Summer rains will hopefully be here soon, bringing with them the potential for flooding. Litter, yard debris, and other objects can block the roadside inlets that route excess rainfall away from our homes. Keeping these storm drains clear is ... READ MORE
Category: Work & Life
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
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
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
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
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
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