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It’s finally time to graduate. No more teachers, no more books, and more recycled presents and green networking ideas for the South Florida grad in your life. They’ve worked hard, studied for countless tests, and paved the way for a bright future. Support their green lifestyle with these meaningful green networking ideas and gifts.

Gifts for High School Grads

This plantable journal is made from 100% recyclable paper and wildflower seeds. When your grad is done planning the future, he or she can plant the journal in the garden and watch flowers grow from their plans. Take advantage of South Florida’s many water sports and treat your grad to snorkeling lessons or a meal at South Florida’s Sublime.

Networking for High School Grads

Checking out a Broward-based Sierra Club group might be fun for just-graduated teens looking to make a difference. Young adults curious about eco-involvement at their future alma matter can search schools and types of networking/school clubs here. Florida schools are all listed here, as are national and international colleges and universities. Your high school grad can also choose from different kinds of eco-based activism and explore the kinds of clubs or groups hosted by each school.

Gifts for College Grads

Gifts for South Florida college grads can vary from a trip to the Keys to a glamour-filled day checking out what’s hot on South Beach.

Networking for College Grads

Networking for South Florida college grads is the next step in building a career they’ll be passionate about. Networking with like-minded people is a key way to create business connections. Direct them to South Florida Green Drinks. SFGD is a thriving network of young professionals who meet once a month in Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, or West Palm Beach. Their mission is simple – to provide a way for green/eco-aware professionals to connect in a laid-back, informal setting. This group would be perfect for the new grad looking to make business connections. The president is internationally recognized public speaker and entrepreneur Marci Zaroff. Zaroff serves on several industry boards, such as the Organic Exchange. She is the recipient of several awards for green business, including the Natural Product Industry’s Socially Responsible Business Award. South Florida Green Drink sponsors include Whole Foods and Aubrey Organics. Click here to find a South Florida Green Drink meetup.

By Marissa Cohen

Photo By Donostweets

Earth Day is over for 2012, but here are some little-known eco holidays to give us an excuse to celebrate nature. Two holidays focus on penguins, one on trees, and one on….trains? Yes, trains because trains are a fantastic way to travel green (and if you can’t migrate on foot like the penguins, may as well hop a train).

National Train Day

On May 9, celebrate this green way to travel by hopping a train to Anywhere, USA. Remember, trains are a wonder for green travel because they release less carbon emissions than either cars or planes. Plus, train travel is often cheaper than either highway or air travel. On trains, you can get to know your neighbor and experience the beauty of the landscape.

Penguin Appreciation Day

I didn’t know that penguins had a day of honor, but apparently and much to my surprise, they have two. On January 20, penguin lovers now have an excuse to celebrate this adorable, flightless bird, and there are many reasons to appreciate them such as their friendliness and their highly social natures. Clearly, penguins are ready to party down – they even look like they’re wearing tuxedos. (That’s the only penguin joke in here, we promise.)

World Penguin Day

Just in case one 24-hour period to appreciate penguins isn’t enough, celebrate penguins worldwide on April 25. What does one do on penguin day? On either one of these days, learn about penguins by watching the Morgan-Freeman-narrated blockbuster March of the Penguins. You could also help protect these grounded birds from climate change, as researchers believe that penguins who live in Antarctica are in danger from recent warming trends that have impacted their population and their food supply.

Love a Tree Day

For those who feel that Earth Day is too all encompassing of a holiday, the single-minded focus of Love a Tree Day may be just the eco-holiday for you. On May 16, go out and show your trees some affection with Love a Tree Day. How to celebrate? Plant a tree, visit your favorite woodland area, water a tree by soaking the root system, or simply kick off your shoes and wander around a national park. There are plenty of tree traits to love: their shade, their beauty, and the fact that they produce oxygen and clean the air. So, spend some quality tree time on May 16th. (We won’t tell.)

By Marissa Cohen

Photo By U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Northeast Region

The 42nd Annual Earth Day is almost here! Get ready for some fun family celebrations during the weekend of April 21. Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson founded Earth Day in 1970 at a time of extreme over-consumption. What began 42 years ago as a grassroots celebration has now become an internationally recognized day to honor the environment. Earth Day has become instrumental in many laws, including the passage of the Clean Air Act.

Celebrate sustainability and nature with two local festivals. They’re both on the same day, and both promise to be a blast. Why not be a green party animal and go to both festivals?

Hugh Taylor Birch State Park : Make Earth Day Every Day!

The first Earth Day festival is at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park on Saturday, April 21 from 10 am to 5pm. Be sure to bring little ones for this celebration. They’ll be activities offered for kids by organizations such as the Girl Scouts of America, Trash to Treasure, Camp Live Oak, the fantastic Kids’ Ecology Corps, and Lori’s Beakers and Bugs Company. For adults, they’ll be chances to volunteer (including a sea turtle rescue), ecology-focused workshops, organic and vegan food, and live music. Activities will also include free giveaways and live entertainment, including a drum circle.

Marando Farms: Earth Day Celebration

Come out to Fort Lauderdale’s Marando Farms on Saturday, April 21 from 10am to 2 pm. Kids can enjoy face painting and a bounce house. Adults will enjoy the many varieties of organic food available. There will also be live music and a guest speaker from GMO Free Florida, Trish Sheldon.

If You Go

The Hugh Taylor Birch State Park Make Earth Day Every Day celebration is located at 3109 East Sunrise Blvd in Fort Lauderdale. Go here for more information.

The Earth Day Celebration at Marando Farms is located at 1401 Southwest 1st Ave in Fort Lauderdale. Call Marando Farms at 954-294-2331 or go here.

By Marissa Cohen

Photo By dougww

On Monday April 16, 2012, environmentalist and poet Lola Haskins will read from her work at Broward College, from 12:30 to 1:45 pm as part of Broward College’s Environmental Week.

Acclaimed Poet

Haskins has been published in many acclaimed journals and publications, including The Atlantic and The London Review of Books. She’s written over ten books of poetry, starting with the 1993 Iowa Poetry Prize Winner Hunger and ending with her most recent book of poems Still, the Mountain, which won a 2010 Florida Book Award prize. Haskins often writes about the wonder of nature, including poems that explore Florida’s natural settings. “Prayer for the Everglades” is featured in the prose collection, Book of the Everglades. Haskins has also been featured on NPR.

Local Activist

Haskins is a board member of the Florida-based organization, Florida Defenders of the Environment, a non-profit organization devoted to environmental education and protection since it began in 1969. Currently, the Florida Defenders remain an active and important part of Florida’s quest for environmental justice and are vocal advocates for environmental protection.

Her writings about nature can be found in two university press books: Wild Heart of Florida and Visions of Florida. To date, she’s won several awards, including two National Endowments for the Arts fellowships, and several for her cultural affairs involvement. She’s also taken part in many arts projects and stage productions. To learn more about Lola Haskins, please visit her website at www.lolahaskins.com.

If You Go

Lola Haskins will be reading from her work at Broward College. For more information about this free event, please visit Broward College’s website or call Dr. Barbra Nightingale at 954-201-8873.

By Marissa Cohen

Photo By heraldpost

Now that spring is finally here, I can’t seem to stay inside. It seems that Florida’s weather is even more delightful than usual, if you don’t mind sudden storms and cozy, breezy days. I’m finally noticing what I haven’t noticed in the 30-something years spent as a born-and-bred-local. There are reasons people come from all over the world to visit Florida.

Recently, I enjoyed a day trip to Batten’s Farm, a favorite farmer’s market that reopened last summer after being closed for several years. Inspired by one nearby farmer’s market make me seek out other local farmer’s markets, most of which are less than a half-hour from the Desoto.

I discovered the Flamingo Road Nursery and Farmer’s Market entirely by accident when I got off 595 on Flamingo and turned south instead of north. On my right hand side, I saw the Flamingo Road Nursery and decided to pull in to explore. There’s nothing like wandering around a new farmer’s market. As I stepped out of my car, and walked to the entrance, I was greeted by the melodic sound of a large waterfall. Immediately to my right was a huge, gorgeous stone water fountain.

Plants and Herbs

The property is large, as are most of the nurseries that border both sides of Flamingo Road, and it’s fun to wander through the Flamingo Road Nursery’s many varieties of plants, arbors, and flowers. Best of all, there’s a very generous herb section as well, lush with flowering chamomile, mint, and other fragrant goodies.

For Kids

The Flamingo Road Nursery has a neat selection of kid-sized gardening tools, from gloves to gardening tools. Does your little one want to learn more about plants? Help them create their own garden.

Organic Grocery

The Flamingo Road Nursery and Farmer’s Market supports local Florida farmers and artisans. There’s a small grocery store featuring organic veggies located toward the back of the large property. Divided into two large rooms, the store has a small grocery and organic section on one side and a lunch counter on the other. Mostly, I had fun exploring the produce section and managed to find a huge quantity of basil at a very reasonable price.

And then, on the way out, I met the cat.

The Flamingo Cat

I’m not sure who he belongs to, but if you go, stay on the look out for a friendly kitty that seems totally at home roaming the grounds. He’s a curious little wanderer, and I spotted him a few times, happily rolling in the grass or pouncing butterflies.

If You Go

The Flamingo Road Nursery and Farmer’s Market is located at 1655 Flamingo Road in Davie. They can be reached at 954-476-7878 or find them on the web, here. They’re open Monday to Sunday, from 8 am to 6 pm.

By Marissa Cohen

Photo By intheburg

When I was a kid, Saturdays in summer meant that it was time to pick strawberries. It meant piling in the car -sometimes with my two cousins – and heading over to Batten’s Farm, located in Davie, Florida. That was in 1992.

Several years ago, Batten’s Farm  closed and it seemed like all the locals went into kind of low-grade mourning.

Goodbye to Berries

One friend of mine actually called me to report that she’d bought strawberries at a regular supermarket. “Nothing like Batten’s,” she sighed into the phone, recounting happy memories of Batten’s strawberries and milkshakes. While I didn’t get misty eyed over store-bought berries, I too found myself getting nostalgic whenever I drove south on Davie Road and passed the old farmstead, the small building shut up tighter than a drum, its white shutters gleaming in the sunlight. With it went the ripe, better-than-in-a-food-store strawberries, the friendly owners, and the barnyard animals in the pen out back. Worst of all? The milkshakes and boiled peanuts that I used to share with my late father were gone too.

Batten’s Reopened in 2011

And last summer, it reopened, thanks in part to the Davie-based non-profit, the North-South Institute, which operates Batten’s as a farmer’s market, with local Broward County farmers selling produce.

Recently, I went to Batten’s and had just as much fun there now as I did when I was a kid.

A New Generation of Local Food and Fun

Some things have changed. The new owners have installed ceiling fans in the building and there’s now a refrigerated section in the back for sodas, boxed foods, and of course, their famous and beloved strawberries.

The milkshakes are back too, just in time for spring.

But the best thing of all? The promise of hanging out for an hour – or all day if I wanted to – slurping a coconut milkshake and hanging out with the barnyard animals. Batten’s is perfect for kids or for a solo walk around the small farm.

If You Go

Batten’s Farm is located at 5151 Davie Road, Davie, 33329. Visit their website, call 954-990-7820, or find them on Facebook.

By Marissa Cohen

Photo By tamburix

Spring is here, or so we hear. (In Florida our weather is pretty much the same – gorgeous – all year round.) I understand that in other parts of the world, the cold is giving way to flowers and warmth. Spring means renewal: as the earth wakes up from ice and cold, so do we. Renew your eco-joy with these springtime steps.

Eco-Bags in Light Colors

Ditch the dull black and brown travel bags for fun and funky luggage in light, festive colors. Crisp white eco-friendly luggage can put a spring in your step. So can eco-friendly purses and backpacks in hues of pinks, greens, or yellows.

Declutter Before You Depart

Before you leave town, give your house a fresh sense of renewal by cleaning the clutter out of closets and garages. Go through what you find. Contact Goodwill or your local shelter and give away any old clothes, dishes, or furniture that have seen better days. Have an upcycle party and invite friends to trade their old stuff. One green traveler’s trash is another green traveler’s treasure – and if money is tight, trading items is a thrifty way to save your green.

Before You Leave, Clean

I like to tidy up before I leave town. There’s nothing more annoying to me than coming back to a dirty house, so before I leave I make sure that counters are scrubbed and bedsheets are changed. Ditch the toxic house cleaning products as well! Instead of glass cleaner or disinfectant, use vinegar. Instead of toxic scrubbing powders, use baking soda.

Spring Showers

Not only does spring bring color and renewal – it also brings the rain. If you’re hitting the road, protect yourself from blustery days and surprise showers with cute, non-toxic raingear. This umbrella is made of recycled steel and aluminum and has a bamboo handle.

Spring Friendly Travel Apps

If you need to track the ever-changing weather, check out The Weather Channel’s app – perfect for road travel. Going to be on the road? Try Roadninja – a travel app that lets you know what’s coming up off the next highway exit. You can look up exits from anywhere on the road and it’s handy if you need to find a potty or a vegetarian restaurant in a hurry.

By Marissa Cohen

Photo By notamaiar

You’re on vacation! You’re in an airplane or in a moving car and your little bundle of love needs a diaper change. Time to pull out diapers made of cloth, which you’ll have to wash later.

Oooh! Everything about that just sounds like fodder for a bad vacation movie.

My good friend who I consider an “eco-mommy” is always trying to find new ways to introduce green products into her kids’ lives. When she and her small family travel, she confessed to me that diapers are the one thing that never seem to go green in her family, especially when the family heads off on vacation.

But whether you decide on reusable or disposable diapers, almost anything is better for the earth than a traditional diaper.

Dirty (Traditional) Diaper Facts

It can take up to 500 years for one diaper to decompose, according to the EPA. Now imagine how many thousands of diapers most parents go through in one year? Disposable diapers make up a solid 5% of landfill waste and can cost several thousands of dollars from baby’s first diaper to potty training.

Cloth Facts for Traveling Parents

Simply put, cloth diapers can be reused. For this reason, cloth diapers may not be the most convenient option for parents on vacation. Most diaper services use non-green products to clean the diapers, and that may not be something green parents are comfortable with. As a result, you may have to figure out how much time you have to wash diapers. However, pro-cloth parents say that there are many green positives to cloth diapers. You’ll save a great deal of your own green by switching to cloth. Plus, most babies who are in cloth diapers seldom if ever get diaper rash, and cloth-diaper parents might have to use less cloth diapers in the first place, because babies can feel when they’ve wet themselves a little more acutely than if they were wearing traditional diapers. Due to the reality of cleaning cloth diapers, this option may not be the best for the family who’s traveling, although when you get back home feel free to check out all the great items at TinyTush.com, including these disposable diaper liners.

The Alternative

For families who want the convenience of a disposable diaper, check out earth-friendly brands, such as Seventh Generation , which has no petroleum-based lotions, fragrances, or latex. All that’s good and green for baby, but the fact is that most disposable diapers are not totally biodegradable. For more info, check out this fantastic disposable “green” diaper chart.
Disposable diapers may be flat-out easier to pack when you’re off to grandma’s or on a cross-country jaunt, but when you return home (and if you’re up for the time it will take), cloth diapers may be worth a try.

By Marissa Cohen

Photo By majorbonnet

It won’t take much to be green on St. Patrick’s Day. Come out to the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival on Saturday March 10, 2012 in Fort Lauderdale.

Fun

The day kicks off with the annual Leprechaun Leap, a family-oriented 1K walk. There’s a great line up throughout the day from 11 am to 6 pm, including an Irish blessing, Irish step dancing, storytelling, a puppet show, and three bands – Hootnanny, Against the Tracks, and Avalon. The festival officially begins at 1:30 and will include face painting for the kids, bounce houses, pony rides, and more. The event is sponsored in part by Whole Foods, among other corporate sponsors.

The Parade

The parade starts at Las Olas Boulevard (SE 8th Avenue) at noon and ends at 1:30 on Andrews Avenue. The festival will award over $3,000 in cash prizes to the best float, including categories for marching bands, pipe bands, school floats, and non-profit floats.

Green Festival Tips

To be green at Fort Lauderdale’s yearly Irish festival, remember to pack plenty of eco-friendly sunscreen. (Avoid the spray on kind if you can, which can be harmful.) Recycle bottles and trash, and avoid plastic utensils if possible. While most beers or burgers that have been dyed are usually made green with safe, plant-based dyes, it never hurts to double-check. Make sure to either bring a reusable water bottle or recycle the bottles that you buy, as somehow almost 80% of plastic water bottles wind up in landfills.

Everyone loves festival goodies! If you’re going to take home all those fun little Saint Patrick’s Day festival toys (green beads, foam hands, plastic shamrocks), either recycle them when you’re done using them or find ways to reuse them. If you’re not  going to use them, either don’t take them home or donate them to a thrift store.

If You Go

The Saint Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival is free and open to the public. Parking is $5 in certain areas between the hours of 7 am and 4 pm. Have fun painting Fort Lauderdale green!

By Marissa Cohen

Photo By mbsz

The Renaissance Festival has come to South Florida! The Deerfield Beach festival is located at Quiet Waters Park until the weekend of March 11 and the Miami festival (weekends from March 31 to April 8 ) will be at Cauley Square Historic Village on Dixie Highway.

The 20th Annual Florida Ren Fest isn’t only a chance to experience the drama and excitment of the 16th century. It’s a wonderful way to explore eco-friendly crafts and learn about a less technology-driven way of life.

Being Green in Another Century

I love looking at all the goods made by Ren Fest vendors. It’s a green dream for those who are looking to support local artists or buy a few eco-aware items. While I wandered around the fair over the weekend, I noticed many signs advertising natural products, everything from handcrafted instruments to hand-made, all-natural clothing. While most of the clothing being sold was representative of the Renaissance, there were many simple long-sleeved shirts or tee-shirts made from natural fibers, perfect for wearing around town.

The Renaissance Faire is eco-friendly because you’ll help support local or regional artisans by buying their crafts, clothes, or jewelry. Those who are interested in natural health should check out Mr. Freedman’s “Apothecary Shop,” where patrons can learn all about herbs and natural remedies for colds and aches.

Chow Down Like It’s 1599

For the most part, the Renaissance Festival offers typical fair food: funnel cakes, burgers and fried goodies. If you’re strictly vegetarian or vegan, however, the choices may be limited to the occasional salad or pretzel.  You may want to pack a sandwich or other green munchies to be on the safe side.

Ren Water and Other Tips

In the Renaissance times, you’d be lucky to find enough clean water to keep you hydrated, but at the Ren Fest, you can have all the water you can drink. Water bottles and recycling bins are everywhere. If you don’t want to spend the extra money on water, go ahead and bring your reusable bottle. Mine was a life-saver. Don’t forget your green sunscreen. After all, nothing saps the romance of the Renaissance faster than potential heat stroke.

If You Go

This year’s Florida Renaissance Festival has two locations. For directions, information, and hours, please go here. Adults pay $20 to get in, kids between 6 and 11 are $7, and little ones five and under are free.

By Marissa Cohen

Photo By ColorblindRain