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Several committees fall under the Earth Stewardship umbrella; Adopt-A-Waterway, Air & Energy, Backyard Habitats, Coral Restoration, Recycling, and more. Please read below to learn more about each of them and about the Earth Steward Award.
Recognition for Earth Stewardship
FFGC’s Tri-Council has established a new recognition to honor one who has accomplished outstanding efforts regarding the stewardship of our natural resources. The Earth Steward honor can be awarded in the field of Gardening and Landscape Design, for efforts to protect our environmental resources, for providing education about our resources, or for efforts to persuade decision makers to protect our resources. The recipient is not required to be an FFGC member.
The recipient of the Earth Steward recognition will be presented with a pin and certificate. The honor may be awarded by a club, district, an FFGC organization or by an individual. The revenue will go to the Color Our Garden Fund, a part of the Headquarters and Endowment (H&E) budget for the continued stewardship and care of the grounds at FFGC Headquarters.
List of Earth Steward Recipients
For Information contact the Chairman
There are many impaired bodies of water in the State of Florida. In keeping with our Position Statement supporting clean water, each district has been requested to Adopt-A-Waterway within their District. It is hoped that the districts and local clubs can take actions that will help improve the quality of the water in their adopted waterway or waterways.
Garden clubs can hold seminars and TEACH about good gardening practices, but even more importantly we can PRACTICE good gardening habits regarding the use of fertilizers, pesticides and fungicides. We can practice the Florida Friendly Landscape Principles so that the storm water runoff does not pollute our waterways. WE can organize or join local working groups that have a common interest in protecting a particular water body. We can participate in organized cleanups and practice recycling and reuse. This cuts down on the pollution entering our waterways.
Talk with your local agencies, your water management district and your local Department of Environment Protection. These groups are good sources of information for activities that can be carried out to improve your impaired waterway. You can make a difference in the water quality of the State of Florida. Contact Pat Carver
WHY YOU SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT AIR POLLUTION
You could go days without food and hours without water, but you would last only a few minutes without air. You must have air to live!! The Clean Air Act of 1970 focused mainly on industrial pollution, car emissions and acid rain. The ramifications of all of these pollutants has brought about Global warming which now affects climate, which in turn affects reduction in crops, melt-down of glaciers, increased threat of fires and a dramatic upswing in health risks. As stewards of this earth, we must be "watch dogs", alert the proper authorities of any infractions you see, and lobby those Congressmen/Women to create legislation to stop activities that endanger this planet from a major melt- down". Contact Jeanne Corbin for information about the Clean Air Act.
Animal friendly yards help feed, protect and preserve endangered wildlife. As land development continues to destroy animal habitats, we can aid wildlife by the plant choices we put in our yards. Large native shrubs that are tall and wide provide shelter for birds and small animals. Plants with tubular blossoms feed bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Caterpillar host plants give butterflies a place to reproduce and flourish. Planting shrubs and trees that produce berries help feed birds. By planting habitat friendly, native plantings in our landscape, we can encourage our friends and neighbors to do the same. We can be the pebble dropped in the stream causing a rippling effect. As the ripple effect widens, Florida's wildlife will benefit from our combined efforts. Working together we can make a difference. Contact the Chairman for specific information and web sites showing how you can help our endangered animals by creating wildlife habitats. For more information, visit our Birds, Bees, and Butterflies page.
Coral Restoration
FFGC has partnered with the Coral Restoration Foundation to participate in a pioneering project to restore and preserve our coral reefs for future generations. The Coral Restoration Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit conservation organization headquartered in Key Largo. Its mission is to develop off-shore coral nurseries and reef restoration programs for critically endangered coral reefs. It is the only organization in the world solely devoted to the restoration of coral reefs. FFGC's individual members, clubs and districts may "adopt" a coral rooting and sponsor the transplanting of the coral by the Foundation. The goal of the Coral Restoration Committee is to raise funds for this conservation effort; to create a special FFGC Coral Garden; to raise awareness and educate our members and our communities of the importance of the protection and restoration of our ocean reefs. Contact Sharon Trbovich
Reclamation and Recycling
Recycling may seem to be "old hat" but it is very alive and overdue for front page news. More items can be recycled, renewed, or reclaimed than ever before. More containers of all materials can be recycled; don't leave them out of your bins. If your county doesn't recycle some items curb-side, plead with them to do so. Ask for recycling bins at work, schools, churches, and other public places. If they aren't handy, it will end up in the landfill or incinerator. Recycled and reclaimed materials have become big and profitable businesses. Check out Marpan, Tallahassee, Florida on the web. There is a list of counties and the percentages of waste they recycle. How does your county rate? Please spare our planet: Recycle, Reclaim and we will have reduced, renewed and reused over half of our trash. Contact Kalia Baillene
Water and Wetlands
The waters and wetlands of Florida are what make our state unique and such an attraction for our residents and visitors. However, potable water is becoming increasingly scarce. As more groundwater is withdrawn from the aquifer for public water supply, agriculture and industry, it affects the environment in other areas. We must encourage sources alternative to groundwater to be developed. Our water quality continues to worsen each year due to nutrient loading from storm water runoff, industrial wastes, over pumping, development in wetlands, etc. The 2011, 2012 and 2013 Legislature slashed most of the laws which protect our water and wetlands, and made it much more difficult for citizens to have input regarding protection of our resources. A big hope for FFGC making a difference is practicing and teaching protection for our water and wetlands. We have lost many legal rights, but we can teach and model ethical rights. Also, you still may speak your concerns to your decision makers. It is so very important to speak with your representatives during their time at home when they have time to meet with you. Contact Pat Carver
Please enjoy this video Our Water, Our Future by Leslie Gamble and John Moran on You Tube. To order this program in DVD format, please contact: Alex@VibrantMediaProductions.com for more information.
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