Ah, Florida. It is my home state, a beautiful and diverse place with ecosystems ranging from uplands and freshwater wetlands to coastal and aquatic ecosystems. It is a fragile place full of endangered species. And it is currently wavering and in need of your environmental support. As I have mentioned numerous times before, Florida is a magical place. The subtropic climate breeds biodiversity, and although we relish tourism, a great many awe-inspiring nature retreats await us just outside of the bright lights.With this in mind, my final column is dedicated to this great and beautiful state. I …

What better way to celebrate the weather than to get out in the sunshine, let the breeze blow through your hair and give back to the earth? Local chapters of Keep America Beautiful are observing the International Coastal Cleanup on Saturday. The annual cleanup, coordinated by Ocean Conservancy, challenges local communities, cities, states and countries to rid their lands of garbage. The cleanups are always a great and rewarding time and are facilitated by local nonprofit organizations such as Defenders of Wildlife and the Keep America Beautiful chapters. When I was working for Ocean …

During National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, women and men should arm themselves with knowledge and take steps to minimize their chances of breast cancer. As I was conducting my research this week, I was startled to learn that one in eight women will suffer from breast cancer. Although heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, breast cancer in its various forms still affects many lives. The following suggestions are from many resources and references, one of which is my favorite famous physician, Dr. Oz. When I had a television, I watched his show and felt like he was a friend greeting me…

Everyone knows that eating fresh fruits and herbs can enhance both health and beauty, but you may be surprised to learn that fresh fruits and herbs also make excellent ingredients for beauty products. Handmade soap is one of the nicest gifts you can give yourself or a loved one, and with Florida's rich agricultural bounty, there are almost always fresh ingredients at hand. Melt and pour soap is fast and easy to make, if you have fruit or herbs that are nearing their expiration date. Here are some of the most common local fruits and herbs, along with their additive health and beauty benefits: …

For the past week, I have been fighting off a cold. It started as a sore throat and headache. I woke up one morning last week on the beaches of Jekyll Island, GA, feeling less than satisfactory. My neck ached, my throat hurt, and I wanted to close the blinds and sleep for many more hours. A few days later, the sore throat began to disappear, but it was replaced with nasal and head congestion, nightly headaches, sneezing and coughing. I decided to do a little research on how to get rid of a cold the natural way. For hundreds of years, indigenous people and naturalists have fought viruses and …

Now that the back-to-school jitters are out of the way, try these easy tips to make your educational experience more environmentally smart. Enlighten your lunch. Because it is often hard to find good, healthy meals around schools and universities, it is important to fuel the brain by bringing lunch to school. Try packing lunches that are locally grown and low in sugar so that the brain and body can function successfully. Steer clear of packaged meats, and try to implement almonds and fruits for a brain boost. Also, be sure to pack your lunch in a reusable container, and pack nutritious juices…

Last Labor Day weekend, I spent time with my family, riding a golf cart through the nature trails, channel surfing and having good conversation. One day, my mom and I decided to visit the Discovery Place museum in Charlotte, NC. Basically, it is North Carolina's version of the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa. Little kids weaved in and out of our paths in the interactive area of the museum while we climbed ropes on pulley systems and tested our skills with kinetic energy and things of that nature. After exploring, we headed to the Imax theater, where we watched a 3-D film on the bugs …

This Thanksgiving, I will have the opportunity to facilitate a youth camp at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve. I have been volunteering and working with the preserve and am ecstatic to be able to conduct a nature school program that will engage young minds and open new doors for better understanding of the ecosystems surrounding us. In order to prepare, I have been reading, researching and reading some more about kids' nature crafts and comparing the ideas with the resources available. While I was pondering this morning, my friend was rinsing one of the many glass jelly and mason jars we have in our…

Manatees are one of Florida’s most beloved natural resources. The gentle marine mammals live in our estuaries and river systems, typically where the water stays above 68 degrees. Because they are an endangered species and protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, manatees have safe zones, such as Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, created to protect the species and help ensure its survival. As manatee mortalities have increased in that part of Citrus County, additional protection is absolutely necessary. However, some political officials disagree. Manatee Deaths on the Rise in …

Hiking in the desert I discovered an unfortunate truth: There is more out there than just land and native wildlife. The number of plastics littering the canyon sides is atrocious and unfortunately too much for one hiker to carry away. It dawned on me that a majority of people purchase plastic water bottles, plastic soda bottles, plastic forks, spoons and knives because they're easy and affordable. But the cost to the ecosystem hardly seems worth it. Nowadays, as we venture outdoors, pause in awe of the nature around us, and scan the horizon, all too often we see plastic bags hanging from …

The other day, my longtime friend KC and I were discussing green ways of living. We both decided that not everyone has the ability, time, motivation or inspiration to compost, garden or create green spaces in their yards. So, with the help of my friend, I have compiled 10 quick and easy ways in which even the simplest tasks can make a difference in living a greener and healthier life. Wash dishes in a bin: When washing dishes, I use a small bin that fits perfectly in my sink. I put the silverware in first and cover it with a little bit of hot water. I turn the water off while I wash the …

I consider myself to be a sentimental person. I can remember being young and watching an elderly couple, hand in hand, cross the street in my grandparents' retirement community. Even then, before I knew what love was, I appreciated what they shared. As I grew older, I discovered how much I cherished the little things, the cards and little sticky notes I would receive from friends and loved ones, sharing sweet remarks and friendly reminders of how very loved I am. All of these cards and sticky notes have found their way, over the years, into one box. As I went through them, I decided that they…

All my life, I have been a planner. I was a Girl Scout and, therefore, someone who has a plan and then a backup plan if and when something goes wrong. I always prepare for myself and anyone else who I travel with. This includes extra food like peanut butter crackers, trail mix, apples and grains. I’ve always got a first-aid kit, a sewing kit, sunscreen, glasses and an extra pair of clothes in my bookbag. In my late 20s, I find that I have more of an ability to decipher which items are necessary and which are not. However, there are times – such as now, as I am planning my hiking trip out west…

August is quickly approaching, and you know what that means: It is time for crop rotation. As you already know, gardening can be therapeutic, save you up to $300 a year in groceries and serve as an eco-friendly alternative to non-locally-grown foods. It is fun, sustainable and creates a green space for wildlife. There are several reasons why crop rotation is necessary when there is a change in the season. First, common plants such as tomatoes and peppers tend to share the same nutrients and may also become susceptible to the same pests and diseases. Therefore, it is important to change their …

July is a hot, sticky time in Florida. You have probably noticed that the wildlife is moving a bit slower, the rains have increased and the grass is growing faster. It is also a perfect time to harvest your plants, especially the ones that are about to reach their seasonal expiration. Most plants like banana peppers, green peppers, summer squash and okra are ready to be harvested and nearly out of season. Before you rotate your crop – which is ideal and healthy for the soil and plants – be sure to try one of the following recipes to gain the most from your harvest. Squash was not ever my …

Recently, I learned that the average household produces almost 8 pounds of garbage a day. One-third of that waste is organic matter, so why not save the scraps for a more meaningful purpose, like composting? Composting has many beneficial qualities. Not only will it serve as free fertilizer for your plants, but it is also a great source of organic nutrientsand is one of the most eco-friendly changes you can make without a whole lot of work. Thankfully, there are classes available to avid gardeners and beginners to help in this process. I learned about the basic science behind composting from …

In light of current movements around the world, I thought it would be appropriate to share the ways in which homeowners and business owners can start making the shift to renewable energy. Not only is it important for the environment that we start heading in that direction; it's also important to our bank accounts. Floridians have a unique opportunity to harness one of our greatest natural resources without having an impact on our environment: solar power. There are many incentives for homeowners and business owners who choose to make the shift to solar panels as a renewable energy alternative…

The majority of the time my friends value my opinion and cherish the naturalist that I am. However, there is one battle that I constantly lose and that is the one pertaining to our health and beauty. For many years, I have been under the impression (along with many others I am sure) that chemicals in our food are bad, anything genetically modified is not natural and therefore we should stay far, far, away from it. So, this brings me to another query, why oh why, are we still using shampoos that use synthetic ingredients that have been proven to be toxic? (This according to the Environmental …