In The Field magazine Hillsborough edition by Berry Publications, Inc

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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

August 2015

“Paladin® gave me about a 20% yield increase over last year.” Cecil Howell, H&R Farms, Immokalee, FL

Cecil had heard about Paladin® soil fumigant’s higher yields and its effectiveness on weeds and soilborne diseases. So he made the switch, treating 110 acres of peppers with a tank mix of 79:21 Paladin® soil fumigant and chloropicrin with a pre-emergent herbicide. “I was tickled to death with the yield. Especially going through all the cold weather and rain,” said Cecil. “And it was definitely cheaper than previous treatments.” He got the quick nutsedge control he was looking for, too. “Within a week, it was already brown. It was the quickest thing I had ever seen.” Plant size also lived up to his expectations. “They were bigger and looked great. I was really pleased,” says Cecil. Cecil’s 20% higher yield translated to 1,800 boxes of peppers per acre. He smiled when asked if he plans on using Paladin® again. “It worked so good.” Paladin® soil fumigant is a restricted-use pesticide. Always refer to and follow the federal label requirements for crops, specific use rates and application directions. Paladin is a registered trademark of Arkema

Cecil Howell

paladin.com 2

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August 2015

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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

August 2015

Contents

VOL. 11 â&#x20AC;˘ ISSUE 10

BEEF

An Important Ag Commodity in Hillsborough County

Page

Business Up Front

Seminole Pumpkins

Literary Time Machine

Citrus Greening

Dry Creek The Set

Trendy Microgreens

Coyote Update

UF Team Awarded Grant

Page 10 Page 15 Page 16

Fishing Hot Spots

Page 18

Page 35 Page 38 Page 42

Protect yourself

Page 28 Page 29

Page 64

Pesticide Exposure &

Closer Look

Page 48

Page 84 Page 85

Naturally Amazing Recipes

Karen Berry

UF Center for Public Issues Education

Meet the Minks

Poisoning Part 2 Endangered Species

Page 58

From Fraud

Page 46

Rocking Chair Chatter

Page 22

Page 54

Page 50

Page 86

What Have you Got To Lose

Page 52

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

August 2015

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IN NTHEFIELD IELD MAGAZINE

August ugust 2015

Letter from the Editor

STAFF

Publisher/Photography Karen Berry Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher Sarah Holt Editor-In-Chief Al Berry Editor Patsy Berry

I love spending time outside. As an avid runner I am often out the door well before daylight and I enjoy evenings spent in my backyard with my dogs. This year getting outside has been complicated by the torrential rains we had in the month of July. They kept me indoors where I incurred a serious case of cabin fever. Now that we are back to the typical Florida weather, another problem has reared its ugly head. The swarms of mosquitos, that are always unpleasant, seem to have tripled! I open my door and run out praying they will not make it in to my house. These lovely creatures find me any time. I have been bitten and harassed in the morning, afternoon, evening, they find me no matter what time of the day. I’ll let you do the research on mosquito repellants. They are certainly too numerous for me to list. Just find what works for you if you have the same problem I have with the little bloodsuckers. But, there are things you can do around the house the try to minimize their breeding grounds. 1. Keep gutters clean 2. Keep the pool clean and chlorinated 3. Be sure containers that may collect water have a hole drilled in the bottom so water doesn’t collect. 4. Fountains should be aerated 5. Dump birdbaths or other things that may hold water at least twice a week. With the rains we have had this may prove difficult. Also, keep your yard neat so the adult mosquitos don’t have a place to rest for the day. Then head outdoors and enjoy yourself! Until next month

Sarah

The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. - Numbers 6:25

Office Manager Bob Hughens Sales Manager Danny Crampton Sales Al Berry Tina Richmond Danny Crampton Melissa Nichols Creative Director/Illustrator Juan Alvarez Photography Karen Berry Al Berry Stephanie Humphrey Staff Writers Al Berry Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak Sean Green Ginny Mink Libby Hopkins Nick Chapman Vanessa Caceres Contributing Writers Woody Gore Les McDowell John Dicks In The Field Magazine is published monthly and is available through local Hillsborough County businesses, restaurants, and many local venues. It is also distributed by U.S. mail to a target market, which includes all of the Greenbelt Property owners, members of the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau and Strawberry Grower’s Association. Letters, comments and questions can be sent to P.O. Box 5377, Plant City, Florida 335630042 or you are welcome to email them to: info@inthefieldmagazine.com or call 813759-6909 Advertisers warrant & represent the descriptions of their products advertised are true in all respects. In The Field Magazine assumes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers. All views expressed in all articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Berry Publications, Inc. Any use or duplication of material used in In the Field magazine is prohibited without written consent from Berry Publications, Inc. Published by Berry Publications, Inc.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

August 2015

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IN INTTHE HEFFIELD IELD M MAGAZINE AGAZINE

AAugust ugust 2015 2015

FARM BUREAU Dear Readers:

100toSouth MulrennantheRoad • Valrico, 33594 • 813-685-9121 I am both humbled and honored have been challenges our localFL industry partners face as elected president of YOUR Hillsborough County they strive to produce the high quality products Farm Bureau. All of us owe a debt of gratitude to our markets demand. Those tours are hard work outgoing president Danny Aprile for his years of and represent many hours of support from our service to our organization. I promise to do my A BUSY industry colleagues. We YOUR thank them and those TIME FOR best to continue the momentum he carried forth. legislators and regulators who take the time to FARM BUREAU learn first hand about agriculture in our area and As a sixth generation Florida farmer, I know the how and why we need their ongoing awareness, many challenges and opportunities all of us have help and support. percent) of farmers and ranchers have been certified for followDear Readers: in theReaders: agriculture industry and that is an industry Dear ing conservation compliance guidelines of the USDA. For many more. Ag-Venture, ouritprogram for bringing that is global. Our over major challenge is to to continue ofThere’s us that’s old news, but I believe is news worth repeating. We know summer is almost when parents begin get their childrentoready for thethe new school and ourpopulation strawberry must growthe story of agriculture to children through school produce food ouryear growing Farm Bureau’s “This Farm Cares” program in Florida recers take the both important steps for theto new My Ihave am and honored toberry have season. been the challenges our local industry partners face as activities, is going on and we will againhere be particiwhilehumbled thefirst lands devoted farming continue ognizes thosetooperations that voluntarily participate in the Best best wishes to children as of they begin classes and to our growers elected president YOUR County they strive produce the high quality products pating in Farm City Days through which we bring to diminish. The good thingHillsborough is that the market Management Practices stipulated by the Florida Department of as they lay the foundation for this important crop. Farm Bureau. All continues of us owe to a debt of gratitude our demand. Those are living hard work the markets story of ourtours friends into note how for our products expand. Our taskto Agriculture andagriculture Consumer to Services. It’s interesting outgoing president Danny Aprile for his years of and represent many hours of support from our Tampa. is to effectively meet those dual challenges while the practices of those farms and ranches that volunteer to parThe special legislative session in Tallahassee was very important service toseveral our promise to do confident my Our industryarecolleagues. We even thank them and those ticipate in compliance before becoming involved in the to agriculture in ways that Ienvironment. feelI must be recognized. protecting ourorganization. precious I am it tonot say,a ”we don’t justour talktime the to talk, we walk legislators again recognized the important role theforth. best to continue thetask momentum heforward carried legislators andare regulators who take the Lastly, ifSuffice you member of Farm Bureau we once are up to that and I look toUniverhelping program. the walk” when comes to sity of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences has learn first handitjoin about in ourthat areayou andbe a family, please us. agriculture It sustainability. isn’t necessary us all do our part to assure that we do so. with regard to agriculture in our state. This tremendous agriAs a sixth generation Florida farmer, I know the how andorwhy we need theirPlease ongoing awareness, rancher join. visit Iffarmer that is important totoyou, and I am sure it is, and you’re not a cultural asset with its 13 research and education centers across many challenges and opportunities all of us have help and support. http:// hcfarmbureau.org Let me also tell you about the other new officers or call 813/685-9121 for Farm Bureau member, I ask that you consider membership for the state helps all segments of our industry. Funding measures in the agriculture industry that is vital an are: industry your family. The modest fee associated with family membership approved by our state lawmakers willand assure that work conelected by your board last month. They more information. in Farm Bureau is a great dealour and program your activefor involvement tinues.that There’s more. Ag-Venture, bringing will global. Our challenge is to Ray continue ViceisPresident Willmajor Womack, Treasurer Wood, be beneficial your family our industry. If your famthe story ofto agriculture to children through school to produceMichelle the foodWilliamson our growingand population must Secretary Member-AtOnce again, Iboth am honored to and be your president and ily is already part of our Farm Bureau family, please consider Our legislators are back in Tallahassee again this month to take activities, is going on and and your we will again be particihave while the lands My devoted to farming continue Large Bill Burnette. thanks to each of them and my very best to you family. suggesting membership to your friends. To learn more, please up the matter of congressional redistricting in eight districts in pating in Farm City Days through which we bring to diminish. The good thing is unfolds that theasmarket our their willingness to serve. visit: http://hcfarmbureau.org or call 813/685-9121 for more inthe state. It board will befor vital to watch what the redrawthe story of agriculture to our friends living in our products continues to expand. Our task efformation. ing of for Congressional Districts will definitely cause a ripple fect through the state, changing the makeup ofto many additional Tampa. isAstoI effectively meet those dual challenges while am sure all of you have come realize Sincerely, congressional districts. In addition, this session may be confident a precurprotecting our is precious environment. I am vacation time over. We are particularly busy at Thank you, sor for another special session since the organization that filed Lastly, if you are not a member of our Farm Bureau we areBureau. up to that task and Iwe look forward to helping Farm This month are completing the the lawsuit against the state to challenge the validity of Florida’s family, please join us. It isn’t necessary that you be a us all do our legislative part assure that wechallenge do so. we third ofDistricts our tours during which take Congressional alsotofiled a lawsuit to Florida’s farmer or rancher to join. Please visit state senate districts. elected and appointed officials to several of our http:// hcfarmbureau.org Let me also tell you about the other new officers or call 813/685-9121 for agricultural businesses in this areas so they can see Kenneth Parker - President Floridaelected Farm Bureau monitors all ofThey this are: activity and by your boardsome last month. more information. agriculture atactively work, of the best management initiates action to promote and protect the best interests of our Vice President Will Treasurer Ray learn Wood,of that have Womack, beentoput into place industry.practices While that is important producers, it is and of equal imSecretary Michelle Williamson and Member-AtOnce again, I am honored to be your president and portance to consumers and another reason to belong to Farm Bill keep Burnette. to each of them and my very best to you and your family. Bureau.Large You can abreastMy of thanks this activity in Tallahassee by visitingour www.floridafarmbureau.org. board for their willingness to serve. Board of Directors

Summer is Almost Over

Kenneth

Kenneth Parker, President; Will Womack, Vice-President; Ray Wood, Treasure; Michelle Williamson, Secretary;

That brings up another point. Some have said, “Farmers and Billcome Burnette; Board members: Roy Davis, David Drawdy, Jim Dyer, Jim Frankowiak, As I am sureMember-at-large; all of you have to realize ranchers were green when that was just aJohn color” not Greg the label Glenn Harrell, Chip Hinton, Joyner,busy Lehman, Erin Nesmith, vacation time is over. We are particularly at Thank you, Jake Raburn, Marty Tanner, James Tew, associated with those committed to preserving the Ron environWetherington, and Ray Wood, Farm Bureau. This of month we arereleased completing thelast Executive Director ment. The U.S. Department Agriculture statistics Judi Whitson, monththird that showed an “overwhelming number (morewe than 98 of our legislative tours during which take 8

elected and appointed officials to several of our INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2013 agricultural businesses in this areas so they can see agriculture at work, some of the best management practices that have been put into place and learn of

Kenneth

Kenneth Parker - President

W W W. I N T H E F I E L D M A G A Z I N E . C O M

Board of Directors

Kenneth Parker, President; Will Womack, Vice-President; Ray Wood, Treasure; Michelle Williamson, Secretary; Member-at-large; Bill Burnette; Board members: Roy Davis, David Drawdy, Jim Dyer, Jim Frankowiak, Glenn Harrell, Chip Hinton, John Joyner, Greg Lehman, Erin Nesmith, Jake Raburn, Marty Tanner, James Tew, Ron Wetherington, and Ray Wood, Judi Whitson, Executive Director 8 88

THE FIELD M AGAZINE August 2015 INTIINN HE FIELD AGAZINE 20132015 THE FIELDMM AGAZINE NOVEMBER August

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Business Up Front By Nick Chapman As soon as you enter the main entrance and are warmly greeted by a staff of energetic and knowledgeable volunteers, you know this is no ordinary hospital. In fact, from its humble beginnings in 1953, South Florida Baptist Hospital in Plant City has grown to become a 147-bed acute care regional hospital within the BayCare Health System. Despite its success, South Florida Baptist Hospital (SFBH) retains its hometown feel, and many of its patients still refer to it as “our hospital.” “The hospital’s focus is to provide quality care to the citizens of Plant City and the surrounding areas. As we continue to grow and develop and look at new technologies, our focus continues to be how to improve the service to our citizens so they don’t have to leave Plant City to get care,” said hospital President, Karen Kerr. “We are a fullservice hospital, and there’s very little that we don’t provide and can’t provide with our partners in the BayCare System.” “We have a great emergency department here,” Kerr adds. “It is a state-of-the-art design that has been mimicked in other hospitals throughout the BayCare system, and outside of that system as well.” Their goal is to get patients into a bed as quickly as possible, and don’t follow the old model of triaging a patient out front and having they wait in the ER for a charge nurse to assign a bed. “If they come into the ER and there is a bed in the back, they immediately get a “quick registration” so they are in the computer system and taken to the bed so they can be assessed by the nurses and physicians.” Kerr stressed that SFBH is a fully electronic facility from the staff and doctors, and everyone documents the patient’s diagnosis and treatment in their system continually. Another benefit to the in-house ER is that 10

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

August 2015

if it is a more serious problem, the patient can just be admitted as opposed to having to be transported to another facility. Since 2010, SFBH has had a very active heart and vascular center. Services include cardiac catheterization and interventional procedures like stenting. When the program began, the state required their facility to perform 300 non-interventional procedures before authorizing them to do more complicated procedures. SFBH had anticipated it would take 2-3 years before they would reach that goal, but they obtained that number within nine months. As unfortunate as the growing need is for these type of procedures, they are something that can be provided right in the Plant City area. SFBH does not provide open-heart surgery options at this time, but would be able to quickly refer a patient with those issues to a local BayCare partner facility for treatment. SFBH recently opened its newly expanded Surgery Center, providing two additional operating rooms bringing the total number of rooms available to seven. The expansion was in response to the growing need for surgery in the Plant City area, and to aid in new technologies they haven’t been able to offer in the past. “We have a very robust robotic surgery program, which is a surprise for people to hear in a community hospital of our size, and also a busy laparoscopic surgery program.” Starting this past July, the SFBH Breast Center now offers the latest three-dimensional digital mammography technology called tomosynthesis. This revolutionary process offers exceptionally sharp breast images designed to deliver superior screening and diagnostic WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

performance. This means radiologists can see breast tissue better and rule out abnormalities that looked suspicious in 2D, helping patients avoid unnecessary biopsies or additional testing. “This is the latest technology that really allows a more accurate diagnosing of breast cancer, and a more accurate diagnosis of false positives,” said Kerr. If there is something present, the radiologist can see the exact size and shape of the lump or tumor, offering better prognosis and treatment options. There are many services the public may not be aware that South Florida Baptist Hospital offers. They have a Wound and Hyperbaric Center, primarily for outpatient therapy to promote faster healing. There is an Orthopedic Surgery wing for patients having joint replacement surgery. “Almost all the major areas of surgery are provided here. We deliver babies and take care of people throughout their life span,” added Kerr. In an ongoing effort to meet the community’s needs, South Florida Baptist Hospital’s future plans include expanding their Intensive Care Unit. While working on the expansion of their emergency room services in 2006, they prepared the infrastructure for more ICU space on the second floor of the hospital. “Now that we have the need for additional ICU beds, we’ll be going from an eight bed ICU to a seventeen bed ICU,” Kerr added. Scheduled to be complete by mid-2016, the project will more than double their current capacity for ICU patients. The caring spirit doesn’t end with the patient. SFBH also takes great pains in looking after the loved ones of those in need. “We are taking care of our friends, our family and our neighbors. Our team members are attuned to providing comfort to waiting family members in answering questions and keeping the communication going with our patients and their families.” South Florida Baptist Hospital is located at 301 North Alexander Street in Plant City. Visit their website at SouthFloridaBaptist.com to learn about all the services they provide, including health screenings, informational sessions and community classes. There are volunteer opportunities available and there is the SFBH Foundation that plays a major role in capital campaigns and fundraising for hospital improvements. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

August 2015

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August 2015

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Submission by Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam

Greening Florida growers just harvested the smallest orange crop in nearly 50 years, and all because of a tiny insect that spreads an incurable disease. Citrus greening, a bacterial disease spread by the Asian citrus psyllid, is an existential threat to Florida’s signature crop. Trees infected with citrus greening produce fruit that prematurely drops, is bitter, misshapen and unmarketable. Worse, infected trees die within a few years. In just 10 years since the discovery of the invasive psyllid, citrus greening has spread to every citrus-producing county in the state, infected more than half of Florida’s citrus groves and cut Florida’s annual citrus harvest by more than 60 percent. A casual glance at almost any grove will reveal evidence of its destruction. Florida’s citrus industry has a more than $10 billion economic impact on our state and supports more than 64,000 jobs, all of which are currently at risk. The health of the Florida citrus is important to every Floridian - not just those who depend on it for their livelihoods. With a nearly 500,000 acre footprint in Florida, citrus has a profound impact on so many of our interior counties and the quality of life of the surrounding communities. The industry’s continued decline could have a devastating ripple effect. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

However, hope is not lost. There is strong support for Florida’s citrus industry to fight the spread of citrus greening and support research for a cure. All told, Florida growers, the federal government and state government have invested more than $200 million to save citrus. As part of the most recent state budget, our department fought for and received more than $20 million to support critical research, grow clean citrus stock, remove and replant diseased trees and more. With this financial support, we are employing every tool in the toolbox to find a solution. Our department, research institutions and private industry are working on some promising options to prevent the spread of greening, treat an infected tree and develop a disease resistant tree, but no silver bullet has been uncovered. In addition, our department is improving our infrastructure to help the industry quickly rebuild if a solution is found. We have expanded our budwood facility and opened a new germplasm facility to provide growers with the resources they need to replant lost trees and release new varieties of citrus for growers. We cannot overstate the challenges facing Florida’s citrus industry, but I believe that with continued support the innovation of our growers will produce a solution to this existential problem. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

August 2015

COYOTE UPDATE Field Research, Online Resources and What to Do and What Not to Do By Jim Frankowiak

You probably know them as coyotes, and their scientific binomial name is Canis latrans. Coyotes expanded their historic range over the last 100 years and during the last 40 years became established throughout Florida and are now documented in all 67 counties. They are habituated to human modified landscapes and are not just in rural areas, but suburban and even amid urban landscapes. They are typically shy and elusive, but encounters between people and coyotes in Florida do occur. Coyotes are a member of the dog family and are generalist omnivores eating rodents, rabbits, deer, lizards, snakes, insects, grasses, fruit, grains, fish other small predators, such as foxes, opossums and raccoons, as well as dining on carrion (animal carcasses). They are thought to be native to the great plains of North America, and expanded east as humans changed landscapes and removed larger predators such as wolves that preyed upon coyotes. In Florida populations have increased and coyotes will continue to make their homes throughout the state. There are concerns that coyotes are impacting game species, especially White-tailed deer and Turkey populations, but the extent to which this is happening is unknown. Coyotes, which can weigh up to 40-pounds, can be a major predator of deer fawns, young cattle and young turkey. They have sharp eyesight, keen hearing and a sensitive sense of smell – all helping them to hunt and survive. The University of Florida is conducting research on coyotes, gathering information regarding biology such as reproduction and mortality as well as ecology and impacts on cattle operations. One such research endeavor is being undertaken by Dr. Raoul Boughton, a rangeland scientist faculty member at the Range Cattle Research and Education Center at Ona in Hardee County. His work has included surveying of cattle ranchers and other initiatives designed to answer some outstanding questions. It is part of the sustainable rangeland ecosystem program. “We want to try and ascertain the proportion of early calf loss that may be due to coyotes, but this is very difficult to do, since you have 16

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August 2015

to rapidly find the calf bodies,” he said. “Furthermore, the ecology of coyotes in Florida is not well studied. We want to understand what the home range of the Florida coyote is, how often they are around cattle compared to other activities, how far do they travel in search of food, and do they change their behavior when calving season occurs. We are currently answering some of these questions by tracking coyote movements on and off ranches using GPS collars, combined with local ranch information of herd and calving locations. We initiated this study during November of 2014 and have captured and GPS-collared 15 coyotes on three ranches supporting the effort: Cary Lightsey of Lightsey Cattle Company, Gene Lollis of MacArthur Agro-Ecology Research Center and Buck-Island Ranch, and Jim Strickland at BlackBeards Ranch. The study would not have been possible without the technical and equipment support of Dr. Stewart Breck, Dr. Michael Avery and Eric Tillman of the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Wildlife Research Center, trapper Ralph Pfister of the Adams Ranch, and my research assistant Bethany Wight.” “Across the U.S. coyotes have become an urban species and are known to prey upon smaller vertebrates, birds, cats, small dogs, rabbits and rodents, which include people’s pets. Coyotes have also been documented at multiple locations digging up sea turtle nests along Florida beaches, and are known to readily kill fawns. They also are likely blamed unfairly for carcasses they have scavenged upon rather than directly hunted and killed. How often they are truly to blame is an important question to answer if we are to provide accurate recommendations. Is the coyote in the back pasture a real problem or should they now be viewed as part of Florida’s wildlife? Not all coyotes attack and kill calves and shooting resident coyotes that are not killing calves will open the area for surrounding coyotes to enter and a new group with unknown dinner tastes may occur. We do know that if alpha coyotes are removed from an area there is an influx in young individuals and neighboring coyotes to that vacant territory until a new pair is established. Coyotes are a predator, but we must understand their relationship and true impacts upon a prey species both natural and agricultural before appropriate recommendations are made.” In the meantime, it is best to learn and follow the recommendations of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) when it comes to actions to take if a coyote approaches you, protecting pets from coyotes and preventing problems with coyotes. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

The most effective ways to reduce problems with coyotes involve removing food or other attractants. However, if a coyote has lost its fear of humans or continues to be a problem, lethal control measures may be necessary. Such methods should be directed at specific coyotes or toward coyotes in a specific area. Although rare, attacks from coyotes have occurred on humans. It is best to leave animals alone, but if a coyote approaches too closely, haze the animal by making loud noises and acting aggressively. Do so until the animal leaves the area, increasing and continuing hazing efforts until the coyote leaves the area. Hazing includes waving your arms and yelling and moving toward the coyote until the animal leaves. Noisemakers, such as air horns, banging pots and pans and even pebbles or coins shaken in an empty beverage container have all proven helpful actions to ward off coyotes. A solid walking stick or golf club are powerful deterrents at close range. Should a coyote approach a child, the FWC suggests adults yell loudly and then move toward the coyote. This often startles the animal and provides the adult with time to lift the child and move away. The adult should then back away from the animal and be prepared to defend him or herself from the coyote, if necessary. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

Pets should not be allowed to roam freely. Most coyote attacks on pets occur either at night or in the early evening and early morning hours. During these times, be careful when walking your pet in wooded areas or areas where there are a lot of plants growing, which could hide coyotes. Also, keep your dog close and on a short leash. Keep cats indoors. When cats roam freely there is an increased risk that they could be attacked by coyotes. Picking up your pet if a coyote draws near, does not end the potential for an incident. The coyote may go after that pet even while in your arms. Yard fencing can be an effective deterrent against coyote attacks, provided the fence is high enough to prevent coyotes from jumping over and the fence bottom does not allow coyotes to get underneath. Some have installed electric fencing for additional protection. For additional information about coyotes, including Frequently Asked Questions about coyotes, visit: http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/ profiles/mammals/land/coyote/faqs/. If you are experiencing coyote problems, contact FWCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wildlife Alert at 888-404-3922 or contact the FWC regional office in Lakeland: 863-648-3200. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

August 2015

Catch, Release or Eat… IT’S YOUR DECISION! limits and closed seasons, have created outstanding fisheries throughout the country. Conversely, there are always those who take everything to the extreme. Certain groups, including anglers, feel that every fish caught should be released. However, it’s important to remember that catch and release is an option. If you want to put em’ back, that’s great, if you want to keep a few for dinner that’s also okay. There’s nothing wrong with keeping a few fish for the table, but there’s no advantage to loading the freezer. Fish always taste better when they are fresh, however once they become freezer burned they are ruined. Prolonged freezer storage means they lose that wonderful fresh fish taste and wind up in the garbage. The fish are biting. So, if you want to put your catch back, good for you. But if you want to keep a few, don’t hesitate to enjoy a fresh fish dinner.

Fishing is strong throughout the southeast with people fishing and catching and that’s a good thing. Enjoying the outdoors, especially when it includes a little fishing, is always fun, especially now when most of us would like a distraction from things going on in our own busy worlds. Being near water waiting for fish bite is a refreshing distraction from things concerning you. It’s like a magic potion that makes you feel better, taking your mind off your problems, at least for a while. Being a great way to put some of life’s distractions on hold it’s also a way to put a tasty meal on the table. Folks fish for different reasons, some for fun, others for dinner, and others for both. Over the past decade the concept of catch and release has become very prominent throughout the fishing community. It’s a great idea because you’re actually recycling a resource by putting them back alive. This recycling concept of catch and release means you catch fish, release them alive, often giving other anglers the opportunity to catch fish. What a novel idea. And besides being a good idea, it’s evident that catch and release has improved our fisheries. Progressive fish management, mostly slot/size 18

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Tampa Bay Fishing Report August 2015 Capt. Woody Gore

Redfish

- August should see more redfish action around the Tampa Bay area. This past month we could find lots of fish but getting them to bite with any consistency was something else. I’ve set on a few schools and tossed everything in the boat at them only to have them ignore the offerings. Occasionally we’d catch one or two on a cut pinfish but not with the action we’re used to seeing. With tons of bait around its likely the fish are not that hungry but at least they’re out there. The bay area notoriously produces good catches of redfish, you just need to find the ones ready to eat. Redfish will push into the mangrove lined shores and oyster bars on incoming tides. Live bait normally produces good catches along with cut baits. Early morning top-water artificial lures on the grass flats will offer some good visual excitement as well. Work both incoming and outgoing tides.

Snook

– Snook fishing will continue strong this month with larger fish still on the beaches. Expect to see them bunching up near passes and deeper holes. They often appear to have lockjaw but WWW.IN NTHE HEFIELD IELDMAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM WWW.

“Give Me a Call & Let’s Go Fishing” – 813-477-3814 Captain Woody Gore has been guiding and fishing the Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tarpon Springs, Bradenton, and Sarasota areas for over fifty years; his level of customer service, experience and attention to detail allows him to offer world class fishing adventures patience seems to pay off when looking for larger fish. Many report and a lifetime of memories. catching good fish with dead bait left on the bottom. Artificial lures Single or Multi-boat Group Charters are all the same. With years usually produce some awesome action and if you’ve passed the learnof organizational experience and access to the areas most experiing curve you can have a great time tossing plastics to waiting snook. enced captains, Woody can arrange and coordinate any outing or tournament. Just tell him what you need and it’s done. - Trout fishing can always be fun esVisit his website at: pecially when you find some larger fish willing to eat. I’ve been getting WWW.CAPTAINWOODYGORE.COM into some good action in deeper water and around the fish attractors using free-lined greenbacks. Also, check out the deep grass flats (3-4 send an email to wgore@ix.netcom.com ft.) using a popping cork with greenbacks, small pinfish (the flats are or give him a call at 813-477-3814 full of them) or shrimp.

Spotted Sea Trout

Mackerel & Bluefish - Tampa Bay still has its share of

mackerel and bluefish and fishing this month should be decent. Just look for schools of threadfins, put out a chum bag and hold onto your rod and reel. I’m seeing mackerel catches up to 5 and 6 pounds and some of the biggest blues ever. This is some real excitement on light tackle but you need to use heavy Seaguar 50# to 60# pound leader and Daiichi long shank hooks. For some exciting top water action try tail hooking your bait and let it work against the current. This forces the bait to the top for some great top water strikes. I’ve been having good luck using Sure Strike Soft Lures; but take several bags; their sharp teeth do a number on the lures.

Smokin’ WE’RE

Cobia

- Markers and sandy flats equal Cobia. These fish frequent markers, especially those holding threadfins. They also cruise the flats following rays and manatees. When marker fishing, keep a chum bag out, you just never know what might show up.

Snapper – Grey Snapper are everywhere. Pieces of live shrimp or cut sardines on a ¼ oz. knocker rig works great. Just find a bridge, rock pile, dock or just about any structure and its fish-on. I’m even catching them on broken bottom grass flats on greenbacks.

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Tarpon

- Tarpon fishing at the bridge has slowed down. Recently we’ve been seeing a few still along the beach. Threadfins, crabs and larger sardines should do nicely. If you happen upon a daisy chaining pod, toss bait into the middle and hold on. There are also reports along the upper bay bridges. Fish the light lines at night.

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• Besides meat and milk, cows provide us with hundreds of important by-products. Almost the entire beef animal can be used in some way. From a typical 1,000 pound steer, slightly over 40% of the animal is used for retail beef and the remaining 60% is processed into by-products. • Beef hide and hair are used for insulation, paintbrushes, glue for bookmaking and band-aides, clothes, shoes, luggage, saddles, furniture, automobiles, volleyballs, basketballs, and baseball gloves. • Fats and fatty acids are used for shampoo, shaving creams, deodorants, candles, crayons, floor wax, detergents, hydraulic brake fluid, plastics, insecticides, paints, perfumes, and synthetic rubber. • Bone, horn, hooves, and gelatin are used for combs, gelatin candy (Gummy Bears), photographic film, steel ball bearings, fine bone china, pet food, and vitamin capsules/gel coatings. • The salivary glands of cattle, located beneath the tongue, produce 15-20 gallons of saliva per day. • The average cow has more than 40,000 jaw movements per day. • The United States is the largest producer of beef in the world followed by Brazil & the European Union. • The United States, Brazil and the European Union produce almost half of the world’s beef. • The United States produces roughly 19% of the world’s beef.

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Just Thinking

I was lying around one Sunday afternoon pondering about the problems of the world, and I realized that at my age I am getting to the point where I really didn’t give a rip any more. They tell us what is good and bad for us. They say to lose weight. Well, a whale swims all day, only eats fish, but is still fat. They say to exercise every day. A rabbit runs and hops and only lives 15 years, while a gopher doesn’t run and does mostly nothing, yet it lives for about 150 years. Exercise…I don’t think so. Now that I am drawing a Social Security check each month, here is what I have discovered, it was a whole lot easier to get older than it was to get wiser. I don’t remember being absent-minded. My wild oats are mostly enjoyed with prunes and all-bran. It’s not really hard to meet expenses…they are everywhere. And, I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it. They say to read and do crossword puzzles to keep your brain sharp. Here are five riddles that I was just able to pass. Let’s see how you do with them. A murderer is condemned death. He has to choose between three rooms. The first room is full of raging fires, the second is full of assassins with loaded guns, and the third is full of lions that haven’t eaten in three years. Which room is the safest? Second, in 1955 a woman shoots her husband. Then she holds him underwater for over five minutes. Finally, she hangs him. But, tenminutes later they both go out together and enjoy a wonderful dinner together. How could this happen? Third riddle! What is black when you buy it, and grey when you throw it away? Four. Can you name three consecutive days without using the words Wednesday, Friday or Sunday. The fifth riddle. This is an unusual paragraph. I’m curious as just how quickly you can find out what is so unusual about it. It looks so ordinary and plain that you would think nothing was wrong with it. In fact, you still may not find anything odd, but if you work at it a bit, you’ll find out. Try to do so without any coaching! Now that you have read through the riddles several times here are the right ANSWERS. The third room is the right answer because the lions haven’t eaten in three years they are dead. Number two: The woman was a photographer. She shot a picture of her husband, developed it, (holding it under water) and hung it up to dry. Three: Charcoal, as it is used for barbecuing. Four: “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.” Five: The letter “e” which is the most common letter used in the English language, does not appear one time in the paragraph. 22

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Mac Smith sent me an email the other day that pretty much sums up us senior citizens. He said we walk a little slower and our eyes and hearing are not what they once were. We worked hard, raised our children, worshiped our God and together we grew old. Yes, we are the ones some refer to as being over the hill, and that is probably true, but before writing us off completely, there are a few things that need to be taken into consideration. In school we studied English, history, math and science, which enabled us to lead America into the technological age. Most of us remember what outhouses were, many of us with firsthand experience. We remember the days of telephone party lines, 25-cent gasoline, and milk and ice being delivered to our house. For those of you who don’t know what an ice box is, today they are electric and referred to as a refrigerator. A few of us even remember when cars were started with a crank. Don’t write us off yet! We won World War II, fought in Korea and Viet Nam. We can quote the Pledge of Allegiance, and know where to place our hand while doing so. We even know the words to the Star Spangled Banner, America and America the Beautiful by heart. Lately I’ve noticed the stairs are getting steeper, and the groceries heavier. The other day I walked to the corner and I was surprised to discover how long our street has become. People are less considerate now, especially the youngsters. They whisper all the time. On the other hand, people my own age are so much older than I am. I ran into an old friend of mine the other day, and she had aged so much that she didn’t even recognize me. An elderly couple down the street had an interesting problem last week. Johnny finally got around to varnishing their wooden toilet seat while his wife was shopping at Felton’s Food Mart. She came in and undressed to take a shower. Before getting in the shower, she sat down on the toilet. As she tried to stand up she realized that the not-quite-dry epoxy varnish paint had glued her rear end to the toilet seat. He heard her yelling, and ran to the toilet immediately realizing her predicament. They both pushed and pulled without any success what so ever. Finally in desperation he took the toilet seat off, wrapped a sheet around her, and drove her to the hospital emergency room. The ER Doctor got her into a position where he could figure out how to free her. His wife tried to lighten the embarrassment of it all by saying, “Well, Doctor, I’ll bet you’ve never seen anything like this before.” The Doctor replied, “Actually, I’ve seen lots of them….I just never saw one mounted and framed.” WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

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Snail Kites: May They Continue to Fly By Ginny Mink The opportunity to bring an endangered species article to you each month is exciting. I enjoy the ability to learn about species that are nearing the end of their existence and thereby bring that knowledge to you in hopes of helping to reestablish them in some way. Therefore, it’s even more enjoyable when someone asks me to write about a specific species that intrigues him/her. So, when Sarah Holt, our beloved editor (and I don’t have to kiss up I get paid with or without the compliments), returned from a trip thoroughly interested in the snail kite’s plight, she asked me to write about it. Therefore, let me introduce you to this endangered bird of prey. The snail kite, previously called the Everglades Snail Kite, was listed as federally endangered in 1967. Since they eat only (for the most part) apple snails, their habitats are limited to the central and southern part of the state. The water quality of the marshes contributes excessively to the apple snail’s presence and therefore the sustenance required by the snail kite. Maintaining proper hydrology is essential to the existence of both these creatures and this is something humans can rectify if they so desire. Marshes, natural and manmade lakes are prime hunting grounds for the snail kite which is a small raptor with a uniquely curved beak. This beak design is essential to the removal of the apple snail from its shell. However, the areas in which these apple snails are located need to be fairly clear so that the snail kites can spot the snail’s presence. Part of the problem then is that dense vegetation is growing up in these areas due to run off and other human created problems. Some of the plants hindering the snail kite’s ability to see its food include: hydrilla, water hyacinth, cattails, and water lettuce. Really the biggest problem hitting these impressive birds is the loss of the wetlands. The Everglades are now only a fifth of what they used to be and there is an influx of saltwater that’s changing up the hydrologic balance of much of the snail kite’s habitat. Humanity and its incessant need to control flooding and irrigation are probably the greatest threat to the existence of this bird and many other endangered species we’ve discussed over the last year of this series. So what do they look like and where do they live? The males are generally a dark grey color while the young, and females, are brown with some white patching on their chests and cheeks. The main distinction is a white patch at the base of the tail surrounded by a dark band with a skinny white outline. These birds are seen in the Lake Kissimmee marshes, as well as those in Okeechobee and Tohopekaliga. You might also see some along the Tamiami Trail and in the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. The snail kite breeds almost year round with the exception of September-November. They build really bulky nests in a wide range of marsh trees, shrubs and vegetation and usually lay about three eggs. Sometimes they stay together in the mating season but not always. However, the winter months can find them roosting communally. Though these birds really aren’t transient by nature, the problems with the wetlands they need has caused them to become quite mi28

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gratory. Thankfully, the most recent information available seems to point to some stability in their populations. Those who are lucky enough to encounter a snail kite might actually see one in action. This is an incredible experience as the birds fly low over the water surveying the edges in search of apple snails. When one is located, the snail kite swoops down and appears to hover over the area as its talons plunge into the water to scoop up the unsuspecting morsel. They can pull the snails out midflight too, so keep your eyes open when you’re in one of their known habitats. Florida’s Audubon Society is doing some necessary work to help support the continued existence of these super cool birds of prey. Specifically, they are actively engaged in the restoration of the Everglades, a significant home and nesting ground for the snail kite. They are also working on some recovery endeavors in Lake Okeechobee because the snail kites are not nesting there the way they used to and it is imperative to the improvement of the Everglades. Finally, they run the Florida Center for Birds of Prey in which they are so devoted that they have been known to make apple snail milkshakes to feed to injured snail kites. Their commitment to saving these animals is praiseworthy. If you’d like to participate in some of the great work the Audubon Society is doing, you can get in touch with them at: http://fl.audubon. org/ways-to-help. Aside from that, just keep your eye out for one of these regal birds, take care of the water ways around you, and attempt to be less harmful to the environment in whatever way you can. These birds are pretty cool and they could use your support. Resources: http://www.nps.gov/ever/learn/nature/snailkite.htm http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/birds/raptors-and-vultures/florida-snail-kite/ http://fl.audubon.org/everglade-snail-kite WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

Karen Berry Joins Times & Observer as Publisher

Bruce Falmann, vice president of sales and marketing at the Tampa Bay Times, Karen Berry, and Felix Haynes, co-owner of the Plant City Times & Observer.

Karen Berry, owner and publisher of In The Field magazine, has been named publisher of the Plant City Times & Observer and joined the ownership group of the three-year-old weekly newspaper. Berry, a native of Plant City, will serve as publisher and oversee the operations of both publications. “I’m really excited about this opportunity to be involved in two publications that serve two communities that I love — the agricultural community and all of Plant City,” Berry said. “I’m equally excited to be a part of a group of owners who are committed to publishing a newspaper for which all of Plant City can be proud.” Ed Verner, Plant City businessman and one of the founding partners of the Plant City Times & Observer, said, “We are thrilled to have Karen join us and to be leading the Plant City Times & Observer. When we started this venture, our hope was to have a newspaper with strong, local content and deep, local roots. Karen brings those roots and the leadership skills we need to continue growing.” Started in July 2012, the Plant City Times & Observer is a 15,000-circulation free weekly; it also publishes PlantCityObserver.com. Berry founded In the Field magazine in November 2004. Since then, the publication has grown to two monthly editions, serving 70,000 readers primarily in Hillsborough and Polk counties. The magazine also WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

has subscribers in Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands and Okeechobee counties. Prior to founding the magazine, Berry served as an advertising representative for the Tampa Tribune, Plant City Courier and Bradenton Herald. Berry started her career at the Bradenton Herald, working with Bruce Faulmann, currently vice president of sales and marketing at the Tampa Bay Times, and later working with Faulmann again at the Tampa Tribune. Faulmann represents the Tampa Bay Times as one of the ownership partners of the Plant City Times & Observer. Other owners include Verner, owner of City Properties and a director of Sunshine Bank; Nate Kilton, owner and president of Sedita Kilton Life & Wealth Management LLC and Sedita Kilton & Co., Certified Public Accountants, and immediate past chairman of the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce; Felix Haynes, retired president of the Plant City campus of Hillsborough Community College; and Sarasotabased Observer Media Group, publisher of nine weekly newspapers in Florida. Berry is the daughter of Plant City natives, Al and Patsy Berry. Al Berry owned and operated a Plant City radio station, WPLA, for more than 35 years and recently stepped down after serving as a director of the Florida Strawberry Festival for 43 years. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

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Florida

Seminole Pumpkins By Sandy Kaster, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science Florida is home to a special type of pumpkin, the Seminole pumpkin. Also known as Cucurbita moschata, the Seminole pumpkin is more closely related to butternut and Calabaza squash than the traditional pumpkin. They grow very fast and easily and are extremely tolerant to the heat, humidity, and rains that summertime in Florida brings. They are also known as the wild squash of the Everglades and are typically harvested in the summer months. The good news for all gardeners is that Seminole pumpkins grow vigorously despite little to no tending.

Seminole pumpkins weigh roughly three pounds and have tan skin, much like a butternut squash. The flesh is deep orange, dry, and sweet with a delicate flavor. Its hard shell allows for long storage periods, up to one year. Once a staple of Florida Native Americans, these special pumpkins now grow around the Everglades area. Like other varieties of pumpkins, the Seminole type is almost entirely edible, including its flesh, seeds, and flowers. Seminole pumpkins are full of nutrients, including beta-carotene (which is converted to vitamin A), vitamin C, vitamin E, dietary fiber, potassium, and many other minerals.

NUTRITION INFORMATION

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, one half cup of fresh boiled, drained pumpkin (245 g) contains 49 calories, 1.7 g of protein, 0.17 g of fat, 12 g of carbohydrate, and 2.7 g of fiber. It provides an incredible 245% of the recommended daily requirement for vitamin A, 19% for vitamin C, 8% for iron, and 4% for calcium. Pumpkins are also a good source of magnesium, folate, phosphorus, and dietary fiber.

HEALTHY LUNGS

Pumpkin and other foods rich in vitamin A may be beneficial to lung health. Researchers at Kansas State University discovered that carcinogens in cigarette smoke may deplete the body’s stores of vitamin A, and increase the likelihood of developing emphysema and lung cancer. They also discovered that a diet rich in vitamin A can reduce the risk of emphysema in animals exposed to smoke. The benefits occurred after eating foods high in vitamin A, and taking supplements did not have a similar beneficial effect.

HEALTHY VISION

With very high levels of beta carotene and vitamins A and C, pumpkin is great food for your eyes. One cup of pumpkin contains over 250% of your daily needs for vitamin A! In a study of over 50,000 women, those who consumed the highest dietary amount of vitamin A had a 39% reduced risk of developing cataracts. In another study that looked at the incidence of cataract surgery and diet, researchers found that those people who ate diets that included carrots had half the risk of cataract surgery. Beta-carotene also provides protection against macular degeneration and protects night vision. Vitamin A plays an important role especially in night vision and being able to see black and white. Additionally, this nutrient helps to maintain skin health, both when ingested and when used topically. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

ANTIOXIDANT PROTECTION: WARD OFF CANCER

Antioxidants are compounds with the ability to neutralize free radicals, which are harmful by-products of metabolism that can lead to disease. Antioxidants may reduce the risk of some diseases, including several forms of cancer. Pumpkins are bursting with vitamins A and C. High levels of these vitamins in the body have been linked to a decrease in cancers of the breast, bladder, cervix, prostrate, colon, and esophagus. Pumpkins are also full of zinc and omega 3 fatty acids which help support prostate health.

HOW TO SELECT AND STORE

Choose Seminole pumpkins that feel heavy for their size and are free of blemishes or soft spots. This special variety of pumpkin is smaller than those used to make jack-o-lanterns, but they are very sweet and delicious for eating. Seminole pumpkins are especially hardy and can be stored for up to one year in a dry and cool place.

HOW TO ENJOY

Seminole pumpkins are excellent baked, steamed, boiled or made into pie. Historically, early Florida settlers sliced, sun-dried and stored the surplus pumpkins. Very young, tender fruits are delicious boiled and mashed. The pumpkin flowers can be eaten dipped in batter and fried as fritters. Seminole pumpkins are flavorful and sweet and can be enjoyed in countless ways. Try roasting it with spices like cinnamon or nutmeg, or boiling cubes in a soup. Beyond the quintessential pumpkin pie, other serving ideas include: • Boil, combine with butternut squash or other winter squash, and mash for a quick side dish • Blend pumpkin puree with apple cider for a delicious autumn drink • Stir pumpkin puree into yogurt or a smoothie • Mix chunks or puree into oatmeal, soups, stews • Use puree in pancakes, breads, cookies • Roast pumpkin seeds for a healthy snack high in amino acids and zinc • Cut out the top, scoop out the seeds, and roast the entire pumpkin. Then use it as a serving bowl for soup, stew, or chili • Pumpkin-seed oil can be used in cooking or as a salad dressing • Pumpkin flowers can be eaten as a vegetable or used as a garnish Enjoy fresh Florida Seminole pumpkins today during their peak harvest. With their summer hardiness, long storage life, and super nutrition status, they are a delicious treat!

SELECTED REFERENCES http://www.edibleplantproject.org http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ http://urbanext.illinois.edu/pumpkins/facts.cfm Photo Credit: http://seminolepumpkinseeds.com INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

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Dry Creek the Set

America’s First Frontier

By Les McDowell

Photo by Linda Constant

When Dry Creek the TV series is not in production the set gets to star in different productions. It’s fun to sit back and watch the passion of different film makers use the dusty streets and buildings to help paint the picture of their projects. Also, camera clubs have visited from around Florida. We have had one Zombie film shot here. They brought along a couple of make up artists from Universal to make them up. I must tell you, they looked the part for sure. The Dry Creek set played the part of where the Zombies lived away from the modern world. One of my favorite shoots was when a popular computer game came to Dry Creek to shoot a computer game. Professional Stunt folk were brought in to do some falls, one off the top of our saloon. I must tell you that I was concerned but being the pros they where I was put at ease. We have also had a few steam punk projects done here at our set. Futuristic with western mixed in. If you re38

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member “Mad Max” with Mel Gibson back in the day, that’s the look. The first day they had a call time of 5 am and some of the extras showed up at our neighbors house dressed in costuming that would make you think you where in the middle of a nightmare. The neighbor took it all in stride and sent them on down the road to the set. After the fact we all got a good laugh. One production said the script called for having our General store blown up. That they did but it was all computer generated and really looked real. ABC’s The List Show came out and did a segment on Film Making in Florida and showed clips of our General Store going up in flames. Other news stations have been out to do stories on Dry Creek, everyone from FOX 13’s Charley Belcher, doing his morning news segment, to Bay News 9 and many more. Because of the coverage Dry Creek has received, plus beWWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

ing on national TV with the series, we seem to get a lot of folks showing up to see the set. One morning I remember hearing a car horn and walked out to see an elderly couple sitting in a Buick like most grandparents drive. The older gentleman was waving a newspaper out the window asking, “Is this the place?” They had made it a point to drive from Sun City Center and find Dry Creek. They had stopped and asked at a fire station, folks mowing their yards and so on until they found it. I ended up taking them back to the set and visiting with them. One of the best days ever. We have had folks plan their vacations that watch up north drop in from time to time. It’s fun to listen to them pick out buildings on the set where different scenes where shot and watched. So Dry Creek the set is getting a following. It makes us feel good that folks are gravitated to it. More folks will be able to see Dry Creek because you can now watch on Dish Network Channel 73 Saturday nights at 7:30. In the fall folks on Direct will be able to tune in. Watch us on BlueHyways TV on Bright House and different cable outlets across the nation. Everybody knows where Dry Creek is....cause it’s inside each and everyone of us. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

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UF/IFAS TEAM AWARDED GRANT TO ADDRESS CRITICAL NEEDS OF HYDROPONIC AND PROTECTED AG INDUSTRIES By Jim Frankowiak The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Marketing Service in partnership with the Florida Specialty Crop Foundation has awarded a two-year grant to a team of researchers at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC), Wimauma, and Suwannee Valley Agricultural Extension Center (SVAEC) in Live Oak that is to address the needs of the hydroponic and protected Ag industries in Florida. The grant award exceeds $125,000. The purpose of the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) is to solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops, defined as “fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruit, horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.” Grant Investigators from the GCREC include Dr. Shinsuke Agehara, assistant professor, horticultural sciences; and Dr. Hugh Smith, assistant professor, vegetable entomology. Investigators from the SVAEC include Center Director Bob Hochmuth and Dr. Kevin Athearn, regional specialized Extension agent for agribusiness. “The protected agriculture industry in Florida includes numerous large specialty crop hydroponic greenhouse growers and many smaller growers using soilless culture and protected agriculture systems, including high tunnels, all producing a variety of specialty crops,” according to the grant abstract. “There are at least 390-acres of specialty crops being grown in protected agricultural systems with an estimated industry value of $100 million annually. The value and importance of this sector of the agriculture industry in Florida is rapidly expanding and the industry needs new research-based infor42

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mation to sustain steady growth. Our project goal is to develop and disseminate critically needed information on varieties, production practices, pest control and economic decision-making tools to improve the sustainability of the protected agriculture industry. “Current large and small growers and other stakeholders will be actively involved in the implementation of this project, including helping host trials on-farm. Our project’s success will be measured by the number of growers increasing their knowledge and their willingness to adopt new varieties, pest management strategies and production practices and by the number of growers increasing knowledge about costs and returns. We will use information gained from this project to provide Extension deliverables including: educational training, a new conference and written and web-based information,” noted the grant abstract. “Protected agriculture has many variables,” said Dr. Agehara. “That includes the right crop and variety within the right environment and structure providing the best potential for the highest profitability at the best possible time. That type of information will be valuable to existing growers as well as those who are considering entering this segment of the agricultural industry. And it will be based upon onfarm tests.” “In some ways protected structures can provide an advantage to open field production, because in theory pests can be excluded,” Smith says. “However once pests get into a structure, they are essentially protected from natural enemies and environmental conditions that WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

might keep them in check in the field. There are opportunities for using natural enemies, parasitoids and predators, to control pests in screen houses and other protected structures, but there is very little information available on how to make this work in Florida. We have year round pest pressure in Florida, and heat and humidity of course become major constraints to production during much of the year. In addition, many insecticides that can be used in open field production are not registered for use in enclosed spaces. Some greenhouse vegetables require that commercial hives be deployed for pollination. Many insecticides are incompatible with the use of pollinators. We will be focusing on developing guidelines for the use of a few key predators to suppress common pests in screen houses, namely whiteflies, thrips and spider mites.”

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“My main area will be to evaluate varieties of leafy green vegetables, including lettuce, spinach, kale, Swiss chard and others,” said Hochmuth. “I will also focus on a lot of the educational workshop organization. “Overall, our goal is to bring all of these important perspectives to bear as we look closely at the challenges and potential profitability, blending our research and outreach in a manner that will help enable those interested in this industry segment to succeed,” said Hochmuth. “All of us are pleased with the level of grower involvement and interest. In addition, our efforts will include training for county Extension faculty from across Florida, enabling current and aspiring growers from throughout the state to have access to the broad-based information our program will offer.”

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Protect Yourself From Fraudsters, Scammers and Con-Artists by John Dicks

It seems that Florida has always been the place where fraudsters, scammers and con artists have focused their attention. Even if you never fell prey to phony pitches, too many times just listening to or looking at questionable offers results in a total waste of our time.

The Little Black Book of Scams covers some of the most common complaints received, including those related to charitable organizations, telemarketing, identity theft, and travel, featuring such items as 10 Tips-offs the Caller Might be a Crook and 10 Ways to Avoid Becoming a Victim.

Not long ago, I wrote an article about how to protect your children from Identity Theft and another on how to register for the “Do Not Call” list to stop robo-calls and “phone phishing.” Nonetheless, the old adage of “when one door is closed, another is opened” seems also to apply to those seeking to make a quick buck on Florida consumers. Recently, it’s been big in the news that phony demand letters, posing as if they were from the IRS, have been landing in mailboxes all over the state. People have reported also receiving similar demands by way of fax and email. I saw one which had so many typographical errors on it that it was almost laughable. But the whole matter is simply not funny when such scams have the potential of destroying one’s financial future. One of the newer bogus attempts at getting into consumer’s pockets comes in the form of a SunPass toll violation letter. This one has been received even by many who have stuck to their car windshield a SunPass transponder with plenty of credit available to pay for any tolls. Whoever has been sending these dummy demands make them look legitimate with a good design and graphics of the State of Florida. Unlike the real thing, though, which includes a picture of the violator’s car tag going through the toll, the scammer just posts a fake account number and lists a modest fine which many people might be simply tempted to “pay and make the matter go away”. I suppose if enough people pay it, either online or by phone, those modest amounts can add up to a bountiful harvest of ill-gotten gains for the fraudster. If you receive a questionable letter, email or phone call that you suspect is not legitimate, you can get help, for free, by contacting the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The Department serves as the state’s clearinghouse for consumer assistance and information. To simplify the matter, the Department has set up both a website as well as a toll free hotline. You can go online to www.800HelpFla.com or call 800-HELP-FLA. The Department seeks to resolve each complaint, of which last year it received some 45,000 of them! Significantly is that in 2014 it helped return more than $5 million to consumers. Apparently, fraud in Florida has been on the rise so much that the Department has developed a Little Black Book of Scams, which you can also find on its website. 46

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John Dicks is both a lawyer and a farmer. He and his family own a blueberry farm and have agricultural lands which they lease for cattle operations, as John says, “to someone who knows and handles cattle much better than I do!” John is both a Gator, having received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida, and a Seminole, with his Law Degree from Florida State University. He and his wife, Sharon, live in Plant City, where he served nine years as City Commissioner, including three years as Mayor. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

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Pesticide Exposure and Poisoning: Part 2

by Susan Haddock, Commercial Landscape/IPM/Small/ Farms Agent, UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County

The risks associated with the use of pesticides are often overlooked. As a result, pesticides are often used inappropriately as the first line of defense rather than an integrated pest management approach when managing pest problems. In a previous edition of In the Field, Pesticide Exposure and Poisoning: Part 1, defined pesticides and discussed pesticide exposure and how you may become exposed to pesticides including: drift, occupational and household exposure. Part 2 of the three part series will discuss pesticide poisoning, potential for pesticide poisoning and the effects of pesticide poisoning. The three part series on pesticide exposure and poisoning will help readers be able to: 1. Distinguish between pesticide exposure and pesticide poisoning. 2. Avoid the potential for pesticide exposure and poisoning. 3. Recognize the types of pesticide exposure and the possible effects. 4. Know how to respond to pesticide exposure. 5. Accurately report history and symptoms to clinicians. 6. Understand the challenges diagnosing pesticide poisoning.

Pesticide Poisoning

Pesticide poisoning is an illness or injury resulting from a pesticide exposure to a single or mixture of pesticides from a single or multiple exposures. Pesticide poisoning is commonly under-diagnosed or misdiagnosed due to healthcare provider limited training in pesticide related illnesses, unwillingness of occupational workers to report pesticide exposure, or the occupational worker does not associate the illness to a pesticide exposure.

Potential for Pesticide Poisoning

Below are terms associated with the potential for pesticide poisoning: Toxicity: The potential for a chemical to cause harm. Dose: The quantity of the chemical exposed to. Dose varies with the weight and age of the person; the amount that is harmless to an adult may be toxic to a child. Route of Entry: The way the body comes in contact with the chemical: dermal (skin), ocular (eyes), orally (ingestion) or respiratory (inhalation). 48

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Duration of Exposure: The longer exposed, the more chemical that enters the body. Physical and Chemical Properties: Chemical qualities that affect the risk, such as: products that evaporate more readily are more easily inhaled and present greater risk or products that break down quick present lower risk. The population at greatest risk for pesticide poisoning, are those exposed the most, such as workers who mix and apply pesticides. Some individuals are more sensitive to pesticide exposure and exposure responses can be very different depending on health condition, age and individual characteristics. The greatest potential for pesticide exposure occurs when personal protective equipment (PPE) is not worn or not worn correctly, there is a lack of experience with acutely toxic chemicals, there is a lack of training or supervision, or the label is not protective enough.

Effects of Pesticide Poisoning

The effects of pesticide poisoning generally fall into three categories: acute, allergic, and chronic and delayed. Acute Acute effects appear immediately or within 24 hours of an exposure. These reactions are more accurately diagnosed because they tend to be more obviously related to a pesticide exposure. The effects are often reversible if appropriate medical care is received promptly, however, it may be fatal if not treated. Acute poisonings are classified according to the site of exposure: dermal, ocular, oral or respiratory. Allergic Allergic reactions include asthma, skin, eye and nose irritation. Some people develop a reaction after being exposed to certain pesticides. An exposure causing an allergic reaction can be 1,000 times less than an exposure that may cause a toxic reaction; a trivial dose can trigger an attack. In many cases, the highly refined active ingredient is not the culprit. The inert ingredients may contain petroleum distillates, emulsifiers, conditioning agents or wetting agents that cause the reaction. An allergic sensitization occurs when the reaction occurs only after many exposures. Chronic and Delayed Chronic effects persist over long periods of time and may not appear until several years after exposure. Chronic illness include cancer, malignancies, tumors and changes in genes and chromosomes. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

Delayed effects are associated with developmental, reproductive and systemic issues. Developmental and reproductive effects occur to the fetus in the womb or to the reproductive system and include birth defects, miscarriage, stillbirth, infertility, sterility, impotence, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, delayed motor speed and reduced coordination. Developmental and reproductive effects can span generations. Systemic effects are illnesses that do not appear within 24 hours of exposure and include anemia, inability to coagulate blood, paralysis, tremors, brain damage, skin disorders, and lung, respiratory, liver and kidney disorders. Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health have shown that individuals reporting chronic, low-dose exposure to pesticides had a 70 percent higher incidence of Parkinson’s disease than those not reporting exposure (Science Daily, June 26, 2006). Recommendations for treating pesticide poisoning vary among the type of pesticide and its’ toxicity. For specific information, always refer to the pesticide label or call the Poison Control Center (800-222-1222). In an emergency, always seek medical attention and take the pesticide label with you to the emergency room. Check future editions of In the Field for Pesticide Exposure and Poisoning: Part 3 which will discuss responding to and the challenges of diagnosing a pesticide poisoning. For more information on integrated pest management and pesticide education contact the UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County office at (813)744-5519.

813-767-4703 301 South Collins Street, Suite 101, Plant City, Florida 33563

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P ortrait P h o tograp h er Spe c ializ ing in H igh Sc hool Se niors

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Recipes Courtesy of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Chef Justin Timineri

Florida Stone Crab Claws with Key Lime Mustard Dipping Sauce

DIRECTIONS Crack claws using a wooden hammer or a seafood cracker; remove shell and movable pincer leaving meat attached to the remaining pincer. Set aside and keep refrigerated until use. In a small bowl combine the mayo, Dijon and lime juice. Taste the mustard sauce and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve stone crab claws with the mustard sauce.

INGREDIENTS

Ingredients

3 pounds stone crab claws, medium sized 1 cup low-fat mayonnaise 5 tablespoons Dijon-style mustard 4 Key limes (or two regular limes), juiced sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

1 ½ pounds beef, sliced thin 1 bunch scallions, sliced 3 tablespoons fresh ginger root, peeled and chopped fine 1 sweet red bell pepper, sliced thin 1 tangerine, zested and juiced, separated 2 ½ teaspoons cornstarch

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine beef, scallions, ginger, bell peppers, tangerine zest and cornstarch. Mix ingredients well to coat. Preheat a large sauté pan over mediumhigh heat. In a small mixing bowl, combine tangerine juice, soy sauce and sugar. Stir ingredients until sugar is dissolved.

1 tablespoon light lowsodium soy sauce 2 teaspoons natural sugar 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 tangerines, peeled and sectioned cooked brown rice

Add the vegetable oil to the preheated sauté pan. Carefully add the beef mixture to the pan. Cook while stirring constantly until the beef is browned and slightly crispy. Add the soy sauce mixture and cook until sauce is thickened. Toss in the fresh tangerine segments and serve over brown rice.

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What Have You Got To Lose?

Every day new and “better” ways to lose weight appear. Visit a doctor’s office for “shots,” or eat whatever you like as long as you take this miracle pill. Oh, or sprinkle this powder on your food, drink this drink, count these points. It seems everyone is up for a quick and easy way to drop unwanted pounds. While some of these gimmicks may help you shed pounds, they don’t teach you the most important thing about weight loss, how to keep it off. There is a way to reach the correct weight for you. Best of all, once you reach that weight you will be given the tools, in this case the knowledge, to keep it off! Lisa Shaker-Knopp is the owner of Shake It Off Weight Loss & Wellness Centers. “We help people get well from the inside out, that’s the most important thing we do,” said Lisa. “We work on changing habits for a lifestyle and a lifetime, not just for a diet.” When you think of a traditional diet, most people think of deprivation. “With Shake It Off it is a change in chemistry using food, not shots, not pills, not hormones, just food and finding a new way to put food in your mouth that really is fueling your body and helping you feel better and not have those cravings,” added Lisa. Wow, no more cravings? Most of us can afford to jump on that wagon. The program is medically supervised by a team of doctors, nutritionists and pharmacists. “We are not doctors in this clinic,” said Lisa. “We institute that program and we are all certified health coaches through the doctors program.” And just what do they do there? “What we are seeing on a weekly basis,” said Lisa, “is people are able, in many cases, to reverse their Type 2 diabetes or reduce their blood pressure and cholesterol levels. They’ve been able to reduce medications and some people are able to actually remove medications.” So now doctors are referring patients to Shake It Off because of the changes they see in blood work.

So how does this program work? It is a four-phase program that starts by helping you take the weight off and ends with a life phase that teaches you how to maintain your goal weight. “When people follow our protocol it’s really hard for women not to be down 8 to 10 pounds every 4 weeks,” said Lisa. “Our results are predictable, measurable, repeatable, and dependable. I can quantify that by thousands of clients that have come through our clinics since 2008. We’ve been servicing South Tampa and the Brandon area for all those years.” Of course for men the weight loss is normally quicker. Figures, eh ladies? Lisa explains the first phase like this, “It does seem sometimes to people when you are not going to eat certain food groups temporarily that it’s a punishment. It’s not a punishment. It’s actually a reward. It’s a reward for better health, better blood sugar numbers, and better blood pressure. It’s a reward for better clothes, better energy, and for feeling better from the inside out in all aspects of our life. Our mind body and spirit actually get affected by the protocol.” You will find that your cravings disappear simply by finding a new way to put food in your mouth that will fuel your body and help you feel and perform better in a rewarding way. “People are changing habits, how they shop, cook, and prep. How they think is actually a lot of what we do here,” said Lisa. “So the biggest thing that we offer is an accountability partner in the weight loss journey and having someone to rely on.” The coaches at Shake It Off are available to their clients every day. “We call ourselves concierge coaches. They can text us, email us, and call us and they come once a week for check ups.” In addition to having your own coach, there are videos sent to your email that are free for more coaching and educating. Unlike other weight loss programs, the coaching doesn’t end once the goal has been met. “Once they reach their goal it doesn’t end there. We offer a maintenance program to help people keep their weight off.” We all know the hardest part of any weight loss program is keeping the weight off. “Maintaining your new levels is really the hardest part for most people and I think that’s where we are different. We teach people how to keep their weight off.” Lisa goes on to say that, “Inside our clinic, what we are watching is happier, healthier people, people that are changing their lifestyle.” You don’t have to be overweight to gain the benefits from Shake It Off. “I recently had a gentleman come to the clinic, who’s BMI was perfect according to the world of medicine, but he was a severe Type II Diabetic that could not be controlled by the four medications he was taking, so his doctor wanted to put him on insulin. In eight weeks on protocol at Shake It Off he literally reversed his Type II Diabetes. His doctor had never seen blood work change like that in such a short time and she was able to completely remove all his medications.” When meeting Lisa you will find that this is not just a job for her. She is deeply committed to helping people get healthy. “It really runs deep in my heart because of my own family 52

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history of heart disease and diabetes,” said Lisa. “It runs rampant on both sides of my family, but in particular on my Dad’s side. Eleven years ago in August, at 71, looking like the picture of health on the outside, he was golfing and made a 20-foot putt for par and he dropped dead. But from his passing I realized the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. When I found this protocol I really believe it saved my life because I finally learned about the pancreas, metabolic syndrome and syndrome x. I am a massage therapist by trade so I understood about the chemistry of the body in some ways but I didn’t really understand the effect of food on my body. People can eat really well, they can eat less, and exercise until they are blue in the face,” Lisa explained. “I actually called myself the organic fat girl. I was eating whole food, real food, fresh food, no fried food, no fast food, no soda, and I was still as size 16 and I’m 5’1”. I knew I was in trouble metabolically. When I had blood work done at 41, it showed me that I was pre-diabetic. I had these metabolic markers and cholesterol and I knew these markers were not healthy for my future. That’s when I found this program and I really do believe it saved my life.” An interesting note about this protocol is that during the weight loss phase exercise is NOT encouraged. You read that correctly. Lisa explains, “We certainly want people to exercise and be healthy and have a maintenance program. But when people are on our protocol we are really focusing on the reduction of carbohydrates. When you reduce carbohydrates very low you don’t have enough cellular energy to actually perform high-energy work outs. So we work more on the food and getting the body to use fat for fuel but we don’t want to sacrifice muscle. We use special amino acid proteins that are bioavailable, highly absorbable protein isolates that actually feed your cells, tissues, organs and muscles so your body holds muscle and burns fat.” Shake It Off uses special protein foods developed in an ISO 9001 grade laboratory in Canada. The foods are non GMO with no aspartame, no MSG and no high fructose corn syrup. These super clean foods are a complete protein to be used in conjunction with whole foods during the weight loss program. The body requires carbohydrates to exercise and if you don’t eat enough carbohydrates your body goes in to a process called gluconeogenesis and it wants to take your muscle for fuel. This is another reason diets can fail for people who are doing high intensity exercise and eating low carbs to try to lose weight. Shake It Off encourages a break from exercise to work on the body with food. The exercise piece will be added back when carbohydrates are back where the need to be. The body is happy when it receives the correct amount of carbs, fat and protein for maintenance. Lisa goes on to describe the program a bit more. “I started teaching the program in my house because I realized that people needed to understand the pancreas and foods effect on the pancreas.” One important function of the pancreas is to bring blood sugar down in the presence of carbohydrates and sugars. If your body isn’t balanced and your pancreas isn’t working properly, your body will store carbs, including those from fruit, as fat instead of using them for fuel. “It wasn’t until I learned how to unbalance my diet temporarily to reboot my pancreas and get my body to where it needed to be, that I could return those good healthy foods in a certain order. It was like a God send to me. I feel like my dad was in heaven passing me the baton saying, okay, the relay for life is on you, you need to run with it and teach people.” In addition to weight loss, there can be a multitude of benefits to the Shake It Off program. “People tell us they sleep better, their skin is better, and their hair and nails grow better. We have people tell us they don’t have sleep apnea anymore or they aren’t snoring as much.” It just gets better and better! “Acid reflux and GERD seem to go away with the protocol that we have. People tell us joint aches and pains are so much better.” What more can you ask for? How about more energy? Everyone can use that, right? “There are a lot of NSV’s, Non-ScaleVictories, that have nothing to do with the scale. There are things that go on with the body from the inside out that change gears from doing our protocol.” In 2008 the company became a US company and Lisa was asked to open one of the very first clinics in the country. Now there are about 2500 clinics nationwide. “For years now we’ve been changing peoples lives for the better, from the inside out. I still fight my battles and I still fight my chemistry and genetics but at the end of the day I know I have a tool in my toolbox that I can pull out to reset my pancreas. That’s how I’ve been able to maintain between a size six and eight for nine years. “ Want to learn more? There are free workshops twice a month. To get more information on these workshops call the Brandon clinic at 657-4641 or the Tampa clinic at 644-6935. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

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Ornamental Gardening in Florida

By Ginny Mink

Part 11

Welcome back to 1926! Here in the thirteenth chapter of Mr. Simpson’s book, we find the title: Shade Trees for Roads and Streets. Presumably he was just as concerned with the road to his home as the condition of his own gardens and landscaping designs. In fact, the first sentence shows his candor about the import of well shaded roads and streets and the means in which they should be considered. He writes, “There are a number of qualities which may be considered almost absolutely necessary in the make-up of a shade tree for roads and streets.”

he felt the same way because he concluded his list with, “It is not likely that any tree will ever be found that will have all the good qualities mentioned above; the only thing we can hope for is to find several which have most of them.” Of course that made us wonder what trees he had in mind based on his own descriptions. We expected him to have an answer therein but as we continued to read he admitted, “…the planting of ornamentals…is so new that we have not yet had time to learn what to use or how to use it – we are yet in the experimental stage.”

We have to chuckle as his first descriptive statement is exceptionally obvious, “First,” he writes, “it should be what its name indicates, a shade tree.” Therein he begins his specific requirements for what a shade tree is, smooth and with a straight trunk, with a nearly yearlong head of healthy foliage. Then he adds that it should be appropriate for its environment. Specifically he states, “Such a tree in Florida must flourish in our poor sandy soil with a small amount of care or fertilizer. It should be able to withstand dust, drought or excessive rain; it should not be too tender and it ought to stand up well against strong wind or hurricanes with a minimum of damage.” We wonder what he’d think about all those crepe myrtles that line the medians these days.

Therefore we are at a bit of a disadvantage, maybe the previously mentioned crepe myrtles would have won his approval though it is certain he would have nixed any banana tree idealism. He explains that the knowledge they have gained from northern areas is of little value in Florida, to the point he adds, “in fact it is often worse than none for it is liable to be misleading. We have not, as yet, been able to carefully try out anything.” Thusly, in 1926, while it was obviously important to Mr. Simpson that the roads and streets be shaded Actually, by the time we got to the end of the he hadn’t, at that time, determined how best chapter we were elated to see that he does proto accomplish his desire. vide some advice as to which trees should be planted. He advises based on information he He continues, “Some of the palms have been gained from, “Mr. J. Gerry Curtis, Superinused for road planting. There are a few av- tendent of Parks in Miami”: Meleleuca, Alenues of royal palms in the southern end of bizzia lebbek, Bombax ceiba, Poinciana regia, the state and while they are noble and strik- Casuarina cunninghami, Ficus bejamina, F. ing they have scarcely enough shade for good altissima, F. elastica, Pongamia pinnata, Terstreet trees.” His position on palms as shade minalia arjuna, Spanish lime, mahogany and trees is pretty staunch as he adds, “As a rule Bucida buceras (the black olive). Of course, they fail in high pineland and can only be he specifies that these suggestions are only planted in hammock or low ground. The co- for the southern part of the state. For those conut is used to some extent for such purpos- in the northern part he suggests: the willow es but it is wholly unfit because, on account of oak, the live oak (guess we were wrong about its crooked trunks, it makes very bad lines and his oak tree position), Q. laurifolia and finally besides this it contains an element of danger.” he states, “No more magnificent tree than the great magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) exists Get ready to crack up, because his “element and I have seen roads beautifully shaded with of danger” is hysterical. He reveals, “I have it in Lower Louisiana.” We’d have to agree seen a woman knocked senseless who was hit that magnolias are pretty beautiful, but they by the butt of a falling leaf from one of these do have large leaves and giant blossoms. We trees. The nuts would be still more danger- wonder if he forgot about that. Guess we’ll ous and would be a constant menace to all learn more next time we hop a ride on the litwho frequented roads so planted.” He sums erary time machine! up his palm position by stating, “It may be stated that no palm furnishes sufficient shade Resources: for a wide street though some of them are all ¹ Simpson, Charles T. (1926). Ornamental right for narrow ones or walks.” Be careful if Gardening in Florida. Published by the Auyou’re strolling on a coconut palm lined side- thor; Little River, FL. Printed by J.J. Little and walk though as they contain intense elements Ives Company, New York. (p. 55-59). of danger! ² http://www.searsarchives.com/brands/allstate.htm

He continues with the concept that the tree should be easy to propagate though not too easy. We assume he’d throw out the oak tree concept then since they seem to sprout up everywhere! As we continued to read, the fourth suggestion cracked us up, “It must be, so far as our knowledge goes, free from serious disease or the attacks of bad insects, though these things may be introduced after it has been largely planted.” We guess he realized that there was no guarantee that a tree would be disease or “bad insect” free. We think that means banana trees and their obnoxious amounts of roaches wouldn’t be recommended either. Now here’s an important aspect to consider, according to Mr. Simpson, “It should be free from vicious thorns.” Sorry, but we laughed at that one too before we returned to reading but he didn’t seem to think it extraordinary at all since he kept right on writing, “In addition to these it would be well if it were long lived, if its leaves were not too large and if its fruits did not greatly litter or cumber the way.” Sounds like a dream tree to us and obviously 54

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Herein he switches to pines. The Australian pine is at the forefront of his discussion and perhaps the most amusing part of that is his description found here, “It produces a hard seed vessel something like a small cone which is said to be injurious to automobile tires.” What kind of tire gets damaged by a pinecone? Who knows, but we found that Sears’ 1926 version of the tire was guaranteed for 12,000 miles. Can you imagine? You’d be buying tires every year (if not multiple times a year)! But, amazingly, this tire damaging seed wasn’t Mr. Simpson’s biggest complaint about the Australian pine. In fact, he reveals, “…it is the appearance of the tree, the tone, the general color, that it seems to me are its greatest drawbacks. It has a sad, dull, gloomy tint that is especially depressing, that is suggestive of cemeteries, or the end of life, of the dark and silent tomb.” Pretty morose description, huh? He concludes his pine discussion with, “This is a land of clear skies, of illimitable light, of glorious color and it seems to me that such a depressing tree is wholly out of place in it.”

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Trendy microgreens come to life at Glory Road Gardens in Lutz By Vanessa Caceres

A farm in Lutz is taking advantage of the explosive growth of microgreens. The folks who run Glory Road Gardens originally heard about microgreens from chef friends who were already enjoying traditional produce items grown there, says business partner Kevin Glaz, who is part of the Glory Road operation along with the farmer and owner, Jeff Speicher. In case you’re still wondering what microgreens are, they are early greens from the seeds of vegetables and herbs. Despite their tiny size of usually one to three inches, microgreens pack nutritional power, providing those who eat them with vitamins C and E, and beta carotene—they have 40% more nutrition than their full-sized veggie siblings. Almost any vegetable or herb can be eaten as a microgreen. The microgreens at Glory Road are soil- based and not hydroponically grown, which Glaz says gives their product more flavorful taste and helps them to last longer.

The greens at Glory Road are grown under a 7,000-square-foot plastic greenhouse, with 1,000 flats grown every week. In the winter, there are as many as 35 varieties grown at a time; in the summer, it’s closer to 25. Not all microgreens are heat-tolerant, Glaz says. Glory Road managers will check with chef clientele to see what kind of microgreens they would like, some examples include sunflower shoots, pea tendrils, Asian greens, mustard, basil, and garden blends. Restaurants often use microgreens as a food garnish and in salads, Glaz says. Other ways they can be used include as a side dish, in wraps or sandwiches, and in soups or stir fries. Although the farm is not certified organic due to the cost and extensive paperwork involved, Glory Road is part of the organization Certified Naturally Grown, a 700-member organization geared toward smaller farms and beekeepers who use natural methods, according to CNG’s website.

Medline Plus, a U.S. government website, says that microgreens are currently a healthy food trend. The site describes microgreens as older than sprouts but younger than baby lettuce or baby spinach. Microgreens are harvested after only a week or two.

Word about Glory Road’s microgreens got out among chefs, and that led to the dozens of restaurant clients it now has in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater. Want to try some of the microgreens? Then you can visit eateries like The Refinery in Tampa’s Seminole Heights neighborhood, 400 Beach Seafood and Tap House in St. Petersburg, The Vinoy in St. Petersburg, and The Mill, also in St. Petersburg. To see more restaurants working with Glory Road and view some mouth-watering food shots, check out the Glory Road Gardens Facebook page.

Microgreens usually have a fresher or sometimes spicier taste, crispier crunch, and brighter color than traditional full-grown veggies.

Many of the restaurants that work with Glory Road Gardens aim to support local farms and food purveyors.

In just five years, Glory Road has expanded to now supply their greens to more than 50 Tampa Bay area restaurants.

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In fact, chef Emeril Lagasse enjoyed some of Glory Road Gardens’ microgreens as part of a meal he ate on his show “Emeril’s Florida,” Glaz says. They were featured as part of a restaurant dish at Restaurant BT, owned by BT Nguyen. “People noticed that,” he says. Pea shoots from Glory Road were also recently featured on the cover of Tampa Bay Magazine. Glory Road grows some more traditional produce items, but they focus much more on the microgreens, Glaz says. If you want to try some of their product, you can visit one of the restaurants mentioned in this article or buy them at Nature’s Food Patch Market and Café in Clearwater or swing by the Odessa Organic Farmers Market in Tampa’s Carrollwood neighborhood. Glaz says he and others at Glory Road enjoy having friends or volunteers come by to help. “We love trading greens for harvest,” he says. Managers hope to eventually grow their restaurant market south of St. Petersburg toward the Bradenton and Sarasota area. Right now, their restaurant market goes as far north as Tarpon Springs. To find out more about Glory Road, check out their website at http:// www.gloryroadgardens.com. Or, give them a call at 813-810-3716.

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Giving back to our communities is

Mike Bennett, Supply Chain Operator, Florida phosphate operations

As a DeSoto County resident and operator in Mosaic’s supply chain team, I help ensure our phosphate crop nutrients get to farmers in America and all over the world. At Mosaic, we share our passion for agriculture and environmental stewardship with the next generation of local farmers and ranchers. In fact, I’m one of hundreds of Mosaic employees who volunteer annually with youth agriculture organizations and at county fairs. For me, giving back is more than a job. It’s about nourishing the communities where we all live, work and play.

We help the world grow the food it needs.

mosaicco.com/florida

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UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA PUBLIC ISSUES CENTER RELEASES REPORT ON ENDANGERED AND INVASIVE SPECIES SURVEY OF FLORIDIANS By Jim Frankowiak

Florida – like any state – faces myriad challenges. Among those is the management of invasive and endangered populations in a way that maintains biodiversity and ecological health for a tourism-heavy and natural-resource rich state. Maintaining and improving endangered species populations, along with preventing endangerment, are important public issues facing residents of Florida. Additionally, heavy international travel, tourism and the exotic pet industry have made invasive species a common news topic and an important environmental issue in Florida. The University of Florida (UF)/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) Center for Public Issues Education (PIE) conducts and disseminates objective and interdisciplinary research and educational programs to increase public understanding of an engagement in agricultural and natural resource issues. The PIE Center recently released the final report on a survey designed to capture Florida residents’ opinions, attitudes and knowledge about these two key issues: endangered ad invasive species, and covers topics including: • General knowledge about endangered and invasive species • Attitudes towards prioritizing efforts to conserve species • Attitudes towards prioritizing minimization of the impacts of invasive species • Management practices relevant to endangered and invasive species overall • Management practices relevant to specific endangered or invasive species The authors were Sandra Anderson, research coordinator, UF/IFAS PIE enter, and PIE Center Director Ricky Telg, UF Department of Agricultural Education and Communication. The survey was distributed online in June of this year to Florida residents using non-probability sampling. Qualtrics, a survey software company, distributed the online survey link to Florida residents, age 18 or older, resulting in 502 completed responses. Steps were taken to ensure respondents were representative of the state population according to the 2010 U.S. Census. 64

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Survey findings were as follows: • Sixty-nine percent of respondent considered environmental conservation to be highly or extremely important. • Eighty-two percent were likely or very likely to vote to support land conservation programs and seventy-five percent were likely or very likely to vote for candidates who support environmental conservation. With regard to endangered species, the report states: • Few participants (14% or less) considered themselves either highly or extremely knowledgeable about threats to endangered species, how to prevent endangerment, and what species are currently endangered. • Sixty-six percent believe the Endangered Species Act should be strengthened. • Ninety percent agreed or strongly agreed it is important to conserve mammals, compared to 50% who agreed or strongly agreed it is important to conserve microorganisms. • Sixty-one percent thought Florida citizens have too little influence to impact policies affecting endangered species, while 38% thought political leaders in the state had too much influence. • Eighty-nine percent would support or strongly support imposing fines on those who harm endangered species in Florida and 88% would support or strongly support imposing fines on those who hard endangered species’ habitats in Florida. • Eighty-three percent would support or strongly support restricting residential development of areas that are habitat for endangered species and 83% would support or strongly support restricting commercial development of the same areas. • Seventy-eight percent would support or strongly support the state of Florida purchasing endangered species’ habitat so it can be protected. • Sixty percent would like to learn more about the types of species that are endangered. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

On the topic of endangered species, the survey determined: • Sixty-five percent reported they felt they were either not knowledgeable or only slightly knowledgeable about the topic of invasive species.

“we should do all we can to completely eradicate invasive species.”

• Sixty-six percent considered themselves not knowledgeable or only slightly so about the types of invasive species living in Florida and 68% were not knowledgeable or only slightly knowledgeable about how they could prevent invasive species from entering the state.

• Seventy-three percent indicated they thought the penalties for owning and selling Burmese pythons as pets should be strengthened.

• Half believed “we should use management strategies to control invasive species only in areas that are most affected” while 46% believed WWW. WWW.IINNTTHE HEFFIELD IELDM MAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM

• Fifty-five percent would support a 1% sales tax increase to prevent and eradicate invasive species in Florida, but only 21% would support a 5% sales tax increase for the same purpose.

• Fifty-five percent would like to learn about the types of species that are invasive. For more information about the study or PIE Center, visit: http://www.piecenter.com IINNTTHE HEFFIELD IELD M MAGAZINE AGAZINE

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“LIKE US” On the Florida Strawberry Growers Association Facebook page to nd out the latest recipes and industry news. Hope you enjoyed your summer…. Let the season begin! WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

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It Pays to Borrow from Farm Credit! “Farm Credit makes it simple to borrow money”

Strawberry and vegetable growers, Elias (L) and Lorena Gutierrez, have been Farm Credit Members since 2007. Loans made for farmers by farmers, since 1916. Farm Credit is the nation’s leading provider of credit to agriculture and rural America.

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An Important Ag Commodity in Hillsborough County By Jim Frankowiak When it comes to agricultural commodities here in Hillsborough County, there’s a good chance you know the number one crop is strawberries, according to the latest (2012) statistics available from the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Hillsborough County Extension Service. Next in line is vegetable production, followed by ornamental plants. But did you know beef cattle/pasture ranks fourth at more than $25.7 million in annual sales and second in area usage with over 92,400 acres after 117,841 acres in forestry? Florida has more than one million head of cattle and 15,000 beef producers. That’s not a surprise if you consider that the first cattle and horses ever in what is now the continental United States arrived in Florida in 1521 when Juan Ponce De Leon brought a small herd of Andalusian cattle and horses with him on his second expedition to the New World.

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Statewide, Hillsborough County’s “herd” is tied for seventh in size with Hendry County. Also, there’s a very good possibility that the county’s beef industry was one of the initial commodities produced in the county, given that some of the family beef operations here have been producing for more than eight generations and as far back as the 1800s. Hillsborough Cattlemen’s Association President Layton Guynn traces his industry roots back to the 1840’s at Crewsville just outside of Zolfo Springs. “There are many other families who have been active in the industry for generations, even before there was a Hillsborough County and this west central area was referred to as Manatee,” said Guynn. “It’s more than a business for us; it’s a way of life, and a way of life that has its challenges. Cattle ranches have changed over the years. Large operations continued to grow, while many smaller farms have ceased to exist. We will always have what I call ranchettes, small ranches with a few head of cattle, in the county.”

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There have been other significant beef industry changes over the recent past. “There was a time when there were more than 70 dairy operations in the county,” said former Farm Bureau President Danny Aprile, who operates Golden A Cattle Co. with his two brothers. The Aprile’s trace their beef industry involvement back to 1943 and until recently were engaged in both dairy and cow-calf operations. “Now there are only two. Urbanization played a big part in the closing of dairies in the county,” said Aprile whose cow-calf activities take place at seven locations in Hillsborough County and several others outside the county. A cow-calf operation is a method of raising beef cattle in which a permanent herd of cows is kept by a rancher to produce calves for later sale. The goal of such an operation is to produce young beef cattle which are then sold. Florida bred calves are typically shipped west where they are raised or “fed in” on feedlots and eventually sold. It makes more economic sense to truck the calves to feedlots than to ship feed to the calves in Florida. The weather in the west is usually more conducive to cattle growth than here in Florida. Recent droughts have been an exception, however. “Many of the dairies that are now closed were small to mid-sized and it wasn’t economically feasible or practical for them to expand. Dairies of that size went out of business, while the larger operations – primarily in rural areas – increased in size.” “There were other factors, too. Feed costs increased significantly as did the number of cattle across the U.S., hurting pricing. There were regulatory concerns plus some incidents that the media over and sometimes misreported and all of that led to high uncertainty,” he said. “And if you add to that very attractive dairy land purchase offers from developers and realtors that was a strong mix of factors that also contributed to the downturn in dairy and other cattle operations locally.” “My brothers and I plan to stay in the beef business. Some of our children are actively involved and it would be nice to be able to see the next generation of the Aprile family continue in this business. We all take pride in what we do and the role we play in helping to feed our

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growing population.” Dennis Carlton of Audubon Ranch and Carlton and Carlton Ranch, very substantial cow- calf operations in Hillsborough and neighboring counties, concurs. A seventh generation cattle rancher in the county, he takes delight and pride in noting his family’s ninth generation is now actively involved in the business. “The size and scope of most operations have changed for a number of different reasons,” he said. “Changes in land use that have occurred as a result of urbanization and rising costs for various inputs such as cattle feed are among those reasons. In south Hillsborough County, where mining has taken place followed by reclamation it will take time to match the cattle capacity those lands had before mining.” “Hillsborough County is an ag-friendly county, but it is also a growing county,” he said. “That prompts land prices to increase and we have come to the point where it does not make good economic sense for cattle ranchers to buy land for their operations. Yes, we all continually receive very attractive offers from realtors and developers interested in purchasing our land, but we are not in this industry strictly for financial reward. We all share in a deep love for this lifestyle and the land.” That love of the land that Carlton has was recognized by Commissioner Adam Putnam of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services who presented him with the 2015 Agricultural Environmental Leadership Award for his stewardship. “We must continue to educate residents about agriculture and what it takes for those of us in the industry to do our jobs, steward our land and help to feed the world. That understanding will help our industry and all of agriculture as we move forward.” James Tew of the Blackwater Creek Ranch in northeastern Hillsborough County shares those sentiments with Carlton and Aprile. The original cattle at his family’s 80-year-old cow-calf operation were moved from the Ft. Meade area in Polk County to their current location via a typical cattle drive, a process “that just couldn’t take place these days with cowboys on horseback guiding the herd cross country to its new home,” said Tew. He talks of the “three F’s” that have been major influencers on the county’s beef industry. continued on pg. 74

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An Important Ag Commodity in Hillsborough County “High prices for cattle feed, fertilizer and fuel changed the industry,” said Tew. “People think cattle ranchers are getting wealthy from today’s high beef prices, but that’s really not the case. Those increases came very rapidly. Much more so than what we could tolerate. We are now catching up, but there is still a level of uncertainty as we look to the future.” “Previous generations of cattle ranchers were pretty much isolated in rural areas and maintained a low profile, but as urbanization spread and new laws were passed and regulations put in place, it became very apparent that our industry had to educate lawmakers and regulators, as well as the general public.” “We have done a good job at the local, state and federal levels, but we must keep it up. There are a small number of us responsible for feeding the masses and those stakeholders have to keep that in mind as they consider various regulatory issues. Many of us have voluntarily become involved in the Best Management Practices (BMP) Program of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. That’s the right thing to do and our participation reflects our commitment to cooperate and properly steward our lands and operations. It’s interesting to note how compliant many of us were with the BMP’s even before we voluntarily joined.” Farmers and Ranchers who participate in the BMP program often display the “This Farm Cares” signs they earn through program participation.

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“In addition to proper land and operational stewardship, there is very high focus on animal health with a commitment by organizations such as the Florida’s Cattlemen’s Association to stay ahead of health issues in both domestic and international markets for our cattle.” “Overall, I think one of the biggest changes in our industry locally and throughout the U.S. is our ongoing outreach to elected officials, regulators and the general public so they understand our role and the commitment we have made to continue to feed the masses and how we are addressing stewardship of our lands and the health and safety of the animals we raise. Additionally, many of us are involved in working with youth interested in our industry since they will be the next generation of producers. We must prepare them so they can meet the challenge of helping to feed a global population that is projected to grow substantially over the next several decades.” One group that is working hard to prepare the next generation of ranchers is the Hillsborough County Junior Cattlemen’s Association, youth age 8 – 21 with an interest in the beef industry. The association is led by Stephanie Conrad, who with her husband Jason and their children: Anna, Madi, Shalee and Tucker co-own and operate Weeping Creek Ranches, a cow-calf operation in Hillsborough and Polk counties, with Stephanie’s parents Larry and Debbie Swindle. The Conrad’s also raise some registered and clubby cattle for kids to show at various events such as the annual Florida Strawberry Festival. The association takes a multi-faceted approach with its membership from

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educational programs and community service activities to outreach with elected officials and tours of major industry operations across the state, the members become engaged in all facets of industry activities. Jason was nominated for a position with the first Florida Leadership Academy, a diverse series of quarterly sessions designed to prepare its members for industry leadership ranging from political activism and lobbying to consumer education via media and other techniques. “Jason’s experience with the academy has been helpful to our programming locally,” said Stephanie. “Overall, we want to have our members recognize the many different and important facets of the beef industry today. That includes the ever-advancing technology, effective outreach through public speaking, working with the media, marketing and more. And those activities involve members from across Florida.”

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But there’s more as association members have the opportunity to compete at shows throughout Florida. “Many of our members are also actively involved in FFA and 4-H,” said Conrad. “The areas of focus for those groups are similar to ours but also involve other aspects of agriculture.” “Our ultimate goal is to foster development of tomorrow’s beef industry producers and leaders, while helping to educate consumers about the challenges our industry faces and the important role it plays to help feed the world. “The blend of industry support, interest of our youth and breadth of our association activities bode very well for the future of the beef industry in Hillsborough County,” said Conrad. Yes, the beef industry in Hillsborough County has undergone some significant changes, but it will always have a presence as a significant member of the Ag community.

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Jim Dorman at Charlie’s Plant Farm, Inc | (813) 601-2540

Can I overcome crop nutrition challenges with AgroLiquid?

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By Ginny Mink When I got up this morning, I’m not going to lie, I was hugely stressed over the fact that I had yet to ascertain what I would be doing for my Meet the Minks article this month. I had initially attempted to contact an Angora rabbit breeder to no avail. Then I tried another rabbit breeder and still got no response (if you know some send them my way, please). Frustrated and running out of time, I contacted a friend whose husband is a farmer. He was getting ready to plant peanuts but there wasn’t much else going on (maybe we’ll check him out next month). What to do? Here’s where some of you Florida natives (and not so natives) will wag your finger at me and think I’m a terrible “Mom Mom” (that’s what Zeke, the 2 year old, calls me). Anyhow, the truth is, we live in Florida, my children (all 3) are Florida natives and the youngest two have never been to the beach. They’ve seen it from the patio of a restaurant and from a car window (Hazel, the 4 year old, had one foray during my aunt’s funeral but she couldn’t even walk at the time). So, I decided it was high time (due to article writing necessity) that we make a trip. But where? I know, I know, I live in Florida, there are a bazillion beaches and choosing one really shouldn’t be a problem. However, since I never go to the beach anymore I really don’t know what’s good. Add to that the fact that it’s been mostly raining all day, every day, I didn’t want to ride too far out. I happened upon a website that touted the amenities of Honeymoon Island State Park. Since I’d never been there, that sounded like a great idea to me, only 39+ miles from my house. Trust me, I got my share of, “are we there yets?” but it was well worth the over an hour drive time. What’s a beach got to do with agriculture? Well, it’s actually one of the few remaining accessible islands and if I’d had the money and desire, I could have taken them all the way to Caladesi Island, too. However, Honeymoon Island has one of the only virgin slash pine stands still in existence in Florida and they have a nature center and native plant garden, too. We toured the last two (rain was too much for a 2.5 hike) prior to hitting the beach. By the way, did I mention it was raining? Also, the beach is home to the ocean where fish farmers harvest many of our local delicacies. Right? Humor me at least. So, in the nature center, Hazel and Zeke were enamored by the two stuffed raccoons, Hazel even (illegally) reached up and petted it. She told me that it was soft. I guess I’m glad she got the opportunity to touch it, even if she wasn’t supposed to. They both enjoyed the boxes that you had to reach into and guess what you were touching, though they tried to pull the stuff out rather than guess. Additionally, the plethora of shells (unattached to the table they were labeled on) garnered great interest. Zeke had to be moved out of there because he was too eager to grab all the disconnected shells. We might have enjoyed the native plant garden a wee bit better if the excessive rain had not brought out the mosquito army. Hazel was complaining about itching all over and there truly were enough to fly away with her. We tried to get back in the van without letting too 84

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many in, but the speediness of that endeavor tripped J up, literally. He ended up on the ground in a puddle, having tripped over a parking paver in his rush. I, of course, laughed at him once I was certain there was no blood. We piled back in the van and headed to the beach praying that it would stop raining long enough for us to enjoy the surf (and allow me to take pictures). Thankfully we were gifted with about 45 minutes of rain free time. When I opened my door I was accosted by that marvelous sea air smell and instantly realized how much I’d missed the salty aroma. I got married on the beach five years ago but aside from my aunt’s funeral, I hadn’t been back. It was nostalgic. Hazel and Zeke were immediately enamored by the waves slapping against the pilings of the boardwalk. There really wasn’t much sand due to serious erosion issues and therefore the surf came all the way up to the stairs. J took Hazel and Zeke into the surf so that I could take pictures and the smile on Hazel’s face did my heart good. I’d say I had more fun with my kids today than I’ve had in a while. Zeke wasn’t nearly as enthused, “I want out!” he kept demanding. He came back up to me while J and Hazel played in the surf, waves crashing around them almost knocking them off balance. Zeke stood back and threw the rocks that washed up, back into the surf and occasionally sat down and let the water cascade around him. Then the rain came and Hazel started screaming, “It’s throwing rocks at me!” Indeed the strength of each drop was like a stinging pebble hitting the skin. We hauled tail back to the van and then off to the bathrooms to get into some dry clothes, which were mostly not dry by the time we got back to the van. Talk about lessons in futility. On our way out of Dunedin we stopped for lunch at a deli in downtown and while I won’t reveal the name, I will tell you I wasn’t impressed; it was expensive and their fried green tomato BLT left much to be desired. J said his grilled ham and cheese was good though and Zeke and Hazel seemed to enjoy their burgers (which I tasted and wouldn’t have eaten). Interestingly enough, Hazel has been asking me to take her back since we left. “Can we go back tomorrow?” she pleads. I asked her what she thought about the experience and she told me, in her I’mnearly-grown voice, “I knew there would be sand but I didn’t realize there would be waves strong enough to knock me down.” I had to laugh at her use of the word realize. Zeke just keeps telling me it was cool and that he wants to go back. To my delight, J admitted that he had a great time and would like to go back as well. So, friends, while Honeymoon Island State Park is actually under construction on some of its beaches due to the erosion problem and some of the roads are blocked off due to flooding, I have every intention of going back. It cost $8 a car load for up to 8 passengers. You can also take the ferry over to Caladesi Island but I’m not sure what that costs, sorry. It’s worth the trek though. Don’t take my word for it, check it out for yourselves. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

A Closer Look

By Sean Green

Photo Credit April Green

American Bamboo (Arundinaria)

Ancient culture and resources are easily buried and lost with the churning of modern technologies. I am increasingly fascinated with ancient ways, and the more I learn, the more I appreciate the genius involved. The most fundamental task of gaining food and shelter would be beyond most of our modern population without the forgotten technologies of the past. The people of early civilizations engineered tools and weapons from whatever resources they could find near them. The bamboos are the largest member of the grass family and, although associated with the “Old World” of the Eastern Hemisphere, bamboo was once common and abundant in the Southeastern regions of North America. A closer look at America’s native bamboos may revive its value as an agricultural resource even in the modern world. All continents except Antarctica and Europe have at least one native bamboo. The bamboos are a flowering perennial evergreen plant in the grass family and divided into three “tribes” that correspond with geographic distribution. Arundinariae is the woody bamboo found in temperate climates and includes the genus (Arundinaria), which is the only temperate bamboo native to North America. Arundinaria, is commonly called “cane” but is not the sugarcane (Saccharum) we think of when we hear it. Sometimes the terminology “cane” and “bamboo” are incorrectly used to contrast one from the other. From a scientific perspective, they are essentially the same, they are both grasses in the Poaceae family. As a grass, these plants lack sapwood, heartwood or growth rings that characterize other woody plants. The difference in terminology describes more of a regional difference than a biologic one. Species known as “bamboo” belong to the Phyllostachys and Bambusa genera native to South Asia, Southeast Asia and East Asia. Species described as “cane” include the Arundo genera of the Mediterranean Basin and the Far East and the Arundinaria genera of North America. Early explorers of North America described vast stands of “canebrakes,” which are thickets of bamboo, specifically the Arundinaria genera. Canebrakes develop in the moist environments of floodplains, wetlands, and rivers but can also grow in pine, oak, and cypress forests. Prior to the European colonization the once abundant canebrakes were home to over 50 species of invertebrates, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds. The prey and game within canebrakes could be hunted year round. The American bison (Bison bison), The American black bear (Ursus americanus), Marsh rabbits(Sylvilagus palustris) ,White Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) were once common denizens. The abundance of prey animals living in canebrakes attracted some of the region’s most significant predators which may have included the red wolf(Canis rufus), the Florida black wolf (Canis lupus floridanus), the Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) and the bobcat (Lynx WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

rufus), and in northern Florida the infamous Canebrake or Timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus). Many of these animals are now endangered or extinct. The bamboo found in canebrakes is just as fascinating as the animals it supports. Bamboo is one of the most versatile natural resources in the history of human civilization. It has been a food and medicine as well as raw material for dwellings, tools, weapons, and jewelry. The earliest surviving evidence of a bamboo dwelling was found in South America and is estimated to be over 9,500 years old. Modern studies have examined and documented some remarkable chemical, physical, and mechanical properties of bamboo that ancient cultures seem to have known intuitively. Unlike wood, bamboo has no rays or knots and thereby distribute stress through the length of the stalk more efficiently. Testing reveals bamboo has a higher tensile (stretching) strength than many steel alloys, a higher compression (load) strength than many concrete mixtures, and a higher specific strength (strength/weight ratio) than many other materials. Bamboo fibers are dense enough to allow it to bend without breaking and the high silica content of the fibers cannot be digested by termites. Houses made of bamboo are known to withstand 9.0 magnitude earthquakes. When bent, bamboo will actually produce measurable electricity. Thomas Edison’s earliest commercially produced light bulbs used carbonized bamboo filaments from 1880 – 1886. Bamboo, specifically River cane(Arundinaria gigantea), was used by the tribes of the Eastern Woodlands, notably the Cherokee, Seminole, and Choctaw to make various weapons such as blowguns, bows, arrows, and spears. The traditional Native American flute and tobacco pipes were made of smaller culms (stalks) of bamboo. Bamboo is resistant to damp conditions and is ideal for weaving fish traps, bed mats, rope, and clothing, in fact, unlike fibers like hemp, bamboo gets stronger, not weaker when wet. Bamboo was used as a writing surface as early as 1500 BC; Sanskrit records from this period describe parts of the bamboo plant that are used in ayurveda (Indian) and Chinese medicine. As a crop, bamboo is one of the most sustainable and valuable yields in the history of agriculture. Bamboo grows faster than any other plant in the world and can do so on marginal land with minimal fertilizer and pesticide inputs. Bamboo has a matrix of rhizomes that filter sedimentation and nutrient pollution out of agriculture runoff and stabilize the soil in areas prone to flooding. More than 98% of the large canebrakes that once characterized the Southeast are gone; what remains of the canebrake ecosystem is considered “critically endangered” by the National Biologic Service. Native Arundinaria bamboo will grow well in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 9 in well drained sandy, loamy, or clay soils and could offer tremendous opportunity for Florida farmers, our community, and our local environment, if we take a closer look. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

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Naturally Amazing Activities

By Sean Green

Fire Piston

The ancient art of making fire was one of the most significant advancements in human history. Early civilizations made fire by one of two methods, either by rubbing two sticks together (friction) or by striking two rocks together (percussion). The greatest challenge was finding the right raw material (wood or rock) for the task, each method requires specific properties for suitable material. Early European travelers describe accounts of aboriginal civilizations in the jungles of Indonesia lighting cigarettes with a tube of wood that could create a hot coal with a quick push on a plunger. This device is commonly called the “Fire Piston” or “Fire Syringe.” Ancient examples of the tube are made of hardwood, bamboo and sometimes horn. It has a very smooth and accurate bore and is closed on one end. A piston was crafted for a snug fit within the tube and a “gasket” for the piston was made from wound fiber or leather to make an airtight seal, and then coated with grease from wild boar to allow the piston to glide smoothly within the cylinder. The end of the piston had a shallow depression to hold tinder material. When the piston is quickly thrust into the cylinder, the tinder ignites and the piston is quickly removed to expose a glowing coal of tinder with which a tinder bundle could be lit to start a larger campfire.

over 300 degrees in a split second. Records of the use of a “Fire Syringe” to demonstrate the principle of compression ignition to scientific communities date back to 1802 in both France and England. A New York Times article makes the claim that the fire piston was invented in 1745 by Abbe Augustin Ruffo (“The Pneumatic Tinderbox”, New York Times. 9 October 1876). Although there is very little documentation of the true origins of the fire piston, it’s historic distribution and use seem to coincide with primitive tribes in Southeast Asia, many of which are known to have crafted blowguns out of the native bamboo. It reasonable to entertain the possibility that fire pistons could have been discovered by accident while attempting to punch the node (plug) out of a bamboo culm (stem) to make a blowgun. This month, we will explore the principle of compression ignition by attempting to make a fire piston out of clear acrylic so the mini explosion can be seen. If successful, the finished piece can be used to start a campfire as well as safely demonstrate the principle to children. For those who want to attempt a more traditional method, simply use natural materials (italicized in the materials list) rather than manufactured materials. While doing this project think about the skill that must have been necessary to hand carve the components with precision with little more than tools made from shells, bone, horn, rocks, or whatever the early hunters improvised.

The concept of how a “Fire Piston” works is simple; rapid compression of any gas increases its pressure and the temperature of the gas rises with it, the higher the compression, the higher the temperature. If the gas is compressed quick enough, it can reach temperatures of

Suggested Material: Natural methods italicized Cylinder 10” x ½” inside diameter tube (clear acrylic, PVC, metal, wood) Piston 10” x ½” outer diameter rod (clear acrylic, PVC, metal, wood) Packing ½ “ outer diameter rubber O-Rings, ( plant fibres (Raffia) Grip Wooden Knob, Acrylic T-Fitting, (cordage (palm, bamboo, milkweed, inner bark) Wood Glue (Pine Pitch Glue, Hide Glue, Starch Glue) * natural recipes not included in this tutorial Other Glue (Acrylic Glue, PVC Glue, etc.. depending on the manufactured materials used.) Tinder True Tinder Fungus (Inonotus obliquus) False Tinder Fungus (Fomes fomentarius) Powder-Puff Lichen (Cladonia Evansii ) Sabal Palm Fibers (Sabal palmetto) Traditional woods included an Asian species (Streblus elongatus) in the Mulberry family (Moraceae). The closest relative that may have been found by our Native American civilizations could have been the Florida strangler fig (Ficus aurea) or the Paper Mulberry (Streblus cordatus) (reclassified as Broussonetia papyrifera). Bamboo and horn, of course, were also a traditional materials, bamboo may have been the easiest to work with considering it’s physical characteristics of already being a tube and having one of the highest compressive strength of any woody material.

Create a cylinder that is plugged on one end (>> note cylinder is NOT cut to length yet << ) The recommended length of the cylinder is 4” to 5”, longer cylinders will be harder to use. Cut about 1” of acrylic off the clear acrylic piston and glue it to the inside of one end of the clear acrylic cylinder to create a plug. It’s easier to cut the final length of the cylinder after the piston is finished. * Plugging is not necessary for natural materials, Bamboo has a nodes (plug) throughout the culm that plug the cylinder, simply cut the bamboo to a 4” or 5” piece so the node seals one end.

Create a cavity in one end of the piston to hold tinder

Drill a hole (about 3/16” diameter) into the piston (drill press needed), cut at the top of the hole to create a claw, alternatively you can use a round file to create a U shaped claw on the end of the piston. Cut a smaller diameter bamboo rod (must fit inside cylinder) about 86

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1/8” above a node (the node forms a bowl to hold the tinder)

Groove the piston to secure a gasket

Saw or file a groove in the piston about ¼” above the tinder cavity created in the previous step. The groove should be just deep enough to hold the rubber gasket (about1/16”) The groove can be made by cutting a V pattern with a sharp object (knife, shell,bone)

Attach the Gasket

Slip the O-ring into the piston groove, (it should extend beyond the piston for an airtight seal in the cylinder) wind fibers into the piston groove, (it should extend beyond the piston for an airtight seal in the cylinder) using natural fibers may require a wider seal of 1/6” to 1/8”

Grease the gasket

Petroleum Jelly can be used to lubricate the rubber O-ring gasket. Traditionally animal fat was used to lubricate fiber gaskets, but water is also effective because many natural fibers swell when they become wet. Bees wax may have also been used as both a gasket and lubricant. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM

Attach a comfortable handle to the piston

Attach the knob to the piston with an appropriate adhesive (wood glue, acrylic glue, pvc glue, screws) Natural adhesives can include pine pitch, animal hide glue, starch glue. (recipes can be found online)

Measure and cut the cylinder to its final length.

Once the piston handle is dry, measure the distance from the bottom of the handle to the end of the piston where the tinder cavity is. Total cylinder length should be about 3/16” deeper than the length of the piston to create an air chamber of 3/16” when the piston is inserted all the way to the handle.

Test the compression

When the piston is pushed into the cylinder slowly, it will return to its starting position when released if the gasket is providing an air tight seal. If the piston does not return to starting position on its own, there is an air leak that must be addressed before the fire piston will work.

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To use the Fire Piston

Gather a small, fluffy, pinch of tinder, place it in the piston cavity. Grease or wet the piston gasket and slide it into the cylinder. Brace the cylinder against a sturdy surface and ram the piston into the cylinder. Quickly remove the cylinder to expose the (hopefully) glowing ember of tinder. Use the tinder ember to ignite a tinder bundle.

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