UF/IFAS Extension and Sustainability

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About Us

UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County helps you build a better future, bringing together the resources of Sarasota County Government and the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS).

As part of the national extension system founded in 1914, we provide practical education to help you make informed choices. We translate research into community initiatives, classes, and volunteer opportunities related to food systems, water and environmental resources, and youth and community resource development. View a timeline of our history.

Backed by the commitment of Sarasota County Government to foster thriving, sustainable communities, we develop and deliver economically viable, environmentally sound, and socially equitable programs and services.

Read our 2025 Annual Report to learn more about the many ways we work with you to make better lives and improve our communities. Or, view our 2025 impacts brochure, for a condensed version, including the myriad programs, projects and other ways we connect with you.

Extension videos

Find more of our informational and educational videos, including webinars, at our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@ufarasotaext.

Read recent blog posts

Your Guide to Earth Month 2026 in Sarasota County04/16/2026 5:57 PM
Email 0 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Reddit 0 X Linkedin 0 Stumbleupon 0 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 to […]

The post Your Guide to Earth Month 2026 in Sarasota County appeared first on UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County.
Welcome Our New Commercial Horticulture Program Specialist04/10/2026 5:33 PM
Email 0 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Reddit 0 X Linkedin 0 Stumbleupon 0 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 and beyond. We also support professionals […]

The post Welcome Our New Commercial Horticulture Program Specialist appeared first on UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County.
Meet Dr. Mary Davis: A Florida Master Naturalist Success Story04/06/2026 8:04 PM
Email 0 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Reddit 0 X Linkedin 0 Stumbleupon 0 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. What is a PhD Ecologist […]

The post Meet Dr. Mary Davis: A Florida Master Naturalist Success Story appeared first on UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County.
Sarasota 4-H County Council and Club Updates – April 202604/06/2026 6:33 PM
Email 0 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Reddit 0 X Linkedin 0 Stumbleupon 0 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/2025/06/25/sarasota-4-h-county-council-and-club-updates/ Club Updates Legacy […]

The post Sarasota 4-H County Council and Club Updates – April 2026 appeared first on UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County.
When the Garden Wakes Up, So Do the Insects: A Spring Story About Pests, Predators, and Paying Attention04/06/2026 2:23 AM
Email 0 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Reddit 0 X Linkedin 0 Stumbleupon 0 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 up and […]

The post When the Garden Wakes Up, So Do the Insects: A Spring Story About Pests, Predators, and Paying Attention appeared first on UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County.
Discover the Power of Food04/01/2026 3:19 AM
Email 0 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Reddit 0 X Linkedin 0 Stumbleupon 0 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, approximately 75% of adults live […]

The post Discover the Power of Food appeared first on UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County.
Agents of Discovery Goes to the Beach! South County Parks and Preserves in April and May03/27/2026 9:54 PM
Email 0 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Reddit 0 X Linkedin 0 Stumbleupon 0 Agents of Discovery Goes to the Beach! This time around, Agents of Discovery will be live our first beach park to have a mission! Put on your Special Agent gear and head on down to North Jetty Park in Nokomis to explore […]

The post Agents of Discovery Goes to the Beach! South County Parks and Preserves in April and May appeared first on UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County.
Careers and Degrees in Sustainability03/16/2026 5:51 PM
Email 0 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Reddit 0 X Linkedin 0 Stumbleupon 0 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 looking to hire individuals […]

The post Careers and Degrees in Sustainability appeared first on UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County.
Sarasota 4-H County Council and Club Updates – March 202603/03/2026 10:37 PM
Email 0 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Reddit 0 X Linkedin 0 Stumbleupon 0 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/2025/06/25/sarasota-4-h-county-council-and-club-updates/ Club Updates 4-Paws: Dog […]

The post Sarasota 4-H County Council and Club Updates – March 2026 appeared first on UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County.
The Truth About Heart Disease and How We Can Change the Story02/26/2026 9:00 PM
Email 0 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Reddit 0 X Linkedin 0 Stumbleupon 0 February is American Heart Month and a great time for a quick heart-to-heart. Heart disease may be the leading cause of death in the U.S. and in Florida, but the everyday choices we make can dramatically change that story! According to the […]

The post The Truth About Heart Disease and How We Can Change the Story appeared first on UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County.