By Nanette Wiser
RAIN GARDENS The Gulfport Sustainability Committee completed work on its first rain garden at the Gulfport Recreation Center, designed and built by volunteers who will continue to water, weed, and plant the garden. Rain gardens are good for Mother Nature. They filter stormwater runoff before it enters local waterways, alleviate problems associated with flooding and drainage, recharge groundwater, and provide habitat and food for wildlife. The garden is thanks to grants Tampa Bay Estuary Program and Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council. www.blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/pinellasco/2015/04/06/rain-gardens-and-you/
GREEN THUMBS UF/IFAS Extension awarded Pinellas County Master Gardeners the 2021 Award of Excellence for Beautification and Enhancement in recognition of their volunteer garden project at Folly Farm Nature Preserve in Safety Harbor. Folly Farm Nature Preserve is an 8 ½ acre, partially wooded park that was gifted to the city of Safety Harbor in 2011 for the preservation of green space. Nine volunteer Master Gardeners began their garden project in a deteriorated section of the park in 2019: Leslie Zambito, Gary Sawtelle, Janet DeLiso, Sandy Huff, Carol Zieres, Anna Marchand, Barbara Berman, Elsa Soto and Angela Strain. Without the use of herbicides or pesticides, they have now created five gardens showcasing Florida native and friendly plants with an emphasis on butterflies and pollinators. To educate and inspire visitors of all ages, they also added signage, gnome houses, wind sculptures, seating and the “Wind Phone” for departed friends.
REUSE RECYCLE REPEAT Plastics are bad for the environment and your body. Now, companies are trying to eliminate single-use plastic, so do your part. Look for products that can be packaged without plastic or refillable containers. Europe is ahead of the curve, with chewable toothpaste tablets, shampoo bars and crystal deodorant. A study from Columbia University found the US recycling and composting rate sits at about 32%. In the EU, it’s closer to 46%. Some tips for using less plastic: Stop using plastic straws, use reusable produce bags, give up gum, purchase foods from bulk bins and fill a reusable container (pasta, cereal, rice), use a reusable bottle or mug for your beverages, bring your own container for take-out, switch to paperless billing and buy refillable products.