The Back Ten Feet

Positive Pics

2012-03-04T00:47:00.000-05:00

Blue eyed grass likes to stay moist so I used an old pot I had that doesn't have any drainage holes. Isn't this beautiful?

I grew this tomato plant from seed. Now I have little tomatoes! I'm growing a few veggies in pots so I can move them if need be. So much easier than a large plant bed or even raised beds.

Whew!!

2012-03-01T01:20:00.000-05:00

We dodged the bullet once more where pre-emption of local fertilzer ordinances is concerned. But those in power WILL try again! We will keep you posted, and thanks to all who made calls or sent emails.

We must keep the ability to protect our water our way.

TRIPLE ALERT !!! PLease take action NOW!!!

2012-02-27T21:03:00.000-05:00

Katie Parrish katie.parrish@sierraclub.org 8:05 PM (53 minutes ago)

Sen. Norman filed an amendment (link below) to SB 1184 that would eliminate every single fertilizer ordinance in the state - even the ones that mirror the minimum standards in the FDEP Model ordinance.

It will be heard in Budget subcommittee on Finance & Tax, tomorrow, TUESDAY morning at 10:45 a.m.

Our hope for killing the amendment lies with senators Altman, Margolis and Sachs - PLEASE CONTACT THEM BY EMAIL AND PHONE TO URGE THEM TO VOTE NO ON AMENDMENT 788010 to SB 1184 (Norman) - VOTE NO ON URBAN FERTILIZER PREEMPTION.

PLEASE CALL BEFORE 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday!

Senator Thad Altman
(850) 487-5053
altman.thad.web@flsenate.gov

Senator Gwen Margolis
(850) 487-5121
margolis.gwen.web@flsenate.gov

Senator Maria Lorts Sachs
(850) 487-5091
sachs.maria.web@flsenate.gov

Budget Subcommittee on Finance and Tax
Chair:Senator Jim Norman (R)Vice Chair:Senator Thad Altman (R)Senator JD Alexander (R)
Senator Andy Gardiner (R)
Senator Gwen Margolis (D)
Senator Maria Lorts Sachs (D)

S 1184 c3
788010 - Amendment
Budget Subcommittee on Finance and Tax (Norman)
02/27/2012
at 5:54 PM
No Senate Committee Action
Web Page
PDF

ALERT!!!!!

2012-02-27T16:03:00.001-05:00

Please contact Katie directly to get the list of emails and phone numbers for all members.
ALERT: Fertilizer Amendment STEALTH THREAT!

Katie Parrish katie.parrish@sierraclub.org

Mon, Feb 27, 2012 at 12:53 PM

Urban Fertilizer Amendment Alert!

We’re down to the last two weeks of session and that means:

Almost all committees are finished
Action moves to the House and Senate floor
Notice for amendments is very limited

If an amendment to preempt local fertilizer ordinances is filed to a bill, there won’t be time to send out an alert. It could be as little as an hour from filing to vote. And a late filed amendment could be voted on immediately.

It’s important to act now while there’s still time!

Please email House and Senate leadership and all members of your delegation to urge them to OPPOSE any and all amendments that would preempt local communities from regulating lawn fertilizer.Contact information and instructions on finding the members of your county delegation are below.

After you send your emails, please follow up with a phone call – especially to your own Representative and Senator.

QUICK TALKING POINTS

Prevention – source control – is the smartest strategy:

It protects our water dependent businesses: tourism, restaurants, shops, hotels, recreation, fishing, and waterfront real estate.
It protects taxpayers from expensive upgrades to sewage treatment plants and stormwater facilities. (If lawn fertilizer is uncontrolled, some one else has to take up the slack.)
It protects public health from slimy toxic algae that threatens our water with toxins; causes fish kills; and closes lakes, springs, and rivers to swimming and recreation.

Join the Revolution!

2012-02-27T01:24:00.006-05:00

More and more people are realizing the futility of keeping up a green, manicured lawn of non native turf grass. It takes work, time, money, gas (more money and the fumes!), NOISE, and... you don't get any food from it and neither does wildlife.

Most of my friends, no matter where they live (even in gated and retirement communitites), have gotten rid of at least 50% of their turf grass, and use what they have for framing and foot paths. They have added more native plants that bring a sense of place to their landscape, layers so birds and buterflies have resting, nesting and food sites, and most importantly they no longer use fertilizers or pesticides. At the very least RARELY use fertilizers, and find that simply brushing off pests or using soap and water works just fine.

Best part is, there is a large online community that offers support, ideas and a few laughs to keep us on track. I'd like to share a few I have found that I think you'll enjoy and really get something from.

www.mowgreen.us
MowGreen.US cuts pollution, consumption, noise, gas spillage, dust, traffic, obesity and unemployment by reel mowing at the same price as conventional “dirty” lawn care (5 to 10% of US pollution) vendors, while encouraging lawn reduction through native plant diversity & organic gardens.

www.nativeplantwildlifegarden.com
We have come together from all over North America, book authors, professors, writers, landscape designers, biologists, gardeners, photographers, and more to say:

“Yes, We Can!”

We share an abiding passion that a healthy environment, a healthy planet begins in our own backyards.

www.lawnreform.org
About the Lawn Reform Coalition We Are: Thirteen gardening and environmental advocates from across the country, all promoting change in the American lawn. We're a loose coalition of writers and activists (including lawn-haters and lawn-improvers) pooling our knowledge of up-to-date solutions to the many problems caused by a lawn culture that demands perfection, conformity, and way too many inputs - especially water, fertilizer and pesticides. Not to mention millions of acres of lawn that could be something else.

"Waters We"

2012-02-23T10:11:00.003-05:00

An interview with Caroline Krieger Comings, artist and concerned citizen, about Billy's Creek, the filter marsh project, art and nature. You can see Caroline's painting album at www.picasaweb.google.com/carolinewho .

Caroline's favorite quote is from The Soul of the Indian, 1911 by Charles Alexander Eastman:
"Nearness to nature keps the spirit sensitive to impressions not commonly felt, and in touch with the unseen powers."

Apologies

2012-02-22T14:25:00.001-05:00

My interview with Caroline Krieger Comings had a hitch in the download to YouTube. Hope to have corrected by tonite and will then reload to the website!

Keystone Pipeline

2012-02-20T18:44:00.001-05:00

I am sharing an email from my friend Steve here in SW Florida, and an email response to his concerns re Keystone Pipeline that he received from Senator Rubio. Read through it and decide for yourself where the truth lies.

Feb 17 (3 days ago)
to undisclosed recipients

I received the following response from Senator Marco Rubio. You will notice that the sending address contains "Do_Not_Reply" Seeing as I cannot send him a response showing the half truths and outright lies he is promoting, i am sending it to you.

The lies start in the first sentence - Shale oil is not safe and reliable - it is a highly corrosive barely liquid substance. The state department has stated that shutoff valves for the proposed pipeline need to be closer together and the cleaning frequency much greater and it must be buried deeper to even consider transporting it 1700 miles across the U S - and as my friend John noted - it would be almost impossible to get permitting to build a refinery closer and ship through the Great Lakes.

Next is a statement that this project will create 20,000 jobs - that is an outright lie. The people proposing the project used man hours in their calculations instead of employees. The actual job creation will be between 2000 and 6000 short term jobs. The next lie is that it will reduce our dependence on middle east oil. We already get the majority of our imported oil from Canada and Mexico. President Obama has allowed the increase of U S oil production to increase to it's highest levels since the late 1970s. Gasoline is now our #1 export. Oil is sold on the world market. The Jones Act prevents oil from Alaska being refined in the U S. Most oil form Alaska, sold on the world market, is shipped to Japan. If they were really concerned about increasing our access to oil they would repeal the Jones Act and bring our own Alaskan oil here.

In fact part of the reason for our current rising gasoline prices is that companies can get more $$ exporting gasoline instead of selling it to the U S market.

Since our president declared that this project needed more study before approval, the route has already been altered to avoid an important aquifer because of the huge dangers imposed by a leak. - - steve

From: "Senator Marco Rubio" <Do_Not_Reply@Rubio.senate.gov>
Sent: Friday, February 17, 2012 5:20:05 PM
Subject: Responding to your message

Dear Steve,

Thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding your concerns about the Keystone XL Pipeline.

As you may know, in 2008, TransCanada Keystone Pipeline, LP proposed the creation of a network of pipelines designed to provide America with a safe and reliable supply of energy resources from one of our greatest international allies, Canada. The final component of the three-phase project, the Keystone XL pipeline, would be capable of transporting up to 830,000 barrels of Canadian crude oil per day to refineries within the United States, increasing the total Keystone network capacity to nearly 1.3 million barrels a day. Construction of the 1,700-mile pipeline will create more than 20,000 American jobs and, once fully operational, the Keystone XL pipeline will reduce our demand for oil imported from hostile and unstable regions of the world, like the Middle East. Although approval for the Keystone XL pipeline had been under review by the federal government for over three years, the Obama Administration announced in November 2011 that a final decision will be even further delayed until after his reelection campaign ends in November 2012.

At a time when Florida families and businesses are struggling with staggering levels of unemployment, high energy costs, and slow economic growth, the last thing Washington should do is unnecessarily delay projects like this pipeline that would create American jobs, increase our energy security, and promote economic prosperity. It is with this thought in mind that I joined 38 of my Senate colleagues in co-sponsoring the North American Energy Security Act (S. 1932). S. 1932 would have required President Obama to end this unnecessary bureaucratic delay and make a decision on the Keystone XL pipeline within 60 days of the law's enactment unless he determines the pipeline is not in the national interest. Subsequently, on Saturday, December 17, 2011, I, along with 88 of my colleagues, voted to end this bureaucratic hold-up by supporting the Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011 (H.R. 3630), which included provisions similar to S. 1932. President Obama signed the Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011 into law on December 23, 2011. However, on January 18, 2012, the Obama Administration announced that they will not approve the permits for the Keystone XL pipeline.

I am disappointed in the decision made by the Obama Administration. While I understand the need to balance environmental concerns with economic benefits, I remain supportive of the Keystone XL pipeline and the important contribution it will make to our ailing economy and future energy security. I feel that this project is so important to our national interest that I have joined a bi-partisan group of 43 Senators in co-sponsoring legislation that would approve the Keystone XL pipeline, and also provide for environmental protection and government oversight (S. 2041). I welcome the opportunity to continue working with my colleagues on ways to spur strong economic growth, job creation, and energy independence, and will remain mindful of your concerns as we address this, and similar issues in the 112th Congress.

Again, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me. It is an honor and privilege to serve the people of Florida. If I can be of any further help to you, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,
Marco Rubio
United States Senator

Builders Care

2012-02-20T17:03:00.003-05:00

http://www.leebuilderscare.com/index.php

Please visit this website, these folks are doing great things in the SW Florida community!

Warblers Coming Through!

2012-02-20T15:51:00.000-05:00

I have layers of vegetation, native, non native plants, mulch, three water sources, a brush pile sun and shade. Lots of insects, berries, acorns etc, everything birds and other wildlife need to survive.

Today, a yellow throated warbler was here. He was too fast for me to get a picture, but he was beautiful. I have also had American Redstarts, common yellowthroats, black and white warblers to name a few.

Warriors of the Rainbow

2012-02-20T12:35:00.000-05:00

http://welcomehome.org/rainbow/prophecy/stone.html

Please visit this website, read the prophesy, and become a "Warrior of the Rainbow".

Burrowing Owl Festival

2012-02-18T01:16:00.001-05:00

Memorium For A Good Friend

2012-02-17T13:17:00.002-05:00

Cliff was a huge fan of going native, chemical free and water free in Florida yards. He and Kitty welcomed wildlife into their yard, and were very active in the community. Kitty will continue promoting natives and wildlife and stay involved in projects that do the same.

Clifford Abbott Dodd

Clifford Abbott Dodd passed away suddenly at his residence in Cape Coral on February 15th, 2012. A native of Milford, Connecticut, he lived in Cape Coral, FL for the past twenty years. Cliff was born on October 14th, 1952 to John and Kathryne (LeGeyt) Dodd. He graduated from Jonathan Law High School prior to entering the United States Air Force. Following four years of service, Cliff graduated from Southern Connecticut State College. He worked at the Sunshine Factory in Milford, CT and was manager of B. Dalton Booksellers at the Hawley Lane Mall in Ansonia, CT before moving to Florida in 1992 with his wife, Kitty Tyler. Cliff and Kitty owned and operated April’s Eatery in downtown Fort Myers for 18 years until April of 2011 when they sold the business to retire. After retirement, Cliff continued to work during the Christmas season at the North Pole within the Bass Pro Shop in Fort Myers.

While in Connecticut, Cliff was a long time member of Mary Taylor Memorial United Methodist Church in Milford. He was presently a member and deacon at Faith Presbyterian Church in Cape Coral. Cliff was also a member of the Palm Tree Santa’s a Florida Chapter of Real Bearded Santa’s as well as the Fraternal Order or Real Bearded Santa’s.

Cliff leaves behind his beloved wife, Kitty, of 21 years, in addition to two sisters, Cynthia Dodd Maltese (Joe) of West Haven, CT, Priscilla Dodd Ostrowsky (John) of Port Charlotte, FL, one brother, Alan Dodd (Dorothy) of Milford, CT and many nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at Faith Presbyterian Church, 4544 Coronado Parkway

Cape Coral, FL 33904 on Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012 at 11:00 am. There will be a reception following the service at the church.

Healthy Communities

2012-02-16T20:01:00.000-05:00

http://designinghealthycommunities.org/

Please check out this website and view the programs!

Great Crested Flycathcers

2012-02-15T14:08:00.001-05:00

In my yard, this morning, two great crested flycatchers! They make a wonderful sound, but decided to stop talkning once I started recording. At the end you can see the bright yellow belly on one of them really well. They are primarily insect eaters, so...if you are using pesticides and killing everything in your yard, you won't attract these beautiful birds to your site.

Great Blue Heron at Lakes Park

2012-02-14T22:52:00.000-05:00

ALERT!

2012-02-13T22:53:00.000-05:00

Please follow link to Florida Conservation Coalition alert page regarding OUR water and how to protect it from bad legislation.
http://floridaconservationcoalition.org/pages/alerts

Red Bellied Woodpecker Video

2012-02-12T14:32:00.002-05:00

This is a red bellied woodpecker. The red HEADED woodpecker has a head that is magenta from the neck up. Video taken from inside the office at All Native Garden Center, 300 Center Road in Fort Myers, FL. www.nolawn.com

Brown Is The New Green!

2012-02-09T12:29:00.001-05:00

Why is this yard beautiful?

Find out by visiting InSouthFlorida.com and reading my guest blog there. Just follow the link! http://www.insouthflorida.com/blog/brown-yard-is-beautiful/

LISTEN, Rather Than Watch!

2012-02-07T21:18:00.000-05:00

Someone called to me last night from outside my livingroom window so I went to investigate. Hear's what I found:

Yard Tour With Kitty and Cliff

2012-02-07T01:05:00.002-05:00

My friends Kitty and Cliff in Cape Coral (SW Florida) have created a wildlife habitat out of a typical square lawn full of turf grass. They do not use fertilizers or pesticides, and get plenty of birds and butterflies.

Conservation Landscaping Workshop Feb 11th

2012-02-05T00:30:00.000-05:00

Meadow Book

2012-02-04T12:59:00.002-05:00

I just added this book by Catherine Zimmerman to my list of recommended reading. She also has a website called the meadow project, hope you'll check it out and help if you can!
www.themeadowproject.com

Saturday, Feb 4th: Scrub Jay Festival!

2012-02-04T00:47:00.002-05:00

Family Viewing at its Finest!

2012-02-03T14:28:00.001-05:00

http://youtu.be/MdkdY1xhCS4

Please take this link to the CHNEP YouTube channel and watch Adventures in the Charlotte Harbor Watershed: A Tale of Four Animals by Carol Mahler. Carol reads the story aloud, and is helped by The Adventurers, as well as fantastic nature photos. Produced by The Lee County School District.

Here's a sample:

SB 604 VOTE ON MONDAY Please make calls!!!

2012-02-03T00:37:00.000-05:00

SB 604 will be heard once again in the Senate Environment Preservation and Conservation Committee this coming Monday (2/6). Last week the committee temporarily postponed the bill, fearing they didn't have the votes they needed to move the bill forward. Clearly our phone calls are influencing lawmakers! We can kill this bill in committee on Monday and win the fight in protecting local fertilizer ordinances, but we need your help!

Please make a call today to the committee members listed below. The highlighted Senators are the ones who really need to hear from us!

SB 604 and HB 421 Limited Certification for Urban Landscape Commercial Fertilizer Application would exempt lawn care employees from abiding by the summer rainy season ban found in urban fertilizer ordinances. The rainy season ban is the backbone of meaningful fertilizer management, without which, local fertilizer ordinances become close to meaningless.

For more information on SB 604 and how it affects our local ability to control pollution scroll below the listed phone numbers. If you have any further questions, please reply by e-mail.

Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation 2012

Sen. Charles S. Dean, Chair

Delegations:Baker, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette,

Leon, Levy, Madison, Marion, Suwannee, Taylor

Local Phone: (850) 487-5017 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (850) 487-5017 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Sen. Nancy Detert

Delegations: Charlotte, Manatee, Sarasota

Local Phone: (850) 487-5081 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (850) 487-5081 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Sen. Dennis Jones

Delegations: Pinellas

Local Phone: (850) 487-5065 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (850) 487-5065 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Sen. Jack Latvala

Delegations: Hillsborough, Pinellas

Local Phone: (850) 487-5075 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (850) 487-5075 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Sen. Steve Oelrich, V. Chair

Delegations:Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Gilchrist, Levy, Marion, Putnam,

Union

Local Phone: (850) 487-5020 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (850) 487-5020 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Sen. Nan Rich

Delegations: Broward, Miami-Dade

Local Phone: (850) 487-5103 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (850) 487-5103 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Sen. Eleanor Sobel

Delegations:Broward

Local Phone: (850) 487-5097 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (850) 487-5097 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

For the sixth legislative session in a row, local legislators are dealing with legislation that threatens to gut nearly 50 local urban fertilizer ordinances implemented up and down the Gulf Coast. Those with the most to gain from the bills are pest control and fertilizer companies poised to make big profits by charging consumers for wasted fertilizer and stripping local governments of their ability to regulate water pollution.

Despite strong opposition from local governments, anglers, boaters, hunters and environmentalists, these bills are still alive in the House and Senate. Why? Because the Pest Management Association of Florida has been telling legislators that they can “self-regulate” when it comes to protecting Florida's waters from urban fertilizer pollution.

Sierra Club will hosting a press conference tomorrow to release bombshell photos taken last week in Pinellas County which demonstrate the absurdity of exempting lawn care workers from the summer rainy season application bans proposed in SB 604 and HB 421.

If you have any further questions, please contact me.

Sincerely,

--
Katie Parrish

Associate Organizing Representative

Sierra Club

1415 Dean Street, Suite 100

Fort Myers, FL

w: (239) 313-7202 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (239) 313-7202 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

c: (239) 537-9507 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (239) 537-9507 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

katie.parrish@sierraclub.org

The Bird and the Butterfly

2012-02-02T02:54:00.000-05:00

Shot video with my cell phone of a blue jay enjoying a drink at one of three water sources I have in my yard, and what appears to be a male orange barred sulphur butterfly looking for a female at the bahma cassia outside my kitchen door. Enjoy!

Back Ten Feet Plans for DeSoto, Hardee and Lee County Updated!

2012-01-31T23:18:00.001-05:00

Here are four starter plans that utilize native plants and organic mulch, but do NOT need pesticides and fertilizers. These plants are powerline friendly, and feed birds, butterflies and other urban wildlife. They will help us create greenways throughout our urban and suburban areas, cool our communities and clean our water!

These plans can be downloaded from the tab marked Back Ten Feet Planting Plans. I will be adding more counties as time goes on. If you call a local tree trimmer, you can get mulch delivered FREE!

Enjoy The View!

2012-01-29T11:33:00.000-05:00

Time to relax and enjoy a tour of Warren Bush's yard in Cape Coral, FL. Warren is down to just a scrap of turf grass and has a yard filled with native and non invasive non native plants that not only provide him with privacy and beauty, but provide for wildlife as well. Warren does not use pesticides and only rarely a little fertilizer (but never in summer!) and watering is done using reclaimed water from the city. What he's done with his side yards is absolutely brilliant!

Alerts From Florida Conservation Coalition

2012-01-28T14:26:00.000-05:00

http://floridaconservationcoalition.org/pages/alerts

Check out latest alerts from FCC an PLEASE take action. Make those calls and emails, they really DO HELP!

URGENT! Tell the Florida Senate NO on Senate Bill 604!!!

2012-01-28T00:27:00.000-05:00

dean.charles.web@flsenate.gov,detert.nancy.web@flsenate.gov,jones.dennis.web@flsenate.gov,
latvala.jack.web@flsenate.gov,oelrich.steve.web@flsenate.gov,rich.nan.web@flsenate.gov,
sobel.eleanor.web@flsenate.gov;

Above are the email addresses of the state senators we need to contact re Senate Bill 604, the senate version of House Bill 421. In spite of Representative Caldwell and all your calls and emails, the dirty bastards put the vote off a few days, then somehow "convinced" other reps to vote FOR HB421, a bill that keeps us from protecting LOCAL waters from the overuse of fertilizers in summer months that causes all the algal blooms. OUR state representatives, voted FOR big fertilizer companies, and AGAINST us, the people who elected them!

Enough is enough!!! Make your voice heard loud and clear on this issue. NO to Senate bill 604, NO!!!

Pete Quasius on why HB421 is bad for our environment and local government.

2012-01-25T12:44:00.001-05:00

Jennifer from The Conservancy of SW Florida Tells us Why HB421 is Such a Bad Idea

2012-01-24T01:47:00.000-05:00

House Bill 421 in Florida State legislature will restrict local governments ability to protect their own water. Contact your representative and let them know you want this bill killed!

HB 421 Update From Katie Parrish With The Sierra Club

2012-01-23T21:24:00.001-05:00

Hello All,

A big THANK YOU goes out to everyone who was able to take time out of their Monday afternoon to stand with us at today against HB 421, a bill that threatens local control of water quality and pollution. The News-Press and NBC came out to cover the event, so look out for an article tomorrow and story between 5 and 7 p.m. tonight! Attached is a photo of the event today with Lee County Commissioner Ray Judah speaking.

For those of you who were unable to make it today, please take a moment to make another call to Representative Caldwell and help us drive home the message that he needs to vote NO on HB 421 and protect local control of local pollution and local fertilizer ordinances that protect from excessive nutrient pollution that fuels harmful algae blooms like Red Tide. Below is an e-mail you can feel free to forward to your contacts!

CALL TODAY! Protect the right to limit water pollution in our local communities!

PLEASE CALL House Representative Matt Caldwell and urge him to vote AGAINST amended HB 421:850-488-1541 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 850-488-1541 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

47 cities and counties throughout Florida have passed strong fertilizer ordinances, including all of Lee County, Charlotte County and the City of Naples, all of which include a summer rainy season ban.

Amended HB 421 would exempt commercial fertilizer applicators from all existing and future rainy season fertilizer application bans between June and September, giving them a free pass to apply fertilizer during the time when fertilizer is most likely to runoff in our waterways.

Eliminating the summer rainy season ban will render all local fertilizer ordinances ineffective. More fertilizer runs off into waterways than stays on our lawns during the rainy season. Fertilizer runoff feeds the green slime and red tide that plagues too many Florida water bodies.

We can kill this bill in the House Community and Military Affairs committee if we produce enough calls to committee members.

Please call Representative Matt Caldwell TODAY and urge him to vote NO on amended HB 421 when it comes back to committee. You can reach him at 850-488-1541 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 850-488-1541 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

Contact Info:

Rep. Matt Caldwell District: 73 Delegations: Lee

Capitol phone: (850) 488-1541 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (850) 488-1541 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

--
Katie Parrish

Associate Organizing Representative

Sierra Club

1415 Dean Street, Suite 100

Fort Myers, FL

w: (239) 313-7202 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (239) 313-7202 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

c: (239) 537-9507 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (239) 537-9507 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

katie.parrish@sierraclub.org

News We Need To Follow!

2012-01-22T23:58:00.002-05:00

http://floridaconservationcoalition.org/announcements/

Please visit the above news announcement from the Florida Conservation Coalition!

Video Yard Tour #2!

2012-01-22T20:32:00.000-05:00

Check out our newest Video Yard Tour! We spent time with Warren Bush in Cape Coral, FL.

We Need to Keep an Eye on Our Legislators!

2012-01-22T14:08:00.002-05:00

This is an email I just received from The Florida Conservation Coalition. PLEASE visit their website at www.floridaconservationcoalition.org and JOIN! We ALL need to stay better informed, or the state legislature WILL continue to pass bills that actually HARM Florida's natural resources!!!

Florida Conservation Coalition
These are the two most urgent bills to keep working on. Legislators are noticing the email and telephone traffic. So, please write and call all the highlighted folks, below. There are two more bills about which we need to report but we are awaiting further news. We have also found recently that the local reporters are not up to date on these things anymore. They just do not have the time with all the budget cuts. Please call or email those whom you know and help keep them informed. This is also easy to do and very, very effective. Most of the worst bills go unnoticed and unreported and that is way the folks here like it as the promotors of the bills work for very specific sectors, and the Administration is playing virtually no role in working on these bills. So it is up to us!
I want to assure you that Audubon of Florida, the Wildlife Federation, Everglades Foundation, 1000 Friends of Florida and The Nature Conservancy are working very, very hard every day on these bills. But there is little "respect" on the part of most legislative members for the organized Conservation Community any more, so we just need to get regular folks protesting. We have been fortunate to be working closely with the fishing, hunting, boating community on HB 1103, and other groups as well.

HB 639: Alert, January 22. The sponsor, Dana Young still continues to refuse to make even the slightest change to this damaging and precedent -creating legislation despite numerous attempts by the conservation community to offer specific changes. These would assist in the bill's stated goals to make it easier to use reclaimed water, but continues jusrisdiction of this water as Water in the State. She has called a meeting with us for Monday at 3PM. Please write her, even again ASAP to take our amendments.
Even though all the waters in Florida are a public resource, HB 639 would put reclaimed waters under the exclusive control of utilities with no oversight by the water management districts. Twelve members on the House Agriculture and Natural Resource Committee voted for this bill and only two legislators, Representatives Vasilinda Rehwinkel and Garcia voted against this bill. Its next stop is the Rulemaking and Regulation Subcommittee. No meeting is currently scheduled. Unfortunately key legislators, support this bill, and the South Florida Water Management District Executive Director Melissa Meeker supports the concept if not the specific language. The City of Tampa is the prime mover behind this bill. Conservation groups are working hard to stop it, but it is moving quickly through the committee process. Your urgent assistance is needed to contact the chair and members of the Rulemaking and Regulation Subcommittee. The chair is Representative Chris Dorworth (R) a real estate investor from Lake Mary and his phone number is 850/488-5843. To see the names and contact information for the other committee members go to www . myfloridahouse . gov and click on committees and then click on the representatives names.

HB 1103: Alert, January 22. This is perhaps the most detrimental bill of the session so far. This bill proposes to remove half a million acres of public land and put it in private ownership by changing the definition of ordinary high water line to the low water line. The bill's sponsor Tom Goodson of Titusville is the Bill's sponsor. He has been putting out a long complicated response to the many negative emails he has been getting. We are providing a longer analysis of the bill and a shorter one which makes it pretty clear that Mr. Goodson's arguments are not correct. Feel free to use these in response to him. In essence, this bill will make it illegal for you to hunt, fish, camp or picnic along Florida’s freshwater bodies where these activities have traditionally taken place. Nine members on the House Agriculture and Natural Resource Committee voted for this bill and four voted against it. The four who voted against this bill are Representative Vasilinda Rehwinkel, Sands, Perman and Bullard. The next stop for this bill is the Civil Justice Subcommittee. It is not on its agenda today (January 19) and its next meeting is not scheduled. This bill is also moving quickly through the process in spite of the valiant efforts of the different environmental groups. The chair is Eric Eisnaugle(R) an attorney from Orlando and his phone number is 850/488-9770. His hobby is wildlife watching. Other members of the committee vice chair Clay Ford from Pensacola, Richard Steinberg from Miami Beach, Bernard Mack from West Palm Beach, Matt Gaetz
from Shalimar, Bill Hager from Boca Raton, Shawn Harrison from Temple Terrace, Marty Kiar Temple Terrace, Larry Metz Eustis, Kathleen Passidomo Naples, Darren Soto Orlando, Cynthia Stafford Miami, Kelli Stargel Lakeland, Gregory Steube Sarasota, Michael Weinstein . Please write or call as many of these members as you can.

Founder and Chairman, Bob Graham; Vice-Chairman, Nathaniel Pryor Reed

Protect Our Water!

2012-01-21T12:15:00.001-05:00

This Monday! Protect the right to limit water pollution in our local communities!

Please join us for a press conference this upcoming Monday, January 23^rd at 1:30 p.m. at Centennial Park in Downtown Fort Myers and help us protect the right to limit water pollution in our local communities!

The Sierra Club is organizing press conferences in Fort Myers, Clearwater and Sarasota this coming Monday to highlight the intense opposition to HB 421 before next week's vote. This is the same bill we generated calls for last week and successfully post-poned. We are very close to killing this bill in committee, please join us on Monday help us show Tallahassee that Floridians want clear water!

A BIGevent in Ft. Myers is important because we need to show immense support for Representative Matt Caldwell's position against HB 421, the fertilizer preemption bill, which threatens to exempt commercial fertilizer applicators from the summer rainy season ban found in local fertilizer ordinances, rendering local fertilizer ordinances ineffective.

The summer rainy season ban is the backbone of these fertilizer ordinances, without which nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorous) will continue to enter our waterways and fuel harmful algae blooms like red tide. You can view what a widespread issue nutrient pollution is in Florida by viewing our map of harmful algae blooms by clicking here, by clicking the blue dots you can view harmful algae blooms.

We need to make it clear that this issue is not and has never been a one party issue, but rather such a great idea that there is an enormous amount of support throughout the community. Please join us in solidarity at our press conference on Monday!

When: Monday, January 23rd

Time: 1:30 p.m.

Where: Centennial Park, by the boat ramp, see map attached to this e-mail, we are meeting in the red circle (http://goo.gl/6466R)

Contact: Katie Parrish, 239-537-9507 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 239-537-9507 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Speakers Include:

Lee County Commissioner Ray Judah

Vice Mayor of Sanibel Mick Denham

Lisa Beever, Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program

Captain Pete Quasius, Snook Foundation

Jennifer Hecker, Conservancy of Southwest Florida

Rae Ann Wessel, Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation

Captain George Howell

If you have any further questions please e-mail or call Katie Parrish at (239) 313-7202 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (239) 313-7202 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or katie.parrish@sierraclub.org.

Thank you, --
Katie Parrish

Associate Organizing Representative

Sierra Club

1415 Dean Street, Suite 100

Fort Myers, FL

w: (239) 313-7202 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (239) 313-7202 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

c: (239) 537-9507 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (239) 537-9507 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

katie.parrish@sierraclub.org

Florida Scrub Jay Festival February 4th

2012-01-20T13:24:00.000-05:00

Florida Friendly Landscape Workshop in February

2012-01-20T13:05:00.001-05:00

Hope you can make it, I'll be there helping Maran with the event, doing a few mini workshops and as one of the ask the experts panel.

Florida Arbor Day

2012-01-18T00:49:00.000-05:00

Red Cedar

Sabal Palm (our state tree)

Live oak, Slash Pine and Sabal Palm

Friday, January 20th is Florida Arbor Day, a time to celebrate these wonderful plant forms and all the incredible things they do for our earth. I hope you will all purchase a Florida NATIVE tree from a loal native nursery and add it to your own landscape, or donate it to a park, school, relative or neighbor in need of shade, resting and nesting sites for birds, and protection from wind and storms. Visit www.PlantRealFlorida.org to find a native nursery near you.

Squirrels Get Their Own Day

2012-01-17T20:37:00.001-05:00

January 21st is National Squirrel Appreciation Day! Now, before you go off on the subject, let's remember a few things. First, squirrels are one of the few animals who actually plant trees. That's right, they do. When hiding the acorns they harvest, they always forget a few. Those acorns are safe from other animals, and eventually grow into the oaks so many depend on. Second, they are a prey animal, an important food source for raptors and many mammals. Third, they are just plain CUTE!

URGENT! Tell Fertilzer Companies and the State NO!

2012-01-17T09:19:00.000-05:00

HB 421 Fertilizer Preemption Bill Committee Vote 8 am, Wednesday, January 18th Act now to protect our water!
Brad Gloer
01/16/2012 01:28 pm
HB 421 (House Bill 421) – The right for local communities to protect their waters will be on the House Community and Military Affairs Committee agenda 8 a.m., Wednesday, January 18, 2012
HB 421
Fertilizer Preemption Bill Committee Vote 8 am, Wednesday, January 18th
Act now to protect our water!
HB 421 (House Bill 421) – The right for local communities to protect their waters will be on the House Community and Military Affairs Committee agenda 8 a.m., Wednesday, January 18, 2012
The City of Sanibel has been a leader in the State by adopting local legislation to protect local waters with reasonable regulations on Fertilizer application during the rainy season. Our Florida legislators are debating the right of local governments to protect our own waters. The next step in this debate is a vote at 8 am, Wednesday, January 18th by the House Community and Military Affairs Committee. A member of our local legislative delegation, State Representative Matt Caldwell, serves on this Committee. You can help protect our waters by contacting Representative Matt Caldwell and asking him to VOTE NO ON HOUSE BILL 421.
Representative Caldwell has supported Sanibel in the past. This year the lobbyist from the fertilizer and agriculture interest are placing significant pressure on the legislators to take away our right to pass local legislation needed to keep our waters clean. You can access Representative Caldwell via his email address below or by calling either of his offices Tuesday, January 17th. Thank you for your help.
Rep. Matt Caldwell District: 73 Delegations: Lee
matt.caldwell@myfloridahouse.gov
District Address
Suite 208
2120 Main Street
Fort Myers, FL 33901-3010
District phone:(239) 533-2411
Capitol Address
402 S. Monroe St.
102 The Capitol
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300
Capitol phone:(850) 488-1541
-

Florida Conservation Coalition Needs Floridians to Help!

2012-01-15T00:53:00.002-05:00

http://floridaconservationcoalition.org/announcements/
Please visit this important website, read the news, and take action! This is about the state of our water, a resource that belongs to ALL in Florida, inlcuding the other animals, plants and estuaries who depend on a natural flow to survive.

Guest Blogger Phil Buchanan

2012-01-15T00:18:00.001-05:00

Today, I once again rescued a bird choking on fish scraps thrown to them by people cleaning fish. This one was in St James City and was a wood stork, an endangered species. His throat was punctured, he was bleeding severely, and his chances of survival are slim. I've been a volunteer for CROW for some 18 years and I have seen this hundreds of times.That's why the Florida legislature made tossing fish scraps to the birds illegal. It is also illegal to feed or harass any endangered species such as wood storks.

Yes, I know birds love fish and giving the scraps to them seems like an act of kindness. The difference is that the wading birds know how to safely swallow a whole fish head first, but they don't know how to safely swallow fish scraps. If it gets sideways, the fish spine or fin can do serious and often irreparable damage.

One solution to safely and conveniently dispose of fish scraps is to install a vertical PVC tube extending below the water at your fish cleaning station. The scraps will either sink immediately or float inside the tube until they do, which also helps attract fish and crabs to your dock.

While I'm on this soapbox, I should add that an even much much bigger problem is discarded monofilament, which can keep on killing for years. Thousands of birds, including many endangered species, get entangled and die of starvation or infection. If you get your fishing line caught in the mangroves or wherever---it is your responsibility to go in there and get it, and that too is required by both Florida law as well as good sportsmanship.

Phil Buchanan
St. James City, FL

New PBS Series

2012-01-14T12:54:00.000-05:00

Take a look at www.ThisAmericanLand.org I believe you'll agree we need to see it on our local PBS station. I'll double check to see if it's anywhere on their schedule and let you know, but so far I have not seen it, or seen it promoted, and I watch WCGU a lot!!!!

URGENT!!!

2012-01-14T00:28:00.002-05:00

Please read this article in Audubon of Florida's "Advocate" and take the prescribed action to protect Florida's water!!! http://fl.audubonaction.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=17381.0&printer_friendly=1

Thank You!

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

2012-01-13T12:32:00.000-05:00

Just had to share this picture of a sulphur butterfly caterpillar on a Florida NATIVE Bahama cassia. Notice the pic of the plant, doesn't look abused at all! That's the wonder of the four species of sulphurs that utilize this plant and it's ability to look great no matter what. Where ever you live, there are NATIVE plants that support native and migratory butterflies in the same way. Find the native nursery closest to you, stop using chemicals in your yard, and welcome life into your landscape!

More Great Websites!

2012-01-11T12:56:00.000-05:00

I've just added four to my list of Great Websites that I believe have a great deal to offer:
www.greentowns.com
www.nativereturn.com
www.wildlifehc.org
www.ecolandscaping.org

Please visit these websites.

WUSF/Florida Matters

2012-01-10T21:34:00.002-05:00

I hope everyone will visit the website of wusf and read their article on the Florida Wildlife Corridor. http://www.wusf.usf.edu/news/program/florida_matters/episode/2011-12/the_florida_wildlife_corridor_expedition_1000_miles_in_

We can help connect wildlife to preserves, state and regional parks and other protected areas by creating green ways in our neighborhoods in the back ten feet of our yards. A typical homesite in Florida is 50-80 feet wide. If you get rid of the turf grass in the back ten feet that's 500-800 square feet that is now out of the mowing equation and available for chemical free, Florida native plants that provide food, resting and nesting for native and migratory birds, butterflies and other urban and suburban wildlife.

It will cost you $90-$150 in plants if you buy the 3 gallon size. (This will be a ONE TIME investment) Call a local tree trimmer and have a truckload of mulch delivered FREE. Be sure you visit the Florida native nursery closest to you: you won't find the right plants at any big box store! You can find a local native nursery by visiting www.PlantRealFlorida.org . Just download a copy of the planting plan I've provided, and ask your native nursery to recommend the right native plants for your part of Florida.

We have the power to make a very real difference in air and water quality, not to mention the ability to save lives, by creating a back ten feet greenway in our yards. And, if you convince the neighbor behind you to do the same, the greenway is now 20 feet wide instead of 10, and 1,000-1,600 square feet of turf grass no longer needs to be mowed!

Let's make it a goal to make millions of miles of healthy, native plant green ways throughout Florida and the nation in 2012, starting at the back ten feet!

Meadow Project Needs Our Help

2012-01-07T19:33:00.000-05:00

Please visit this special website and learn how you can help Catherine Zimmerman's Meadow Project!
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1879713219/the-meadow-project

Florida Yards and Neighborhoods (FYN) Classes in Fort Myers, FL

2012-01-07T13:19:00.002-05:00

If you live in SW Florida, I hope you'll sign up to take most if not all of the FYN classes listed below. Classes are held at Rutenberg Park in Fort Myers. And, I'll be at the first class on Wednesday, January 11th, and will be teaching class week 3, January 25th on attracting wildlife to your yard! See you there.

2012 Florida-Friendly Landscaping Series

9 sessions each Wednesday starting Jan.11, 2012

A Special Event Celebrating FYN’s 10th Anniversary

At the Eco-Living Center at Rutenberg Park Ft Myers, FL
9:00 a.m.- 10:30 a.m
Learn more by visiting the on-line calendar at http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu

Week 1: Wednesday, January 11^,9AM followed by a 10:30 outside walking tour in the demonstration garden. “Right Plant, Right Place Solutions for your Yard” (FYN concept #1), $7 per household

Week 2: Wednesday, January 18, 9AM followed by a 10:30AM walking tour in the demonstration garden. “Watering Efficiently, Watering the right way in the dry season.” (FYN Concept #2, $7 per household

Week 3: Wednesday, January 25, 9AM followed by a 10:30outside walking tour in the demonstration garden. “ Attract Wildlife, What, Where, How and Why.” (FYN Concept #3), $7 per household Guest Speaker Sue Scott!!!

Week 4: Wednesday, February 1, 9AM followed by a 10:30 outside walking tour in the demonstration garden. “Mulching Methods and Products Used in a Florida Yard.” (FYN Concept #4), $7 per household

Week 5: Wednesday, February 8: 9AM followed by a 10:30 outside walking tour in the demonstration garden. “ Manage Yard Pest Responsibly,” FYN Concept #5), $7 per household

Week 6: Wednesday, February 15:, 9AM followed by a 10:30 outside walking tour in the demonstration garden. “Plants and Practices for Protecting the Waterfront,” (FYN Concept #6), $7 per household

Week 7: Wednesday, February 22, 9AM followed by a 10:30 outside walking tour in the demonstration garden. “Fertilizing your lawn or landscape correctly.” (FYN Concept #7), $7 per household

Week 8: Wednesday, February 29, ,” 9AM followed by a 10:30 outside walking tour in the demonstration garden.“Composting in the backyard or in a worm box.” (FYN Concept #8) $7 per household with a worm bin or $35 with a complete worm bin kit.

Week 9: Wednesday, March 7, 9AM followed by a 10:30 outside walking tour in the demonstration garden. “Manage Stormwater Runoff with a rain barrel or a cistern.” (FYN Concept #9) $7 per household or $45 with a rain barrel kit.

Wonderful World

2012-01-05T12:08:00.001-05:00

I really must share this YouTube video with all of you! Be prepared to cry...it really IS such a wonderful world, and we simply cannot afford to lose any of it!http://youtu.be/B8WHKRzkCOY

Enjoy!

We Love Birds!

2012-01-05T10:12:00.001-05:00

Just had to share pictures I took at All Native Garden Center yesterday. All Native has plenty of wonderful native plants that provide healthy food for the birds, as well as plenty of insects. John has placed two feeders near the office window so he can enjoy the regulars and the winter visitors more closely. There are three pairs of painted buntings that come each winter, and the cardinals, grackles, blue jays and brown thrashers are here year round.

Northern Cardinal

Painted Bunting

Slow Food = Good Food = Sustainable Food

2012-01-03T13:15:00.001-05:00

I'm reading an article in the July-December 2011 issue of swfl naturally, (you can get a free copy at All Native Garden Center in Fort Myers, FL) on page 10 called "Slow Down and Eat" by Dawn St. John and George Howell. VERY informative! It's all about the slow food movement, which started in Italy in the 1980's. Keep your food LOCAL, support LOCAL farmers, and understand that to reduce our negative impacts to the earth we need to learn to live within our food's season, and ability to grow or be farmed in our particular area. In other words, we don't always get everything all year round.

Locally, there's been an increase in the movement in the past three years. The article's writers credit three people in SW Florida with our local movement: Eva Worden (Worden Farms), Caroline Hostettler (Quality Cheese and 55 Degrees Cool Wine and Cheese) and Rose O'Dell King (freelance food writer).

To learn more, go to www.slowfoodusa.org and locally at www.slowfoodsouthwestflorida.com

Audubon Magazine

2012-01-03T11:18:00.000-05:00

Just spent some time going through the Jan-Feb 2012 issue of Audubon Magazine, a wonderful resource for anyone concerned about wildlife and our natural resources. There are some positive innovative programs happening within our government framework worth mentioning.

1. Foresters for The Birds: Developed by Michael Snyder, commissioner of Vermont Forests, Parks & Recreation and Jim Shallow, Audubon Vermont's conservation and policy director, offers training for foresters to assist landowners with management of THEIR forests with birds in mind!

2. Audubon and more than 30 other environmental groups are working with the Obama administration on power grids, transmission lines and generators that takes into account important bird habitat in the design process in the eastern U.S., also utilizing state and local networks, ensuring power gets where it needs to go without obliterating important natural resources.

Also, an important article by Ted Williams on Soda lake in Wyoming, man made by oil companies as a source for effluent, dirty water that due to design turned into a beneficial area for migratory wildlife. Now, it needs current owner BP to continue to maintain it. Well worth reading, and he gives us the information needed to write letters and be heard.

This is one of many reasons why joining one of the organizations I list under Great Websites is so important. They are able to keep us all informed on what's REALLY happening out there in the world, on issues and activities we need to be aware of. So please, for yourself and the environment, join a group today, stay informed, take action and be a hero to birds and other wildlife.

Are You Certifiable?

2012-01-01T10:55:00.003-05:00

One of the joys of native plant landscaping for wildlife and eliminating the use of dangerous chemicals in your yard is the ability to then get a beautiful sign that lets your neighbors know about the wonderful actions you've taken to protect the environment. Getting your yard certified through a state or national program is fun, and can help get a conversation going in your area on how easy it is to welcome life into your landscape.
I'd like to recommend two national and two Florida programs for all of you to apply to. There are beautiful signs available once you qualify, and it would be awesome to see these four signs in every yard in Florida! Better yet, every yard and every commercial site as well!

The two national programs are:
1. The Backyard Habitat certification through NWF, the National Wildlife Federation. Please go to www.nwf.org/Get-Outside/Outdoor-Activities/Garden-for-Wildlife
2. A certified Butterfly Habitat through the NABA, National American Butterfly Association. Visit www.nababutterfly.com/cert_index.html

For Florida, two additional programs:
1. University of Florida Backyard Wildlife Program. Check it out at www.wec.ufl.edu/extension/
2. Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Program. If you live in a coastal county, go to http://fyn.ifas.ufl.edu

I hope you will get certified through at least one of these great programs, proudly display your sign, and even influence your neighbors on the joys of native plants, urban wildlife, and protecting our water. And just think of the green ways that can be created in our cities just by starting at The Back Ten Feet!!!

Stay Informed!

2011-12-28T10:46:00.001-05:00

Please visit this article to see what's really going on or NOT going on in the Florida Legislature. It's important to know what our elected officials are doing regarding the environment. That they want "certified" landscape professionals exempt from local fertilizer ordinances is ridiculous!!! The way around such absurdity is simple, however. NEVER use fertilizers or pesticides in your landscape. If you hire someone, make it clear, they are NOT to use chemicals in your yard. If there is a "problem", getting back to the cause, changing behavior etc. is the answer. So, be sure to read this article, and stay informed. http://www.thefloridacurrent.com/article.cfm?id=25823374&utm_source=not_lt_user&utm_medium=article_link&utm_campaign=current_email

Also, this guest opinion in Tampa Bay Online is very important, regarding banning the import of large exptic snakes. http://www2.tbo.com/news/opinion/2011/dec/28/meopino1-time-slithers-away-on-exotic-snake-rule-ar-341109/

MORE Feed The Birds!

2011-12-26T11:35:00.002-05:00

Here in SW Florida, we have wonderful shrubs that feed birds and other wildlife a healthy, natural diet. Many of these plants are native up to zone 8.

Yaupon Holly

Fiddlewood

White Indigo Berry

Rouge Plant

Silver Buttonwood

Thank You!

2011-12-24T00:26:00.001-05:00

I wish all of you peace of mind, hope in your hearts and a year filled with kindness. Many thanks to those who choose to help our fellow creatures in whatever way you can, and may you be blessed with the joy they bring to our lives every day of the new year.

Article in Highlands Today

2011-12-22T12:38:00.000-05:00

Recently, an article on The Back Ten Feet appeared in Highlands Today, a central Florida newspaper. Here is the link to the page.http://www2.highlandstoday.com/business/agri-leader/2011/dec/07/lrnewso1-space-no-issue-for-back-ten-feet-plan-ar-331310/

One Person's Mess...

2011-12-22T10:56:00.000-05:00

Especially during fall and winter, we humans have a tendency to "clean" up our yards by raking and bagging anything that appears out of place. What most of us don't realize is how important fallen leaves, mulch, and little branches are to wildlife. First, as a source of food for little bugs and microbes that in turn make your soil better, and help your plants get the micro nutrients they need. Second, those little bugs that use the litter as a hiding and living space, are in turn an important food source for birds and other urban wildlife.

So, keep walkways clear of debris so they are safe, and maybe pick up the big stuff in your lawn area (if you even HAVE lawn) but let everything else be. Be a haven, a safe and fruitful place and sanctuary for birds, butterflies and others, and let them bring you joy year round!

Hickey's Creek

2011-12-20T19:32:00.000-05:00

Just got back from shooting video for episode 5 of The Back Ten Feet at Hickey's Creek Mitigation Park in Lee County, Florida. I took some stills and have them posted to photo album Walk at Hickey's Creek on our Facebook page. Just go to http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Back-Ten-Feet-with-Sue-Scott/189547594434448 to see the REAL SW Florida!

Florida: America's Truck Stop For Birds!

2011-12-19T20:59:00.000-05:00

Fall through spring, migratory birds are expending tremendous amounts of energy flying south, looking for areas to spend the winter, then flying north again. It takes a lot of vitamins and minerals, carbohydrates and protein for them to survive. Plants native throughout the state produce copious amounts of berries, enough for all to thrive IF more of us plant them in our yards. Our state and local parks and preserves are a godsend, but in between we need to do more to help.

It's also important to understand how much these birds need insects and spiders for survival as well. We have to stop using pesticides in our yards! The more biologically diverse your landscape is, the more layers, the better it is for all creatures who live outside your home. And the better conditions are outside your home, the less likely others are to want to come inside your home. Remember, spiders and wasps are the apex predators in your garden, let them be to do their job as much as possible.

All of us who live in Florida can do more. Check out www.PlantRealFlorida.org to find the native plant nursery closest to you. Go to www.fnps.org and be sure to join your local Florida Native Plant Society. In south Florida, (an area usually ignored by garden shows and magazines, zones 10,11) you can add beauty berry, white stopper, florida privet and firebush in full sun and wild coffee and rouge plant in shade.

And as always, be sure to add a shallow, wide water dish on the ground for thirsty travelers!

Less Turf Grass, More Plants!

2011-12-19T01:36:00.000-05:00

In Episode 3 of The Back Ten Feet, John Sibley of All Native Garden Center explains the benefits of native plants over the typical lawn.

Plant, Mulch and Prune (But Not Much!)

2011-12-18T01:39:00.000-05:00

Episode 2 of The Back Ten Feet gets you started!

Have You Seen Our First Epsiode Yet?

2011-12-17T01:08:00.000-05:00

Our very first episode of The Back Ten Feet With Sue Scott:: Take a look if you haven't seen it.

Bats Are Beautiful!

2011-12-12T23:39:00.000-05:00

I hope all of our viewers will take time to visit the website of Bat Conservation International (just click on their name under our list of Great Websites) and consider "adopting" a bat as a holiday gift for someone. Most of us have all the things we need for lifetime or two. It can be difficult to come up with a gift idea that has meaning without adding to an overcrowded shelf of "stuff" or spending more than we can afford. So let's do more to help these wonderful creatures who do so much for the environment.

Keep in mind, only one half of one percent of all bats ever get rabies. When you find an injured or sick bat, never pick them up barehanded. Use a glove and a scooper of some kind and gently place them in a box you can shut securely after putting some tiny airholes in it, and find the nearest wildlife rehab center. Bats deserve our thanks and concern, not fear or loathing.

And I think they're CUTE!!!!

Native Plants from All Native Garden Center

2011-12-12T02:10:00.000-05:00

Marlberry

Tropical Sage

Sweet Acacia

Scorpion Tail

Local Gift Ideas (and for yourself!)

2011-12-11T12:00:00.001-05:00

1. Visit all of our local outlets for native plants! Many are located in areas surrounded by woods. Be sure to take a friend or two with you. Simply click on the tab "Southwest Florida Native Nurseries".
2. You and a friend take the worm composting class at Pine Forest Fruit & Flower Farm. As a gift, buy the supplies needed for your friend.
3. Check out the Mangrove Cafe, a gathering of environmentally minded people.

Gift Ideas

2011-12-11T11:12:00.000-05:00

It's the time of year when many people struggle with what to give their friends, co-workers and family that's unique and personal. I have some suggestions.

1. Pay for their membership in any one of the wonderful organizations you see under Great Websites.
2. A gift Certificate to your local NATIVE nursery in any amount.
3. A DONATION of a native tree or shrub to a Habitat For Humanity project in their name.
4. A DONATION of a native tree or shrub to one of your local parks in their name.
5. A book on native plants (to your area), wildlife landscaping etc.
6. A bird or bat house (or BOTH!) and the necessary parts to install.
7. Do a yard cleanup for someone having trouble getting around.
8. Pay for or deliver large amount of organic mulch for some one's landscape that needs it.
9. Pay for some one's membership in an organic produce co-op.
10. Take someone for a walk in a local, state or national park and share your knowledge of native plants and what those plants DO for your local environment. If someone you love has ambulatory issues, every community has wheelchair accessible parks, and you can still see wildlife and plants.

Learn More About Value of Our Water

2011-12-09T12:20:00.000-05:00

Just read an editorial about the future of our water in SW Florida. Please follow the link and read, it will only take a few minutes. The better informed we are, the better choices we can make!

http://www2.tbo.com/news/opinion/2011/dec/09/meopino1-water-stewardship-economic-driver-ar-332682/

A Walk in Manatee Park

2011-12-07T23:43:00.000-05:00

I want to share some pics I took during a recent walk in the park. Manatee Park is located at 10901 Palm Beach Blvd. in Lee County, Florida. Here you can see Florida native plants growing in communities that mimic natural systems. NO pesticides, NO fertilizers, NO extra water! Enjoy!

Episode #4 List of Plants and Details

2011-12-06T21:44:00.000-05:00

Below are details on the plants talked about in episode #4 of The Back Ten Feet in order of appearance.
Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta zones 2-9
      Full sun to part shade to 2 ft tall
Tropical Sage Salvia coccinea zones 8-11
     Full sun to light shade to 2 ft. tall
Creeping Charlie Phyla nodiflora zones 8-11
   Full sun 2 inches
Wild Petunia Ruellia caroliniensis zones 8-11
     Full sun to part shade 1-2 ft.
Sunshine Mimosa Mimosa strigillosa zones 8-10
    Full sun 3-4 inches
Fakahatchee Grass Tripsacum dactyloides zones 5-10
     Full sun to part shade 4-6 ft.
Lantana, wild or white sage Lantana involucrate zones 8-11
     Full sun 4-5 ft.
Beauty Berry Callicarpa americana zones 8-11
     Full sun to full shade 5-6 ft.
Bahama Cassia Cassia chapmanii zones 10-11
     Full sun 6-8 ft,
Firebush Hamelia patens zones 10-11
     Full sun to part shade 10-12 ft.

Citizen Scientists Needed For Monarch Tagging Program!

2011-12-06T20:32:00.000-05:00

Currently, there is a lack of knowledge about Florida's monarch butterflies: do they migrate at all? If so, when? Are they being affected by the proliferation of non-native milkweed? Want to be involved? If you live in SW Florida, please contact Gayle Edwards at flmonarch@gmail.com 239-267-1694.

Episode 4 is ready for viewing!

2011-12-02T13:49:00.001-05:00

Episode 4 of The Back Ten Feet is done and ready for viewing on You Tube. We have our own channel called backtenfeet. You can search for it as The Back Ten Feet With Sue Scott. Episode 4 is our latest upload, can't miss the picture of beauty berry's deep purple seeds! And just in case, here's the direct link http://youtu.be/e-OT6hdbKmw This episode is all about the plants themselves, and all they do for birds, butterflies and other wildlife.

Thanks so much for all the support. Our next video will be an interview with Dick Workman, a local icon, native plant expert, environmentalist, writer, wildlife advocate, and overall wonderful human! Dick will talk about how native plant communities work, and why mimicking those communities in our yards is so good for us, and urban and suburban wildlife.

FEED THE BIRDS!

2011-12-01T12:39:00.000-05:00

Through the winter months, native and migratory birds depend on NATIVE plants to provide them with berries that are nutrient dense and high in vitamins and minerals they need to survive. Please add these plants to your landscape pallette in you live in Florida.

Beauty Berry

Fire Bush

Quailberry

Beautiful Natives

2011-11-29T20:41:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to share some pics of native SW Florida plants!

Help Protect Black Bears in Florida!

2011-11-28T14:09:00.000-05:00

On Tuesday, November 29 at 6pm, members of FWC will hold a public meeting to discuss Management Plans for the Florida Black Bear, including Bear Management Units (a euphemism for creating SMALL areas off management for an animal that requires LARGE areas?) and Bear Smart Communities (Good idea on the surface, but if people are not held accountable for their selfish and stupid behavior, whats the point?). If you cannot attend the workshop, you CAN comment online to FWC. Go to www.myfwc.com, click on news, news releases, then under Archives for 2011, click on November, then the one on Black Bears.
Understand, the people who work in the field for FWC are wonderful. But at the very top, it gets political, and there is extreme pressure on the agency that is supposed to protect and PRESERVE our native wildlife to make it easy for big developers and certain communities to get away with horrible behavior that often results in a loss of life for our native animals who already suffer from reduced, sub par habitat. PLEASE take time to read the plan, and if you have questions or comments make sure your voice is heard. The bears do not have access to the internet, so we must speak on their behalf. And habitat that is protected for them, is protected for ALL native plants and animals in that area!

Musings

2011-11-22T20:41:00.000-05:00

If you had told me six months ago that I would be "talking" with like minded people all over the USA AND the world, through of all things, FACE BOOK and TWITTER, I would have said "like hell! That social network crap is for losers and teenagers!" I stand corrected. This 56 year old aging hippie tree hugger has now fully gotten on board. I can now read newsletters, blogs and right now happening environmental news from everywhere right on my computer at home. I can "meet" people who are doing good things for their own back yards, their neighborhoods and the country. I can share with them what I have learned, promote their causes and they can promote mine. We can make each other laugh out loud, cry and get angry. Most importantly, we can lead each other to take action, to make change, and to encourage others to do so as well. As we approach Thanksgiving, however, it might be a good time to put away the electronics for a day, and truly reconnect with friends and family close at hand. I'll be working my usual shift in broadcasting, but will see my sister and brother in law before I do, and make a few phone calls (where you actually "speak" to someone!) as well. I hope you do too!

I love my new online connections, for who they are, and all the great good they do. I love my old friends and family for having loved me all these years whether I am doing good deeds or not.

And if you can, please watch PBS's series "We Shall Remain". An historic look at our nation's history through the eyes of the the first Americans, the native people who were here long before anyone "discovered" the New World.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Interviews From October Native Plant Sale, Lee County, Florida

2011-11-19T04:27:00.003-05:00

Sabal Palm The Tree of Life

2011-11-14T21:20:00.000-05:00

The sabal, or cabbage palm, is the state tree of Florida, and a member of the grass family. For the Seminole, it's the tree of life for all parts are used for eating, building, canoe making etc. It can also be called the tree of life for Florida's wild animals. It is shelter and nest sites for all kinds of birds including little screech owls, squirrels and bats, and the berries are eaten by anyone who can climb up or fly to the tree! This one is outside my kitchen door. Notice we have not trimmed the dead branches, and there is a non native night blooming cerreus (sp.?) and native muscadine or fox grape all over it. The grape also produces berries used by wildlife and can be eaten by humans as well. If you MUST trim this beautiful plant, remove brown fronds ONLY. If anyone tells you to give yours a "hurricane" cut, they do not know what they're doing!

Migratory Birds Are Here!

2011-11-14T13:58:00.000-05:00

Just yesterday, I had at my backyard water dish in the span of two minutes, a female painted bunting and a northern parula!!! They are so beautiful, so small and so wonderful!! Birds like these need layers of native plants, insects and spiders to eat, and also some native berries to give them the energy they need to continue their migration, or to visit Florida for the winter. Some of the best and hardiest south Florida native plants to utilize in your yard: firebush (seen above), beauty berry, florida privet, wax myrtle (so awesome for the warblers!), simpson stopper and in shade wild coffee.

Promoting Others

2011-11-12T12:59:00.000-05:00

By now you realize there are many wonderful places to visit, websites to check out, and classes to take that will help everyone understand and appreciate the REAL Florida better. So, here are a few more ideas, classes and locations we should all check out!

The Florida Master Naturalist Program is NOT for people with Master's degrees! It's for everyone, and if you are new to Florida, or just want to earn more about our natural resources, please go to their website and take a class. I've taken 2 and enjoyed every minute. I also learned a great deal, and met some fantastic people, some of whom I am friends with to this day. www.MasterNaturalist.org .

I also love to learn about the first people to inhabit this beautiful state, and to appreciate our cultural heritage. On Pine Island, is the Randell Research Center and Calusa Heritage Trail. Not only is it a great place to visit, but you can make a day of enjoying Pine Island's fantastic restaurants and shops as well. Just go to www.flmnh.ufl.edu/RRC .

And, regardless of the craziness that comes with protecting and caring about the FLORIDA manatee, I personally want to recommend the Save The Manatee Club at www.savethemanatee.org . People involved in protecting our iconic and lovable manatees are NOT about stopping Floridians from enjoying the water in boats, just about regulations that offer safe places for manatees to migrate, congregate, and raise their young. In the process, our waterways actually become safer for those of us who enjoy canoeing and kayaking, and we have the same rights to enjoy the waterways as anyone else.

And, if protecting the water resources of the Caloosahatchee and Big Cypress watersheds is important to you, visit the Southwest Florida Watershed Council at www.swfwc.org . Membership is open to all, and by banding together, a stronger voice in resource management is created.

Native Plants Can Handle Extreme Weather

2011-11-12T12:00:00.000-05:00

Last night's "cold" weather is a perfect example of the extremes south Florida often has. Drought, hurricanes, and the "wet" season are troublesome for many living organisms, but our toughest native plants can get through it. The cold nights mixed with warmer days are no exception. And to be honest, I'm seeing colder weather more often and for longer periods of time here. So as you add to your landscape, look for natives found in zones 8 or 9 through 10 or 11, rather than just zone 10,11 especially if you live inland where it can get colder. It's also important to create layers, using the most cold hardy shrubs and trees as buffers for more tender plants, just as nature intended.

And remember, when you use the right plants, you don't have to cover them and risk burning if you sleep late the next morning!

Back To Basics

2011-11-09T11:07:00.001-05:00

With all the information that's out there, the wonderful groups doing so much to protect our natural resources, and the places we can go on the web, it's easy for me to go off on a lot of tangents and forget my own focus: to help others learn more about landscaping without harmful man made chemicals, organic mulch only, and no pesticides in order to create welcoming yards for urban and suburban wildlife. The website I recommend in the previous post is a wonderful example of welcoming life into your landscape. Please visit! Be sure to check out the tabs here on this website: Get Inspired!, Top Ten Tips, Landscape Commitment, and Our Mission Statement in oder to learn and do more. The Show currently has 3 available for viewing, and show number four is on the way!

Great Website

2011-11-09T10:44:00.001-05:00

Sometimes you find people who can put into words and pictures what you're thinking and feeling better than you can yourself. I have found a website designed and maintained by women who know how to welcome life into their landscapes and share that with others. Please visit www.beautifulwildlifegarden.com/lawn-be-gone.html. The lawn be gone says it all!

Guest Speaker This Week

2011-11-06T15:24:00.000-05:00

This Thursday, November 10, at 7pm, I'm the guest speaker at the monthly meeting of the Florida Native Pant Society, Cocoloba Chapter. Social time starts at 6:30pm and takes place at Rutenberg Park in south Fort Myers, Florida. Rutenberg Park is on Southpointe Blvd., a north/south road between College Parkway and Cypress Lake Drive close to McGregor Blvd. Hope to see many of you there!

Vistas Worth Visiting

2011-11-05T10:08:00.000-04:00

I've changed Vistas Worth Visiting so you can click on the name and be taken directly to their website to make it easy to get location, hours of operation etc.
I would highly recommend the three here as a great way to get out and see the REAL Southwest Florida! Six Mile Cypress Slough is in Lee County, CHEC (Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center) is in Charlotte County, and Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is in Collier County. Enjoy!

Events and News

2011-11-05T09:46:00.000-04:00

First, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is accepting public comment on preservation of ANWR, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge until November 15. You can make your comments at www.bit.ly/ANWRinput . Please do!

Next, two movies to consider seeing: The Big Year with Steve Martin about Birders and their life lists that takes a funny look at our obsession. And "Carbon Nation: A Climate Change Solutions Movie (That Doesn't Even Care If You Believe in Climate Change). Sounds good, not sure where to find it, but most likely on the web.

And, time to get ready for Audubon's Christmas Bird Count! (CBC). This is a wonderful opportunity for amateur birders and those who just love getting outside and enjoying the sights and sounds of nature. Citizen science makes a huge contribution each year, how about being a part of it? Get the whole family involved! Check out the details at www.bit.ly/CBC112 (in celebration of 112 years of the count).

Thanks for getting involved!

She Won!!!

2011-11-02T12:03:00.001-04:00

Jennifer had success with her arbitrator regarding her Florida Friendly yard. Our thanks to people of reason and compassion. Let's all hope the Sidels Jennifer speaks of have the same outcome.

From: jennifer
Subject: Approved!
To: marlene; backtenfeet@gmail.com

I can't believe it! It was mainly due to my splendid husband's rational manner, and the great job done by the Management Co's ARC facilitator.

Next week the Sidel's FF Gold certified property in Jax will go into mediation. Let's send them green vibes; I hope they are successful as well

HOA's & Florida Friendly Yards

2011-11-01T13:12:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone! Jennifer and Marlene have both given me permission to put the emails below on the blog so we can all learn from what they are going through. Trying to do a beautiful yard with natives, no chemicals and little to no water can be difficult in some gated communities, mostly due to ignorance and misunderstandings. Both Marlene and Jennifer have made great headway, and also have learned that is usually just one or two people in a community who cause a fuss, most are eager to learn and live and let live. Remember, there are STATE laws that PROTECT property owners who go Florida Friendly!

Hi all,
Just an update on some new developments. I received a reply from County Commissioner Mark Miner who consulted w/the county attorney. Miner sent me the attorney e-mail which has been forwarded to all the Board members. I will forward it in a separate e-mail.
On a positive note, I called May Management and spoke with Elaine Raynor, who will be facilitating the ARC meeting and is the person who sent me the letter notifying me that a special ARC meeting will be held on November 1, not November 7, as originally thought.
She was surprisingly supportive, and conveyed that Glen (ARC Chairperson and BOD VP) had stormed in there on Monday "freaking out" (her words, not mine!) and demanding that May Management "step in" and put an end to my plans. She then told him she didn't see anything wrong with my plan and as it is Florida Friendly, it is protected by FL statutes.
She then called Joe(County Horticulture Agent) and asked him to forward some FF information which she then forwarded to the ARC members. Elaine apparently has undergone some Florida Friendly training and seems to think my landscape will be "beautiful" and can set a standard for others in the neighborhood. She stated her goal is to attempt to assist in conducting the upcoming meeting in a more rational manner than the first and as a proper model as to how an ARC meeting should be conducted.
She did say, however, that the vote is ultimately in the hands of the ARC members. So now with the FF info Joe sent, and the letter from Miner and the county attorney, I am very interested to see how they choose to respond on the 1st.
I will be in touch. : )
Jenifer

Hi Jennifer.
Congratulations on your progress. It sounds wonderful! It makes me want to send your commissioner and county attorney notes telling them I'd vote for them, if only I could!
Anyway, I threw this together today. It just details my experience with our HOA. I also added it to my website because you mentioned my experience was lacking there. (Of course, that meant that you e-mailed me -- which was a good thing!) This is the link to my website page ... http://rodakma.parks.officelive.com/HarmonyofCommotion.aspx
This is what I believe your HOA needs to see -- just to give them an idea of what other HOAs have done. It is a no-win situation for them.
I just walked out my front door and nearly ran into a monarch butterfly. I placed an outgoing letter in the mailbox, turned and walked back in. I nearly ran into that butterfly again.
Earlier today, I took two vases of chilled water outback. Taking my time and enjoying the quiet of nature, I snipped Narrow-leaf Sunflowers from along the lake and carefully selected beaded segments of Wild Coffee from along the back of the house. I meticulously removed the lower stems and arranged them artfully into the vases. Then, I brought them in my house and set them on the breakfast table and kitchen sink. I’ll get days of immense enjoyment not only from the arrangement, but also knowing they are simply from my yard. Not only do I enjoy them, but migrating birds, bunnies, insects, bees, spiders, etc. enjoy them and depend on them.
Even earlier than that today, I drank my coffee and read the newspaper. Afterward, I took the coffee grounds from the pot out to feed it to the worms that are happily eating and creating fertilizer for me.
I can honestly say that I truly believe I enjoy my yard more than most, if not all others in my neighborhood. How can I not? There is always something going on. I walk around the house and appreciate life.
Yes, my yard is a little different from most other yards in the neighborhood. When I walk down the block, most houses are quiet and peaceful. When I get to our house, there is commotion-- butterflies, bees, sometimes bunnies, but nearly always doves. Sometimes the doves are hiding, but most of the time they’re hanging around on the roof. Yes, there are times they scare the bejeebers out of me! Even when I expect them to be there, they scare me when I walk through the break in the buttonwoods to work at my potting bench.

I’m not here to criticize other yards. I’m simply here to tell you that we turned off our sprinklers. Yes. In a day when people smarter than me estimate50% of our water consumption here is used on irrigation, I can say, “Not In My Back Yard!”

When people smarter than me are predicting yet another drought in this area this winter, I say N.I.M.B.Y!
When people smarter than me are saying the red-drift algae, red tide and enormous dead zones are caused by fertilizer runoff, I can say N.I.M.B.Y!

Oh yes, I have “awful things” in my yard, too. One day, while a few girlfriends were chatting on the lanai, they spotted a black snake in the Dwarf Fire Bush. They squealed with excitement as they grabbed their iPhone to videotape it. They squealed even more as they stood a foot or so away from all the commotion as it coiled around the shrubbery where the bees were buzzing. Then, the snake started eating the bees! Yes, it was striking away, picking off the bees gathering nectar for their honey. Yes, the ladies were only about a foot away from all the commotion, but no, there was no danger. There was harmony!
Sometimes we have a red-shouldered hawk land on the corner of our pool cage looking for those black rat snakes. Sometimes we have an osprey landing on the still-too-weak top of our south-Florida slash pine trying to dodge mockingbirds who are protecting their nests. Sometimes, we have fresh-water turtles digging around and laying eggs. Sometimes the crows are watching them only to fight over those freshly-laid eggs.
It wasn’t always this way. Several years ago we had a vision.
We submitted a 10-page Architectural Modification Request that included the Florida-friendly yard. With the Request we attached a $500 damage deposit. The Request was unanimously approved by ARC and the Board.
Several months later, when we asked for the return of our damage deposit the management company said the sidewalk was damaged. The Board president and the ARC chairwoman met my husband on the front sidewalk and declared there was no sidewalk damage. The Board president then told my husband that she would return our $500.
Instead, the damage deposit check was deposited into the homeowners association’s account. We were then told that they were keeping the money because they didn’t like our yard.
To make a long story short, we were forced to request presuit mediation with the Board over this issue.
In the time that Board president lied to my husband about giving us back our money and the mediation, the ARC Chairwoman quit. She had two very angry public confrontations with the Board because she (and her husband) very strongly believed our money should be returned. The Board then installed an angry old man as the new ARC Chairman.
Around this time, I was voted onto the Board by the homeowners. This made for some very interesting Board meetings where I was completely abused. It was truly so bad that for a time after every Board meeting, neighbors would call or stop by my house to see if I was okay. It was truly unbelievable!
This mean old man worked every angle to make our lives miserable. He would argue one point then change to a different point. His arguments were a constant moving target.
Later, I found out that this mean old man had even met with our local Florida Yards and Neighborhood staff at the UF/IFAS extension office here in Lee County. They reported that he spent an hour or two explaining to them why their principles were all wrong and how he demanded that they remove the Florida-Friendly-Yard sign from my front yard!
Finally, I had the revelation that I needed to start videotaping these meetings. I researched it and the law allowed it.
In the meantime, my husband and I met with theAssociation’s attorney and also exchanged several letters. Unfortunately, presuit mediation was inevitable.
The day we met with the mediator, my husband and I were across the table from the Board president and vice-president, the insurance company’s claim representative, our CAM, the Association’s/insurancecompany’s attorney. There were five of them – and would have been six, except we objected to the mean old ARC Chairman participating. So, he sat out in the lobby. The mediation began … and continued for seven hours.
The actual mediation is confidential, so I can’t go into detail, but the settlement agreement is not confidential. The Board paid us back the $500, plus 18%interest. We planted another Florida-friendly bush on the southeast side of our house. The Board spent a bunch of the homeowners’money on a case they didn’t have a chance of winning. (My husband called it “the $4,400 day” which was his estimate of their expense.) We spent nothing.
Despite the two attorneys drafting up an airtight settlement agreement the mean old ARC Chairman could not admit defeat. He actually tried to get his committee to override his approval on the Architectural Modification Request that theAssociation’s/insurance company’s attorney insisted upon. Yes, that’s right. Part of the mediation settlement agreement included a new ARC Request that the ARC Chairman himself signed. (Remember? He was sitting in the lobby for seven hours.) Then, evidently when he heard the complete results of the mediation, he decided to try to void his own signature approving the Request!
I truly could NOT make this up.
The bottom line is that his efforts were in vain.
The day after the mediation where the mean old man approved the ARC Request, we had a Board meeting. I videotaped it. This very old man threw a temper tantrum like I’ve never seen before in my life! His voice was raspier than I’ve ever heard it. The stress of his meanness had taken a toll on him.
Shortly afterward, I heard this mean old man was diagnosed as terminally ill. He is gone now and that whole ordeal is behind us.
Today, my husband, our very old cat and I truly enjoy every moment in our yard. We often get e-mails requesting tours or information. Several neighbors requested information and I know of at least one neighbor who has installed a Florida-friendlier yard as a result.
I am not one to hold a grudge. I do try to find good in everything. It is certainly difficult after dealing with this very mean old man and our Board of Directors. However, as a result of this ordeal, I have met some of the smartest and finest people I’ve ever known. I am truly blessed by that … and I thank God each time I am enjoying the harmony of commotion.
Marlene

Old Friends, New Friends and a New Events Page

2011-10-25T15:57:00.000-04:00

On Saturday, Oct 22, I made it out to Manatee Park for the Florida Native Plant Society annual fall native plant sale. Some of you were willing to go on camera to tell us why you are into native plants, support bees and how to bring more butterflies into your landscape. All the interviews should be posted here as video blogs within the next week.

Also, we are now putting all events of interest on the Events Page to make it easy for you to see what’s coming up, and how to get more information.

I want to point a few websites to check out, and will add them to our list on the right. First, the Florida State Beekeepers Association, at www.floridabeekeepers.org . Jayla Gillaspie, Honey Queen was at the sale, promoting beauty berry, a Florida native plant favorite of mine. It can grow anywhere in full sun to shade, and provides nectar for butterflies and bees, and berries for lots of wildlife, including humans! Jayla’s interview will be posted soon.

Forestry Resources is a local company providing local jobs. They take the invasive exotic maleleuca and turn it into the best organic mulch you can buy! There are no viable seeds left in the processing, it doesn’t float the way native cypress mulch does, and it takes a really bad nonnative plant out of our environment. You can find out more about Forestry Resources products at http://www.gomulch.com/

I also want to promote a local green business providing local jobs and the beauty of butterflies, The Butterfly Estates. Their website is www.thebutterflyestates.com . The butterflies they have are native to Florida, and Florida residents receive a discount.

Quotes To Motivate

2011-10-25T15:52:00.000-04:00

I started leafing through Zen and the Art of Making a Living yesterday. There are some really wonderful quotes I’d like to share.

“Nothing is so contagious as an example. We never do great good or great evil without bringing about more of the same on the part of others.” De La Roche Foucauld

“Every great movement must experience three stages: ridicule, discussion, adoption.” John Stuart Mill

All the world is full of suffering. It is also full of overcoming it.” Helen Keller

By re-modeling our home landscapes after natural systems, we show the rest of the community how it’s done. When neighbors see the birds and butterflies flocking to your yard, they’ll want to know how you did it. They’ll also notice you’re not spending weekends mowing grass and breathing dangerous chemicals, and may in fact want to follow your example.

“Tree Huggers” have been lampooned in comedy, demonized by corporate America and blamed for anything not working right politically. Lately it seems though that people are seeing the FINANCIAL benefits of environmentalism. And natural landscapes are finally getting some positive recognition. But the fight isn’t over. Many Home Owner Associations (HOA’s) try to fine, sue and harass property owners who follow the principles of the Florid Yards and Neighborhoods Program, even though to do so is illegal in our state.

And finally, when good people receive good information they make good decisions. We have the power in our own hands to decide that we will no longer contribute to the decline of our natural resources, our health and the future. We can be examples of how to create landscapes that are truly livable, cool and filter the air and water, and prevent the extinction of hundreds of species of migratory birds and butterflies.

We can BE the change we want to see in others. (Gandhi)

The Back Ten Feet Fun Facts #7

2011-10-23T04:15:00.004-04:00

See You There!

2011-10-19T20:39:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone. Just want you to know I'll be helping out at the Florida Native Plant Society (Cocoloba Chapter) plant sale this coming Saturday at Manatee Park in Lee County, FL. It's from 9a-2p, and there will be plenty of plants for sale that are sure to bring in the birds and butterflies. I hope to get some of you on camera, letting others know why going native is so important. Manatee Park is at 10901 Palm Beach Blvd. in Fort Myers across from the FPL power plant. See you there!

Red Tide...What Can We Do?

2011-10-17T18:25:00.000-04:00

It’s mid-October, 2011 and the TV stations and papers are all covering the red tide bloom off the coast of SW Florida. Red tide does occur naturally whether humans are here or not. The big question in recent years is; is it natural for red tide to occur so often, so long and so close to shore? If not, could storm water runoff from urban and suburban areas that carries nitrogen and phosphate from fertilizers on lawns and commercial sites be a contributing factor?

We’re finding out from studies done by local scientists that there is a correlation between increases in nitrogen and phosphorus in our estuaries and increases in red tide blooms. We also know that even when there is no red tide, an increase in nutrient load into local waters creates algal blooms that lead to a decrease in oxygen and eventually to fish kills.

So, what can we do? The answer is easy. Commercial fertilizers are NOT NEEDED in native landscapes. Plant Florida native plants, decrease the amount of non-native turf grass, and use organic mulch only to keep your plants healthy. However much lawn you DO have does not need as much fertilizer as you think. Keep the grass cut long, there should be 3 inches of green blade left AFTER you mow. Leave clippings on the lawn. Do NOT water TOO much!

At a loss of where to start? How about The Back Ten Feet? Check out our planting plan! Below are some pictures I took with my cell phone at Fort Myers Beach the other day. Wonderful animals in the shallow water who cannot get out of the way when the water quality goes down. Native plants along the shore that stabilize the beach, create habitat, and help clean any water flowing through the area.

Thanks to all who have made or will make the decision to go native with less or no lawn!

Native Plant Sale

2011-10-16T11:53:00.001-04:00

This coming Saturday, October 22, from 9am - 2pm: Native Plant Sale at Manatee Park, Lee County Florida. 10901 Palm Beach Blvd., across from the FPL power plant. This sale is every year in October, and is a fundraiser for the Cocoloba Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society.

Many species of native plants that migratory birds an butterflies DEPEND on will be on sale. There are experts to assist you with your plant choices. There will be a live bee hive with local honey for sale, as well as books, t-shirts and seeds.

For more information, call Rachel at 239-543-9910. Hope to see you there!

The Back Ten Feet

Positive Pics

Whew!!

TRIPLE ALERT !!! PLease take action NOW!!!

ALERT!!!!!

Join the Revolution!

"Waters We"

Apologies

Keystone Pipeline

Builders Care

Warblers Coming Through!

Warriors of the Rainbow

Burrowing Owl Festival

Memorium For A Good Friend

Healthy Communities

Great Crested Flycathcers

Great Blue Heron at Lakes Park

ALERT!

Red Bellied Woodpecker Video

Brown Is The New Green!

LISTEN, Rather Than Watch!

Yard Tour With Kitty and Cliff

Conservation Landscaping Workshop Feb 11th

Meadow Book

Saturday, Feb 4th: Scrub Jay Festival!

Family Viewing at its Finest!

More Great Reading!

SB 604 VOTE ON MONDAY Please make calls!!!

The Bird and the Butterfly

Back Ten Feet Plans for DeSoto, Hardee and Lee County Updated!

Enjoy The View!

Alerts From Florida Conservation Coalition

URGENT! Tell the Florida Senate NO on Senate Bill 604!!!

Pete Quasius on why HB421 is bad for our environment and local government.

Jennifer from The Conservancy of SW Florida Tells us Why HB421 is Such a Bad Idea

HB 421 Update From Katie Parrish With The Sierra Club

News We Need To Follow!

Video Yard Tour #2!

We Need to Keep an Eye on Our Legislators!

Protect Our Water!

Florida Scrub Jay Festival February 4th

Florida Friendly Landscape Workshop in February

Florida Arbor Day

Squirrels Get Their Own Day

URGENT! Tell Fertilzer Companies and the State NO!

Florida Conservation Coalition Needs Floridians to Help!

Guest Blogger Phil Buchanan

New PBS Series

URGENT!!!

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

More Great Websites!

WUSF/Florida Matters

Meadow Project Needs Our Help

Florida Yards and Neighborhoods (FYN) Classes in Fort Myers, FL

Wonderful World

We Love Birds!

Slow Food = Good Food = Sustainable Food

Audubon Magazine

Are You Certifiable?

Stay Informed!

MORE Feed The Birds!

Thank You!

Article in Highlands Today

One Person's Mess...

Hickey's Creek

Florida: America's Truck Stop For Birds!

Less Turf Grass, More Plants!

Plant, Mulch and Prune (But Not Much!)

Have You Seen Our First Epsiode Yet?

Bats Are Beautiful!

Native Plants from All Native Garden Center

Local Gift Ideas (and for yourself!)

Gift Ideas

Learn More About Value of Our Water

A Walk in Manatee Park

Episode #4 List of Plants and Details

Citizen Scientists Needed For Monarch Tagging Program!

Episode 4 is ready for viewing!

FEED THE BIRDS!

Beautiful Natives