News & Updates

Smart Irrigation Controllers – Landscape Water Usage

As we consider global warming, storm season, and weirder weather in general, the case for a smart irrigation controllers becomes more persuasive. More than the savings in your monthly JEA bill for water usage, it is the saving of our state, and the water supply that we need to keep in mind. Did you know…

It’s #PeanutButterChallenge Time!

Food Insecurity in Florida Food insecurity is an obstacle many Floridians face. In 2021, it was estimated that roughly 2.2 million Floridians lacked access to healthy food, with just over 660,000 of which being children. In Orange County specifically, 13.8% of our residents, nearly 191,090 individuals, face food insecurity. During the month of October, the Peanut Butter Challenge is…

Post Storm Landscape Tips

Immediately following storm: Identify and manage potential hazards Get help with any debris or branches near power/communication lines Watch for lifting roots that may interact with underground utilities or irrigation Check for leaning trees and hanging limbs, contact a professional arborist to assess Stand up smaller leaning trees Trees with trunks less than 4 inches in…

Weekly “What is it?”: Coastal groundcherry

    An undisturbed dune in Perdido Key is full of ecological treasures. Photo credit: Carrie Stevenson, UF IFAS Extension Back in the day, pirates would scour the beaches for hidden treasure. On a recent trip out with a group of botanists and biologists, we combed the dunes of Perdido Key for a specific plant that hosts…

World Food Day Brings Attention to Food Insecurity

Making healthy food choices is a challenge of willpower for many of us, but for others it simply isn’t an option. According to a USDA report, more than 38 million people in the U.S. experienced food insecurity in 2020. Food insecurity is defined by the United States Department of Agriculture as the lack of access, at times, to…

Caring for Your Septic Tank or Private Well After A Hurricane

Last week, Hurricane Ian ripped through Florida, dumping and causing historic flooding. While many in the state have a long road to recovery ahead, many Floridians are beginning to clean-up storm damage. Was your private well or septic system flooded or impacted by the storm? Do you know how to properly care for these after…

World Food Day: Leave No One Behind

What is World Food Day? World Food Day is an internationally day celebrated to commemorate the date of the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Every year, World Food Day is held on October 16. The day brings attention to hunger and food security. Be on the lookout for content and events throughout the…

Post-Hurricane Wildlife Encounters

Native Florida wildlife have adaptations and instincts that help them, literally, “weather the storm” during and after a hurricane. However, what is instinctual and normal for them may be unusual and concerning for us. Post-hurricane wildlife encounters can be uncomfortable but with a little knowledge, they don’t need to be dangerous. Wildlife Conflict, What Is…

What to know about mosquitoes and hurricane recovery

Mosquito Aedes aegypti. Photo coutesy Jim Newman. Para acceder a esta comunicación en español, por favor utilice este enlace. After a hurricane, flooding and scattered debris that hold water are breeding grounds for mosquitoes. “An increase in mosquito numbers can most likely be expected in the weeks following a hurricane,” said  Eva Buckner, an assistant professor…

Happy Halloweeding: Tropical Soda Apple

Spiny leaves of tropical soda apple Fall is known for pumpkin picking, cooler weather, and trick-or-treating. While we are enjoying our yards in this cooler, drier weather, it is a good time to look for something truly spooky that may be lurking amongst the bushes: invasive weeds! For this first week of October, we’re introducing…

Spotting scams after the storm

After disasters sweep through an area, an unfortunate reality usually follows: fraudulent offers of funding and/or services to those regaining their bearings in the first hours, days and weeks of recovery. Heidi Copeland, UF/IFAS Extension Leon County family and consumer sciences agent and accredited financial counselor, says the best defense against scammers is to be cautious when…

Lions in the Bay

Yep… I stole that line from Robert Turpin.  He is well known for his ability to come up with great titles.  What we are referring to here is the invasion of lionfish into Pensacola Bay.  It has been well known over the last decade that we have had lionfish in the Gulf of Mexico, but…
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