Meanwhile, Back at the Oyster Ranch…
Photo: Erik Lovestrand There are a number of parallels than can be drawn between shellfish farming and traditional forms of agriculture that take place on the land. The most obvious similarities are the amount of hard work, grit and faith that are required of the...
Florida Master Naturalist Program
The Florida Master Naturalist Program is an adult education University of Florida/IFAS Extension program. Training will benefit persons interested in learning more about Florida’s environment or wishing to increase their knowledge for use in education programs as...
Maximize your farm’s energy savings with FDACS’ free energy evaluations and cost share program
Maximize your farm’s energy savings with FDACS’ free energy evaluations and cost share program The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Office of Energy is currently offering free energy evaluations and cost share funds to increase on-farm...
Plant Them High and Water Well
We plant trees with the intention of them being there long after we are gone. However, many trees and shrubs fail before ever reaching maturity. Often this is due to improper installation and establishment. Research has shown that there are techniques to improve...
Exploring the Gulf of Mexico: Phytoplankton Part 2
In the last article, we discussed what phytoplankton are, what their needs were, and their importance to marine life throughout the Gulf and coastal estuaries. In this article, we will discuss the different types of phytoplankton found in our waters. Marine scientists...
St. Marks River Preserve State Park
Located along the banks of the St. Marks River’s headwaters, this park offers an extensive system of trails for hiking, horseback riding, and off-road bicycling. The existing road network in the park takes visitors through upland pine forests, hardwood thickets and...
A Ghost in the Woods
Imagine you are enjoying perfect fall weather on a hike with your family, when suddenly you come upon a ghost. Translucent white, small and creeping out of the ground behind a tree, you stop and look closer to figure out what it is you’ve just seen. In such an...
Exploring the Gulf of Mexico: Phytoplankton Part I
Last year I began a series of articles on the Gulf of Mexico. They focused on the physical Gulf - water, currents, and the ocean floor. This year the articles will focus on the life within the Gulf, and there is a lot of it. We will begin with the base of food web...
Arbor Day–a celebration of the trees in our lives
Do you have a favorite tree? Often, the trees in our lives tell a story. One of the selling points when we bought our house 14 years ago was the tall, healthy Southern magnolia in the front yard. It was beautiful, and I could see it out my front window. A perfect...
Mangroves and Manatees… man what a year
2017 began as most years do, the Bermuda high slid east across the Atlantic Ocean and the cold fronts began to reach the Gulf Coast. However, this past winter was milder than normal. Either the high did not slide as far east as it typically does, or the fronts did...