Thank you for reading!

Thank you for taking time to read and stop by my blog! 
As this semester closes I can truly say I have enjoyed this assignment and have loved posting for whoever is reading out there.

Before taking environmental science this semester I would say I was only doing the minimum to really take hold of what my family and I are able to do to better our environment every single day. I have learned how to stay up to date about issues that should matter to all of us who share this beautiful planet and have also taken time to research what is coming up in the future with innovation.

I took a picture and made a little caption with a quote that I love: 

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.

Albert Einstein 


Stay Involved,

Melanie M.

Locally Grown Produce is my favorite!

My Recycling !

Recycling is a huge part for our community, state, country, and world! In these part couple years I have really learned the importance of recycling and really how it can help not just at a local level, but truly global level as well. For this lab I had to do some research about how I personally recycled.

1. Describe your system for recycling.

Living here in Ocala our townhome community has a recycling time pick up time every Thursday. We have a large brown colored bin designed specifically for our plastics, cans, paper, cardboard, and more. When we didn’t live here in this community and in a privately owned neighborhood, it was much more difficult to recycle.

2. Estimate the daily and weekly volumes of materials. (You can record the data as numbers individual items or weights)

The bin we have here at home has the capacity of 224lbs or 64 gallons. Here at home we try to always be very conscious about recycling since all we have to do is walk to the garage and open a bin. We try to remind each other when we see other family members forgetting that there is the bin outside. Some weeks are tending to see more and others it’s much less, really depending on the amount of food we bought for the week.

3. Estimate your annual volume if you continued to recycle and describe how the environment is better for your efforts.

We don’t use all 64 gallons of our bin, I would say half of it but even with half of it, about 32 gallons a week, times 52 weeks in a year would be about 1664 gallons of material in a year. Now if we did use all 64 gallons of our bin, times 52 weeks a year, would be 3328 gallons of material a year.  This makes a huge difference and I can only imagine how big of a different could make in the community if we all used our recycling bins properly.

4. What recyclable material do you generate in the greatest quantities?

We mostly have plastic, and this is due to the large amount of water bottles bought in our home that my younger brothers use at their athletic practice.

5. What recyclable material do you generate the least amount of?

I would say we use paper the least, it’s not very common to see a large amount of paper in our recycling bin.

6. Describe the location and place you recycled your materials.

We have a recycling truck come every Thursday morning for our bin and the matierals that are not able to be recycled straight into the bin we can easily take to our closest waste facility that is about 10 mintues away from our home. 

Water Conservation Importance

This one was huge in our household to share because we have personally been working on really conserving our water. I need to definitely be working on how to wash dishes more efficiently  and not waste as much water. I think that is my biggest downfall with water conservation. One part that really caught my attention with this article was that we are the number state that reuses the most water.

Now as summer is approaching and water usage might be even higher, the tips at the end of article are a great remeinder to us all !

CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850.245.2112, DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us 

WATER CONSERVATION MONTH SHOWS FLORIDIANS IMPORTANCE OF YEAR-ROUND SAVING

~DEP encourages residents to implement water conservation strategies this and every month~

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection recognizes April as Water Conservation Month, a time dedicated to educating residents and visitors of the importance of protecting Florida's water resources and supply and everyday steps that can be taken at home to help.

Governor Rick Scott has recognized April as Water Conservation Month in aproclamation that emphasizes the importance of increasing awareness and prompting action for efficient use of the state's water resources.

"Our priority continues to be to ensure the sustainable supply and quality of our water," said Greg Munson, Deputy Secretary for Water Policy and Ecosystem Restoration. "This April is the perfect time for Floridians to join us in these efforts by learning more about water conservation."

For the last 16 months, the Department has led a statewide effort to improve consistency in the consumptive water use permitting programs implemented by the state’s five water management districts. As part of that process, the Department has taken steps to incentivize water conservation measures at the local level. The Department is also revising and expanding state rules to further increase Florida's use of reclaimed water. Even as the rules have been developed, the state's five water management districts continue to fund extensive water conservation initiatives through education campaigns and reclaimed water development projects.

Ongoing efforts statewide show that water conservation efforts are working. Florida remains one of the most water-efficient states in the nation. In 2011, Florida usedmore than 722 million gallons of reclaimed water every day to conserve freshwater and replenish rivers, streams, lakes and aquifers. Florida uses reclaimed water to irrigate 311,068 residences, 546 golf courses, 998 parks and 346 schools, according to 2011 data. As a result, Florida re-uses more water than any other state.

“On this 15th anniversary of April as water conservation month we would like to thank all that adopt and integrate conservation into their everyday routine," saidLisa Krentz, Water Use Efficiency Division Chair of the Florida Section of the American Water Works Association. "It is imperative we continue to recognize water is the keystone to life in Florida.”

Since most areas of Florida continue to struggle with drought conditions, water conservation is critical. Water conservation is the least costly and easiest plan to preserving our natural resources. Floridians can participate this month by implementing one or more of these 10 simple tips from the Southwest Florida Water Management District. These tips can help lower monthly water bills while helping to save hundreds of gallons of water:

Indoor Tips:

• Only run your washing machine and dishwasher when they are full.
• Use the shortest clothes washing cycle for lightly soiled loads.
• Thaw frozen food in the refrigerator or microwave, not under running water.
• Scrape, don’t rinse, your dishes before loading in the dishwasher.
• Install high-efficiency showerheads, faucets and toilets.

Outdoor Tips:

• Check your home’s irrigation system for leaks to save up to 6,300 gallons of water per month.
• Turn off your home’s irrigation system and only water as needed; save up to 2,000 gallons each time a watering day is skipped.
• Don’t leave sprinklers unattended. Use a kitchen timer to remind yourself to turn sprinklers off.
• Use a hose with a shutoff nozzle when washing the car to save around 40 gallons per wash.
• Consider installing a rain barrel with a drip irrigation system for watering your landscaping.  Rainwater is free and better for your plants because it doesn’t contain hard minerals.

For facts and information about water conservation throughout April, follow @FLDEPNews on Twitter.

Locally Grown Food

Another lab I really enjoyed was my locally grown food lab, here is the excerpt and a couple pictures:

Sustainable Communities – Locally Grown Food Lab

There is much discussion today about getting our communities to become more sustainable. This is due to the fact that American communities today require vast amounts of energy. One of the reasons for the amount of energy used is due to the fact most all resources must be imported into the community, sometimes thousands of miles. One way to reduce the energy used to import resources is to obtain those resources locally. Food is one item that really does not need to be shipped so far. Here in Florida does it make sense to ship tomatoes from California when it is possible to grow them here? Most people would say not. Even if the crop can be grown more efficiently someplace else the energy used to ship will likely outweigh the growing efficiency. In this lab prepare a meal using all locally grown food. When we say locally grown we consider a 100-mile radius from your home or city to be local. Crones cradle reserve http://www.cronescradleconserve.com in Citra carries locally grown food items.

1.     Describe your “locally grown” meal.

This lab for me was very enjoyable to do because it is usually what I do everyday! In the past couple years have become much more environmentally aware, which has not only affect my personal health but that of our beautiful nature. My family and I made the decision to start eating “clean” meals where we would also be able to lean more towards the organic side. I am going to show 3 pictures of just some of my “locally grown” meals. The first one is my breakfast with locally baked bread (it had no brand name), almond milk, and the blueberries on top were from the farmers market as well. The second picture is the one of my mid morning snack which is usually fruit or my green juice that I personally make. I always like buying organic fruits and veggies (at the farmers market) for this because the idea of a pesticide cocktail doesn’t appease me. The last one is another breakfast option I have which is asparagus (from Ocala farmers market), grape fruit (from Ocala farmers market), and flat English muffins, and an egg white.

2.     Where did you obtain the food?

All the produce that I organically consume come from the Ocala Farmers market at the square on Saturdays. It’s not far from home and it is a great place to also grow relationships with the farmers themselves.

3.     How do you know that the food was locally grown?

I usually check out the website from growers before purchasing and most of them have banners with the website information as well.

4.     How difficult was it to find the locally grown food?

When I started looking a couple years ago, I never thought it would be so easy to find! I can find it just 15 minutes away from home.

5.     How does the taste of the meal compare to similar meals you normally eat?

It usually is the same meals I normally eat, I’m a regular at the farmers market.

6.     How does you purchasing locally grown products support your community?

It helps out so much with our community economy and also our local workers as well.

7.     How does you purchasing locally grown products improve the environment?

We do not have to use energy in exportation, travel time and gas usage, and reducing chances of waste.

8.     What other things could be locally produced besides food, which would help the environment and community?

I noted in a following lab that we could produce several locally produced items: Honey, bottled water, eggs, milk, and even meat.

Kanapaha Botantical Gardens Visit

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better,” stated Albert Einstein. I feel like as if that quote described my visit to this beautiful and enchanting botanical garden. This semester I was able to visit the Kanapaha Botantical Gardens in Gainesville, Florida. As I was driving there I began to think it might be like other botanical gardens I had visited when I was younger and to be honest I wasn’t sure if I was looking forward to the visit as much I wanted to be, but everything changed as we made a right turn and followed the signs that began to lead us to the entrance of the garden. The first thought that came to my mind was that everything looked so fresh and green…in the parking lot, and I couldn’t imagine how it would look like inside. Curiosity began to spark as my dad and I made our way to the walkway and our mini adventure through Kanapaha Botantical Gardens began.

American Energy Innovation Council

As I was researching more about innovative energy I came to this website from the American Energy Innovation Council.

These are top men in America that are supporting the innovation of energy in this country. This would be a good website to check out and continue reading about what some of our leaders are doing to help support this movement.

Check it out at: http://americanenergyinnovation.org/

My Visited to Silver River State Park

For one of my labs I had to visit the Silver River State Park, it was quite an enjoyable time and here is a mini interview I had with myself for part of my lab.

1. What park did you visit?

My dad and I were able to visit Silver River State Park.

2. What recreation activities are found at that park?

There is biking, full/primitive camping, cabin rentals, kayaking, canoeing, hiking, interpretive exhibit, and trail riding.

3. How large is the park?

It is a 5,000 acre wooded park that includes the Silver River.

4. Is the park near or contain surface water? If so, what type of system?

Is has the Silver River that literally runs right through the park and also the Ocklawaha River.

5. List the major natural communities found within the park.

There are 10 distinct natural communities found in the park. They are swimming birds, long-legged waders, smaller waders, fowl like birds, birds of prey, land birds, perching birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles.

6. What are the identifying characteristics of each of the ecosystems?

The Silver River State Park has seven different communities: scrub, flatwood, sandhill, xeric hammock, mesic hammock, river swamp forest, and river (aquatic).

Hammocks: In North Florida, hammocks that are a mix of mostly evergreen and deciduous trees contain more

tree and shrub species in a given area than any other community in the continental United States. At the Silver River State Park, the hammock is between the sandhill and the river swamp.

Sandhill: The sandy, well-drained soils of the sandhill community provide the perfect habitat for a number

of plants and animals.

Swamp Forest: The river swamp is the type of wetland found along the floodplain of the Silver River. The ground in the river swamp is moist. During parts of the year the area is covered with standing water.

River and Spring: The Silver River is fed from one major spring and ten to twelve minor ones. Together these springs gush approximately 530 million gallons of groundwater into the river daily. The combined flow of all the springs is greater than any other group of springs in the world. The Silver River and springs form a community that is rich in shelter and nutrients. Plants and animals that live in this habitat are well equipped to deal with their watery surrounhttp://www.marion.k12.fl.us/district/srm/docs/EcologicalCommunitiesofSilverRiverStatePark.pdfdings. The Silver River is connected to a number of other river communities.

(Information used in question 6 can be found in an  article called: Ecological Communities of the Silver River State Park found at http://www.marion.k12.fl.us/district/srm/docs/EcologicalCommunitiesofSilverRiverStatePark.pdf )

7. What animals did you see on your visit?

On my visit I was personally able to see a few different species: mourning dove, blue jay, grey squirrel and a fox squirrel.

8. What is the cost to visit the park?

$6.00 per vehicle. Limit 2-8 people per vehicle.

$4.00 Single Occupant Vehicle.

$2.00 Pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass.

$2.00 per person. Entrance to the Silver River Museum and Environmental Center, which is open weekends and major holidays from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Children under six are free.

9. What did you learn while you were at the park?

I learned a couple things about the history of the park itself. I learned that the whole area of the park was home to Paleo-Indians about 12,000 years ago. There was a group called Timucua that lived there, and it wasn’t until the the 1700s that more Indians joined with the Timucua. Then in the 1800s the springs became a tourist attraction and then after the in the late 1800s Phillip Morrell was able to conduct the bottom glass tours which is still very popular today.

10. How long did you spend at the park?

We spent about 2 hours in the park after we helped out with the Tree project in the state park.

11. Would you visit this park again? Explain.

I am definitely revisiting the Silver River State Park again with my family, since now we know that there are so many different activities that we can be part of we want to come back and enjoying some hiking and canoeing in these next coming months.

12. Describe the highlight of your visit.

The highlight of my visit was being able to go through and take the river trailheads and get to the river. It was a beautiful warm sunny day in Ocala and it was just great for me being able to enjoy looking at the Silver River itself.

Sinkholes, sinkholes, sinkholes!

Sinkholes, sinkholes, sinkholes.....seem to have been in our local news for the past couple years very frequently. Before moving to Central Florida, I have never thought sink holes would be a reality for me or my family until last year we had a big sinkhole open up in our community called Fore Ranch. It has taken months and months of repairs not only with the homes it affected but also the environment. 

*Not my personal Material*

CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850.245.2112, DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us 

INFORMATION REGARDING SINKHOLES FROM THE FLORIDA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

~Facts and information about encountering sinkholes in the state of Florida~

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Geological Survey has compiled the following information to provide a single point source for general knowledge about the nature of sinkholes in the state of Florida and additional information about proper protocol should you ever encounter a sinkhole in an urban area.

Facts about sinkholes in Florida:

-The entire state of Florida sits on top of several thousand feet of limestone. Limestone is a rock that can form with natural void spaces called porosity.  In limestone where the void spaces are connected, the rock is permeable.  Porous and permeable limestone makes great aquifers and provide millions of gallons of fresh drinking water for residents and agriculture. The most significant factor in the development of sinkholes is the dissolution of the limestone underlying Florida by naturally acidic groundwater.

-Sinkholes are a natural and common feature of Florida's landscape. They are only one of many kinds of karst landforms, which include depressions, caves (both air and water filled), disappearing streams, springs and underground aquifer systems, all of which occur in Florida. Thousands of naturally occurring sinkholes can be seen throughout the state of Florida including many that connect underground to springs, rivers and lakes.

-Sinkholes form in karst terrain from the collapse of surface sediments into underground voids. In Florida one may see solution sinkholes, cover-subsidence sinkholes or cover-collapse sinkholes. The first two types will show very little topographical disturbance to the naked eye, while the third is the type which shows a abrupt change in topography and is most associated with the thought of sinkholes.

Questions about sinkholes in urban and suburban environments:

-My yard is settling... Do I have a sinkhole? Maybe. But a number of other factors can cause holes, depressions or subsidence of the ground surface. Expansive clay layers in the earth may shrink upon drying, buried organic material, poorly-compacted soil after excavation work, buried trash or logs and broken pipes all may cause depressions to form at the ground surface. These settling events, when not verified as true sinkholes by professionals, are collectively called "subsidence incidents." If the settling is affecting a dwelling, further testing by a licensed engineer with a licensed geologist on staff or a licensed geology firm may be in order. Property insurance may pay for testing, but in many cases insurance may not cover damage from settling due to causes other than sinkholes.

-A sinkhole opened in my neigborhood... should I be concerned? Although sinkholes in Florida sometimes occur in sets, most are isolated events. The bedrock underlying the state is honeycombed with cavities of varying size, most of which will not collapse in our lifetimes. A quick inspection of your property for any sinking or soft areas might be prudent. Unless the sinkhole is very large, and extends to your property, there’s likely to be little reason for concern. 

Should a sinkhole open in an area near you the hole should be immediately cordoned off and clearly marked to protect traffic. Contact local law enforcement to report the hazard and call your city or county road department to initiate repair work. If the road is private, repair of the hole is usually the responsibility of the landowner or property owners’ association.

-Is there a safe area of Florida where there is no chance of sinkholes?Technically, no. Since the entire state is underlain by carbonate rocks, sinkholes could theoretically form anywhere. However, there are definite regions where sinkhole risk is considerably higher. In general, areas of the state where limestone is close to surface, or areas with deeper limestone but with a conducive configuration of water table elevation, stratigraphy, and aquifer characteristics have increased sinkhole activity.

In an effort to assist the state residents are encouraged to report sinkhole information by filling out a subsidence incident report form on the Department’s website and submit the completed copy to the FGS. This website also contains information on sinkholes and how they form.

To access this form go tohttp://www.dep.state.fl.us/geology/forms/Subsidence/SIR-quick-form5.htm or contact FGS at 850-488-9380. More information about sinkholes can be found on the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's website:http://www.dep.state.fl.us/geology/

Home Energy

This is an excerpt from one of my labs that I thought would be very interesting to read. I realized by doing this lab that I would be able to participate in more innovative energy ideas.

Home Energy Use Lab

 Today in American culture views consumption as a good thing. The more a person consumes the more successful they must be. However consumption leads to environmental degradation. For example, the purchase of a large house when there is no real need for the extra space leads to negative environmental effects. Larger homes will generally consume more energy to heat and cool causing  more air pollution. Larger homes cover more of Florida's surface, which results in diminished groundwater recharge. In many cases the homeowner may utilize more chemicals on the lawn resulting in more water contamination and the environment suffers. Our home has a large potential for causing environmental degradation so it is worthwhile to do all we can to increase the efficiently of our houses. In this lab you will look at your home and energy use.

 

1.     How large is your home? ___1200___ square feet of living area.                                                              

2.     How large is your lot? ___We live in a town home._____________                                                                         

3.     Does you home have single or double pained windows? _____We have simple single pained windows___                                           

4.     How much insulation do you have in the attic? _We have about 6 inches of insulation_inches (Only gather the data for this section if your attic is easy to access.)

5.     If you run the air conditioner during the summer at what temperature is it set at? __78__ How many hours a day does the AC run ___5___(Estimated)               

6.     Does your home receive any shade? _Yes__  If so, what side(s) of the house are shaded? ___While the sun is setting usually the east side of the house is shaded_________.

7.     How many Killowatts of electricity do you use in the average month? __Our home uses about 870 KWH in an average month.___                                                                                                                                  

8.     If for each 1000-kilowatt hours of electricity produced, 1,250 pounds of air pollution is released into the environment. Determine the number of pounds of air pollution that is produced to provide electricity for your home during the average month. ____1000____ lbs

9.     How much air pollution would be produced by your home electricity production on an annual basis?_____13200_____lbs_

10.   If for each 1000-kilowatt hours of electricity produced, 690 pounds of water pollution is produced. Determine the number of pounds of water your home will produce per month making electricity for your home. _600____lbs.

11.   How much water pollution would be produced per year by providing electricity for your home? ___7200____lbs

Social Media with Environmental Programs

Knowing that we are now a very social generation and are constantly involved with social media, now more than ever before we are able to stay update on everyday literally every second of the day. Since we are involved with things that matter to us, knowing that we can stay up to date on environmental programs is also very useful ! 

Source: http://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/FLDEP-6c8ce6

CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850.245.2112, DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us

       DEP LAUNCHES NEW SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS

~New accounts provide timely information about Florida’s Coral and Aquatic Preserve programs ~

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has launched six new social media accounts as part of an ongoing effort to keep Floridians and online users better informed of research, events and news related to the Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas. Social media users can now find the latest news on Florida’s 4.5 million acres of managed coastlines and aquatic preserves through Twitter and Facebook.

"Our aquatic preserves protect Florida's natural resources on millions of acres throughout the state,” said CAMA Director Kevin Claridge. “Using social media toshowcase these places and what is found within them is a great way to keep Floridians and people worldwide updated on exciting activities and how to access our natural resources appropriately.”

By implementing these new accounts, the Department is working to improve public interaction and increase educational outreach among Floridians by keeping in tune with the ever-growing social media trend.

The Department encourages Floridians and interested users worldwide to follow the accounts below for news related to the Department and Florida's environment:

Aquatic Florida on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Aquatic_FL

For information on the Office’s wide-ranging programs and daily activities, Twitter users can follow @AQUATIC_FL. This account provides followers with information on statewide and local information and activities. From environmental news to events and news from the field, this Twitter account will keep users informed of day-to-day activities. Each week will focus on a different site with a daily tweet with news and information of that location.

Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/BigBendSeagrassesAquaticPreserve

Spanning over 984,000 acres, the Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve is the largest aquatic preserve and one of the most pristine places in Florida. It encompasses the second largest continuous area of seagrass in the Gulf of Mexico, for which it is world renown. ‘Like’ this page and learn all about the importance of seagrass for your Florida life style.

The Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserves on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/IndianRiverLagoonAP

The Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserves Field Office manages seven Aquatic Preserves, over 95,000 acres, of the Indian River Lagoon from Volusia to Palm Beach County.The Lagoon is one of the most biologically diverse places in the nation. ‘Like’ this page to learn something new about Florida’s environment.

Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/BiscayneBayAquaticPreserves

The Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves oversees 67,000 acres of submerged lands that include seagrass beds, mangroves, hardbottom communities and sand flats. ‘Like’ this page to find activities on and around the Bay.

Estero Bay Aquatic Preserves on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/EsteroBayAquaticPreserve

Estero Bay was designated as Florida's first aquatic preserve in 1966. Aquatic preserve staff work to preserve the bay in its essentially natural condition, so that the aesthetic, biological and scientific values endure for the enjoyment of future generations. ‘Like’ this page and see how history has kept a gem of Florida shining today. 

Florida’s Coral Program on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/FloridasCoralProgram

The Coral Reef Conservation Program's vision is that the health and management of Florida’s coral reefs and associated reef resources are improving and global coral reef conservation goals are being met effectively to ensure sustainable marine resources and a high quality of life for the State of Florida, its citizens and visitors, today and in the future.  ‘Like’ this page to see astounding coral pictures.

Aquatic Florida on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/aquaticflorida/

This page, launched last year, shares photos of aquatic preserve activities, neat critters seen, available activities on state-owned and managed properties and the work that Department staff is doing to protect the environment. Come check out the beauty of Florida through photos shared through this account.

These new accounts will join the other existing social media accounts that the Department actively updates. Together, these accounts reach more than 50,000 users.