Notes from Pinellas FNPS
July 15, 2010
"The future belongs to those who understand that doing more with less is compassionate, prosperous and enduring and thus more intelligent, even competitive." —Paul Hawken
Next Membership Meeting: Wed., August 4th, 7–9 pm., State Geologist Guy Means on Florida's springs, Pinellas County Extension, 12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo.
Next Field Trip: Sat., August 7th, Withlacoochee Canoe/Kayak trip, To RSVP, contact Alexa Wilcox-Huegel.
Next Board Meeting: Wed., July 28th. Contact any board member for time & location.
Have you checked out the FNPS Blog yet? Most recent post: "The Garden Professors' Blog"
Hillsborough EPC Fertilizer Vote To Take Place Today
The Environmental Protection Commission (EPC) began a
public hearing on the proposed Fertilizer Use and Landscape Management
Rule (Chapter 1-15) on June 10, 2010. The hearing was conducted in part
and then continued to Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. in the BOCC
Boardroom, County Center, 2nd floor, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa,
Florida. The Commissioners have already heard public comment, thus
Commission discussion, questions to staff, and a rulemaking vote should
occur. For further information call (813) 627-2600 ext. 1058.
Technical Support Document for the EPC's Proposed Local Fertilizer Rule
Fertilizer information page on Hilllsborough EPC's website
Contact:
Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission
phone:(813) 627-2600.
http://www.epchc.org/
Help Plant Palm Harbor Library Garden This Saturday & Sunday
This coming Saturday and Sunday (July 17 & 18) Plan C Initiative will be completing Phase 3 of the re-landscaping of the Palm Harbor Library. Claudia Lewis has designed a "reading garden," which, in addition to the native plants, will have the following features: a bamboo pergola for outdoor story time, a green wall, and a wildlife pond. Plan C needs as many volunteers as possible both days to help plant, mulch, build trellises, etc. Any amount of help is welcome, anywhere from an hour to the entire time. The area is in the shade so the heat won't be too bad. Below are the details about the planting. If you'd like to take part, please RSVP to Claudia Lewis, or on the Plan C Initiative Facebook page; if you go to this page you will be able to see photos of past planting efforts. Plan C will provide drinks and lunch both days.
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, July 17 & 18
TIME: 9:00 AM till about 3:00 PM
LOCATION: Palm Harbor Library,
2330 Nebraska Av., Palm Harbor Florida, 34683
WHAT TO BRING: Gardening gloves, hat, water, and a shove, pitch fork and wheel
barrowl (if you have them).
Permaculturists to Visit Manatee County Earthship Saturday
Bill Bilodeau is leading a field trip of St. Petersburg Permaculture Guild members to "Earthship Florida" in Manatee County this Saturday, July 17th. The carpool will leave St. Petersburg at 7:30 a.m. If you'd like to join the group, please contact Bill Bilodeau for more information. Here is an excerpt from the Earthship website:
Florida’s first Earthship is being built in Manatee County. Designed to be in harmony with the environment and entirely self sufficient, this sustainable structure uses recycled and indigenous materials, generates its own electricity and processes its own waste with NO impact on the environment.
An Earthship is considered an Earthen home. An Earthen home is a house made of materials from around the build site, dirt mainly. This building technique is as old as human history, but exactly suitable for today's resource-conscious and environmentally friendly building needs. Trees may be getting a bit scarce these days, but there's no shortage of dirt, the main component of earthen homes.
Earth is the ultimate form of "green" building construction, creating no environmental pollution and consuming virtually no energy.