Please Help Protect Florida Friendly Yards!

This is SO important! We Do have the right in Florida to use our yards as protections for our water and other natural resources, BY LAW.  Please check it out and help any way you can.

The link below is to an online petition hosted by Jeannette Moore in St. Augustine, Florida.  I have had indirect contact with her regarding HOAs up in that part of the state banning Florida friendly yards.  Apparently, now an HOA has filed suit against a homeowner for implementing their environmentally friendly yard.  So, Jeannette has started gathering online support. 

If you are interested in signing the petition or learning more about their initiative, please use the link below.  Also, feel free to forward this link as you see fit.
 https://www.change.org/petitions/homeowners-for-florida-friendly-landscape-rights

Native Plants Can Weather The Storm

As Isaac approaches, it's time to cover a very important subject: native vs non native to handle severe storms. In a study conducted after Charley by UF, NATIVE plants showed their stuff and proved they were best able to handle high winds from hurricanes here in south Florida.  After all, they have evolved here over thousands of years, bearing the brunt of storm after storm.

DO NOT EVER prune green fronds off palm trees!!!! DO NOT let anyone offer you a "Hurricane Cut" on your palms, it does NOT help, it only weakens the tree. You may trim off brown fronds, just not the green. Remember, palm trees are designed by nature to let the winds easily pass through their leaves.  In the event of a direct hit, some plants are going done native or not.  But Florida native plants, allowed to grow naturally, and NOT overpruned, will usually make it to see the next storm.

AND, a hedge of native shrubs, such as "the back ten feet" WILL protect your home from high winds.  I know, I went through Charley.  The houses on all sides of me suffered more damage than mine.  I had living fences around three sides of my yard, and could actually see the buffering they provided.

So, as John Sibley would say, "Get Real, Go Native"! Protect your home and property, offer habitat for wildlife, clean the water, cool the air and create greenways throughout your neighborhood, starting at The Back Ten Feet.

Don't Need No Stinkin' Chemicals!

This is a picture I took two days ago at the Loyola's in Fort Myers, Florida.   I am standing in their front yard, looking over their lawn, sidewalk and right of way across the street and into a neighbor's yard.  Notice how green and lush both lawns look.  Would you believe the Loyola's do NOT use ANY fertilizer OR pesticides?  So how does the lawn look so good?!

It's actually very easy.  Mow high.  That's right, AFTER mowing there is still 3 inches of grass blade left so the plants can easily make their own food through photosynthesis (remember?) which requires chlorophyll, the GREEN stuff.  Grass clippings are left on the lawn, not bagged, to be used by the remaining plants for the micro nutrients they need, and any additional nitrogen they may want.

NOT using pesticides is the biggest reason why they do not need fertilizers of any kind. Why? Because they are not killing every living thing in their soil, the grass has access to all the wonderful micro-organisms and fungi that help plants survive in tough conditions.  When we allow blanket spreading of pesticides in our landscapes, EVERYTHING dies, not just the roaches and fleas, and they come back as soon as the chemicals wear off a little.  The more balanced we leave our landscape, the healthier it is, the easier it is for those plants to survive when it is too hot, too dry or even too wet, and the greater chance they have to actually thrive.

So, while the Loyola's work on their back and side yards, the lawn is left alone in front and it looks great!  They save a lot of money by not using chemicals that are NOT safe for pets and children, (they have grandchildren, a dog and two cats) and their lawn thrives because of it.

See how easy that is?  And the biggest benefit of all is to the water we all share.  They are NOT adding to the problem of algae blooms in our river and ponds! We ALL have a responsibility to protect our communal natural resources.  We can do that by simply doing what is best for our yards...leave them alone!  Spend your money on more native plants from your local native nursery, and help promote the real Florida. (or Wisconsin, or Oregon etc.)

To see what else the Loyola's are up to, please visit the Transformation tab on this website. (Hint: they just put in a back ten feet!)

Guide for Real Florida Gardeners an Incredible Resource!

On the very first page of this blog you can click on the picture of the Guide For Real Florida Gardeners and be taken to the Plant Real Florida page produced by FANN, the Florida Association of Native Nurseries. You can also sign up to receive this wonderful publication each year. You can find the Florida native nursery closest to you. It's awesome!

The guide is so full of useful information and wonderful pictures that can help not only the native novice but experienced native gardeners as well. AND....on page four you'll see a familiar face from The Back Ten Feet.

On page five, you'll also meet Ginny Stibolt and Sue Dingwell, the Jolly Bloggers. They produce a blog for the Florida Native Plant Society together.  Sue has her own blog, www.CleanGreenNatives.blogspot.com and Ginny has written a book, Sustainable Gardening For Florida, now under my list of Recommended Reading. 

Ginny is also a member of the Lawn Reform Coalition, www.LawnReform.org I hope you'll check out their website!

Starting on page 6, a list of Florida natives people can safely eat and on page 11, examples of real Florida gardeners who have made the switch to native landscapes with lots of inspiring photos.

And, on the back, how to get Florimulch, a wonderful organic mulch made from the category one invasive melaleuca tree by Forestry Resources.  To find a supplier near you, simply go to www.GoMulch.com .

Natural Home & Garden A Good Deal

I LOVE this magazine!

1. Printed on 100% de-inked, post consumer fiber paper and is processed chlorine free.

2. This mag is a 1% For The Planet Media and Certified B Corporation.

You can feel good about buying an actual magazine, and I keep all the issues I get and often go back through them.  Their sister publication, Mother Earth News is also fantastic and I get that too. 

Just in the first few pages:

Looking for a fundraiser? Equal Exchange offers organic and FAIR TRADE coffee, gifts etc. from small farmers and artisans from around the globe. Just go to www.equalexchange.coop/fundraiser.

Looking for the benefits of AAA motor club but with a company that supports environmental issues? Check out Better World Club by going to www.betterworldclub.com.

How about supporting a mother of three in Denver who makes reusable "paper" towels out of cotton and absorbent terrycloth and snaps. When done, throw in the wash, re-snap and reuse.  If every US household used just one less 70 sheet roll of virgin paper towels each year, we could save 544,000 trees! The website for this great product is www.mamamade.etsy.com.

There's so much more! Hope you'll pick up your copy soon. I see them at Publix and all the bookstore chains in the magazine aisle.

Guide For Environmentalism

Take the link to the article, well worth the read!!!

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/08/a-how-to-guide-for-depressed-young-environmentalists/261065/

Resource Based Communities

http://www.resourcebasedcommunities.org/

Check out this website!

Supporting Local Businesses Always Good For The Environment

When we buy local, at independently owned businesses, we support local jobs, artisans, and those who reduce reuse and recycle. We support businesses who have at least some green components, who treat their employees and customers well.  Two cases in point.

Bennett's Fresh Roast in Fort Myers, Florida

Bennett's treats their employees well, uses environmentally sound products AND has the BEST donuts EVER!!!! Also, when I was unable to pay for internet, my daughter and I could sit and drink coffee or tea for several hours and use their free wifi.  It helped her get her first internship after college.  So, customers and employees treated well, some green practices and great food. Can't go wrong.



Another great local business, Forget Me Not in on McGregor Blvd, in Fort Myers, Florida.
Owner Sandra Reno sells beautiful items created by American artisans, some local, using old items such as sterling silver spoons, pieces of old pottery and glass, old furniture and lace etc. 

No matter where you live, their are wonderful JOB CREATORS who offer local goods the best way they can. Support your local business people whenever you can.  It's good for the economy, and good for the environment.

Beautiful Wildlife Garden

http://www.beautifulwildlifegarden.com/the-raptors-arrive.html

LOVE this website!  Please visit, I know you'll love it too!

Important Environmental & Social Justice News