![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)
For 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
At UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County, we work closely with residents, volunteers, and professionals on a wide range of topics in horticulture, with a focus on promoting plant health through best management practices (BMPs) in the landscape ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Professional Development, Turf, UF/IFAS Extension
Blog co-authored by Mary Ellen Boelhower, Florida Master Naturalist Program (FMNP) graduate Meet Dr. Davis This is Dr. Mary Davis, a retired PhD Ecologist and Sarasota County volunteer. She is also a Florida Master Naturalist Program graduate. ... READ MORE
Category: Community Volunteers, Conservation, Natural Resources, Professional Development, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Wildlife, Work & Life
On a warm spring morning in Southwest Florida, the garden doesn’t just grow—it hums. If you pause long enough, you’ll notice it. A leaf that wasn’t chewed yesterday now carries a series of holes caused by cabbageworm. Ants move steadily ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
March is National Nutrition Month, and the 2026 theme, “Discover the Power of Food!”, invites us to reflect on the role food plays in health and disease prevention. ⚕️Chronic disease is a growing public health concern. Nationwide, ... READ MORE
Category: Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
In the past decade, there has been a large increase in the number of sustainability jobs, with demand for sustainability employees growing 8% in the past two years1. Because of the interdisciplinary nature of sustainability, many fields are ... READ MORE
Category: UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
If you’ve planted milkweed (Asclepias spp.) for the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), passionvine (Passiflora incarnata or other native Passiflora spp.) for Gulf fritillaries (Agraulis vanillae), or added nectar flowers to bring in swallowtails ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Colorectal cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancer conditions in the United States, yet it remains one of the most preventable. According to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, many cases can be avoided with early detection and healthy ... READ MORE
Category: Health & Nutrition, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life![young hands, cradled by older hands, hold a pile of soil with a young plant growing from it. [credit: pixabay.com, shameers rk]](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2026/02/2026_Waste_plantHandsSoil_pixaayShameersRkCROP1650x470.png)
Be part of Sarasota County’s first-ever Master Waste Reduction Educator Program! UF/IFAS Sarasota County Extension is launching the inaugural Master Waste Reduction Educator Program. This immersive, six-week experience is designed to empower ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching
In the past year, Sarasota County Sustainability has advanced partnerships and projects building resilience, quality of life, public health, and sustainable and healthy living for now and our future. Building upon initiatives, programs, and ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Health & Nutrition, UF/IFAS Extension