The University of Florida Institute for Agriculture and Food Sciences program—commonly known as UF/IFAS, because the official title is quite a mouthful—has offices all over the state through its Extension program. Sarasota County’s is an essential destination for anyone interested in local food. The staff leads community learning initiatives around agriculture, gardening, landscaping, 4-H youth development, natural resources, sustainability and nutrition. Classes are affordable and, in some cases, free, and there are even webinars for people on the go. The breadth of programs can be intimidating at first, so here are a few of the engagement opportunities we like best.

• Meet (or even become) a certified Master Gardener at a myriad of gardening classes.
• Find out how to safely can all the vegetables you’ll be harvesting from your garden.
• Research how to care for a new fruit tree.
• Figure out how to best use that Instant Pot you were recently gifted.
• Dig into Sarasota history by learning about niche topics like the area’s old turpentining industry.
• Identify insects around your property with help from UF/IFAS experts. You can even email a photo or bring a sample to the office.
• Take an EcoWalk in one of the area’s many parks. Your guide will point out all the amazing plants and wildlife there is to see, including interesting invasive species.
• Learn how to compost and why it’s so important.
• Lower your irrigation bill by learning the dos and don’ts of Florida-friendly landscaping.

Learn more at sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasota