Category: Work & Life

Grow with Confidence at the 20th Annual Master Gardener Plant Sale

by Ashley Ellis
September 14, 2026

Imagine your are about to buy a lovely little plant from a store and suddenly you wonder…is it healthy? Will it survive in my yard? Will I be able to take care of it? Most of us who love plants have experienced this. Coming up soon ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife, Work & Life
Tags: FFL, Master Gardener Volunteer, Pgm_HortRes, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County

Sarasota 4-H County Council and Club Updates – September 2026

by Sarah Davis and Allison Chunco

September 11, 2026

Read below to learn about Sarasota County’s council, club, and state-wide updates. Feel free to reach out to 4-H@scgov.net if you have any questions or need more information. Refer to this link for previous monthly updates: https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/2026/04/06/sarasota-4-h-county-council-and-club-updates-april-2026/ Club ... READ MORE

Category: Work & Life

How to Foster an Identity as a Planet Steward

by Michelle Marinangel
September 2, 2026

James Clear’s acclaimed book Atomic Habits is one of the most widely read and frequently recommended modern books on habit formation. It features stories and research that support how to implement successful habit changes and resulting desired ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Natural Resources, Professional Development, Recreation, Work & Life
Tags: Climate, Climate Solutions, Healthy Living, Personal Development, Pgm_Sustain, Stewardship, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County

Suncoast Grown and Gathered: Longans for August

by Forest Hecker
August 31, 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: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Work & Life
Tags: FFL, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Garden, Horticulture, Landscape, Landscaping, Pgm_HortRes

Visit Our Bug Bungalows

by Jackie Lebouitz and Erin Petersen

August 7, 2026

Bugs are an incredibly important part of the environment. Many pollinate plants, including fruits like berries and melons, help make the soil healthier by breaking down leaves, wood, and other organic matter, serve as food for wildlife like ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife, Work & Life
Tags: Art, Beneficial, Bug, Bungalow, Entomology, Fairy, Game, Good, House, Insects, Pgm_Chemicals, Pollinator

Growing Through Experience: My Internship Journey with UF/IFAS Extension & Sustainability Sarasota County

by Kate Sweeney
August 6, 2026

Hi, I’m Kate Sweeney, and during the summer of 2026, I had the opportunity to serve as an Environmental Education and Outreach Intern for the UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County, with both the Sustainability and Ecology and Natural Resources ... READ MORE

Category: Work & Life
Tags: Intern, Internship, Natural Resources, Pgm_EcoNR, Pgm_Sustain, Special Topics, Sustainability

Happy National Intern Day, July 30th!

by Felicity and Sarah Davis

August 3, 2026

Meet our 2026 Summer Interns! We’re thrilled to welcome our new interns, Kate Sweeney and Felicity Ruiz. They have brought fresh energy and ideas to our programs. You can learn more about them below. We have an exciting lineup of activities ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Camp, Clubs & Volunteers, Curriculum, Events, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Education, Pgm_4H, Youth

Meet Sarah Denison Williams: A Florida Master Naturalist Success Story

by Katherine Clements and Zahir Ringgold Cordes

August 3, 2026

Blog co-authored by Mary Ellen Boelhower, Florida Master Naturalist Program (FMNP) graduate Meet Sarah Denison Williams A native of Florida’s east coast, Sarah Denison Williams has been smitten with the natural world since attending ... READ MORE

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

The Med Way: Step 2 – Swap Your Fats

by Amber Daniels
July 31, 2026

The Mediterranean Diet (the Med Way) is a long-standing, recommended approach to balanced eating that supports optimal health and chronic disease prevention. The Med Way centers around seven simple eating tips. Last month, we explored Step #1: ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, Work & Life
Tags: Aging Healthy, Diet, Food Is Medicine, Health, Nutrition

Keeping Sarasota Cool: Equipping Sarasota for Extreme Heat Conditions

by Michelle Marinangel
July 15, 2026

Over the last three summers, our team has interacted with residents in Sarasota County to discuss extreme heat science, safety, and conditions in our backyards. During our outreach events, we also distribute free resources such as cooling towels, ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Health & Nutrition, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching, Work & Life
Tags: Climate, Community Education, Extreme Heat, Healthy Living, Outreach, Pgm_Sustain, Sustainability, Weather

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