Naked Ed: Keeper of Lilly Springs
John Edward “Naked Ed” Watts was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as brittle bone disease. This disease made it too dangerous for him to work and he was put on government disability. Unable to work, Naked Ed wondered what he would do with his life. The answer came when he canoed down the Santa […]
Fountains of Life: A Look at Florida Springs from Sacred Waters to Green Slime
There are more than a thousand natural springs in Florida. They are prehistoric, beautiful, world-famous, and draw thousands of visitors and millions of dollars to the state every year. On weekends, springs are crowded with people swimming, boating, enjoying picnics, or snoozing near waters, which hover at 72 degrees year round. The unsurpassed beauty has […]
Smart Landscaping
Erin Alvarez is a landscape instructor at the University of Florida Environmental Horticulture Department. Her teaching program is based in landscape management, which also includes public gardens management and a focus on landscape management issues. In this interview, Alvarez talks about the common mistakes some homeowners make when it comes to plant selection and irrigation […]
The Future of Building: Inside a Net-Zero Water School
On a grassy tract of land nestled in Lutz, Fla., alternative learning practices have become the norm at Learning Gate Community School. In 2009 Learning Gate was the first public school to be awarded the U.S. Green Building Council LEED Platinum certification. The school focuses its curriculum on energy and water conservation, and serves as a […]
