Green Living Expo Riversprings Middle School • Saturday, May 8 • 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
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Green Living Expo
Thursday, May 6, 2010
SUSTAINABLE BIG BEND, INC. THANKS OUR SPONSORS
Without the support of the sponsors listed below, the Green Living Expo 2010 would not have been possible. The mission of Sustainable Big Bend, Incorporated is to be a catalyst for change by providing services to enhance healthy lifestyles, wellness, economic development, education, outreach, and community capacity building with regard to various aspects of sustainable living. The Green Living Expo is the large annual educational event for businesses and families of the Big Bend area, and each of our sponsors is helping our larger community become more sustainable. Thank you all.
Pam Portwood, President of Sustainable Big Bend, Inc.
Shelley Swenson, Chair of Green Living Expo Planning Committee
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Additional Sponsors • Capital City Bank • Envision Credit Union • Harvest Printing • Just Fruits & Exotics • Wakulla Bank
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Thursday, May 6, 2010
Green Living Expo
The Wakulla News – Page 3G
The place to be on May 8 is… the Green Living Expo
By SHELLEY SWENSON Chair, 2010 Expo Steering Committee UF IFAS Wakulla County FCS Agent All of the details of the 4th annual Green Expo are finalized. Consider yourself personally invited to this wonderful event. This year’s Expo is bigger and better than any of the previous Expos. A small group of county individuals served on the Steering Committee and each has worked extremely hard to coordinate this fantastic event. The Steering Committee members believe in living responsibly and want other people to see the many and varied ways people can become more sustainable in their life practices. To plan your Green Living Expo day, read this insert and visit www.greenlivingenergyexpo.com. When you arrive, start at the registration desk so you can learn where things are being held and if there are any schedule changes. There are so many things for the entire family to do. We have expanded our children’s activities so children of all ages will have plenty to do while parents attend workshops and visit the Exhibit Hall. Nutritious foods will be available on the grounds. Entertainment will go on much of the day and several entertainers are directed toward the children in attendance. The Farmers Market will provide you an opportunity to buy fresh food directly from local farms. Everyone in the area should be collecting and using rain water for vegetation inside and outside your homes to conserve on this important natural resource. There will be workshops during which you can make a rain barrel to take home at day’s end. A new addition this year is a Film Festival. The films include: “A Chemical Reaction”, “Wakulla Spring, A Watery
Treasure”, Blue Gold”, and “Food Inc.” Watch for the descriptions of these films in this special section so you can decide if you should take the opportunity to see them at The Green Expo. There is no charge to view these films. You will leave each film looking for a group to discuss what you experienced since each is very thought-provoking. Discussion groups on sustainability issues in this area might be “on the horizon.” Plan to stop by the school’s computer lab and learn more about your personal carbon footprint. This is an eye-opening experience where you and your family can learn how much your way of life contributes to greenhouse gas emission. Learn ways to lessen your carbon footprints. I am especially excited about the University of Florida IFAS booth. It is being coordinated by Kathryn Zeiwitz, recently hired Sustainable Community Development Specialist. She and her staff have developed the booth on water quality and have focused their attention on Wakulla County. In addition, Ms. Zeiwitz is going to explore the potential in forming “sustainability circles” facilitated by Extension-trained “sustainability mentors.” This would allow us to continue the efforts that start at events like The Green Living Expo through the formation of study circles made up of like-minded persons meeting regularly to discuss a sustainability-related topic. There have been several individuals who have indicated interest in this concept. I think we are ready for this type of experience in Wakulla County and with Ms. Zeiwitz being interested in piloting the program in a Florida county, why shouldn’t it be here. If you want to learn more, stop by the UF/IFAS booth and meet Ms Zeiwitz and her staff. Another important aspect of the Green Living Expo is the Green Homes Tour. Tickets for the events and additional information of what will be featured at each home will be available. Read more about the specifics in this special section. Don’t miss the opportunity to hear our keynote speaker, Dr. Pierce Jones. Dr. Jones is the Director of the Program for Resource Efficient Communities and will be addressing participants in the cafeteria at the Expo. The title of his presentation is Water, Energy, and Land Development in Florida. The 2010 Green Living Expo is soon approaching. I hope you will attend and profit from all of the expertise that will be in one place, at one time on such an important issue as Sustainability.
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Office: 850 962-5218 • Cell: 850 567-5458 P.O. Box 606, Sopchoppy, FL 32358 Licenses #CBC047832, #CRC1327274, #CCC1326353
Page 4G – The Wakulla News
Green Living Expo
Thursday, May 6, 2010
What sustains Sustainable Big Bend?
THE WAKULLA NEWS, Thursday, April 15, 2010 –
Outdoors
Every year, after we’ve pulled off another and civic organizers – all with a common Swenson, Extension Agent, came to mind successful Green Living Expo, we have lost passion for sharing the message of sustain- immediately. Shelley worked on the 2009 our leader due to job relocations or other ability at a grass roots level. Without Committee as workshop coordinator and life circumstances, every year we’ve met to them, there would be no Expo. Their we knew she had the skills, abilities, and discuss how or if we should proceed as an months of hard work and dedication bring above all, the energy to take the reins for organization, every year we are revitalized to fruition the goals of SBB by providing 2010. In keeping with prior years, our and energized by a core group of volun- FREE education and awareness of vital is- partner, UF/IFAS Wakulla County Extenteers who believe in our mission, we are sues while providing simple solutions that sion, stepped up with a willingness to alsupported by strong community partners, will strengthen us as individuals, families, low Shelley to put some of her professional we are encouraged by a community that is and communities. time and effort into acting as Chair of the We just came off an absolutely looking for a more sustainable future, and Local support from our partner orga- 2010 Green Living Expo Committee. It we are led by a tenacious board committed nizations – Wakulla County Extension & is no easy task to “rein-in” such a stronggorgeous weekend and there were to becoming a resource for sustainable liv- Wakulla County School Board. willed group of highly-talented and highplenty of folks out fishing. The bait ing throughout the Big Bend region. We have enjoyed holding the Expo energy volunteers month after month, and and tackle stores were all smiles but This year is no exception – this year I each year at Riversprings Middle School week after week. Her tenacity, patience, tired Sunday afternoon. This is what know what sustains us: –the facilities are beautiful and what organizational skills, and positive energy they have been waiting for. On the A core group of volunteers who believe better venue to encourage and promote has brought the focus, structure and leadway to get bait I noticed both the in our mission. sustainability than a school attended by ership necessary to get the job done. Wildwood Inn and Best Western This year’s Expo includes a day filled the generation that will experience the The encouragement of a community had great crowds and that was good with meaningful workshops, activities and consequences of our actions (good and that is hungry for information on how to entertainment for all ages and reflects the bad). We are so grateful for the support live simpler, more sustainable lives. to see. Hopefully the economy is BY CAPT. CAMPBELL incredible talent of our 2010 Green Liv- JODY from the Wakulla County School Board In October of last year, SBB sponsored starting to turn around. ing Expo Committee. It has been a great and Riversprings Middle School. the “Smart Living—Save Energy, Save ByatPAM Jimmy ShellPORTWOOD Island Fish Camp privilege, as President of Sustainable Big When Heidi Holcomb, last year’s SBB Money event to judge the communityPresident Sustainable Big past Bend said fishingofwas good this fish. Bend, Kent to and Luke Frazier went howthis to fish a grub and work with and get to know President and he’s Chairfound of the 2009 Green wide concern and desire for sustainable weekend. Lots of Spanish were last Wednesday to the Clam Bar a new way to fish. He uses the gulp found out she living events. Our press release asked the year’s committee. The 2010 Committee Living Expo Committee It is my honor to serve again as Presicaught, plenty of trout and a 37 or off the Ochlockonee and caught and curly tail Gotcha grubs. Rick includes educators, artists, executives, would be relocating to is Oregon, we be- question, Should we continue to spondent of Sustainable Big Bend. As I reflect 38 inch cobia which threePhDs, trout real fast but the highservants, from Minnesota comes our of the 2010 sor a Green Living Expo event? In the homemakers, public gan ourand search for to a Chair over the last fourcame years, in I ask, whatwas has suscaughtthis onfledgling the flats. The angler government officials, business owners, Living Shelley weeks that followed, we heard from the tained organization thus far? winds made it too uncomfortable area in theGreen fall when heExpo trailsCommittee. dogs was fishing for trout with a gulp to fish. They came in to the mouth for field trials. He is heading back community – it was a resounding YES. That, coupled with an inspiring presentawhen the fish hit and it took over of the river and caught some reds. home this Wednesday but hopes to tion from Leon Jacobs that reiterated the an hour to land on 10-pound test. When I was in AMS last week get- get back to Hickory Mound just one importance of spreading the message of A large group from Macon Supply ting shrimp I was talking to a guy more time. Good luck! sustainability, was enough to re-energize was down and fished with captains from Cairo who has been catching Phil Sharp of Shell Point fished our SBB Board and our volunteer base to Kenny Daniels, Sid Stringer and a lot of sheepshead off the Rotary Saturday and had a tough day but Six-year-old continue Ethan Braverman the Expo. and his cousin Austin, 8 Gary Schanke. They caught lots of Reef using shrimp and fiddlers. Last went back on Sunday and got his Capt. Jodyof Campbell. The commitment our board to be a trout and Spanish using the gulp week they caught over 50 and about limit of trout using the Gulp and live trout. The first catalyst one Austin caughtin the be area the Big Bend Saltwat for change of sustainand shrimp. Kenny fished the West eight or nine of those were over six shrimp. I talked to Scott Gaby on was close to able fiveliving: pounds and hosted out of the Carrab flats Sunday afternoon and got into pounds. Kent was also saying there Sunday and he said they fished over Ethan kept sayingThis year has to the This he would likebrought to Clubchange in Carrabelle. both in membership a big school of trout and caught were lots of Spanish between the at Lanark over the weekend and catch a big one SBB like Board that. He finally in Destinand is focus. the big cob have asked them on every cast. Those folks West End of the Long Bar and the caught about 13 nice reds around got one about We 21 inches long and andanswered ment. some hard more convinced went back to Macon happy. when I netted questions the fish I and gaveare him Somebodythan was telling Panacea Channel. the docks using live shrimp. ever that we have been and Capt. Kent Taylor over at AMS “Now that’s what were can out continue at O Tower last Rick Stanski bought a Hobie KayGuiding people fishing can be five and he said: to be a catalyst for positive change in our in Medart said they were selling ak about three or four months ago a lot of fun and it can also be very I’m talking about.” We onlyand fished a boatthe wasBig catching community throughout Bend red sn shrimp like they were going out of and has been wearing out the fish. frustrating, especially if you can a half-day and the wind made the putting them in the box. region. Bearing witness to this are survey style. Capt. Chris Oaks had the Andy His favorite spot is Hickory Mound find the fish that want to feed. Last first part of that half-day pretty over to them that snapp results from last year’s Expo showing that Smith party from Albany, Ga., and and he has it figured out. Last week Friday I fished with the Braveman lousy. When the wind it was was2009 closed. They many of died the 700 or more Expo at-replied they came in with 12 gags and four he caught his limit of trout every party from Crawfordville, Maine a different story. tendees have put into practice at least one and co in federal waters lesson the learned their daily lives. We look red grouper and about 200 pounds day he fished plus some nice red- and Crabapple, Ga., who were here Don’t forget about Redin Trout them. Wrong! When you g forward growing Board and the ourlimits a of grunts and rock bass. He also fish. On Saturday he had a flounder, for a mini family reunion. Three Shootout sponsored bytoKevin’s to our need to know a model of sustainability fished with the Gene Love party a limit of trout and he was trying to adults and a 6 and 8 year old. The be held out of organization C-Quarters into Marina tions, which evidently th in the region. from Tallahassee and they had 13 catch a redfish to make his slam. He wind blew early but when it finally in Carrabelle. This will be held on didn’t know. Ignorance o Yes, I know what sustains us… So, grouper and about 200 pounds of hooked what he just knew was a big quit the fish started biting. When April 24. On May 22 and 23 the Rock won’t keep you from get thank you to our 2010 Green Living Expo grunts and rock bass. They fished red but it turned out to be a 30-inch you take kids fishing and the fish- the Dock Tournament will be heldyou and for partners, one, hope these Committee, thank to I,our in about 50 to 60 feet of water with trout, which he released. Rick fished ing is slow they tend to get bored at Rock Landing in Panacea. checkedand before they got thank you to theThis community, thank live bait and dead bait. This time a gold spoon most of the time and easily, which they were doing. The tournament benefi Panacea Knowof your limits and you ts to the my fellow SBB Board Direcof year there are some huge black when his father and nephew come fish finally turned on and their at- Waterfront. There tors. is a masters divi- float plan when headin sea bass out www.thewakullanews.com there and they top to town he books me to take them titudes changed completely. Austin sion, youth and a kayak division. the flats or offshore. Good many people’s list of best tasting all fishing. This year I showed him and Ethan both caught some nice Then on June 18 through 20 will good fishing!
This weekend was what we’ve waited for, once the wind died down
From The Dock
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Thursday, May 6, 2010
The Wakulla News – Page 5G
Green Living Expo
Keynote Speaker…
Water, energy and land development subject of Jones’ presentation
planned residential developments. Under his direction the Program for Resource Efficient Communities is directly participating in land development and building projects that adopt and demonstrate “green” practices.
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Title: Water, Energy and Land Development in Florida
Dr. Pierce Jones Dr. Pierce Jones graduated from UF in 1980 with a PhD in Mechanical Engineering. He is a Professor in Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department in the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida. He directs the Program for Resource Efficient Communities, an interdisciplinary, self-funded, entrepreneurial group that promotes the adoption of “best design, construction and management practices” in new, master
Description: Residential construction directly associated with population growth is the primary driver of Florida’s economy. In 2005 over 208,000 building permits were issued statewide for new, single-family, detached homes. Direct consequences of this growth include a steadily increasing demand for energy, water and land for urban uses. This rapid growth has come at a steep cost, most obviously expressed in our depleted water supplies, degraded water quality and increasing exposure to rising energy prices. These issues all revolve directly around growth management. This presentation discusses Florida’s residential growth patterns and how they can be modified to make more efficient use of our water, energy and natural resources.
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Page 6G – The Wakulla News
Green Living Expo
2010 Green Home Tours scheduled in May and June
Efficient and resourceful.
Gayla Parks, Agent 5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 11 Tallahassee, FL 32305 Bus: 850-222-6208 gayla@gaylaparks.com
Opportunity for more in-depth dialogue between homeowners and attendees
By KATHRYN GIBSON Sponsored by Sustainable Big Bend, the Green Home Tour began four years ago in conjunction with the Green Living Expo to provide participants with opportunities to both see and experience green technologies in homes and to encourage dialogue and networking between attendees and homeowners. Each year has been unique, evolving to respond to the feedback and comments from the previous year’s participants and to incorporate new information as it has become available in the field of home construction, renovation and resource conservation. First of all, what is a green home? For this tour we have defined a green home as a building that has been designed, constructed and/or retrofitted to ensure healthy indoor air quality, water and energy efficiency, reduced CO2 emissions and overall good stewardship of the resources used and conscientiousness about the impact of building on the landscape. This year the Tour will take place on two days as attendees told us that they needed more time at each home for more in-depth conversation with homeowners and other attendees. They also wanted to be able to pick and choose which homes might be more relevant to their interests. Therefore on Saturday, May 15, and June
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5, two homes will be visited each day. A brochure of the four homes and their features will be for sale at the Green Living Expo on May 8. The first home is a retrofitted trailer tucked among palms and oaks in one of our historic coastal communities. This trailer will dispel any stereotyped notions you might have about trailers! The imaginative homeowner has transformed a 37 year old single-wide into a stylish, functional and energy efficient custom home. With Art Deco influences throughout, attendees will experience how one person has created a delightful living environment with earthfriendly, salvaged and reclaimed materials. If you are not inside marveling at the clever innovations such as the counter top that can become a tea trolley, you can walk the ¾ acre lot planted with native and edible plants. While visiting the home the owner will also share her experience and expertise in using ‘green’ cleaning products and strategies. She may also have some recipes for ‘green’ skincare. Cracker design inspired, our second home is only a few years old and has many of the newest energy efficient technologies, as well as salvaged, recycled and recyclable materials. Continued on Page 8G
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2009 Green Home Tour participants enjoy a tour of Paul and Tina Johnson’s eco-friendly home.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Green Living Expo
The Wakulla News – Page 7G
Workshop descriptions and facilitator backgrounds Education and information is purpose of 2010 Green Living Expo
By ANDREA CARTER 10:00 – 10:45 a.m. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LIVE GREEN? Kathryn Ziewitz. Room #511. Living green means conserving energy and water, recycling, and taking steps to shrink our ecological impact. But it also means tapping our creativity to increase the health and resilience of our communities. This workshop will provide an overview of sustainability principles, a group visioning and brainstorming session, and a time for participants to begin their own sustainability plan. Ms. Ziewitz works for the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service to help Florida communities become more sustainable. She is an environmental science educator who co-authored The Green Empire: the St. Joe Company and the remaking of Florida’s Panhandle (2004). She holds degrees from the University of Florida and the University of Minnesota and is a PhD student in geography at Florida State University. 10:00 – 10:45 a.m. THE IMPACT OF OUR CONSUMPTION AROUND THE WORLD. Dr. Samiri Hernandez Hiraldo. Room #509. Participants will explore the implications of our level of consumption, our dependence on foreign labor and resources, and the impact of the global economy on the health, environment and socio-economic conditions in various parts of the world. A resident of Wakulla County, Dr. Hernandez Hiraldo holds a Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Michigan and has taught at the university level, including two years at Florida State University. 10:00 – 10:45 a.m. HARVESTING RAINWATER AND NEW IRRIGATION METHODS. Scott Jackson and Carrie Stevenson. Learn the various techniques of collecting rainwater and establishing irrigation systems to save water in your home and landscape. Scott Jackson is the Wakulla County Extension Director and Carrie Stevenson is an Escambia County Extension Agent. Workshop will be held outdoors. 10:00 – 11:45 a.m. ORGANIC GARDENING. Jack Simmons, Room #507. Growing food is something many people are learning to do for the first time. This workshop will teach home gardeners the principles and techniques of growing vegetables and fruits without the use of chemical pesticides or fertilizers. A Tallahassee native, Mr. Simmons owns and operates Crescent Moon Organic Farm in Sopchoppy, Florida
and makes his living as an organic farmer. 11:00 – 11:45 a.m. GREEN JOBS; WHAT AND WHERE ARE THEY? Kimberly Moore, Irvine Leonard, Marc Dick and Vasselka McAlarney. Room #511. Florida’s Agency for Workforce Innovation is charged with helping Floridians find jobs. Representatives from the agency and Tallahassee Community College’s Workforce Development Program will give participants information on both the state and the local job markets, training available, and a snapshot of the steps Florida is taking to be a leader in the new Green Economy. . Ms. Moore is the Chief Executive Officer of Workforce Plus and the current president of the Wakulla County Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Leonard, who has 35 years of experience in the plumbing and pipefittng trade, is TCC’s lead instructor for construction programs. Marc Dick is principal consultant for the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program for new construction. Vasselka McAlarney is an economist with the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation, who also serves as the green jobs analyst for the agency. 11:00 – 11:45 a.m. BE THE SOLUTION TO POINTLESS PERSONAL POLLUTION. Eric Livingston. Room #509. The primary sources of water pollution in Florida are storm water runoff and septic tanks. This workshop will describe what non-point source pollution is and how it affects the ground and surface waters in Wakulla County. Participants will learn how everyday activities can either generate pointless pollution or contribute to the solution. Presenter Eric Livingston is a Wakulla County resident and biologist who currently serves as program administrator of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Storm water Section. 11:00 – 11:30 a.m. MAKING A RAIN BARREL. 4-H Junior Master Gardeners Club. Outdoors. Learn how to save water in your home and landscape by building your own 35 gallon rain barrel with instructions and materials provided. Work one-on-one with a 4-H member who will assist you in completing the project. Cost is $35.00, which covers all materials. Participation is limited to five people. The workshop will be repeated at 11:30, 1:00 and 1:30. Sign up for this workshop at the Expo registration desk. Continued on Page 8G
Partipants listen and learn during the Containerized Herb Garden workshop facilitated by Trevor Hylton at the 2009 Green Expo.
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Page 8G – The Wakulla News
Green Living Expo
Workshop descriptions Continued from Page 7G 11:00 – 11:45 a.m. MAKING A RAIN BARREL. Jeannie Brodhead. Outdoors. Twenty participants will make a 45-50 gallon rain barrel in this hands-on workshop, which includes instruction and all materials. Cost is $35.00. Register at the Expo registration desk. Jeannie Brodhead is a retired librarian who currently serves as president of the Iris Garden Club. A Master Gardener, she participates in many gardening activities in the area. 11:30 a.m. - 12:00p.m. MAKING A RAIN BARREL. 4-H Junior Master Gardeners Club. Outdoors. $35.00 fee. Register at Expo registration desk. Limited to five participants. 12:00 – 12:45 p.m. WATER, ENERGY, AND LAND DEVELOPMENT IN FLORIDA. Dr. Pierce Jones. The Expo’s keynote speaker, Dr. Jones is a professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering in the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida. He directs the Program for Resource Efficient Communities, which promotes green design, construction and management practices in residential development. His presentation will illustrate the steep cost of Florida’s rapid growth and steadily increasing demands on energy, water and land. He will discuss how Florida’s residential growth patterns can be modified to make more efficient use of water, energy and natural resources. To accommodate a larger audience, the keynote address will be held in the cafetorium. 1:00 – 1:30 p.m. MAKING A RAIN BARREL. 4-H Junior Master Gardeners Club. Outdoors. $35.00 fee. Sign up at Expo registration desk. Limited to five participants. 1:00 – 1:45 p.m. HOW TO RECYCLE EVERYTHING. Nancy Paul. Room 507. Information on how and where to recycle almost everything, and what to do with what’s left will be the topic covered in this workshop. Nancy Paul has served as the recycling coordinator for both Leon
Green Home Tour Continued from Page 6G At this home an attendee can ask questions about tankless water heaters, advanced nitrogen reducing septic systems, dual flush toilets, air circulation and insulation. This gem of a house sits in a xeriscaped landscape managed with prescribed burning and best land management practices. Unable to list here all there is to see, I have to mention the new roof water collection and distribution system that supplies water to the landscape and to a water feature.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
County and the City of Tallahassee, and is now general manager of Marpan, Inc., the state’s only permitted Class III Material Recovery Facility. Marpan recycles 65% of the material delivered to its Tallahassee facility, including mattresses, cardboard, metals and “urban wood”. 1:00 – 1:45 p.m. HYDROPONIC GARDENING. Ken Gambill. Room #509. Detailed information on a number of hydroponic growing systems that can be constructed and managed by the homeowner to grow vegetables, herbs and other plants will be provided workshop participants. Construction techniques and procedures to maintain optimum growth environments will be demonstrated. Ken Gambill is a mechanical engineer who also holds a master’s degree in Instructional Technology and has grown hydroponic herbs commercially. 1:00 – 1:45 p.m. LEARNING ABOUT ELECTRIC BIKES. Andy Reich. Outdoor workshop. Electric bicycles are an efficient and inexpensive transportation option. Learn about different types of pre-built electric bikes as well as conversion bikes, their motors, batteries and how the components are selected to build a bike for the individual’s transportation needs. Andy Reich is an importer who has owned and operated Falcon EV, a Tallahassee business that sells and services electric bikes and electric scooters. 1:30 – 2:00 p.m. MAKING A RAIN BARREL. 4-H Junior Master Gardeners Club. Outdoors. $35.00 fee. Sign up at Expo registration desk. Limited to five participants. 1:00 – 2:45 p.m. STITCHING CIRCLE: A Road to Re-purposing. Shelley Swenson and Kathryn Gibson. Room 511. $5.00 fee. Sign up at Expo registration desk. Join a group of Do-It-Yourselfers in activities to unleash and nurture your creativity. Recycled fabric and embellishment techniques will be used to make a stylish market bag to replace the plastic bags that clog our landfill. Consider this an opportunity to share the ancient tradition of sewing circles.
Parents and their children are welcome! Participants must be 13 years or older, and are encouraged to bring sewing scissors and examples of refashioned clothing, quilts or embellishments they would like to share. Shelley Swenson is the Wakulla County Family and Consumer Sciences agent and Kathryn Gibson is a lifetime environmentalist and art therapist who seeks creative expression in all areas of life. 2:00 – 2:45 p.m. SOLAR HOT WATER HEATING. Joe King. Room #507. Learn the history of solar water heating, how it works, what types of products are available on the market today, and how to select the most appropriate product for your home. Joe King has 25 years of experience in the construction industry, and has specialized in solar hot water heating installation for Premium Solar, Inc. of Tallahassee for the past four years. 2:00 – 2:45 p.m. MAKING YOUR OWN COMPOST. Ed Oaksford. Room #509. Learn how to compost your household food waste to enrich your garden and keep this natural material from streams and landfills. See the steps of the process, the simple tools and equipment needed and discover how beneficial compost is to the environment. Ed Oaksford is a retired geologist and home gardener who is currently enrolled in the University of Florida’s “Bee College”. 2:00 – 2:45 a.m. LANDSCAPING WITH NATIVE PLANTS. Betsey Smith. Outdoor workshop. Explore the richness of our natural heritage while learning to design and care for a landscape that uses some of our finest native plants. Betsey Smith is a Wakulla County native who holds a degree in horticulture from the University of Florida. She has 14 years of experience in the nursery industry and currently works with Just Fruits and Exotics Nursery in Medart. 3:00 –3:45 p.m. SOLAR ENERGY FOR THE HOME. Michael Mastry. Room #511.
Solar panel design, cost, location, installation and maintenance will be topics of this workshop. Points for the homeowner to consider when thinking about solar energy for the home will also be discussed. Michael Mastry represents Pro-Solar, a Tallahassee solar energy company that sells, installs and services solar collectors. 3:00- 3:45 p.m. HOW TO CONDUCT YOUR OWN HOME ENERGY AUDIT. Robin Dias and Doug Dender. R o o m #507. Find out what a home energy audit is, why they are conducted and what value they have to the homeowner. The presenters will share ideas and techniques for resolving the most common areas of energy waste found by energy audits. Robin Dias has eight years of experience conducting home energy audits. He and Doug Dender have established Gray Services and MHI, Inc. specializing in energy efficiency for buildings and mobile homes. 3:00 – 3:45 p.m. HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON YOUR ELECTRIC BILL. Eric Poland. Room #509. Participants will learn ways to decrease their energy consumption, including effective home improvements and behavior changes. Information will also be provided on how our lifestyle choices affect our electrical usage. Eric Poland is a Construction Engineer with experience in the construction industry who currently is employed as a home energy auditor by Progress Energy. 3:00 – 3:45 p.m. SIMPLE WAYS TO CREATE A GREEN AND HEALTHY HOME. Reenie Rogers. Outdoor workshop. A healthy home supports a healthy body. Going room by room, this workshop will explore simple, affordable ways to create greener and healthier living spaces. Participants will make a safe, non-toxic, earth-friendly cleanser to take home. Ms. Rogers is a green living consultant who has conducted numerous workshops and individual consultations designed to help others detoxify their homes and lives.
Located in northern Wakulla County the third house was constructed by a local pioneer in adopting low-cost, energy efficient building strategies. On 5 acres that he shares with gopher tortoises the homeowner has returned the sinkhole and landscape to its native vegetation. Inside one will see ceiling sun tunnels for light, natural linoleum, a solar hot water and the use of no VOC (volatile organic compound) paints and stains. As an avid advocate for living simply the homeowner will share his experience of how he made
building and materials decisions with participants. The fourth stop has yet to be decided upon, but will provide opportunities to see different features than the others have demonstrated. As different and unique as each home is they all share a common bond. They have been constructed or retrofitted by people who share a determination to live sustainably and ensure the quality of the environment we live in. “When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find that it is bound fast by
a thousand invisible cords that cannot be broken, to everything in the universe”John Muir Please stop and visit us in the Green Home area when you visit the Green Living Expo. There will be someone available to answer questions and to provide information on low-cost, energy-efficient strategies for your home that anyone can employ with little or no money. See you there.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
The Wakulla News – Page9G
Green Living Expo
Can we live without plastic?
Every minute, Americans throw away 40,000 plastic bottles and 50,000 plastic bags
By ELINOR ELFNER ideas: Can we live without plastic? That’s * Don’t buy water in plastic a dumb question. We all know bottles; use water fountains or that the world has been “plasyour own cup. ticized” as Sylvia Earl says. * Avoid buying any no. 7 About 50 billion #1 plastic plastics because they can’t bottles are made every year be recycled at all. Check from virgin material—that the number inside the means petroleum—that’s triangle on the bottom of fossil fuel. Every minute, the item. Americans throw away * When a “throw 40,000 plastic bottles and away” is necessary, use 50,000 plastic bags. biodegradable paper There’s a dead zone containers. in the Pacific Ocean, *Take reusable bags approximately the size of to the store and never the state of Rhode Island, accept plastic bags. where “throw aways” and *Recycle all the bits of plastic from proplastics you “must” duction of all our plastic accept by taking “stuff” accumulates. The items to recycling currents swirl around centers, includthis area gathering ing carrying plastic more plastic from bags back to grocery the oceans. Well, stores. only the plastic that At the Green Living Expo sea creatures haven’t eaten on May 8 at Riversprings thinking it’s food or which Middle School, you’ll have a hasn’t caught the birds as hard time finding much plasthe plastic bags takes tic. All our food vendors are flight. adopting sustainWe probably Lucy Carter wears 3-4 days of plastic. able practices and can’t live withusing biodegradout plastic, but we can reduce the able serving items. The food will damage to wildlife by reducing the be delicious and our impact on the plastic in our lives. Here are some earth’s resources will be minimal.
2010 Expo exhibitors
1st Presbyterian Church of Tallahassee ADTS - Authorized ADT Dealer Air Con of Wakulla Air Supply Inc. A-Plus Water Solutions, Inc. Arte Mexico Bratton and Tucker Cap. Chapter, US Green Bldg. Council Concerned Citizens of Wakulla Florida Green Building Coalition Friends of Wakulla Springs State Park Gourds and Gophers Plant Nursery Gulf Specimen High Quality Heating & Air High Quality Heating & Air Keep Wakulla County Beautiful LDS Construction Services, Inc Maximum Building Systems, Inc Natural Matters New Leaf Market
Pro Solar Progress Energy Purple Martin Nurseries Sarracenia Chapter of FNPS Sustainable Tallahassee Tallahassee Energy and Construction Talquin Electric Cooperative TCC Workforce Development Division The Wakulla News Wakulla Co. School Board Wakulla Co. Chamber of Commerce Wakulla Co. Coalition for Youth Wakulla Co. Dpt. of Public Services Wakulla Co. Housing Department Wakulla Co. Solid Waste Management Wakulla Co. Planning and Zoning Wakulla Extension Office WormSmiths, LLC Your Own Garden Expressions
Expo Entertainment Schedule SOUND, STAGING & MUSIC BROUGHT TO YOU BY
Entertainment Schedule 9:30 AM
10:45 AM Noon
Ron Patrick
Ernest Toole Ralph Pelletier
1:15 PM Suzette Stephens - Storyteller 2:15 PM
Safari Man
3:00 PM Jim Graham & Rick Ott
Page 10G - The Wakulla News
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Green Living Expo
Workshop TIME
10- 10:45
ROOM 511
ROOM 507
WHATLIVE DOES IT MEAN TO GREEN? Kathryn Ziewitz
ORGANIC GARDENING
CO S
Jack Simmons 11-11:45
12-12:45
Keynote Speaker - Dr. Pie
“Water, Energy and Land De
1-1:45
STITCHING A Road CIRCLE to Repurposing $5 Fee Kathryn Gibson Shelley Swenson 2-2:45
3-3:45
B
GREEN JOBS: WHAT & WHERE ARE THEY Kimberly Moore
SOLAR ENERGY FOR THE HOME Michael Mastry
HOW TO RECYCLE EVERYTHING! Nancy Paul
SOLAR HOT WATER HEATING Joe King
CONDUCT YOURAUDIT OWN HOMERobin ENERGY Dias Doug Dender
Proud sponsor of The Green Living Expo
S
Thursday, May 6, 2010
The Wakulla News - Page 11G
Green Living Expo
p Schedule ROOM 509
THE IMPACT OF OUR ONSUMPTION AROUND THE WORLD Samiri Hernandez Hiraldo
BE THE SOLUTION TO POLLUTION Eric Livingston
OUTSIDE
ROOM 501
HARVESTING RAINWATER AND NEW IRRIGATION METHODS
FILM FESTIVAL
Carrie Stevenson Scott Jackson
9:30 - 11:00 A Chemical Reaction Scott Houston
See Rain Barrel Workshops
11:15 - 12:00 Wakulla Springs: A Watery Treasure Bayard Stern 1:00 - 2:30 Blue Gold
erce Jones (Cafeteria)
evelopment in Florida” HYDROPONIC GARDENING Ken Gambill
Learning About Electric Bikes Andy Reich
MAKING YOUR OWN COMPOST Ed Oaksford
LANDSCAPING WITH NATIVE BetseyPLANTS Smith
SAVE MONEY ON YOUR ELECTRIC BILL Eric Poland
SIMPLE WAYS TO CREATE A GREEN & HEALTHY HOME Reenie Rogers
MEMBER FDIC
2:45 - 4:15 Food, Inc.
Page 12G – The Wakulla News
Green Living Expo
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Explore Stitching Circles - A Road to Repurposing Share the ancient tradition of sewing circles between family and friends made new friends. The excitement of creation nurtured an environment of mutual respect and appreciation. The participants Last summer we offered a three day shared their dreams, aspirations and sucworkshop for 10 girls between the ages cesses as they sometimes struggled with of 7 and 13 to explore the ancient craft the new tools and techniques of sewing. of refashioning used or discarded clothBoth of us remember our grandmothers ing into useable items, contemporary and and mothers cutting and piecing together necessary. Do you remember Scarlett remnants of fabric that had been accuO’Hara in Gone with the Wind” where mulating. Some were well worn articles draperies were “refashioned “ into a formal of clothing no longer capable of repair or dress? This was the concept we wanted small pieces that remained following the the participants to consider. stitching of a new frock. Each tumble At our youth event, each participant from a horse or imprecise measurement of caustic chemicals could be read in the stain or rip that led to its move to the sewing basket. Many remnants were pieces that had been traded or gifted from neighbors or relatives. Every useable scrap was fodder for another project and another story. For generations, creation was a part of every woman’s life. Domestic arts are seldom a part of what we teach our children now. These living arts had been passed down by oral histories through generations of forbearers connecting us Haleigh Martin refashioned an item dur- to our roots and our community. ing the three-day workshop in 2009. Today often our delight in what we brought something from her closet or adorn ourselves and our surroundings from the closet of a family member to comes from how little we paid or a trend refashion or repurpose. They shared de- that might have inspired it, rather than lightful stories about the previous life of from any personal connection. We often the item and their hope and plans for its don’t expect much from what we buy, future use. We heard about a mother’s because the item will not be with us long. lovely brown long-cherished skirt and her But attitudes are changing. daughter’s plan to turn it into a contemWe received wonderful, positive feedporary dress. Worn and outgrown jeans back from the participants and their parbecame handbags. Outdated skirts were ents. Other adults expressed interest in cut, pieced and embellished as the girls a similar experience and Explore StitchBy KATHRYN GIBSON AND SHELLEY SWENSON
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Repurposed cloth shopping bags and a wreath adorn this ordinary piece of green felt to create a wall hanging. ing Circles—A Road to Repurposing resulted. The workshop will be offered from 1 to 2:45 p.m. at this year’s Green Living Expo. Join the group of likeminded persons in activities to unleash and nurture your creativity. Through the utilization of re-cycled fabric and by learning embellishment techniques, participants will be encouraged to creatively express themselves while making a stylish market bag to replace the plastics and paper bags that clog our landfills. Consider this an opportunity for sharing the ancient tradition of sewing circles between family members, friends and close neighbors. These are the details of which you must be aware: Participants must be 13 years or older. Parents and their children are welcome! Each participant is encouraged to bring example of refashion clothing, quilts and/or household items, a sewing scissors and any embellishments you would like to share with the group. The class is limited to 15 people. There is a $5.00 charge for the event. Enrollment in the event will be handled as a first come, first serve basis. Indicate your interest in being a part of the workshop and pay your registration fee at the Green Living Expo Registration Desk.
Cai Martin holds up her repurposed quilt. By reconstructing clothing we reduce the demand for new items. Manufacturers can direct their energies toward producing quality rather than quantity. Reusing materials is different from recycling in that it does not involve reprocessing and its associated cost and waste created from reprocessing. We can learn to be more self-sufficient and to be inspired into repurposing more. We can do our part in helping to nurture and save the planet. Please consider joining us at the Green Living Expo in the workshop entitled Explore Stitching Circles—A Road to Repurposing.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
The Wakulla News – Page 13G
Green Living Expo
What does it mean to be a Green Ambassador? By Sherri Hood Wakulla County 4-H Agent In an effort to include more educational opportunities for young people at this year’s Green Living Expo, the Wakulla County 4-H Program has started the Green Ambassador’s Program. This program recruited interested middle school students from Riversprings and Wakulla Middle Schools to act as facilitators for the edu-stations that will be found at the Green Expo this year. As children and their parents register for the event, children will be given an “Eco-Passport� to take to each edu-station and get it stamped once they complete the activity at the station. They will also be given a folder to keep up with the educational materials that they will receive at each station. It is the goal of the Green Ambassador program to allow students to teach each other and younger students about environmental stewardship, sustainable lifestyle choices and green practices that they can do in their own lives. As each child participates in hands-on activities, they will hopefully choose to incorporate what they are learning into their everyday lives and encourage others to do the same. By signing a pledge and returning their passport for a certificate at the end of the day, we hope to inspire young people to
believe that what they do, even in small ways can make a difference. Edu-stations will be staffed from 9 a.m. until 12 noon and will incorporate original ideas from the Green Ambassadors themselves. Recently, in preparation to host at the Green Expo on May 8, the Green Ambassadors were invited to participate in a spring break camp to explore the natural beauty of Wakulla County and five of the eleven Ambassadors participated. We took two field trips to boat down the St. Mark’s River and to kayak down the Wakulla River as well as learned to pack a litterless lunch, identify common trees in North Florida, navigate using a county road map and throw a cast net. All participants wished that we had more time to explore and were inspired to think of creative ways to save their environment and teach other throughout this program.
Wakulla resident Clay Lovel and daughter Mary Elizabeth make a very sticky bird feeder during Expo kids activities in 2009.
EcoKids activities will educate and entertain
By LEILANIA NICHOLS Saturday, May 8 is the 4th annual Green Living Expo and we’re inviting all EcoKids to join us from 9-4 for tons of earth-friendly kid’s activities. When you arrive at the Expo, drop by the EcoKids Activity Center (designed for the younger set) and take a seat with the Wakulla Library staff for earth friendly stories (the EcoKids story times will take place throughout the day). If you aren’t ready to sit a spell, choose from a number of other activities such The pledge of the Green Ambassadors as learning about the water cycle and then is creating a group mural or participate in a I am a concerned citizen of Wakulla “Let’s Make It Rain� experiment. County, the State of Florida, the United If that doesn’t float your boat, join us for States and of the Planet Earth. the Recycled Regatta and make your own I choose to help educate myself and boat out of recycled items. Other EcoArt others about sustainable practices, activities include decorating an Inspiration environmentally-friendly activities and Box (can be used to keep those unusual things you find now and then that might be planet-saving solutions. useful in art and craft projects) or decorating
an old cereal box to store magazines. Let’s not forget Mom! Her special day is Sunday, May 9th. The EcoKids Activity Center is the perfect place to make her a recycled gift from the heart. Start with an egg carton flower bouquet and finish with a decoupage vase to place it in! Other activities include a Recycle Sorting Game, EcoKids Circle Games, and the EcoKids Coloring Center! Don’t forget to keep your ears open for the sound of some kid-friendly entertainment, such as the popular one-man-band Safari Man Roger Tripp. The Expo is a great place to teach our kids the importance of sustainability and earthfriendly living. If we instill these values in this generation at a young age, green living will become a way of life instead of a change in life as it has been for many of us. Join the fun, Saturday, May 8 from 9-4!
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Page 14G – The Wakulla News
Green Living Expo
Sustainable treasure hunt is a way to evaluate lifestyle
Enter to win prizes at the Expo Every year millions of earth loving citizens participate in the annual spring ritual of planting trees and flowers. It beautifies and makes our yards and our community a better place to live – for humans and wildlife. But what happens to all of the plastic pots that the plants come in? Far too many go to the landfill. Bulky and slow to decompose, it can take decades for them to rot. Thanks to the Green Living Expo and Justs Fruits & Exotic Nursery, you can recycle your pots and be entered to win a prize. For every 4 nursery pots you bring in you’ll receive a raffle ticket. Just Fruits has donated a beautiful ginkgo tree for the grand prize. Unlike many places that sell plants,
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Just Fruits grows most of their plants and uses a lot of pots doing it. So, take a few minutes, clean out those pots and bring them with you. We ask that you bring only black, not broken, 6-inch or larger pots. Help yourself and Mother Earth. If you can’t make it to the Green Living Expo, you can always take them to Just Fruits for a credit on plants. Want a rain barrel? Don’t have time to make one? Don’t have the money to buy one? No worries, just enter the Rain Barrel Raffle at the Green Living Expo. Tickets are $2 each or three tickets for $5 Prizes include four beautiful, locally hand painted rain barrels, a container garden donated by the Iris Garden Club (pictured above), and two gift baskets donated by Posh.
Help Feed Your Neighbor! Bring Non-Perishables to the registration desk of the Green Living Expo. Food will be given to the Wakulla County Food Pantries.
By ELINOR ELFNER If we want to leave any of our natural resources for future generations, we need to adopt living styles that minimize our personal use of those resources. Of course, we could leave this up to Big Government, but if we each make small changes, we can support our friends and neighbors, leaving water, energy and air resources for future generations. A Sustainable Treasure Hunt is a way to look at your own life style, almost like an outsider would. Here’s a guide to find out how you are saving treasures for future generations. 1. Energy efficient transportation— Look at your family vehicles. How energy efficient are they? How efficient is your use of the vehicles? Do you pick up and go or plan to minimize your trips across town. How often do members of your family use alternative transportation? Bicycles, scooters, buses, etc.? Are your vehicles well maintained? Low tire pressure or overdue tune-ups can really reduce the miles per gallon in your car, or the increase the leg effort on your bike. 2. Food—Much of the food we eat travels 5,000 miles just getting to our tables. Do you check labels to see which country grew your food? Are you buying from local farmers? Are you buying fruits and vegetables when they are in season and preserving them for use in other seasons? It takes a lot more water and fossil fuels to produce the protein from beef than from plants. Are you eating less meat and more beans and rice? Pesticides used to increase production leave behind pollution that fouls our waterways and may harm our health. Are you buying organic food when possible? Are you growing any of your own food? Do you buy fair-trade coffee? Do you take cloth bags to the store and say “No Thank You” to paper or plastic bags? How do you prepare your food? Do you use a pressure cooker to avoid longer cooking times? Do you use pans the same size as the burner so heat is not wasted? Do you use a convection oven or microwave oven when possible? Do you save the leaf-overs and use them BEFORE they spoil? Do you save all food scraps except meat products to put in your compost pile to make fertilizer for your garden? 3. Trash & Things—This section is the “waste not want not” part of the treasure hunt. Do you make your shopping list, including toilet paper, so that no last minutes trips are necessary? Do you recycle paper, glass, plastic, and aluminum? Do you cut-up old towels to make re-useable rags to use in place of paper towels? Do
you donate gently used items to Goodwill, Salvation Army, or your kids? Do you sand, repaint and reuse old furniture? Do you have a place to save items for regifting? Do you give alternative gifts and services rather than “stuff”? 4. Water—Do you repair leaky toilets and faucets immediately? That small drip can waste water and cost you gallons. Have you switched to low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators? Do you turn off water while brushing your teeth or shaving? Do you wash only full loads of clothes? Do you use native plants in the garden which are more drought tolerant than other plants? Do you collect all that (or most) of that rainwater that falls on your roof. Do you put a liter bottle of water in your toilet tank to reduce the amount of water in each flush? Do you have a rain garden to capture runoff? 5. Electricity for Heating/Cooling—Have you made your house as tight as possible by weather-stripping around doors and caulking around windows? Do you replace furnace or heat pump filters regularly? Do you use a programmable thermostat and keep your house warmer in the summer and cooler in the winter to minimize the cost of heating and cooling? Do you keep the fireplace damper closed when not in use? Have you installed insulating window coverings? Do you use fans when people are in the room to make the room feel cooler? Are your windows the “low-E,” which reduce solar radiation? Do you have deciduous trees on the south and west to reduce cooling in the summer and heating in the winter? Have you checked the insulation in your attic and added more in increase the R-factor to 33? Do you buy the highest SEER heat pump or air conditioner you can possibly afford over the long haul? 6. Electricity for Lighting—Do you use as much daylight as possible and turn off lights when leaving a room? Have all your light bulbs been changed to CFLs (compact fluorescent) or LEDs (light emitting diode)? Do you motion sensors for automatic turn off of exterior lights? 7. Electricity for Appliances—Do you unplug all those small countertop appliances when not in use? Do you wash clothes in only cold water, using detergent with enzymes? Do you clean the lint trap in the dryer after every use and in the vent to the outside twice a year? Do you use a clothes line for drying clothes? Do you buy only energy star appliances and check the efficiency of appliances when replacing them? Continued on Page 15G
Thursday, May 6, 2010
The Wakulla News – Page 15G
Green Living Expo
Sopchoppy builder receives ICF Builder Award
Treasure hunt
Continued from Page 14G 8. Garden and Yard – Do you use a manual push lawn mower or an electric mower rather than a gas mower? Do you use a mulching mower rather than fertilize your lawn? Do you use solar garden lights? Do you mulch gardens to avoid evaporation of moisture? 9. Other—Do you share your hopes and experiences with friends in conversation; let your elected leaders know you
HigH Quality
support sustainable living; advocate for green construction and green remodeling; and involve family members in household efforts to live more sustainably? You can get many helpful hints at workshops and from exhibitors at the Green Living Expo on May 8th at Riversprings Middle School. Join others between 9:00 and 4:00 for learning, movies, raffles, good food, and a great guest speaker.
Visit us at the Ex po!
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Larry Sapp of LDS Construction Services in Sopchoppy, proudly holds his ICF Builder Award in front of the Rigby-Lightner residence in Tallahassee, a green home he completed in 2008. Floors made of bamboo, renewable hard-wood, or tile are a few of the interior features of the ICF Award-winning home built by LDS Construction Services. The home is built with Insulated Concrete Forms, commonly called ICFs, which are hollow foam blocks stacked then filled with steel-reinforced concrete. Larry Sapp, owner of LDS Construction Services in Sopchoppy, described the owners of the home in Tallahassee as “technologically inclined people.” He said they had spent years researching their needs and identified their priorities as strength, for frequent Florida hurricanes, clean indoor air because of allergy sensitivities, environmental friendliness, energy efficiency, and comfort. ICF homes combine the strength of concrete with the insulating properties of foam and can reduce energy bills by 70 percent. Exterior noise is blocked and the structures are extremely disaster resistant. ICF homes are one of the most popular “green building” construction methods and costs 5 to 10 percent more than typical frame construction. The Rigby-Lightner home, built in Tallahassee by Sapp, was named Second RunnerUp in the Small Residential division at the World of Concrete trade show in Las Vegas. The ICF Builder Awards are given annually to projects that demonstrate outstanding innovation, quality, and craftsmanship in ICF construction. Sapp used Nudura ICF construction for the Rigby-Lightner home and during the award presentation, judges cited the complexity of the design, striking architecture, and dealing with the flooding challenges brought from Hurricane Faye during the construction in 2008. The home owners were very happy with the project stating the quality construction gives them a feeling of security and the energy efficient features help reduce their carbon footprint. “The house turned out more beautiful than we imagined,” they said. The home is 2,873 square feet requiring 2,204 square feet of ICF construction method. The total cost of construction was $450,000 and was the first project in the area with an ICF foundation.
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Page 16G – The Wakulla News
Green Living Expo
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Expo’s film festival to feature documentaries chock full of fascinating information
Please Recycle Jazz at the Lodge
Saturday, May 8 7-9:30 p.m.
Deborah Lawson Group Historic Lobby- Wakulla Springs Lodge ;gZZ bZbWZg ZkZci [dg ;g^ZcYh d[ LV`jaaV Heg^c\h - <ZcZgVa 6Yb^hh^dc Cash Wine and Beer Bar A presentation of Friends of Wakulla Springs State Park www.wakullasprings.org
How much do you learn by watching movies? A lot, if those movies are documentary films chock full of fascinating information and mind-searing images that inspire and motivate. This year’s 4th annual Green Living Expo, to be held on Saturday, May 8 at Riversprings Middle School, will, for the first time, feature documentary films with this magical power to change behavior. The film festival kicks off at 9:30 a.m. with a film presentation of “A Chemical Reaction”, hosted by Scott Houston representing Agra-Quest, an organic lawn care products company. The documentary explains the damaging impact lawn chemicals have on human health and tells the inspiring story of a Canadian town that was the first to prohibit their use. At 11:15 a.m., the newly released “Wakulla Springs, A Watery Treasure” will be showcased. Tallahassee filmmaker Bayard Stern, who produced the film, will introduce it at the Expo. The film traces the history of Wakulla Springs and the people that helped shape it, and includes colorful interviews with local personalities Don Gavin and Luke Smith, tour boat captains; Springs Ambassador Cal Jamison; park rangers, Sandy Cook and Bob Thompson, and Enwood Ashmore, whose insights to the influence of former springs owner, Ed Ball, are captivating. The film’s amazing footage covers the cave exploration of the Woodville Karst Plain project, which was the longest cave dive in history, and interviews diver Casey MacKinlay, hydrologist Todd Kincaid and biologist Scott Savery. Recent struggles to control the effects of development and protect the pristine waters of the springs are also documented. After lunch, at l: 00 p.m. the film festi-
Calculate Your Carbon Footprint! Computer Lab OPEN 10 AM - NOON Room: 802 Scott Rossow
A scene from “Wakulla Springs, A Watery Treasure. val resumes with a showing of “Blue Gold”. Based on the ground-breaking book of the same title, the documentary has won several awards, including Best Ecological Film at the European Independent Film Festival and Best Documentary Film at the Newport Beach Film Festival. The movie presents the economic realities surrounding our earth’s dwindling fresh water supply, and exposes the hardship suffered by people in third world countries because they lack
clean drinking water. Wrapping up the day’s film offerings, “Food Inc.” will be shown at 2:45 p.m. Presenting a comprehensive look at the food industry in America and its impact on farmers and consumers, the film also offers action steps toward establishing more healthful and sustainable food practices. Admission to the film festival and the Expo is free and the public is invited to attend.
What to bring to the Expo
When you plan your Expo day, be prepared to relax, learn and enjoy the day. Don’t forget to bring the following: • Canned goods or other non-perishables (for local foodbanks) • Lawnchairs (to enjoy the outdoor entertainment) • Your mother (to honor her and Mother Earth during Mother’s Day weekend) • Family and friends And don’t forget items for recycling: • Electronics (all kinds) • Light Bulbs (all kinds) • Batteries (all kinds) • Cans, Plastics, Paper • Black plastic nursery pots (6” or larger) for a chance to win a large Gingko tree
Thursday, May 6, 2010
The Wakulla News – Page 17G
Green Living Expo
Big and small footprints
5k Run Benefit for the Friends of Wakulla Springs State Park Join the Friends for the annual 5k Run for the Friends. This is a sanctioned event in conjunction with GulfWinds Track Club. This unique run winds through a wilderness area of the State Park which is not open to the general public. Last year’s crowd was over 200. This year, we have added a Run and Ride option for runners and their families.
You’ve seen the coon prints on your back porch or the footprints of the deer in your garden. You’ve even seen your own footprints as you step out of the shower or tub. But, have you considered your carbon footprint? This is the footprint you leave in the atmosphere to affect the disruption of climate for future generations. It’s the amount of carbon dioxide left in the atmosphere from the choices you make throughout your life. The problem is you can’t see it directly. Most of your carbon footprint comes from use of electricity in your home or business and from the fuel to run your car, truck, or boat. These sources of energy mostly come from fossil fuels which leave behind the carbon dioxide. If everyone on the earth created as large a footprint as those of us in the United States, it would take between six and ten planets to support all of us. Go to www.ecofoot.org to check how many of the earth’s productive acreage is needed to support your life style. If you lived on Samso Island your footprint would be very small and you would be much more self-sufficient. Samso is a tiny island in Denmark and one of the few places on earth with almost no carbon footprint. The Technology Center at Riverspings Middle School will become the “Computer Lab” during the Green Living Expo on May 8th. You’ll need to be there between 10:00 and noon to calculate your own carbon footprint. If you bring your family’s utility bills, you may go to http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html then you can check “At Home” section to see actions you can take to reduce your emission and your utility bill. Youth may want to play the game at http://planetgreengame.com/game. php?quickStart=1 or to http://www.nature. org/initiatives/climatechange/calculator to compare US emissions in tons of CO2 per year with World averages. They can also compare their footprint to other kids by going to http://us.zerofootprintkinds. com/kids_home.aspx.
Date:
May 15, 2010
Location:
Wakulla Springs State Park, Wakulla County (22 miles south of Tallahassee) 1 mile Family Fun Run begins at 8:00 am 5k Run begins at 8:30 am
Distances & Race Times:
Special Event: "Run and Ride" Runners Guided Boat Tour..............11:00 Runners and their families are invited on a special guided boat tour for an additional $6.00 per adult, $3.00 for kids 4 to 12 (Children under 3 are free). Please “make your reservations” by paying for the Run and Ride with your registration fee. Pre-registration ends May 12th Pre-registered $12; No shirt option $7 Day of race $15; no shirt option $10 Family Fun Run $10, no shirt option $5; children 5 and under free T-shirts: 1 shirt $15; 2 shirts $25 (for the 5K Run)
Fees:
Please see next page for registration form. The Friends of Wakulla Springs would like to thank our sponsors. Without their support, we could not host the 5K Run that directly benefits Wakulla Springs. This year, the Friends of Wakulla Springs hope to raise enough money for the park to refurbish the four river boats, and the four glass bottom boats that were built by Edward Ball in the 1960’s. To learn more about donating to the Friends, or to become a member, please visit http://www.wakullasprings.org/projects.html
Air Con of Wakulla
Page 18G – The Wakulla News
Green Living Expo
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Grower’s market offered at Expo Seems like the old idea of eating food from our gardens and our friend’s gardens has come back in style! I see signs of the Local Food Movement everywhere I look: its on TV, on the internet, on the radio, in magazines and books. It is an exciting thing when the power of our choices is reflected in popular media. There are many reasons to eat locally but I will mention just a few here: Taste. Nothing says summer quite like a bite into a juicy red tomato fresh off the vine. The aroma of green that hits your nose just as you are about to take that bite, the amazing burst of flavor as the juice drips down your chin. Compare that to the tomato at a grocery store that was picked while hard and unripe, gassed to accelerate the ripeness (i.e. color), and then sat around for weeks and …well…there really is no comparison is there? Most produce sold at local Growers’ Markets was picked that morning! Supporting your local economy. Buying food from local farmers keeps our dollars circulating locally and helps to further our growth and success as a community. When businesses are not owned locally, money leaves the community at every transaction. Supports responsible land develop-
ment. When you buy local, you give those with local open space - farms and pastures - an economic reason to stay open and undeveloped. Small family-owned farms have a much lower ecological footprint that large agribusiness operations. Healthy soil is essential for us all. Know what you are eating. People who eat locally find it easier to ask questions and get answers because the growers are easily accessible. Shouldn’t you know more about how your food was grown than how the latest Hollywood star was dressed yesterday? Get in touch with the seasons. When you eat locally, you eat what’s in season. You’ll remember that tomatoes are the taste of summer and that fall is coming when the last of the figs fade away…. There are Growers’ Markets in Leon County. A great website for learning about markets and farms is www.localharvest.org. For more ideas on eating local come to the 4th Annual Green Living Expo & Education Fair May 8th, from 9am-4pm at Riversprings Middle School. This will be the 2nd year a Growers’ Market will be offered at the Expo where you can purchase delicious fresh food and meet some of our local farmers from here in Wakulla County and the surrounding area.
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Thursday, May 6, 2010
The Wakulla News – Page 19G
Green Living Expo
“Get the Green Advantage” at the TCC Wakulla Center
Change has arrived in the construction industry, and both the environment and energy will be critical considerations. As a user of the built-environment, understanding how daily activities both at work and at home affect the green environment is critical. To educate the community on this topic, Tallahassee Community College will offer a class at the TCC Wakulla Center in May. Get the Green Advantage will be offered from 6-10 p.m., Monday-Thursday, May 17-20. Cost is $109. “This course provides a holistic and foundational approach to green construction for building professionals and the consumer so they can understand how
their work and habits are connected to the green building process, how it encourages more collaboration on projects and how to generate more efficient, greener results,” said Marc Dick, Alternative Energy Specialist. “The course is excellent preparation for persons in the construction trades wishing to take the Green Advantage Certified Practitioner exam.” Additionally, TCC will offer Introduction to Solar Hot Water from 6-10 p.m., on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, May 17-27. The cost is $99. This Florida Solar Energy Center course is designed to provide trainees and consumers with the knowledge and skills needed to design, install, operate and maintain, or purchase the most com-
mon types of solar water heater systems. The course presents an overview of solar thermal applications, provides basic information on the principles of solar energy, reviews solar thermal technologies, and provides detailed instruction on the safe, efficient installation of solar water heating and pool heating systems. Interested participants can learn more about the classes and pre-register by visiting TCC’s Green Guide booth at the Sustainable Big Bend Green Living Expo on Saturday, May 8 at Riversprings Middle School in Crawfordville. For more information on classes offered at the TCC Wakulla Center, please call (850) 922-6290 or email WakullaCenter@ tcc.fl.edu.
ÜÊ"«i t Ì i 1 `iÀÜ>ÌiÀÊ7>ÞÃ Scuba Equipment Sales & Service Highest Rated Training Blended Gasses Thurs. 9-5 • Fri - Mon. 7-7
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Tasty, healthy food on Expo menu Nature writing by Kathryn Gibson There will be something for everyone this year at the Green Living Expo on May 8th. We are very pleased that several of our local food vendors will be returning by popular demand. They are: Kettle Korn Poppery will be back with their freshly popped gourmet popcorn. In addition to their regular lightly salted and lightly sugar glazed popcorn, they will have available unsalted popcorn for those attendees needing to limit salt intake. You will find Debbie Dix’s POSH in the cafeteria where she will brew some fresh aromatic fair trade coffee and herbal ice tea. Among the delights for the senses you will also find ‘Divine’ and ‘Art Bar’ fair trade and organic chocolates. ‘Art Bars’ have become known by chocoholics nationwide for their unique packaging and commitment to supporting the arts by donating 10% of their profits to art education. She has some other surprises for us as well. Award winning TasteBudz will also be back with a variety of their wholesome freshly cooked breakfast and lunch specials. Last year Chef Judy helped us great the day with her Oat Pancakes and Turkey Sausage. I do not know what lies in store for us for lunch but I can rest assured that it will be tasty and healthy. Soul Vegetarian will also return with their unique vegetarian cooking. I understand that they are opening a take out restaurant and have been cooking up some of their signature meals with the power of the sun. Maybe we can get them to show us what they know about solar cooking. Sopchoppy landmark and favorite eatery, Scratch Cakes will be back with some local favorites. We’re hoping for some fruit breads, cookies and cinnamon buns. Miss Audrey also plans on bringing some surprises. New to our Expo is CornerstoneCooking. Morris Pigott will bring his trailer barbeque to cook up some tasty burgers and pulled pork sandwiches. He credits his dad for inspiring his passion for cooking. He remembers fondly watching and helping his dad cook for the family. JandJ Lemonade are scheduled to bring lemonade to quench our thirst. They will have some lemonade that you can sweeten yourself with alternative sweeteners.
workshop with Sue Cerulean Sunday, May 16 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
FSU Coastal and Marine Lab A nature writing workshop will be held at the FSU Coastal and Marine Lab on Sunday, May 16 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. The daylong workshop will feature writer, editor, and naturalist Sue Cerulean as the leader, taking particpants away from the distractions of daily life into the larger reality of the land and waters that support us through the patient, informed observation of a particular place. Under shady pines of Apalachee Bay the workshop promises to teach participants to practice quick, informal writing exercises to sharpen skills of observation; study the art and importance of concrete detail; learn to keep a nature journal, and why it is important at this time on the planet; consider being a voice for the place we live in and love. Participants should pack a lunch and beverage, bring a folding chair, journal and pens, hat, and sunscreen. To register, contact Sharon Thoman at the FSU Coastal and Marine Laboratory at sthoman@fsu.edu or call 850-697-4095. Credit cards will be accepted for registration.
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Page 20G – The Wakulla News
Green Living Expo
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Green Guide Certification
Program Begins September 20th at the TCC Wakulla Center The Green Guide Certification Program provides classroom and field-based training designed to: Create a nature-centered network of businesses and guides Enable guides to provide tourists with environmentally and socially responsible experiences
Visit the TCC and Green Guide booths at the Green Expo. Meet graduates of the Green Guide Certification Program.
Florida Green Academy
Register now for the following classes offered at the TCC Wakulla Center Introduction to Solar Hot Water May 17, 18, 20, 24, 25, 27 from 6 – 10 p.m.
Get the Green Advantage May 17 – 20 from 6 – 10 p.m.
(850) 922-6290 | WakullaCenter@tcc.fl.edu
| workforce.tcc.fl.edu