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 […]
Water Efficient Irrigation
Joe Floyd is one of four co-owners of Abundant Edible Landscapes. From fruit trees to rainwater collection systems, the company provides several services to homeowners who would like to develop their landscape with environmentally conscious features. In this interview, Floyd talks what irrigations systems could cut down your water bill in the long run, why […]
Alternative North Central Florida Lawns
One Floridian uses the same amount of water in one day, as an average person living in Mozambique, Africa, would in 88 days: 176 gallons, according to the Orlando Sentinel. The St. Johns River Water Management District reports that 58 percent of that water goes to outdoor needs – the worst offender being irrigation. While […]
Water in Florida: A Timeline
From the Fountain of Youth to our dropping aquifer levels, Florida’s history has been driven by what happens with its water. Follow some of the major events that have shaped the Sunshine State.
Saving water IN and OUT of your home
Spring and summer seasons for Floridians are characterized by recreational activities involving water sources that are especially unique to us like springs and beaches. While we use these resources almost all year around, it can be difficult to notice that these water sources, once plentiful, are now gradually being depleted by wasteful behavior and old […]
Swimming in Green
On a Tuesday afternoon, Ginnie Springs near the city of High Springs, Fla., is filled with divers, swimmers and people relaxing in the water. For a weekday, there are more people than you’d expect. Every year, millions of people visit Florida’s springs and rivers, bringing their money with them. An annual report compiled by the […]
Agriculture vs. Water: Bottling the Consumptive Question
The fact that water bottlers in Florida get free access to water they package and sell — and therefore make 100 percent profit on the materials — is often a sticking point for conservationists. While giving away water bottling rights in a state expecting water shortages may seem to be the perfect illustration of bad […]
