Lifestyle, Nutrition, Pgm_FCS

Precious Pollinators: Green Orchid Bee

by Forest Hecker
May 28, 2026

Euglossa dilemma: Florida's Brilliant New Orchid Bee If you've spotted a dazzling, iridescent green bee darting through your garden, you may have encountered one of Florida's most fascinating recent arrivals — the Green Orchid Bee (Euglossa ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Wildlife, Work & Life
Tags: FFL, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture, Landscape, Landscaping, Pgm_Chemicals, Pgm_HortRes, Wildlife

Suncoast Grown and Gathered: May Stone Fruit! Peaches and Plums in Abundance?

by Forest Hecker
May 27, 2026

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 and crops suited to our distinctive southwest Florida climate. Through this ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Work & Life
Tags: FFL, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Garden, Horticulture, Landscape, Landscaping, Pgm_HortRes

Building for the Future in Sarasota County

by Evelyn Spencer
May 22, 2026

Did you know a home or commercial building can be certified as sustainable? Here in Sarasota County, many of the county’s facilities are certified by the as green buildings through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Green Building, Pgm_Sustain, Sarasota County Extension, Sustainability

Please Welcome Our Newest Green Business Partner: Sarasota Alliance for Historical Preservation

by Randy Penn
May 21, 2026

We want to wish a hearty welcome to our newest Green Business Partnership member: Sarasota Alliance for Historical Preservation. About the Green Business Partner Key information about our newest partner, as shared by the company. Sarasota ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation
Tags: Business Recycling, GBP, Green Business, Green Business Partnership, Historical Preservation, Pgm_Waste

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