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
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
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
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![potential shoppers walk along a sidewalk in a downtown business district, as potted plants frame a business doorway and a bike leans against a storefront window. [credit: uf/ifas, javier edwards]](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2026/02/2014_Waste_downtownBusinessDistrict_ifasEdwardsJavierCROP1650x470.png)
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![Fans watch a University of Florida football game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville. [credit: uf/ifas, tyler jones]](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2026/05/2023_Waste_greensportsUFFootballGame01_ifasTylerJones_CROP1650x470.png)
How do we turn a day at the ballpark into a win for waste reduction? UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County helped answer that question by hosting a university poster session at the Green Sports Alliance Summit in Cleveland. Set against the backdrop ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation
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![group portrait of sarasota county extension volunteers and staff, gathered on stage during an annual volunteer appreciation party. [credit: uf/ifas extension sarasota county]](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2026/04/2026_Vols_volApprnParty_group01_CROP1650x470TINY.png)
I want to share some amazing numbers: Sarasota County Extension’s 282 volunteers contributed 13,604 hours of service, worth over $448,000, in 2025. That volunteer service is equal to another 6.5 full-time staff, which, on our small ... READ MORE
Category: 4-H & Youth, Clubs & Volunteers, Community Volunteers, Work & LifeFor the global volunteer month in April, the Sarasota County Commissioners honored all county department volunteers March 24 for their outstanding efforts throughout Sarasota County in 2025. UF/IFAS Extension celebrated its volunteers April ... READ MORE
Category: 4-H & Youth, Community Volunteers, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
As our region grows, we observe impacts of climate change such as an increase in days with extreme heat conditions, number and intensity of storms and hurricanes, and water shortages. This brings to light how important our actions are in response ... READ MORE
Category: Events, Work & Life