History of the Sustainability Movement in Sarasota County

"In Their Own Words"

pdf now available (735K)

We want to celebrate the progress towards sustainability and take the time to honor those people that have given so much over the years.

On February 22, 2006, Sarasota County Economic Development Corporation and the Florida West Coast RC&D presented a seminar on Natural Capitalism with Rocky Mountain Institute. The Florida West Coast RC&D started collecting the writings and photos, and producing this document with the intent of distributing a finished product at the Natural Capitalism seminar where we hope to launch a new era of the sustainability movement.

However, it is clear we have a seedling collection of stories. But, it's already starting to be a powerful collection of us - we are the people we have been waiting for. In the interest of motivating the procrastinators and shy types and the ghost-writers, this document is hereby declared a work-in-progress (we have a list of over 20 people that have been nominated but have not submitted stories, so let's get going!).

This is the on-line version of our book. So, now there are two steps: one post your story and picture here in "the book" (by adding a child page) and then please submit your photo with caption (.jpeg) and/or writings (.doc or in email text) on your story in the history of the sustainability movement in Sarasota County, "in your own words", to the Florida West Coast RC&D at info@fwcrcd.org or Laura.Morton@fl.usda.gov so I can put it in the hard copy/pdf version. Download pdf here (735K).

These contributions have not been edited for content - the opinions within are those of the contributors!

A History of Sustainability in Sarasota County Government

Sustainability Efforts History - 1979-2005, Contributed by
Sustainable Sarasota

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Aquarian Quest

Nominated by Peter Seyffert

 
When I was chartering my traditional wooden sailboat in the Mediterranean in the 1980s, inspired by the Live Aid concert at Wembley, I envisioned a tall ship carrying a message of oneness around the globe; with music and education programs that would remind us of the interconnected nature of earth's inhabitants. I feel this oneness with mother earth and the universe when I sail offshore. My passion for sailing is fed by the ecological aspect of harnessing the wind and not polluting our waters. I carried this vision to Florida and met two kindred spirits in Joe Jacobson and Robert Killian. We shared dreams of using traditional sailing vessels as classrooms, teaching people about the precious and fragile ecosystems in our coastal waters and building a sense of community.

 
Joe Jacobson is an accomplished, professional wooden boat builder and dedicated environmentalist working for Sarasota County Environmental Services. He was the first president of Aquarian Quest and instrumental in getting us several grants and the support of Sarasota County. Robert Killian is a talented musician/educator who worked aboard the Sloop Clearwater for Pete Seeger's organization cleaning up the Hudson River. Robert founded the Monmouth County Friends of Clearwater, Inc. as a non-profit educational organization to carry the Clearwater programs into the New Jersey coastal area. Robert is our Education Director creating partnerships with the teachers whose classes we take on our programs.

 
Modeling the Clearwater program with Pete Seeger's permission and encouragement, we formed Aquarian Quest and created a hands-on program for children aboard a traditional sailing vessel for Florida's Gulf Coast. Learning stations cover traditional navigation, water quality testing, fish and invertebrates and plankton. Our program is in alignment with Florida Sunshine State Standard for Science education. With central themes of earth stewardship and community building we are inspiring the environmentalists of our future.

 

"Aquarian Quest Celebrates Community and our Water Resources", is our motto. We have held four Water and Wooden Boat Festivals at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron. We invited organizations who support sustainability and have interests in preserving our coastal waters. We participated in E-Fest, Earth Day and the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival.

 
Educators have depended upon books and other media to instruct children in the confines of traditional classrooms. Hands-on, interactive learning experiences are much more memorable. From 2000 to 2005 we leased the schooner Daniel Webster Clements for five months each school year, offering field trips to local schools and other organizations. We took out over 10,000 school children and approximately 2,500 adults. The kids also help us raise the sails. It is a confidence builder for young people to provide a new learning environment to master. We also offer corporate and private sails and collaborative programs with other organizations.

 
In 2005 we purchased our own vessel, the historic ketch Galatea so we can offer programs year-round. She is a very well built gaff-rigged, wooden ketch constructed by the Gamage family of boat builders in Maine. Galatea has been a charter vessel in Boston and New York harbors, Key West, and Puget Sound. Galatea needs some repairs to satisfy US Coast Guard requirements and we need funds. We intend the Galatea to become "Florida's Environmental Flagship".

 
One of the many thank you notes we have received:

"The day was phenomenal. The crew and station leaders were tuned in to the fourth graders' response level. Every child (and parent!) came back announcing to the world that "this was the best field trip I've ever been on!" You provided the perfect extension to our studies. Adding knowledge of oxygen levels in the bay offered even more for us to discuss back in the classroom. Again we lamented the fact that humans are not as careful as they should be. The kids have vowed to make a difference. I believe they will. This will remain with them forever. Thank you." from a Sarasota elementary school science teacher - 2004.

We will continue our programs and offer our community the chance to: remember simpler times, observe the wonders of our local waters and become stewards of our planet. We know that young people are strongly affected by what they experience aboard our tall ship. They carry this positive influence with them and together we have taken another step toward improving the health of our planet.

 
With our president, Jan Kirchner, the board is seeking volunteers and donors to help us "Splash" the Galatea as a full-time, year-round vessel to serve Sarasota and surrounding communities. Please contact us via our website http://www.aquarianquest.org/.

 

 
Editor's note: I was really trying to get nominations of specific people as "our stories". Peter put this forward as a nomination of an outcome of three people's efforts. I think this makes an important point - outcomes and products of our efforts as people (our creations) can become greater than the sum of their parts. This is when it's nice when people don't comply with the guidelines!

 

Betty Alpaugh (Florida House Learning Center)

We believe this project was the first in the nation to use the demonstration technique to educate the public about sustainability. In response to a severe drought and proposed building moratorium in 1990, the Florida House Learning Center was initially envisioned by the Sarasota County Extension Service to teach citizens about water conservation, but was expanded to include other sustainability principles such as energy efficiency, recycled products, least-toxic building materials and durability. The Learning Center evolved into a community effort and a unique public/private partnership involving donations by hundreds of organizations, businesses, government agencies, and individuals.Â

 

Opening to the public on Earth Day in 1994, this model home and landscape teaches citizens that landscape elements and building materials that are environmentally friendly can also be attractive---both aesthetically and economically. In addition to its educational mission, the project also seeks to stimulate market demand for "green" products and methods, so everything featured is readily available off-the-shelf.

 

The house is a modern "Florida Cracker" style with 2,375 square feet of indoor-outdoor living space, including screened porches, and features numerous water and energy-conserving designs and devices, as well as building materials with recycled content. Energy Star® appliances and such renewable resources as Bamboo and Cork flooring are highlighted, along with recycled plastic carpet and ceramic tiles made from recycled auto windshields.

 

The "Model Florida Yard" demonstrates xeriscaping; micro-irrigation; composting; edible landscaping; reduced use of pesticides, fertilizers, water and energy; reduction of detrimental stormwater run-off; and two 2,500-gallon cisterns which collect rainwater for use in irrigation.

 

The Learning Center also utilizes extensive educational signage, an environmental library and over 100 University of Florida publications. Rounding out the project are weekly educational programs and group tours for children and adults.

 

Serving as a focal point for citizen interest in sustainability for nearly twelve years, the Learning Center continues to attract over 10,000 visitors a year from every part of the state, nation, and the world. It has also helped to incubate similar projects in Louisiana, Utah, and South Carolina, and received delegations from as far away as Egypt and Jordan.

 

By demonstrating positive, real life, economic solutions to environmental dilemmas, the Learning Center has stimulated the marketplace in a number of tangible ways, for instance, the creation of an Environmental Award category in the annual Homebuilder's Parade of Homes. Where once there were none, Sarasota now boasts a number of builders and developers who have committed to achieving certification by the Florida Green Building Coalition, and scores of new homes embodying Florida House concepts have been built.

 

Perhaps our most significant achievements are in the areas of individual knowledge gains and practice changes by citizens. Annual surveys of previous year's visitors reveal that an average of 81% of respondents make positive changes in their lifestyles or practices as a result of their visit, and fully 65% redesign their landscapes within the first year! Weekly educational programs measure a 37% average knowledge gain, and Children's Resource Conservation Tours demonstrate an average improvement of 39 percentage points from pre-visit to post-visit test scores.

 

Media response to the Florida House has far exceeded expectations, with more than 12,000 column inches of national and local media coverage over the years, including appearances in college textbooks, Better Homes and Gardens and on CNN's "Earth Matters" program, as well as numerous local and regional television programs such as the 2004 premiere episode of A Gulf Coast Journal on WEDU-TV Channel 3.

 

The current and most direct beneficiaries of this program are the citizens who visit the Florida House and then implement what they learned in their own homes and yards, and many visitors become ambassadors for these concepts, helping to educate their families, friends, and neighbors. Their communities, whether in Michigan, Maine, Mississippi or Montana, all benefit directly in meaningful and measurable ways from whatever lifestyle and practice changes are made to conserve resources, reduce waste and maintain a healthier environment.

 

Year after year, citizens are telling us that their visit has "made a difference"---not only in their ecological awareness and values, but also in their lifestyles and how they interact with their environment. Of course, the most significant beneficiaries may be the future generations who will inherit and inhabit the world that we are creating today by the choices we make.

 

Betty Alpaugh

February 13, 2006

Carolyn Gregov

University of Florida/IFAS - Sarasota County Extension Director (nominated by Laura Morton)

 
I would like to nominate Carolyn Gregov to be included as a major contributor to the sustainability movement in Sarasota County. I know there is a big list of her contributions before my time and there are tons of things I have no idea about, but I know one thing for sure: she lead the effort to put agriculture back on the agenda in Sarasota County. She got the Agricultural Extension Agent position back and she hired an agent with a Ph.D. in agroecology (Robert Kluson).

 

Carolyn knows about the connection to our health, food, nutrition, and local food and agriculture. She started the Family Nutrition Program in Sarasota County, too. In five years this program has brought $1.2 Million in Federal dollars to Sarasota for educational programming for Food Stamp clients in Sarasota County to help them spend their food dollars wisely, improve their nutrition and food behaviors, and buy locally-produced fruits and vegetables. This Program won the prestigious 2004 national Going With the Grain Gold Award.

 
Carolyn has set her goals high -- for the next few years she has the goal of helping reduce Sarasota County's Ecological Footprint. She is so determined -- I think she is going to lead Extension to that goal as a strong educational resource for us in the sustainability movement.

Commissioner Shannon Staub

The Natural Capitalism team would like to recognize the outstanding efforts of Commissioner Shannon Staub to advance sustainable living within our community.

 

Commissioner Staub is a frequent speaker at various community events and regularly incorporates into her presentations the County's commitment to becoming sustainable. In addition, she regularly speaks to local, regional, and State groups on Sarasota County Government's and our communities comprehensive sustainability efforts. Commissioner Staub freely offers he assistance to other communities wishing to integrate sustainability practices into their government operations.

 

In addition to her role as an advocate and an educator, Commissioner Staub has also been instrumental in initiating sustainability efforts such as:

 

All of Sarasota County's commissioners understand the importance of sustainability and all serve the community well in this area; however, Commissioner Staub has taken exceptional interest and should be bestowed with the title of Sarasota County Government's Sustainability Ambassador.

Ellie Gibeau & Kara Antinarelli

While working for the Sustainable Sarasota department of Sarasota County Government, Ms. Ellie Gibeau and Ms. Kara Antinarelli had the opportunity to work on one of the most rewarding projects of their career. The idea for a "sustainability" festival came from Antinarelli's husband Darren Henegar while on a walk together. After weeks of discussion, and the encouragement of Sustainable Sarasota's manager Jodi John, the festival was born. Many meetings and discussions later came the name Efest - a compilation of all of the "E's that represent sustainability - Earth, energy, economy, environment, entrepreneurship, ecology, equity, education, etc.

 

Gibeau and Antinarelli embraced this project with commitment and passion - overcoming many obstacles, challenges and false starts. Sarasota County Government was the incubator for getting through the inaugural year. The City of Sarasota, Friends of Sarasota County Parks (FOSCP), Sarasota Herald Tribune, Natural Awakenings Magazine, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and Sarasota Conservation Foundation were the major contributors. Many other businesses also supported this first event through financial support, in-kind contributions and volunteering countless hours of time.

 

No longer at the County, Gibeau and Antinarelli were not sure if they would continue the festival in 2006, but the encouragement to move ahead was overwhelming. Prior exhibitors and sponsors called and emailed asking about "next year's Efest". The FOSCP Board also encouraged the women to continue and offered their continuing support. The deciding vote was the support of Randy Moore and Natural Awakenings Magazine. A committed proponent of sustainability and healthy living, Randy promised continued support for Efest 2006.

 

Our community is filled with smart, conscientious citizens, but as we all know, educating oneself to the many options involved in sustainable living is a time-consuming effort. This is why Gibeau and Antinarelli have compiled a variety of resources from near and far to provide a wonderful, one-day experience again this year.

 

New at Efest 2006 will be Sarasota News and Books offering an Author Series - inviting five known authors to speak and sign books; Natural Awakenings Magazine will offer even more coverage of Efest this year offering exhibitors and sponsors the kind of media exposure that is often difficult to get and afford; a larger, more centralized "Food Garden" offering healthy food and beverage choices and including a shaded eating area; two performance stages with ongoing music, dance, puppets and more; and the always popular Kid-e-Zone with interactive fun for children of all ages.

 

Concerned that some might conjure up visions of radical change and decline to attend, the women crafted efest to be a gentle initiation to encourage people to make small, comfortable changes that all add up to making big differences in the way we live. Efforts were also made to "energize" Sarasota's existing green community.

 

Gibeau and Antinarelli represent a progressive voice and are succeeding in guiding this community in a direction of environmental responsibility and resource conservation. They are reaching out into the local government and business community for support of this well-received event.

 

For information about how to become a sponsor, exhibitor or volunteer and to see a site map, see photos from previous Efests, and more, visit the website: http://www.efest.us

Ellie Gibeau, Coordinator

Efest, A festival created to celebrate sustainability!

ellie@efest.us

941-504-1015

Jeanell Innerarity

Student, New College

It can be difficult to pin down a definition for what ˜sustainability' really means. I personally resonate with the ˜seven generations' philosophy; if what we're doing now can be of benefit to, or at least not harmful to, the next seven generations, then we're on the right track. While this definition leaves itself open to a wide range of interpretations, I believe it is equally broad in its scope of creative possibilities.

 

Community gardens fall well within this scope of creative possibilities for urban sustainability. They not only offer the opportunity to reduce Sarasota's Ecological Footprint by increasing green space and bringing more food production under local control, they also create spaces where members of the community can come together for a common purpose and help to educate each other about sustainable living practices. I see this community building aspect as fundamental to a sustainable lifestyle.

 

I have been traveling in various parts of the world to learn about sustainable agriculture, community building, and community gardens, and though my experience and my research are only in beginning stages, I have an ambitious vision for how sustainable urban agriculture has the potential to affect the city of Sarasota.

 

I see urban agriculture in the form of community gardens as being an excellent educational tool for adults and children alike to reconnect with their surrounding environment and to learn about where their food comes from. I see gardens as a way to increase available nutrition for citizens on all socio-economic levels, but especially for those who may not otherwise be able to afford fresh, healthy produce. My vision includes gardens as an excellent way to increase the amount of public green space in the city so that citizens can interact with nature and each other in a positive way; I see this as essential to a place experiencing such rapid urban development.

 

Plenty of space and resources are available to creative and dedicated citizens interested in community garden projects. Anywhere from abandoned lots to public parks to neighborhood lawns can be transformed. I have noticed that when I speak with people about community gardens they are aware of and curious about the local gardens which they pass frequently, though often they know nothing about the gardens or gardening. I see this as an indication of both the gardens' innate appeal and of the need for greater public outreach.

 

I am currently writing my undergraduate thesis about the community gardens in Sarasota County. I intend to compile information about the already existing Sarasota gardens and how they are affecting the lives of their gardeners. I will be focusing specifically on learning the stories of the gardeners in the Rosemary District community garden in order to find out why they participate and to give a human face to the general data about the gardens. I also intend to offer suggestions, based on the information collected as well as on outside research, for how the network of community gardens in Sarasota county could be improved to better serve the people of Sarasota.

 

Since I moved to Sarasota in 2002, I have repeatedly been impressed by the city's general interest in moving towards a more sustainable lifestyle--from the Florida House, to the use of reclaimed water on public lands, to the relative abundance of health-food stores and organic food co-ops--but I also see it as having a long way to go. I look forward to being able to contribute to the movement of Sarasota towards becoming a more sustainable, healthy, livable city for the next seven generations and beyond.

Jesse White

I currently own and operate Sarasota Architectural Salvage, a retail store selling salvaged, recycled, and antique building materials and home decor. We are a mission driven operation, which creates some challenges for a for-profit store.  For example, some of the most environmentally rewarding salvage is not very profitable.  Our store tries to blend the most profitable with the most sustainable.

 

Sarasota Architectural Salvage, http://www.sarasotasalvage.com, is the region's final opportunity for preservation of historic building elements.  While I personally would like to see buildings of architectural significance preserved, the reality of our real estate market has created a huge number of demolitions throughout the region.  If a structure cannot be saved or moved, then salvage is the next best opportunity to preserve its elements for future generations. Landfills don't offer much future salvage potential for materials in their original state.

 

In keeping with this theme, you will find remnants from Sarasota's historic buildings in our shop. Some famous - such as heat return grates from the John Ringling Towers. Some not so famous - such as siding from a cute bungalow previously located in the hospital district.

 

My personal and professional resume has been based on the concept of sustainability.  In the late 1980's I started a recycling program at New College.  Primarily focused on saving aluminum cans and bottles from weekend parties, I grew the program to include paper and other commodities.  Not satisfied with just keeping this material out of the landfill, I reinvested the profits from the program (at the time, even glass bottles had cash value), I purchased recycled paper which I then sold on campus at a discount to raise awareness about the recycling loop.Â

 

After college, I worked as a landscaper for the City of Sarasota. With the support of my supervisors, I initiated a program to reduce the use of toxic pesticides, educate all personnel about proper use and disposal of fertilizers and pesticides, dispose of banned and regulated pesticides that had the potential to be used inappropriately. As a result, the City adopted best management practices to achieve maximum horticultural result, with minimum environmental and human health impact.

 

My graduate work at Antioch University culminated in exploring landfill reclamation as a potential property reuse strategy for siting a composting facility. Later, I worked as a consultant setting up recycling programs throughout New England and Florida.

 

As owner of a small environmental consulting firm, I have completed several sustainability projects in and around Sarasota. Under contract to Sarasota County Government, I developed and now continue to manage a website, http://www.compostinfo.com/ which teaches residential composting techniques to help keep waste out of landfills and valuable compost in the garden.

 

In addition, my firm performed numerous waste reduction studies including evaluation of recycling post consumer roofing shingles, deconstruction and building materials reuse, commercial food waste recycling, and community based electronics reuse and recycling.

Sarasota Architectural Salvage

1093 Central Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236

941-362-0803

Jodi John

Sustainable Sarasota, Sarasota County Government

 

Editor's note: After bugging Jodi relentlessly to submit her story, she finally sort of acquiesced by submitting this letter that she wrote to the editor when  she was a Riverview High School student. She also submitted the history of Sarasota County's Sustainability Efforts. Thanks Jodi!!!

 

Published: June 4, 1970

Column entitled: Letters to the Editor - Our Young Citizens Have Their Say...

 

Dear Sir:

I think that it is about time for the people of the world to get off their merry go-rounds and take a good look about themselves.

What has man done to his environment?

I feel that we have changed a once-beautiful world into a 'rat race'. I feel that people no longer express any concern over their environment or their neighbors.

People seem to be so wound up in themselves and the progressiveness of the nation that they have little time to take a look at society. People finally realize what's going only after they don't do anything about it. Society seems to feel that we are making great leaps and bounds to the perfect society (with space trips and the powers to create life). But what we are really doing is destroying life with pollution, war, and greed.

I urge everyone to try to enjoy life for life's sake and not for the sake of materialistic values placed on you by society.

 

Jodi John

John Lambie

Editor's Note: I called Lambie one hour and 20 minutes from the Natural Capitalism Seminar document deadline and left a rant for him to pick up this message or it would be TOO LATE. Imagine my surprise when he calls back, but instead of a story I get a website reference. Well, leave it to Lambie and who am I to say?  Good thing it's close to 1000 words....

 

Check out this site on Lambie:

http://www.myflorida.com/fdi/fscc/news/wkshp/sara/lam-ind.htm

and the Florida House Institute for Sustainable Development   http://i4sd.org/

Kirk Maust and Dale Gulden

Founders, Solar Direct -- Living and Working for the Triple Bottom Line: People, Planet & Profits

Visitors to the Solar Direct website immediately become aware that they are not just dealing with the ordinary web commerce store or "Big Box Store" mentality in seeking home and commercial solar solutions. Proudly declared at the top of their home page is:

 

"Solar Direct: Bringing Renewable Energy Technology down to Earth".

 
This is more than a marketing tagline to Solar Direct. The phrase captures the essence of the founder's beliefs and the company's philosophy.

 
When Kirk Maust and Dale Gulden started Solar Direct in 1986, the solar industry was just taking its first wing under President Clinton's extensive tax credits. As an engineering student at Pennsylvania State University, Kirk grasped early on that solar energy solutions represented a compelling, environmentally correct technology that people should be using to both power their homes and heat their water. He believed that what the world needed was a technically-savvy company that could aid homeowners and businesses in making the best choices in solar energy products. Kirk knew that the average home owner might be highly interested in environmentally-friendly choices: but they did not have the technical know-how to make a correct decision. Kirk therefore, started to formulate a company that would offer best-of-breed, tested products that homeowners could trust to be reliable.

 
In the early 80's, Kirk met up with Dale Gulden, marketing and sales- oriented guy who had been promoting rock concerts and who now wanted to deploy his marketing skills toward solar energy's environmentally responsible cause. Like Kirk, Dale believed in solar energy's potential as an alternative to carbon-based electricity and water-heating products. But he knew that the key was not just great reliable engineering of these products, but making these products very accessible to homeowners, who often lacked knowledge of these technically sophisticated products. Dale believed that working with customers personally - on the phones- even in this very web-oriented internet world - was a very important matter. Even today - serving over 30,000 customers worldwide - Dale maintains a personal "on the phone" presence with customers, hand-holding them through complex solar installations. Because of this Dale's philosophy to offer "profoundly great" customer service, Solar Direct's meteoric revenue growth stemmed greatly from repeat customer business.

 
Dale was so dedicated to the solar product's cause, that he soon got his whole family involved: Cindy, his wife, became the office manager for Solar Direct, helping in coordinate the growing company's daily complex activities. Sheila, Dale's daughter, became involved in Solar Direct logistics, ensuring that products were available and shipped in a timely manner to customers. As Dale says "Promoting solar energy- good for the planet and people- is in our family DNA".

 
The result of this pairing of talent to provide energy products that serve the planet well?: From 2003-2004, Solar Direct services grew over 130% , providing online buyers with over 350 products, ranging from water conserving devices to solar pool heaters, solar water heaters to solar cookers. Their reputation has grown such that over 2000 per day visit their web site.

 
The company is proud that over the 20-year history of the company, their solar-based product shipments have contributed to significant savings in polluting carbon emissions. Considering all the solar pool heaters, solar electricity (photovoltaic) and solar water heating solutions the company has sold and installed 1.2 Billion KW Hrs or carbon-based emissions have been avoided. This is equivalent to removing 487,000 passenger vehicles off the road for one year.

 
Kirk and Dale have extended the company's mission to support planet-friendly activities in others ways. The company has a strong recycling policy, encouraging all employees to recycle all products involved in its daily operations and shipping of products worldwide. Moreover, for several years, the company's website has promoted The Apollo Alliance, a non-profit organization that encourages energy independence - offering free promotion on key web pages. In 2005, believing that increasing educational research and development ensures future better solar products for consumer access; Solar Direct contributed $1000 to the Florida International University's Solar Decathlon project.

 
One of Kirk and Dale's favorite solar technology projects was working with the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria. Electricity is a precious resource in almost all West African countries, where black-outs are routine due to poor infrastructure. Nigeria, a prime example, operates at one-third of its installed capacity due to aging equipment. Solar Direct was enlisted to design a large solar thermal installation on the Nigerian Embassy, providing much-needed solar water heating for a five-story 190-office building. This allowed the embassy to reduce use of fossil-fuel based electricity, reduced the overall system load and therefore lowered the size of the Embassy's independent (carbon-emitting) power plant. Good for the people and the Earth!

 
Solar Direct is proud to have worked with many other non-profit organizations in furthering the adoption of solar technology products as part of their own environmental efforts. These include: Boys Scouts of America, Florida Park Service- Lake Louisa State Park, the US Geological Survey and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Laura Morton

I moved to Sarasota in 2003 when I took a transfer with US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service to become the Coordinator for the Florida West Coast RC&D Council. This title and job is confusing to everyone but me, but it means that I am similar to an executive director. I am just beginning to make contributions to the sustainability movement in Sarasota County, following in the lineage of Mike Sosadeeter, one of my RC&D Board members. When I showed up in Florida and met Mike and he dropped a few key words like "vermicompost" and "sustainable agriculture", I knew I had met a new big brother.

 
I am a Maine girl born in Milton, Florida. I grew up on what my dad called "Morton's Managerie" in a small, formerly-agricultural town in Southern Maine. We had chickens, pigs, cows, turkeys, ducks, horses, gardens, mini-orchards, a big strawberry patch, and my mom ran a small greenhouse business. I was very close with my cousins, who were potato farmers that traveled every year from Maine to Florida to do two seasons, so my connection to Florida continued and flourished. After the University of Miami and The American University, I obtained my Master's degree in Natural Resources from the University of New Hampshire, with an undergraduate degree in Soil Science and minors in Plant Biology/Ecology and Political Science. Before college I worked for a variety of small businesses including agricultural, landscaping, and restaurants. During college, I worked in the U.S. Senate with the Senate Majority Leader's Press Office and with educational/research activities at the University of New Hampshire. My career has included mapping soils, marketing and communications, a detail to Nicaragua during Hurricane Mitch Restoration, and teaching soil science at the undergraduate and graduate level.

 
In 2003, Mike Sosadeeter and I put together what we called the Sustainable Community Agriculture Initiative under the RC&D and developed a plan affectionately called "the Mexican Restaurant Plan", named for the location of our mind meld. Working through Jodi John's Sustainable Sarasota Community Partnership, I chaired the Sustainable Food Systems subgroup. RC&D soon got sucked into the "farmstand controversy" in 2004 even as newcomers to the agriculture community , and it was in these various meetings that I met a lot of the agricultural community in Sarasota County (including Peter Burkard). I learned one critical thing from Bill Pischer during that time: if we weren't serious about finding land for farmers in Sarasota County, we weren't serious about a sustainable food system. Point well taken.

 It was sometime during that same year that Jodi John and Nina Powers put together a little Sustainable Agriculture and Food System Road Trip with their new boss Carolyn Gregov, who had recently become County Extension Director. For those of us new to the area, we needed to visit businesses around that are doing what we are always talking about. On that four-county road trip (Sarasota, Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Manatee), Carolyn Gregov met Robert Kluson.

 I had met Robert at the visioning retreat of the Science and Environment Council (SEC) of Sarasota at GWiz. He and I immediately had the connection of food/agriculture types and he invited me out to Buster Longino's Ranch where he was managing the conservation easement. That was the most grounding field trip I had in getting to know Sarasota - I could feel a sense of place starting to build!

 
Dr. K, as Nina Powers calls him, and I were both in the Sustainable Food Systems Subcommittee under Jodi John's group and had a lot of plans up our sleeves for the food and agriculture system in Sarasota County. That's how he smoothed in on the Road Trip! But, I like to take credit for introducing him to Carolyn who later hired him as Sarasota County's Ag Agent, but the trace on that one goes back through Jodi John and Nina Powers, Meg Lowman with SEC, and who knows who else!

 
When the Economic Development Corporation was forming its Life and Environmental Sciences (LES) Cluster, a bunch of folks from the young SEC had found dual citizenship, including me. It was here that I launched the Natural Capitalism Initiative under the LES Cluster. I worked to make this event inclusive, complex and textured, and a creative effort of many people that have been working in this movement in Sarasota County. This seminar hopefully had a strong positive impact and show us how to rally around the full implementation of sustainability in Sarasota County.

 
As a newcomer to Sarasota and the sustainability scene, Mike Sosadeeter directed me to two hubs: Sustainable Sarasota with who he called "Sarasota's Sustainability Czar, Jodi John and SEC, where Mike said that if RC&D wanted to be "at the table" in environmental issues in Sarasota that was the place to be. The third critical hub I found was formed later - EDC's Cluster group process, which was much more focused on the economic development angle of environmental issues which matches with RC&D.

 When it comes right down to it, I am what my husband Rolando calls a "Roots Woman" - connected to my food, my heritage, my land, and my soil. I was recently talking with Ervin Shannon, the 1890 Agricultural Assistant in Manatee County and he told me that we are "the common folk" - not the political leaders or the high-powered executives. I realized that day that no matter what speech I am giving, or what suit I am wearing, I always want to be one of the common folk. That's why I left Washington, DC, and that's why I left the "state office" of my agency. And, I think that's why I love my job in RC&D - RC&D was created back in the 1960's to address rural poverty and was basically about empowering people by helping them create their own natural resource-based economies. To me, that feels a lot like both serving and being one of the common folk, a goal that I plan to keep no matter where I go or what I do.

Laurel Schiller

Environmental Ally

 Editor's note: Laurel's story comes from Nicole Lavick, a local landscape gardener. Nicole interviewed Laurel and wrote this as her contribution to telling the stories of the sustainability movement in Sarasota County. Nicole chose this image of a magnolia blossom to represent plants you can find out at Laurel's nursery on Fruitville Road. Nicole is an entrepreneur herself and runs GardenSol, her own company and promotes the use of native plants.

 
Sarasota is geographically a rare location. Here, the land is unique to any other place on earth. Segments of soil have been defined, divided and privatized into precious property. The precious ecology is sought after as real estate and is, in our time, a lucrative enterprise.

Development defines progress and Sarasota's economy is activated. People are here to invest. Capital is allocated into loans obtained through the conveyance of property, a purchase of real property is made and the entrepreneur is leading in a competition of floating debt, accruing interest and timely payments. Real estate transactions are swiftly executed and involve complicated exchanges of sanctioned agreements that determine where money is to be placed and who is positioned at all ends; our economy and patterns of consumption thereof, are aspects of human society disassociated from the environment.

 
Within our lifetime, massive ecological alterations are evident and the rate of rampant development subjects the environment to irrevocable change resulting in the degradation of biodiversity. Just trying to exist in this social and economic continuum leads to human centric circumstances. It is an exemplary individual, who can model human centricity, at the periphery of the environment.

 
Laurel Schiller is an environmental ally. She moved to this coastal region to invest in the preservation of the region's ecology. Through education and politics, she proactively works to bridge the unobservant gap between flippant consumerism and chronic environmental impact. She advocates for green space in the urban environment, restores habitat and maintains public access to resources utilized in the restoration of hardwood hammock. For 2006, she coordinated the area's first homescape tour that featured native plants in a residential context. Continuously, Laurel conducts programs and seminars about Florida's ecology that effectively augment public awareness about the region's unique environment. Her initiative perpetuates ensuing issues at public forums. The issues consider many the possible, future outcomes of the coastal region's environmental character.

 
These educational events are Gardening for Wildlife and Edible Gardens. They place the person in a position of service of conservation of natural habitat through low maintenance and environmentally friendly landscapes. Such seminars mobilize community people: residents, business owners, government and academic officials, county and state parks, clubs, societies, centers, nurseries. Laurel's discussions empower community residents to assume a personal role in environmental preservation, allowing a knowledgeable participant to convert aspects of their consumerism into models of conservation. "We must all be stewards of the land and seek to save water, minimize energy costs and eliminate the use of fertilizers and pesticides." Laurel's effort is a personal investment in ecological responsibility.

Laurel Schiller is a co-owner of Florida Native Plants Inc, vice-president of the Association of Florida Native Nurseries and chairman of the State Education Committee for the Association. She is currently serving a four-year term on the Sarasota County Planning Commission. Laurel is a board member of the Sarasota County Park and Recreation Board and serves with the Environmentally Sensitive Lands Oversight Committee, Friends of Sarasota Trails and Friends of Oscar Scherer. She formerly was a member of the Sarasota County Tree Board, a Florida Garden Club National Landscape Design Critic and Master Gardener.

This is humanity for environmental conservation in the interest of humanity. Laurel Schiller is an organizer, educator, activist, leader, mother and partner. If sustainability in terms of ecology and development is defined as the preservation of an ecological balance by avoiding a depletion of natural resources, then her drive to replenish the region's ecological elements is sustainability personified.

Lisa Wilson

Butterfly Child

 I am grateful for these and other experiences that people in my communiTree have inspired and motivated me to contribute to. Jono Miller, John Lambie, Bill Pischer-Jessica's Organic Farm, Matthew Reynolds-The Bayshore House, Ellen Maloff, Dill Ward-VegSarasota, Michele Mician, Felix Wilson, and Laura Morton, many others.

 
Emerald Forest - When I moved into my neighborhood I had no idea I'd end up spending the next 2½ years getting involved in the biggest public interest project of my life. Nor did I realize the experience would give me a crash course kaleidoscope of civic participation in City politics, spirituality, community development, environmental planning, and park land conservation. I didn't set out to learn these things, but it was an inevitable outcome. It was a difficult and often overwhelming endeavor, but the more I learned, the more I was inspired to bring the community together around saving perhaps the last large urban forest like it in the City for a children's nature park. Tucked away in the New College cultural district, the Indian Beach Neighborhood had worked for many years to preserve the land before I moved there and had brought the National Park Service on board in their valiant efforts. When I learned about the forest, they had exhausted their efforts to save it and I started where they left off with new hope and energy. I sharpened my skills and will continue learning from the powerful lessons in conflict resolution, compromise, patience and optimism. I named the land the Emerald Forest the first day I walked inside it because it was so green and reminded me of the Jack and the Beanstalk book. I thought it was a magical space for kids in the community who would love to have such a place to play inside the City. Through an art student who became involved in the wide community effort to save the land, that the meaning in the words engraved on the entrance columns hit me in a different way. Rus In Urbe, the Latin meaning Country In The City, was the former 1947 Ziff arboretum and its legacy brought together developers, environmental and civic groups, politicians, teachers, students, citizens and neighbors from all walks of life for a great cause. Beth, the art student, said that Rus In Urbe is a place in your heart and mind, an internal country in the city that gave her a great sense of peace - a way to live.

 Unfortunately, our valiant efforts met too many challenges and we did not result in saving the land. But it did bring us closer together around what urban greenspace means and how to do it better next time, how we can work harder to work smarter together for the common good.

 VOTE YES-YES, Sarasota's First Urban Greenspace Program

The efforts made by many to save the Emerald Forest had a direct and positive impact on creating and passing the community's first Urban Greenspace Program in Sarasota County, that brought with it, $100 million in funding.

 

As soon as I learned about the referenda and Yes-Yes campaign, I jumped on board, and worked as a campaign coordinator hitting the streets to get the word out. I produced the campaign commercial with some talented friends, raised funds to get it televised, inspired local business owners to donate materials for a 60 foot Vote Yes-Yes banner for a downtown condo and got people to the polls.

 
I knew if the referenda passed, we would have a good chance of having this funding available in time to save the Emerald Forest. Not only did it pass, it passed in a landslide voter turnout, where 27,000 people, and 80% of voters put greenspace on their priority list. Now the community has a great urban greenspace conservation program and we will start seeing more urban parks for all neighborhoods to enjoy.

 
Inspiration - Kids in Nature - It was being an after care teacher at New Gate Montessori School that most profoundly affected my passion for environmental conservation and compelled me to try and save the Emerald Forest. At the end of each school day, before after care began, I took small groups of children for a trek into the campus woods for an hour or so nature break before going either home, or to my after care program. The teachers were happy to reduce the end of day chaos often found in the classroom and the kids would jump out of their chairs pleading with her to be one of the 5-7 kids she would allow to go. We explored the small patch of forest, which was like an island to the kids. Sometimes we explored with a flute or a camera, other times the kids would drag palm leaves that were bigger than themselves down the dirt path, past the owls nest, and build an Indian fort when we reached the make believe fire pit. Some of the kids had never seen fruit growing outdoors, and each time we walked past the grapefruit tree on our path, they thought it was just as amazing to pick one and toss the rinds into the trees as it was every other time they had done so. As we sat one day on a blanket talking about nature and eating our fruit, one little boy cracked me up when he threw his arms out, let out a huge sigh and yelled, "I love it out here, it's so peaceful... I can hear myself think." Some of them often refused, begged or cried not to have to leave. With the visual and communications aid of multi-media equipment, the kids learned how to be nature reporters and talked to each other with camera and microphone in hand. It was witnessing their experiences in nature that had the most profound impact on me connecting to the environment and what leaving natural places means to our society. I observed very shy and introverted children come out of their shell within a matter of minutes when they stood with the microphone in their hand and pretended to be on Nickelodeon. Their multi-sensory nature experiences brought them to understand more about themselves, to appreciate and respect other people and creatures, to foster a spirit of teamwork and stimulated self-discovery. Most of all they were more self empowered. Every child deserves to have every day experiences in a natural, peaceful place and if they had that opportunity, we would have a more peaceful world, I am convinced of that.

 

Compass

Two of the most life-shaping experience for me were living in an abusive foster home and losing my mother at age 11. It was the relationship I had with my grandfather, my mother's father, through this experience that gave me a deep appreciation and recognition for the wisdom keepers in the world. The sense of abandonment, extreme family dysfunction and social stigma that that came with being a foster child made me more tuned in and sensitive to social justice issues and shaped my public interest beliefs at a young age. With the loss of my mother, I gained strength that would have otherwise gone undiscovered and often feel that I am helping her fulfill the life she lost by picking up where she left off so young. I easily identify with the needs of children and often found myself donating time to speak up for the homeless, minorities, youth and the elderly. My grandfather has done his best to give me the world. My grandpa is my best friend.

 

To summarize my community contributions to sustainability, I feel like I am the one who received the biggest gift, in seeing the true forest through the trees. It was the Emerald Forest Project that connected me to a part of my past that needed a visit. It was a cathartic experience that brought me to realize no matter how many forests I might save or try to save, it was a lost girl trapped in a distant past that I was really trying to find justice for. I lost the forest, but I found myself. And for this experience, I can only thank the development group who gave it a go with me. We did the best we knew how.

 
I am proud to have been recognized by the National Park Service in their nomination to the American Land Conservation Award for my work in various community conservation and public service efforts that included: The Emerald Forest Project, Jessica's Organic Farm, and The Mission to Mexico - A Voice for Migrant Farmworkers, which became the United Way International/Delta Sky Wish Partnership Project of the Year.

 
Next Step - My next project is currently under way. Research into creating an intergenerational, nature based community that prioritizes senior living with families who want a more back to the earth lifestyle and intellectual stimulation with onsite environmental education. The goal of this social services kind of living structure will include cottage industry businesses where people can work and live, farm animals and a get your hands dirty organic farm for all residents to grow their own food. With limited natural resources on the planet and an unlimited population I believe we need to create alternative living communities that compact our best assets into one place. Where do you want to live when your 80 years old? I want to live in a community that respects elders and brings them into life rather than allowing them to live the last of their days in isolation.

I've also started a social marketing consulting company, Better World Media, that's goal is to provide resources to help people have right livelihood jobs helping their community while serving public interest projects for children, the elderly, minorities and the environment.

Mary Anne G. Bowie

AICP, Founder and President, Sarasota Green Connection

How can green products and services be mainstreamed in a community? And how can the Earth Charter, which will help create a future that will work for all, be used for networking and community building? Mary Anne Bowie has accomplished these goals in Sarasota by making it easy to find green products and services and by hosting monthly community eco-forums.

Since 1994, Mary Anne, an urban planner, has addressed national conferences regarding sustainable approaches. (See http://www.bowieurbanpalnners.com/) Instead of only talking about sustainability issues, she decided to deliver local solutions. In late 2002, Mary Anne invited Sarasota's most dedicated environmentalists to discuss two critical questions: "How can we mainstream green?" and "How can we promote the Earth Charter?" The Earth Charter, developed over a 12-year period in 75 countries with thousands of people in conversation, contains sustainable values and principles for the future (see http://www.earthcharter.org). Mary Anne likes to describe it as "motherhood and apple pie for our planet earth."

Through Bowie Urban Planners and Sarasota Green Connection, Inc., Mary Anne began hosting a monthly eco-forum, the Sarasota Green World Café, in the fall of 2002. Initially these events were held in Mary Anne's office space, then at the new Fruitville Library, and later at Rosemary Court. Sarasota Green Word Café now meets at the Whole Foods Market Whole Lifestyle Center in downtown Sarasota. Initial events were held Saturday morning; now they are held Thursday evenings. Free and open to the public, the Green World Café events feature a local speaker committed to sustainable principles and practices. The speaker, usually a business owner, shares his or her passion for environmentally preferable solutions to today's challenges.

Near the end of each presentation, the presenter selects an Earth Charter principle that particularly "speaks" to them and an interactive conversation is held with the audience. Two questions are addressed: "How can I live that principle?" and "How can I promote that principle to my larger community?" The forum uses the world café technique of having powerful and meaningful discussions that are oftentimes "outside the box."

Events are advertised in both in the local media and on the Internet via the 1000-person list serve. Compiled over the past four years it consists of attendants at various events and visitors to the Sarasota Green Connection website, http://www.sarasotagreenconnection.com/. Thus, one of Mary Anne's contributions to sustainability has been to build community while teaching about the Earth Charter and providing sustainable business owners a venue to share their passion.

In addition, Mary Anne has increased the demand for green products and services by increasing their visibility. She has provided this visibility with Sarasota Green Marketplace outside vendor events; by creating Sarasota Green Connection Approved Businesses, a clearinghouse for businesses selling environmentally preferable products and services; by creating http://www.sarasotagreenconnection.com/, a powerful website that contains the business directory and is beginning with its on-line sales; and by publishing Sarasota Green Pages, licensed by Co-op America.

Mary Anne developed the concept of promoting a green marketplace as an economic redevelopment strategy in her urban planning work. Ms. Bowie was leader for the Bowie Urban Planners/Solinko Design Associates creation of the Sustainable 2001 Vision Plan for US 41 Business on the Island of Venice, Florida. The Vision Plan received the 2002 Sustainable Planning Award from the American Society of Consulting Planners because of its promotion of sustainable planning principles that have applicability to all urban cities and rural towns. The plan also received a Florida Planning and Zoning Association Award in the Outstanding Innovation Category.Â

Vendors of the original Sarasota Green Marketplace open-air events held over an 18-month period (now known as SGC Approved Businesses) can now be found in both a virtual marketplace, a web based directory at http://www.sarasotagreenconnection.com/ and within the Sarasota Green Pagesä. SGC Approved Businesses provide environmentally preferable products. They must identify their commitment to sustainable practices and philosophies in order to qualify as an SGC Approved Business. The Sarasota Green Pagesä licensed by Co-op America, contains 131 SGC approved businesses and had an initial publication of 20,000 copies.

On January 1, 2004, Ms. Bowie established Sarasota Green Connection, Inc. (SGC), with a motto of "Change begins with Choice", to further the mainstreaming of green products and services. Offices and cooperative showroom were located at 1093 Central Avenue within the Sarasota Architectural Salvage building from June 2005 to November 2005 in the Action Central area.  SGC has now partnered with Rainforest Carpentry, Inc. and in spring 2006 will open a 1750 square foot Sarasota Green Marketplace at 6301 Porter Road, east of I-75, as a regional green retail location. Customers will find environmentally preferable building products and supplies that meet the green building rating systems of both the U.S. Green Building Council (LEED) and Florida Green Building Coalition.

Summary: Mary Anne Bowie, AICP Contributions to Sustainability in Sarasota, Florida:

Founder and President, Sarasota Green Connection, Inc. (January 2004).

Founder, Sarasota Green World Cafe, (September 2002), a monthly eco-forum that is now continuing into its fourth year and that supports a 1000-person internet community.

Founder, Sarasota Green Marketplace as outdoor market vendor events, held January 2003-June 2004.

Built a network of more than 130 Sarasota Green Connection Approved Local Businesses that can be found at www.sarasotagreenconnection.com.

Operated downtown Sarasota Green Connection Showroom from June 2004-Nov 2005.

Began Sarasota Green Connection Membership with Green Buying Plan (January 2005).

Published Sarasota Green Pagesä prototype (May 2005), and 1st Annual edition (September 2005).

Founder, Green Homes Now, LLC (October 2005).

Founder, Sarasota Green Marketplace LLC with Rainforest Carpentry (Oct 2005).

Sarasota Green Connection also does business as Flexi-Pave Sarasota. Flexi-pave is a poured in place porous pavement made of recycled rubber tires.

The Sarasota Green Marketplace LLC retail showroom is scheduled to open in Spring 2006 to mainstream green building products that are people friendly and planet friendly at one centralized location, easily accessible to the regional marketplace.

Mary Jelks

Sustainability is needed for our native flora and fauna. Florida is second only to Hawaii in problems of invasive exotics. Exotics are increased in our state due to our extensive coast, vulnerability to trade winds, hurricanes increased exchange of plants and animals from our numerous visitors and travelers. Our subtropical climate does not de-select many plants and animals by colder periods as our northern states can. Once introduced, exotics have no natural predators or controls and will over grow and reproduce in alarming numbers. Thus, we have many fire ants, Brazilian pepper trees, melaleuca, carrotwood, air potato, cogon grass, hydrilla, water hyacinths, Australian pine, walking catfish, grass carp, wild feral hogs and Cuban tree frogs, just to name a few.

Our native species are displaced by these exotics. The modern ease of transportation has increased the introduction of these pests, as well as the introduction of some disease states that did not exist on our continent (sudden oak death, citrus greening and canker).

Vigilance and removal is the first line of defense. But with such rapid growth and infestation of our natural conservation areas the control of these invaders is very difficult. IFAS is very dedicated to the best and safest controls and the research being pursued diligently. We are fortunate in having Dr. Santana in our county extension service and he has been able to start some bio-control agents for fire ants with decapitating fly species. Weevils have been introduced to control the over growth of melaleuca trees, especially in the Ft. Myers area. They have been resistant to herbicides and fire control only hastens their reproduction.

We are hopeful that more bio-control agents will be found to help in the protection of our native habitat and diversity.

Editor's note: So many people that have stories to tell about themselves still would rather see action on their mission than attention to themselves. Read the story about Mary Jelks titled "A JOURNAL OF THE MYAKKA RIVER: Jelks devotes time, money, energy to the Myakka" article in the Sarasota Herald Tribune at:

http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050717/NEWS/507170452

Meg Lowman

The best source of information about Meg Lowman is at http://www.canopymeg.com/

Here's a little bit submitted for the Natural Capitalism document:

My sustainability efforts involve teamwork with local initiatives to promote education, education, and education.

1. design, construction and interpretation of the Myakka Canopy Walkway to give local residents and visitors an appreciation for natural environments around Sarasota County in a very user-friendly way. This walk has almost doubled the visitorship to the park, and generated a lot of interest in conservation of Florida natural forests. See http://www.treefoundation.org  that contains information about the canopy walkway and its construction as well as other programs relating to environmental education about trees and forests.

2. SOS -- student outreach in schools -- Over 50 New College students have trained with me to become science educators in local middle schools, mentoring youth in environmental education. We have received funding from the Community Foundation for AV equipment, created activities for classroom, hosted teacher workshops, and led field trips into Sarasota County natural areas to thousands of local students over the past few years.

3. Writing and lecturing -- I have taken on the environmental column for the Sarasota Herald Tribune in hopes of writing and communicating more effectively about sustainability and science issues to the public. Unless scientists communicate the issues, people will not become educated about good stewardship. New College has also led science education trips to the Amazon, to the Galapagos, and sponsored talented students to attend environmental conferences in order to best train our next generation in the latest and best information about science and sustainability.

4. Sarasota County, EDC, New College, Florida House Instititue and TREE Foundation are partnering to plan, design and fund a biological field station for southwest Florida. We have hosted a science advisory committee, an architectural design workshop, and are now actively fund-raising for this important initiative that will provide the all-important baseline scientific information (that are currently missing from local ecosystems) for future sustainability management efforts in our region.

These represent highlights of a dedicated effort on behalf of the Environmental Studies Program and Sarasota County efforts in which I have been fortunate to participate.

Dr. Margaret Lowman

Director of Environmental Initiatives

Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies

New College of Florida

5700 N Tamiami Trail

Sarasota FL 34243

http://www.canopymeg.com/

Michele Mician

City of Sarasota, Neighborhood Partnership Office and

Natural Capitalism Collection Gallery Curator

Laura Morton asked us to share our stories that reveal what we feel has contributed to the sustainability movement. I guess my story comes from the roots of me. My life been an experience; full of learning, growing and sharing knowledge with the amazing people that I am privileged to call friends. These people are my roots, they are my community and together I think we all contribute greatly to the movement.

I like to live my life by following the 12 principles of permaculture design. A few of these are; Observe and Interact, Apply Self-Regulation and Accept Feedback, Integrate Rather Than Segregate and Creatively Use and Respond to Change. I believe that educating yourself is one of the best ways to ensure you can contribute to this revolution. We can do this by challenging ourselves to read, study and engage in the academic world. We also do this by recognizing each other within ourselves. Over the last three years I have experienced some amazing programs that have changed my perception, enriched my soul, lifted my spirit and stimulated my mind. Some of these are Bioneers Conference, Earth Activist Training, becoming a yoga teacher and participating in local activism. Yet, the most impactful of all of these experiences were the connections I made with people. I believe that finding connections is what really works. That means learning more about each other personally and finding out how our talents can assist us in reaching our goals. It also means connecting organizations and coalition building so that we do not duplicate efforts thus expending less energy and ending up with more results. I think that is what sustainability and Natural Capitalism is all about. It is about using the resources you have in the most efficient way so you can benefit the most people. I try to do this in my everyday life by using the resources I am given to communicate positive ideas and share information.

I work for the City of Sarasota as a Neighborhood Coordinator. I feel it is part of my responsibility to find a way to integrate my talents as a SoulJah for the environment into my work. Yes, it is a responsibility. We are given the blessing of being on this earth. Let's pay our universal rent. Let's not forget to share our passions and explore ways we can integrate ideas about sustainability, love of the environment and caring for each other into our daily work...that means creating a recycling area at your office, thanking people for not littering, writing a letter to the editor on your lunch break, taking time to breathe. We are all relatives, it is all connected!

Mike Sosadeeter

Agricultural resource development + entrepreneurial spirit + family and friends = Salsa Economics (add chips and serve).

The turn of the century found me heading to Sarasota to manage the Urbaculture project for the Florida House Institute for Sustainable Development (ISD). I worked on the EPA-funded Brownfield evaluation and community development portion of the project, eager to apply community outreach, landscape architecture and Permaculture principles to the Urbaculture project in Newtown.

Following on the success of the Florida House Learning Center, ISD envisioned bringing sustainable agriculture to the forefront of the fledgling sustainability movement in Sarasota; namely, an urban agriculture demonstration/learning center complete with a community marketplace. The vision was to clean up 15 acre Brownfield site, raised bed and containerized urban agriculture and small business development. However, Urbaculture wasn't meant to be on that site, now earmarked for a Super Wal-Mart.

Having to temporarily shelve the Urbaculture project, I went to work with Resource Management Group, Inc. (RMG). I managed a grant funded Food Waste Recovery and Reuse project in Sarasota County. Jesse White, owner of RMG, envisioned the project being a model of waste recovery and reuse, adding economic opportunities to the agriculture sector of Sarasota. Food waste was to be collected at local supermarkets and restaurants, transported to the local food bank, fed to livestock and composted on local farms. Similar endeavors were well documented successes in other states. Regulatory issues caused some unworkable barriers, but All Faiths Food Bank was able to increase its collection of still-edible food from Publix Supermarkets and a small portion of food waste was collected and transported to the County landfill for composting via an in-vessel system. On farm composting of food waste, the main goal of the project, was prohibited due to environmental concerns.

Children's Haven and Adult Community Services, Inc. (CHAC), one of the partners in the Food Waste project, established an on-site food waste collection and composting project as part of its horticulture program for disabled adults. Once vermicomposting (worm composting) was established, CHAC hired me to establish and direct a small organic farm and compost operation where disabled adults could work. The farm began growing food on CHAC's 30-acre campus for use in on site residential kitchens where disabled adults live.The composting program was expanded to include a mixture of cow manure, donated mulched tree debris and food waste from on site. The farm harvested one season of produce for on site use. Funding and personnel shortfalls curbed the dream of producing enough food to sell to the 600+ disabled adults under CHAC's care as a means of becoming financially self-supportive.

With Urbaculture on hold, the CHAC farm turned to pasture and many lessons learned, I became a founding board member of the fledgling Florida West Coast Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council. After helping build a nonprofit from scratch, this year we decided to focus on Sustainable Community Agriculture (SCA). Our goals are to preserve open space, protect our rural heritage, expand the local agriculture economy and provide a more secure local source of food and agricultural goods. Initial efforts include working with Manatee County government on a farmland preservation program, facilitating the purchase of a 20-acre farm on which to establish the Geraldson Community Farm, and integrated water resource management in agricultural systems. RC&D has also worked with volunteers and County staff in Sarasota, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties on other local agriculture issues.

Salsa Economics is about building healthy, vibrant communities, coupling natural resource development with human potential. The Florida West Coast RC&D's goals embody all that Salsa Economics envisions -- making the most of local natural resources with minimal impacts, creating more diversity and stability in the local economic pie and bringing people together to celebrate life. If you wish to join RC&D's efforts call 941-723-3252 or visit our website at http://www.fwcrcd.org and become a member.

Nina Powers

Nominated by Jodi John, Director, Sustainable Sarasota

I would like to nominate Nina Powers.  Nina has an amazing background in a variety of fields that promote sustainable living.

She is a horticulturist and promotes environmental landscape management - County buildings, her neighborhood, and her own personal landscape.

She is very knowledgeable in the field of integrated pest management and green janitorial products and actively practices non or least toxic chemical use for insects, rodents, and landscaping soil amendments.

Nina actively promotes energy and water conservation via a variety of projects and partnerships.

She is also is committed to sustainable agriculture and focuses her family's consumption on organically grown vegetables.

Lastly, Nina is committed to being both an educator and an advocate of sustainable living; she works tirelessly to educator others about the impacts of their decisions, but always in a positive way.

Nina 'walks the talk' - is thoroughly committed to stepping lightly on the planet. As County Administrator Jim Ley says - Nina has a 'state of mind' that we should all seek to emulate.

Nina loves butterflies and ladybugs - using a picture of either or both would be a compliment that she would appreciate.

Editor's note: Here's the best ladybug personality I could find! They seem to have sweet and impish personalities, so they may be kindred spirits of Nina!

Peter Burkard

Organic Farmer

There isn't much that is sustainable about the American food production system.  Deeply reliant on synthetic fertilizers, pesticides which grow increasingly stronger as target pests develop resistance to them, and massive inputs of petrochemicals to produce, process and distribute the foodstuffs, this is a system that can only last as long as cheap oil and an unaltered climate system.  In other words, it has already outlived its day.

In fact, I had come to see this over 30 years ago.  I took this understanding, along with a love for growing edibles, a strong, healthy physical self, a commitment to a healthy diet, and a passionate devotion to the natural world and combined them into doing what I could as an organic farmer to show the world a better way.  It also seemed to be a wise career choice in that people will always have to eat and, even decades ago, one could see the beginnings of a society-wide trend towards healthier eating and living.  Besides that, I'd always be able to feed myself and my family in the healthiest way.  To make it official, I obtained an agriculture degree but even while doing so, I pretty much knew that I would not follow the typical path of my classmates and go to work for an agribusiness concern.  I was devoted to a different way of growing than the standard fare coming out of the land-grant colleges of the 70's, so I basically had to filter much of what was taught.  Yet there was plenty of good solid basic scientific and horticultural information to be gleaned, as well.

Shortly after graduating, I purchased land in eastern Sarasota county and also had the use of a friend's fertile acreage closer to town.  I began growing sizeable amounts of winter vegetables and berries organically.  What I really hadn't worked on sufficiently was developing my market.  Word of mouth took care of some but there was still a lot going uneaten when the downtown farmers' market first started in the spring of 1979.  I jumped right in, knowing it was just what I needed, and found an eager clientele for all my products right away.  In addition to the fruits and vegetables, I was also producing my own honey and a few containerized plants. I remain a fixture at the (much expanded!) market to this day, for many years being the last of the original group of vendors.

Farmers' markets are such a great answer to the dominant unsustainable and farmer-antagonistic food system in this country.  It is a superb way to both help the public to obtain local products of maximum quality and to help the grower increase his profit (or perhaps make any profit at all!) by selling directly to the consumer. This is clearly why such markets have swept the country in the last few decades.

While I have expanded to include organic produce from other growers, I remain committed to all produce being of local origin.  That is what separates me from all other vendors and what I consider to be the most sustainable element of my product line.  All produce is BOTH local and organic.  No shipping for thousands of miles, with all the resultant fossil fuel consumption and pollution.  No eating out of season. No compromised freshness, which is the single most important contributor to nutritional value.  Maintaining this commitment clearly costs me money which I could otherwise be making.  I simply consider some things more important than money.

I maintain other strict standards of greenness in my business practices. Anything which can be recycled or reused is. Customers are encouraged to return things like plant pots or honey jars and to bring us their clean shopping bags for re-use.  Virtually every bit of organic matter is fed to our chickens, composted, or tilled back into the soil.  If you are committed to sustainability and devoted to a healthy diet, I'd love to add you to our many happy customers on Saturday mornings.  We open at 7:00 and be sure to come early for the best selection and maximum freshness!

Peter Seffert

Nominated by his wife, Julia

I am Julia Hanlon Seyffert. My husband, Peter Seyffert is my hero for his over 30 natural habitats in water gardens all over Sarasota and Manatee counties. Since 2001, Peter has created beautiful, chemical-free habitats for Japanese Koi, goldfish, and bottom feeding plecostamus fish. By adding ponds to our region, we have reclaimed habitats for neighboring native species of frogs, toads, dragonflies, and sustained numerous other animals. Our clients' ponds provide clean water for birds as well as refreshment for raccoons and a home for other backyard pets, such as that pet turtle who may have outgrown his aquarium. Children love all the small animal life that is supported by our healthy ponds. It is a perfect environment for teaching them about the circle of life and a fun place to enjoy the subtle seasonal changes we enjoy in Florida. The serenity that is nurtured in a water garden gives everyone relaxation and rejuvenation. Air quality in a backyard is greatly improved by the addition of a water garden.

In addition to creating natural ponds, Peter is also successful at revitalizing problematic retention ponds. Traditional treatment for these algae magnets has included massive doses of herbicides which not only kill the algae, but all the other plants, and much of the animal life. Plant matter that dies from these treatments not only adds to the scum in the bottom of a retention pond, but contributes to the next round of nitrates caused by the decayed matter, thus feeding the algae for the following season. Mechanical removal of the scum from a pond bottom makes the problem and the pond deeper.

Natural wetlands are the filters of clean water systems along our waterways. Plants along shorelines use the runoff nutrients and prevent the algae from receiving this food and flourishing. So we are both excited about offering constructed wetlands adjacent to retention ponds. In this process we place a wet well into the retention pond to pump the water up into the constructed wetland. There the water is filtered through a basin of rocks into a garden of nutrient hungry plants such as papyrus, cattails, Thalia, rushes, and many others. From that new wetland the water returns into the pond via waterfall or stream and the nutrients that formerly fed the algae are now feeding a greater variety of beautiful plants, turning a retention pond into a beautiful thing throughout the year, whatever the seasonal water level. And the affect on the aquifer below is that cleaner water goes into these sources for well water, improving what flows out of our faucets.

Peter creates an ecosystem that actually improves water quality instead of destroying it. Through the wetland creation he can turn a retention pond nightmare into a pond clean enough for stocking edible fish. We plan to create such a system in our new backyard that will only take up about 2000 square feet. Sustainability for us means we will have organically fed Tilapia at our doorstep this summer. And, for larger ponds, the possibilities include creating swimming holes for a chlorine free cool-off in the summer.

Cleaning up our aquifers ultimately will have an affect on our bays along the Florida coast line. Peter's vision of cleaning up local waters has been carried out through Aquarian Quest, Inc. This educational, non-profit organization, founded by Joe Jacobson, Robert Killian and Peter Seyffert, along with dozens of other folks along the five year history, has made great strides encouraging young people to be good stewards of our Mother Earth. AQ teaches marine science, local coastal history, and traditional navigation aboard classic wooden sailing vessels during a three hour field trip for kids of all ages. AQ provides an excellent hands-on learning experience that focuses on earth stewardship. The fragility of the ecosystems along our coastline is shown to participants by testing the water quality, viewing fresh plankton, fish and invertebrates, and experiencing the wind on the water aboard a tall ship.

As a professional charter captain in Europe, Peter grew to love the sea and the life it supports. Peter is a "triple Cancer", for those of you familiar with astrology, this means he loves the water three ways: out in the gulf, in our backyard ponds and, ultimately, for our own healthy consumption. So, for Peter and I, sustaining clean water wherever it exists is all about education, cooperating with nature and committing to our future, our young people. You can contact us at Creative Aquascapes at 351-2591.

Philip Yoder

Master Carpenter, MBA in Environmental Management,

Biologist, Rainforest Carpentry Inc., President

Mennonite Economic Development Association, Chapter President

"Green where you are planted"

Sarasota native Phil Yoder joined the Peace Corps after college to work in sustainable aquaculture of the Amazon region of Ecuador. After a 15 year run and since 2001, has returned to Sarasota and established Rainforest Carpentry (RC).   RC provides employment to seven carpenters, and is driven by values of Social, Environmental and Financial objective.

RC and Sarasota Green Connection (SGC) joined forces in Oct. 05 to form the Sarasota Green Marketplace LLC. (SGM).  SGM is active in providing eco-friendly building products to the value driven consumer that utilizes choice in product to enhance value and living.  SGM will soon offer a showroom of products near the interstate corridor of Sarasota.  Now, SGM is open for business online at http://www.sarasotagreenmarketplace.com/

Phil is also sharing sustainable business initiative with the Sarasota Mennonite community. As president of the Mennonite Economic Development Association (MEDA) http://www.meda.org/ local chapter, we work towards sustainable business development. Business initiative and offering credit can alleviate poverty both locally and in other countries MEDA works to provide small business credit and counseling in areas that experience lack of options.   Business can provide opportunities for justice.

Phil has always been values driven in working towards sustainability. The Peace Corps fisheries project of the Amazon gave greatly needed protein source to the pond caretakers, and it is sustainable without requiring high inputs. After 2 years of fish farming, Phil went to the rapidly expanding shrimp farming operations in the coast of Ecuador.  Phil became a leader by developing a strong working relationship between the community of El Morro and the 600 acre shrimp farm that he operated for 8 years.  Phil learned that algae balance in the ponds was much more proactive towards sustainable shrimp culture than combating disease with antibiotic.  Phil lead shrimp farming to 80% savings of diesel, 50% savings on feed, 80% reduction of sediment to estuary, all with proactive balance of algae blooms.  Philip has produced over 10 million pounds of shrimp in his decade long career of shrimp farming.

But the passion of the Rainforest pulls hard, and Philip invested in a 220 acre reserve in the Amazon to allow full regeneration of a partially logged farm.  This forest reserve has been under protection since 1994, and is located 12 km. north of Mera, Ecuador.  How else can we help the Amazon?   By utilizing sustainably harvested products in the Sarasota construction industry.  Through RC, Phil accomplishes this.

The oxymoron of Rainforest Carpentry is that we consume and build, but we build with sustainable use of resources.  The destruction of the Amazon is not primarily driven by export logging, but by agricultural practices.  If we can appropriately value sustainable harvested wood, and exclusively utilize sustainable harvested materials, we can provide a source of income to forests and forest peoples.

Driven by the desire to join business and environment, Philip became one of the first graduates of the Florida Sustainable award winning program of Florida Atlantic University with an MBA in Environmental Management.  Philip learned that Trade and Business must meet the triple bottom line of Financial, Social and Environmental benefits for the entity.  Wood can be utilized if it is valued, and sustainable harvested. 

Rainforest Carpentry works on sustainability with the following attention to materials:

The Green Building movement is a triple win scenario favoring social, environmental and financial objectives.

The social implications of identifying how products are processed will lead us to seek fair trade and alleviation of poverty in resource affluent areas. Resource affluent people abound throughout the world; they have materials but little economic activity. GNP does not measure the Resource Abundance of counties, only the economic flow. Natural Capitalism will value what these forests and forest peoples have.  Philip is acutely aware that business needs to create a bridge between Sarasota building and resource acquisition.

The environmental impacts of Green Building movement need to be a win-win scenario for both producers and end users.  Producers of bamboo and sustainable hardwoods will follow sustainable practices to balance both use and resource.  The end users will enjoy a justified and value added amenity in the home.  Homeowners will enjoy healthier environments.  Value added by being green is an increasing reality, soon to be marked driven.

The Business of being green is addressed with the advent of the Sarasota Green Marketplace which will distribute environmentally friendly building materials. The Green Marketplace addresses the triple bottom line, while delivering a solid product line with installations by Rainforest Carpentry.  The new Sarasota Green Marketplace showroom is under construction, and will provide products that are people friendly and planet friendly, easily accessible to the regional marketplace.

Randall Moore

Positive Change Media (PCM) is a Florida corporation owned by Sarasota resident Randall Moore. The company produces Natural Awakenings Sarasota, a popular monthly magazine, and PositiveChangeMedia.net, a website for conscious and holistic-minded people.

The mission of Positive Change Media is to organize and present information that helps people live a healthier, more balanced life. Green Living/Sustainability is one of PCM's core niches along with Natural Health, Integrative Medicine, Personal Growth, and Conscious Travel.

PCM's Natural Awakenings is the only magazine in the Sarasota Gulf Coast Region featuring two columns every month devoted to sustainability and green living. Linda Maree has served as the columnist for Living Green for more than two years. Recent installments of Living Green have focused on the endangered Florida scrub jay, sustainable agriculture, global warming, the Florida panther, manatees, preserving urban forests, wetland protection, socially responsibly investing, recycling electronics, and the importance of biodiversity.

The E-Report is a second column featured each month to help bring greater awareness to local initiatives that support and advance sustainability and green building. Sustainable Sarasota, an office within Sarasota County Government, has managed the E-Report since its inception more than a year ago.

Recent installments of The E-Report have focused on natural capitalism, incentives for green building, Florida-friendly landscaping, National Energy Awareness Month, a profile about Sarasota County's North Sarasota public library, and a profile about Kimal Lumber.

PCM's Natural Awakenings also features additional articles related to sustainability and other topics about the environment. Recent articles include an interview with research scientist Larry Brand on red tide algal blooms; a profile about Tampa Bay Watch; the perils of phosphate mining by Charlotte County Commissioner Adam Cummings; Florida's endangered coral reefs by DeeVon Quirolo, the executive director of Reef Relief; an article about biomimicry by author Janine Benyus; an article about manatee research by biologist Suzanne Tarr; and an open letter from the Sierra Club concerning the environmental health of the Gulf Coast Region.

Many of the articles featured in Natural Awakenings Sarasota are posted online at PositiveChangeMedia.net. Positive Change Media is planning a major expansion of its website to include hundreds and eventually thousands of articles related to Green Living, Personal Growth, Natural Health, Integrative Medicine, and Conscious Travel.

Positive Change Media was a media sponsor of the inaugural Efest celebration in 2005. The company is a sponsor again this year. PCM's Natural Awakenings will feature the Efest Program Guide in the middle of the May edition. The inserted guide will provide a convenient map, information about sponsors and exhibitors, and articles related to sustainability and conservation.

All of the Green Living initiatives at Positive Change Media have expanded community awareness and helped groups and individuals make new connections.

2/20/06 - Submitted by Randall Moore, 941-925-1290, publisher@pcmflorida.com

Raymond Keiser

Background

In 2001, I became Executive Director of the Florida House Institute, a non-profit organization focused on green design and sustainable community development, and had the privilege to work with John Lambie, one of the true visionaries in sustainability not only in Sarasota but nationally as well. In my three years at the Institute John and I worked on many exciting sustainability efforts, including:

Twin Lakes Park Green Office Project

John and I served to set goals and priorities based on a series of workshop with Sarasota County and it partners. I wrote the Twin Lakes Park Green Office Design Intent document which served as the template for USGBC LEED certification.

Florida's Energy Future

John and I served as part of a team under contract with the State of Florida, Florida Energy Office (FEO) to draft a comprehensive assessment of Florida's Energy Future. I authored a white paper on catalyzing the communities statewide to meet the energy challenge. The report is available on the web at http://www.dep.state.fl.us/energy/future.

Integrated Water Management

John and I facilitated a day-long strategic planning session for Integrated Water Resources senior management team facilitated a series of watershed workshops for Sarasota County. One of the outcomes of this effort was the development of The Water Story in collaboration with Sarasota County Integrated Water Resource team. John and I presented The Water Story and facilitated a series of watershed discussions throughout Sarasota County to cultivate a common understanding of how watersheds function, how we have altered the natural system and how an integrated watershed management strategy offers new opportunities to ensure adequate water supplies, improve water quality and protect the abundance and diversity of our living planet.

Fruitville Road Visioning Session

Three years ago John and I facilitated a discussion on the potential of a 42-acre County-owned site on Fruivtille Road just north of the Celery Fields, a passive recreational park and birding sanctuary. This meeting catalyzed the community to reimagine how the corridor could change and served as the launch for the Fruitville Initiative, a proposed Sustainable Town Center that would set a new benchmark for sustainable development.

Land Use and Transportation

John Lambie and I hosted a Transit-Oriented Development workshop that was well-attended by County Commissioners, Senior Management and staff, private developers, civic leaders and environmentalists.

Current Activities

In private practice since June 2005 I've continued to work on exciting projects:

Whole Foods Market

I served as the "green" design consultant for Whole Foods Market in downtown Sarasota. It is their first store to achieve LEED-certification.

Tervis Tumbler

I consulted with Tervis Tumbler to "green up" their new 56,000-square-foot building, factory and showroom in south Sarasota County. They implemented a wide range of technologies to reduce energy and water consumption and improve indoor environmental quality.

Fruitville Road @ i75

Currently I am working as a consultant to Kimley Horn to develop Energy, Water, Land-Use and Transportation, Advanced Networking and Eco-tourism Goals and Objectives and an implementation strategy for the Fruitville project, a Sarasota County initiative

Regional Water Leadership

Julie Morris and I, under the aegis of the Science and Environmental Council, co-facilitated a set of four workshops/community dialogs as part of Regional Watershed Leadership Program, with support from the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice. Each of the four sessions was well-attended and the dialogue represented a rich cross-section of expertise, opinions, interests, concerns, and insights. The Water Management District has expressed strong interest in extending the program.

Energy

I've given several talks and lectures on the global energy situation and how we can meaningfully respond to this challenge to a wide range of groups, including the Chamber of Commerce, the Lions Club of North Port, Sarasota County Government, the Southwest Community Alliance, South Venice 2010, New College and Cornell University.

Seeing the Big Picture Symposium

I developed and facilitated a Seeing the Big Picture Symposium with support from the Economic Development Corporation, Mote Marine, Kimley Horn, Biological Research Associates and Earth Balance. The purpose of the symposium was to develop a shared understanding among regional land use and watershed management planners and natural resource managers on how satellite, aerial, and other remote sensing technologies, image processing and data modeling tools can provide timely and cost-effective assessments of the health and vitality of the distinct ecosystems of Southwest Florida. Throughout the symposium, the emphasis was on cultivating conversations with the scientists from Princeton, Cornell, RTI, AAMU and New College and across a range of interests and disciplines and developing a framework for further exploring how to exploit these technologies. We are currently in an early start-up phase for NEON Florida (see www.neonfl.org) an effort to bring new clarity to local and regional ecological changes.

Reverad Zan Benham

I don't know if I would call myself an environmental hero but long before Matt and the Bayshore house, Earth Dance and E-fest and even before Florida House and the tearing down of the John Ringling Towers, there existed people in this town who cared about the environment and set themselves up to spread the word and protect it.  One might call them/us heroes. I think we just felt that this was the right and only thing to do.

Some of us are a little older now, and not so much in the limelight as before, but still working quietly behind the scenes.  The names run randomly in my head, some you may know, or may still be familiar with.  They are not only unsung heroes, but pioneers in their fields, here-to-fore in a time when awareness of environmental hazards was about to awaken.

John Lambie brought us "The Florida House Institute for Sustainable Development" on Proctor Rd.   It is a non-profit organization, created to "facilitate change for a sustainable future by partnering with others to create a practice of sustainable community development and a learning network of organizations and communities similarly engaged."  Their website is http://www.i4sd.org/.   Ellen Mallof, started ReLeaf Sarasota. She is the tree lady who sat for countless h