Program Highlights & Tips:
How Extension is Working for Floridians
UF/IFAS Extension provides current, research-based information to millions of Floridians. The following topics represent a few of the areas in which Extension faculty, staff, and volunteers are helping improve the lives of Florida consumers.
Debt Management
Credit cards, student loans, car loans, mortgages-- most Americans have some debt of one kind or another. With self-discipline, it is possible to reduce your debt or even get out of debt completely without going through a debt consolidation or credit repair organization. The following tips will help:
- Stop accumulating debt immediately.
- Examine your budget to find an extra amount of money each month to apply to your debts. Add this to your lowest debt each month until that debt is paid, then shift the total payment to your next debt.
- As soon as you pay off one debt, apply that monthly payment to another debt.
- When possible, apply extra money to the debt with the highest interest rate.
As you begin to pay down credit cards, credit card companies will lower your minimum monthly payment. They do this so your debt will take longer to pay off, earning them more money in interest. To get out of debt sooner, ignore these decreases. Keep paying the original monthly payment you began with. If you lower your monthly payment, it will take you much longer to pay off your debt, and you will end up paying a lot more.
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Disaster Preparation
Preparing for a disaster can help us overcome our fears, and we are more likely to react calmly when disasters happen.
Create a Family Disaster Plan
A plan will ensure that in case of a disaster, your family is prepared not only physically but also mentally.
- Gather information.
- Share information.
- Plan how you will stay in contact.
- Meet with neighbors.
Empower Your Family
Everyone in your family can contribute to disaster preparedness.
- Emergency telephone numbers. Post a list by every phone in the house.
- Utilities. Show responsible family members how to shut off gas, electricity, and water.
- First aid and CPR. Someone in your family should have these important skills. Contact your local Red Cross chapter for information and training.
- Important family documents. Keep birth certificates, wills, insurance policies, passports, Social Security cards, and other important documents in containers that are waterproof, fireproof, and portable.
- Home hazards. Look around your home for electrical, chemical, and fire hazards. Check fire safety equipment--smoke detectors and fire extinguishers--regularly. Look for items that could shift or fall, especially during disasters. Know your home’s escape routes.
Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit
In case of evacuation, keep your disaster supplies kit in an easy-to-carry container, such as a camping backpack or a duffle bag.
- Water
- Food
- Toiletries
- First aid supplies
- Clothing and bedding
- Special items (medicine, baby items, etc.)
For more information, visit:
- Community Development--Solutions for Your Life
- Disaster Handbook
- Extension Disaster Education Network
- FloridaDisaster.org
Family Time Management
Today’s families are busier than ever, and parents must make more of an effort to set aside time to spend with their children. Your time is the most important gift you can give your children. When you spend time with them, you help them feel loved and accepted for who they are. You also build a good relationship that will carry into adolescence and adulthood. Try our tips for spending quality time with your kids in a hectic world.
Make the most of waiting time and daily routines.
We are used to thinking of certain activities as a waste of time, but try seeing these times as opportunities.
- As you run errands, catch up on your child’s life.
- Sing songs instead of getting frustrated with traffic.
- If you’re waiting at a doctor’s office, read a book or draw a picture together.
Have regular family activities.
Vacations or trips to an amusement park are fun, but many cheaper and less elaborate family activities can be just as enjoyable.
- Go on a picnic or to the park, play board games, or bake cookies.
- Watch a video, make popcorn, or go to a ballgame.
- Involve your children in the planning of these activities.
Celebrate family traditions.
Whether elaborate or simple, a shared tradition provides special family time.
- Traditions can be major, once-a-year events, such as a special holiday dinner or a spring camping trip.
- They can also be simple, more frequent events, such as Sunday morning pancakes or evening walks.
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Food Safety
A healthy diet should include a variety of fruits and vegetables, but you should take care to prevent the spread of foodborne illnesses that have been traced to some raw fresh produce. Follow these important steps when selecting and preparing produce.
- Trust your senses. At the store, choose fresh-looking fruits and vegetables that are not bruised, shriveled, moldy, or slimy. Do not purchase anything that smells bad, and do not buy packaged vegetables that look slimy.
- Limit what you buy. Most fruit and vegetables should be eaten within a few days of purchase. Apples, potatoes, and citrus fruits can be stored longer. Handle produce gently at the store. Keep produce on top in the cart--putting groceries on top of produce can bruise it.
- Put produce away promptly. Keep most of your produce in the crisper, where it will get a bit more humidity. Throw away produce that is moldy or slimy or has been kept too long. Remember to refrigerate all produce within two hours of peeling, cutting, or cooking, and keep all cut fruits and vegetables covered. Bananas, potatoes, and tomatoes do not need refrigeration.
- Wash your hands. Always wash your hands with hot, soapy water before and after handling fresh produce, using the bathroom, changing diapers, and handling pets.
- Wash food. Fruits and vegetables can pick up dust and soil as they are being harvested, handled, packed, and shipped. They may also have trace amounts of chemicals and bacteria on the outer tissues. Wash fresh fruits and vegetable with cool tap water just before preparing or eating. Don’t use soap or detergents.
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4-H & Florida Youth
The Florida 4-H Program provides curricula and numerous programs that instill youth with self-confidence and build life skills such as decision-making, communication, citizenship, and leadership. Young people who participate in 4-H programs also meet new friends and have lots of fun.
Clubs
Clubs are the foundation of 4-H. A 4-H club is a group of five or more youngsters guided by one or more adults. Kids in 4-H clubs participate in a wide variety of projects, based on members’ interests. Club members learn through self-selected projects on such topics as gardening, woodworking, bicycle care and safety, photography, and aerospace and model rocketry. Clubs provide community-based, positive, structured learning opportunities for young people.
Camps
4-H camps are very popular. Most occur during the summer months, but some camps are offered throughout the year. Some are overnight, while others are day camps. Camps typically emphasize outdoor educational experiences or have a specific focus, such as horses or marine ecology.
Afterschool Programs
4-H afterschool programs provide an active, hands-on, and supportive environment where young people learn leadership, citizenship, and life skills. Staff members train and provide 4-H curricula to establish partnerships with other afterschool programs and with organizations such as YMCAs and YWCAs, the Army or Air Force, and Boys and Girls Clubs.
Fairs, Conferences, Workshops & More
Florida 4-H youth also participate in fairs, shows, conferences, and workshops. Other 4-H programs focus on improving the health of youths and supporting military families.
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Saving Water, Energy & Money
The systems used to heat and cool your home use more energy and take up more money than any other system in your home. No matter what kind of system you have, you can save money and increase comfort by following these steps.
Lighting
- Turn off lights in rooms you are not using.
- Use new, energy-efficient bulbs.
Hot Water
- Set your water heater thermostat to 120°F.
- When using your washing machine, select the appropriate load setting. Besides saving energy and water, this will also get your clothes cleaner.
- Clean the lint screen in your dryer each time you start a new load.
- Install a low-flow showerhead and low-flow faucets.
- Repair leaky faucets quickly.
- Use cold water when running the garbage disposal.
- When you wash your dishes, fill the sink with hot, soapy water instead of letting the water run, or soap dishes with the water off and rinse them all at once.
Air Conditioners
- If you have ceiling fans, use them! They can make your room very comfortable and use much less energy than running the air conditioner all the time. Remember to turn fans off when you are not in the room.
- Set the thermostat at 78°F or higher and wear lightweight clothing.
- Don't put lamps or televisions near your thermostat. These give off heat and can cause your air conditioning to run more frequently.
- Check filters once a month. Change them when they get dirty.
- If you have a window unit, make sure there are no gaps in the seal between the unit and the window frame--cool air could seep out.
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Sun Safety
Even a few minutes in the sunshine can burn unprotected skin. You can reduce your children's risk of skin cancer and other skin damage by protecting them from the sun.
Babies
- Avoid exposing babies under one year old to the sun. Keep them in the shade--under a tree, an umbrella, or a stroller canopy.
- Dress infants in clothing that covers them, such as lightweight long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and wide-brimmed hats.
- If your baby cannot be protected by clothing or shade, apply a little sunscreen to small areas, such as the face and the back of the hands. Use a sunscreen of at least SPF 15 with UVA/UVB protection.
Children
- Keep children out of the sun between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun is strongest.
- Dress children in clothing that covers them up. Special sun protection clothing can also be purchased that shields children from UV ray exposure.
- Buy sunglasses that protect your child’s eyes from UV rays. Look for sunglasses with broad spectrum protection that blocks close to 100% of UVB and UVA rays, absorb UV light, and wrap around the eyes.
- Use sunscreen of at least SPF 15 every time your child goes outside. Apply sunscreen at least thirty minutes before going out. Apply a thick dose and remember to cover the backs of knees, the ears, under the eyes, and the neck and scalp. Re-apply at least every two hours--more frequently when perspiring heavily or swimming. Even in cool and cloudy weather, children need protection.
- If your child looks even a little pink, get her or him out of the sun to prevent further burning. It can take up to twelve hours for skin to show the effects of sun exposure.
- Keep sunscreen handy--in your car, your bag, or your child’s backpack for unexpected outdoor adventures.
For more information, visit:
Butterfly Gardening
Butterflies are beautiful, and many gardeners want to encourage the creatures to visit. You too can start a butterfly garden. To get as many different kinds of butterflies as possible--and to host these insects throughout their lifecycle--start with our short how-to guide.
Components
- Adult nectar sources
- Larval host plants
- Shelter
- Water source
Design
- Provide a combination of adult nectar sources and larval host plants
- Use native plants
- Choose plants with different heights and blooming times
- Utilize a mix of flower colors and shapes
- Plant in both shade and full sun
- Group similar plantings together
Maintenance
- Water and mulch new plantings
- Fertilize regularly
- Avoid pesticides
- Identify visitor species
Benefits
- Attract wildlife
- Conserve habitat
- Contribute to health of native ecosystems
- Learn about the natural world
- Relax in your colorful retreat
For more information, visit:
- Lawn & Garden--Solutions for Your Life
- Gardening in a Minute
- Butterfly Rainforest--Florida Museum of Natural History
Edible Landscaping
Edible landscaping is when you grow vegetables, herbs, and/or fruits at home. Florida’s unique environment allows a wide variety of edible plants to be grown year-round. It can be fun and satisfying to grow your own food, but there are many other benefits, too.
Growing your own food is:
- Economical. Save money at the grocery store.
- Attractive. Many food plants are beautiful, often in unexpected ways.
- Environmentally friendly. When you grow your own food, you are contributing to a healthier environment by not buying items that have to be transported.
- Time-saving. There is no delay between the field and the table.
- Healthy and delicious. Food often tastes the best and has the most nutritional value when eaten right after harvest.
- Easy. Fruits, vegetables, and herbs can all be grown in yards or containers. They can be incorporated into ornamental landscapes.
- Different. For many plants, there are more varieties available for the home grower than can be purchased in the store.
- Useful. Home-grown fruits and vegetables make great gifts for friends, family, and co-workers.
It’s important to learn which edible plants grow well where you live. Most edible plants, like ornamental plants, require some maintenance. Before planting, take into account the needs--such as pruning--of the plants you are considering. Select plants that will thrive in the area where you live, and in the sites you have selected. Remember that these plants are for you to eat, so use fertilizer and pesticides carefully.
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Florida-friendly Yards
The Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Program (FY&N) can help you transform your yard into a beautiful oasis that will not only conserve precious water resources and reduce pollution, but also help you save time, energy, and money.
FY&N was developed to address serious problems of pollution and disappearing habitats by enlisting homeowners in the battle to save our natural environment. It provides special educational and outreach activities to help residents reduce pollution and enhance their environment by improving home and landscape management.
Proper implementation of FY&N practices in your yard will protect the natural environment around us for future generations to enjoy.
The objectives of the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Program are to:
- Reduce stormwater runoff
- Decrease non-point source pollution
- Conserve water
- Enhance wildlife habitat
- Create beautiful landscapes
Florida-friendly landscaping emphasizes nine major principles:
- Right plant, right place
- Water efficiently
- Fertilize appropriately
- Mulch
- Attract wildlife
- Control yard pests responsibly
- Recycle
- Reduce stormwater runoff
- Protect the waterfront
For more information, visit:
Landscaping for Storms & Hurricanes
Planting
- When a tree falls, plant a new tree in its place.
- Plant tree species that have been shown to be more wind resistant.
- Consider planting native species.
- Plant a mixture of species, ages, and layers of trees and shrubs.
- Plant trees in groups.
- Give trees enough rooting space according to their mature size.
- Plant trees in sites with three-foot soil depth and a deep water table.
- Keep soil compaction to a minimum.
- Under power lines, plant small trees such as buttonwood, dogwood, crape myrtle, and wax myrtle.
- Plant high quality trees with central leaders and good form.
- Begin a structural pruning program for young trees.
- Plant decay resistant trees--such as live oak, mahogany, and winged elm--as appropriate for your area.
- Plant wind resistant trees--such as dogwood, magnolia, coconut palm, and buttonwood--as appropriate for your area.
Immediately After the Hurricane
- Consult a professional arborist.
- Remove fallen trees. Trees with broken stems should also be removed.
- Consider removing large leaning trees--these could fall on a still day or in the next storm.
- Some small trees (less than four inches in diameter) can be righted, but they should be staked and watered as though freshly planted. Do not stand up larger trees.
- Restoration pruning can restore a standing tree with at least half of its crown left.
- Leaf loss does not mean a tree is dead. Wait and watch for new leaf growth.
- Monitor the trees in your yard for signs of stress or poor health. Hidden damage in trees may show up months later.
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Solving Lawn Problems
Many turf problems are caused by environmental conditions. Does your lawn have any of the following problems?
- Plants not adapted to site. Make sure you are using the right grass for your area and yard conditions.
- Susceptible plants. St. Augustine grass is vulnerable to chinch bugs. Other grasses have different problems.
- Overwatering. Water deeply at long intervals rather than watering frequently. When the soil is allowed to dry out between waterings, your grass will grow deeper root systems, weeds and disease will have less chance to establish themselves, and you will save water.
- Overhead irrigation. Wet foliage encourages plant disease. Drip, soaker hoses, and micro-sprays are healthier for your plants than overhead sprinkler systems. If you must use an overhead sprinkler system, water in the early morning to minimize the amount of time your grass blades stay wet.
- Nutritional problems. Excessive fertilizing promotes disease. Fertilizing causes rapid growth, which in turn requires more frequent mowing. Fertilizers can also lead to nutrient deficiencies, which weaken grass and make it more susceptible to disease.
- Mechanical injury. Lawns can be damaged by excessive foot and vehicular traffic. Mowing grass with a dull blade produces a ragged cut and encourages disease. Soil contamination from toxic substances or construction debris can later cause plant problems.
- Excessive thatch layer. Heavy thatch (brown patches) in some lawns--such as St. Augustine grass--serves as a breeding ground for insects and fungal diseases. Thatch is a byproduct of too much fertilizer and water.
- Lack of sanitation. Grass clippings should be left on lawns to recycle nutrients. However, if lawn disease is present, clippings should be collected and discarded.
- Improper use of pesticides. Frequent use of pesticides kills good organisms as well as bad, and some pests can develop pesticide resistance. No pesticides should be applied during the hottest part of the day, in dry or windy conditions, or when plants are suffering from moisture stress. Follow all label directions.
