Sustainable Floridians Master Volunteer Program

What is sustainability and why is it important? The University of Florida has a new training program to help citizens and local government staff learn about sustainability and connect with others who are already interested in local, sustainable community projects. Sustainable Floridians is a 7-week course that provides a forum for education and action to address Florida concerns about water, transportation, energy, and land use. The program uses instructor led sessions and participant discussion to create a lively classroom learning experience. Participants receive valuable sustainable living items like rain barrels and energy saving devices to promote behavior change. There are also opportunities for ongoing learning through the UF Extension network and monthly meetings and field trips for Sustainable Floridian graduates. This program is offered to residents of Pasco and Hillsborough counties also.

In order to be considered for the program, participants must submit an application to the program coordinator (rmadhosingh-hector@pinellascounty.org). Applications are due September 7, 2012.

The next training program will be offered at Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center in Tarpon Springs. Orientation (open to anyone interested) is September 6, 2012 from 10 am to 12 noon at Brooker Creek Preserve.

Dates for Program: September 13 – October 25, 2012. Classes meet every Thursday during the 7 weeks from 9 am to 1 pm. Participants must complete the training and required volunteer hours to be considered a certified Sustainable Floridian graduate. Participants meet the 30 hour volunteer requirement and 15 hour ongoing training requirement by completing Extension approved projects. These may include working at community outreach events, writing articles, and working with schools to educate youth about sustainability. Since the launch of the program in 2011, Pinellas County has trained 47 volunteers who contributed more than 700 hours to extend the mission of Extension. Join us for this exciting program and become a part of the Sustainable Floridian network of graduates!

Celebrating 150 Years: The University of Florida

Today’s land grant fact: 
The University of Florida. A Grand Example of the Land-Grant University
http://landgrant.ufl.edu/

1895 “Picnic on the Suwannee” 
Students from the Florida Agricultural College in Lake City 
relax at a picnic at Florida’s iconic Suwannee River.

The Morrill Act in 1862 was designed to donate federal land (30,000 acres) to each state and territory as an endowment to support the “land grant universities”. The intent of the bill was to provide a broad segment of the population with a practical education that had direct relevance to their daily lives. Florida Agricultural College became the first land grant college in the state, and the small college emphasized the scientific training of agricultural and mechanical specialists. In 1903, the Florida Legislature changed the name of Florida Agricultural College to the "University of Florida", in recognition of the legislature's desire to expand the curriculum beyond the college's original agricultural and engineering educational missions.

The University of Florida is proud to be a land grant university that supports the local County Extension offices.

150 Years of Solutions for Your Life

One hundred and fifty years ago, President Abraham Lincoln signed into law the Morrill Act, which created the land‐grant university system, made higher education more accessible to more people, and promoted agricultural science and the mechanical arts. The University of Florida is proud to be a land grant university which supports the local Extension offices in all 67 counties of Florida. Extension and the land grant universities support education, research, and outreach. Today, the land‐grant system includes 107 institutions in all 50 states and several U.S. territories.

Today’s land grant fact:

Tired of watering, fertilizing, and mowing your lawn?

Photo by Tyler Jones,
University of Florida, IFAS

In 2010, UF/IFAS formally announced the release of perennial peanut as an attractive groundcover.

Used also to feed livestock, its dense green foliage and small yellow-orange flowers are popular in neighborhoods.

After IFAS researchers collected wild specimens in South America in the 1950s, they created two types of the new perennial peanut and gave the plants away to ensure genetic diversity.

Full article at http://news.ufl.edu/2010/06/29/perennial-peanut/

Sustainable Floridians

Ramona Madhosingh-Hector
Urban Sustainability Agent

Get Started with Sustainability
For many of us, sustainability is a challenge and we don’t know where to start. The University of Florida recently introduced a new training program to help citizens learn about sustainability and connect with others who are already involved in local, sustainable community projects.

Sustainable Floridians is a 7-week course that provides a forum for education and action to address Florida specific concerns about water, transportation, energy, and land use. The program uses a hybrid teaching approach with instructor led sessions and facilitated peer-to-peer exchanges to create and provide a lively classroom learning experience. UF/IFAS Extension faculty teach all sessions and participants receive valuable sustainable living devices like rain barrels and energy materials to promote behavior change. Although this is a non-credit adult education program, UF faculty provide many opportunities for ongoing learning through the UF/IFAS Extension network and monthly mentoring meetings.

In order to be considered for the program, participants must submit an application to the program coordinator. This year, the Pinellas County Extension office will offer two training opportunities -

• April 12 to May 24 at Pinellas County Extension office in Largo (Application due March 15)


• September 13 to October 25 at Brooker Creek Preserve in Tarpon Springs

Classes meet every Thursday during the 7 week session from 9 am to 1 pm. Participants must complete the training and required volunteer hours to be considered a certified Sustainable Floridian graduate. Participants meet the 30 hour volunteer requirement and 15 hour ongoing training requirement by completing Extension approved projects. These may include working at community outreach events, writing articles, and working with schools to educate youth about sustainability.

Pinellas County Extension is currently the only Extension office in the Tampa Bay area that is providing this training. Since the pilot launch of this program last year, Pinellas County trained 47 volunteers who contributed more than 700 hours to extend the mission of Extension.

When you complete this program, you will be a sustainability aware citizen who will be able to work at the grassroots level to improve the resiliency of your local community.

Join us for this exciting program and become a part of the Sustainable Floridian network of graduates!

The New Kid on the Block

Lara Miller

I just started my dream job at the Brooker Creek Preserve and I am honored to be joining the Pinellas County Extension team as the new Natural Resource Agent! Pinellas County already feels like home and I could not be more grateful to work at the Preserve where I am constantly surrounded by its beauty.

Growing up in the small coastal town of Jupiter, FL I became fascinated by the environment that surrounded me. As my high school days approached, I was thrilled to discover I was accepted into the Jupiter Environmental Research and Field Studies Academy where my curiosity developed into a passion. After graduating from this four-year program, I attended the University of Florida where I continued my education about the natural world. Through a combined degree program I obtained a Bachelors degree in Natural Resource Conservation and a Masters degree in Forest Resources and Conservation with a focus on environmental education. Aside from academics, my hobbies revolve around sports and the outdoors; I make my fitness a priority and enjoy weekend camping adventures.

Brooker Creek Preserve is the largest natural area in the county, standing at an astounding 8,700 acres. The slightest elevation changes transform the land from dry pine flatwoods to flooded lands of cypress domes and swamps. Each ecosystem supports different types of wildlife from deer to otters and turkeys to water moccasins. The best part is there are trails that lead visitors through each of these ecosystems for an outdoor adventure this is as diverse as it is surprising. Furthermore, with the amazing support of our volunteers and the Friends of Brooker Creek, the Education Center and its state-of-the-art exhibits draws in thousands of visitors every year.

I like to think the best part about living is growing, and I know through my work with the volunteers, the county and the University of Florida, I will be able to go above and beyond in my role as a natural resource extension agent. I am eager to see how my skills and background can contribute to the Preserve and the educational programs which it offers.

Thank you and I look forward to meeting all of you when you come to visit Brooker Creek Preserve!