FOLIOMarch 6 & April 10 Open farm day at Cognito Farm! See cows, pigs, chickens and turkeys raised in cooperation with nature. This rain or shine walking tour covers about 1/4 to 1/2 mile and lasts about one and a half hours. Well-behaved children are welcome, but please leave pets at home. Wear closed shoes, long pants and a visor. If it’s been especially rainy before the event, please wear rubber boots or shoes you don’t care about. The event lasts from 1- 5 pm and walking tours are at 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm. The farm is at N.E. 21st Place in Starke. There is no fee or registration, but visit www.cognitofarm.com for more information about the farm.
March 8 Colin Beavan, author of No Impact Man Hear Beavan speak at FSCJ’s Wilson Center at 7 pm. The audience will get to talk with him about the book, which chronicles the year he and his family spent trying to make as little impact on the planet as possible, the documentary by the same name, and the resulting No Impact Project. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Dr. Heidi Marshall at 646-2335 or at hmarshal@fscj.edu. P.S. Get there early!
March 12 Duval Extension Office presents “Common Pests of Warm-Season Vegetables” Learn to identify the critters that plague your garden and what to do about them from 10- 11:30 am at 1010 N. McDuff Ave. Cost is $5. Call Jeannie to register, 387-8850.
March 16 Monthly meeting of the Florida Native Plant Society Learn about native plants and meet other enthusiasts at the monthly meeting of the Florida Native Plant Society, Ixia Chapter, at 6:30 pm at the Regency Square library. Florida orchid expert Prem Subrahmanyam will speak on “Orchids In Our Backyard: Florida’s Wild Orchids.” The mission of the Florida Native Plant Society is to preserve, conserve and restore the native plants and native plant communities of Florida. The meeting is free and open to the public. Call 655-2550 or visit www.ixia.fnpschapters.org for more information.
March 18- 27 Cinema Verde Environmental Film Festival If you’re in Gainesville during the Cinema Verde Environmental Film Festival, stop in for 25 environmental films, an eco-fair, eco-tours and eco-art. Organizers say, “Cinema Verde is an annual ten-day festival that brings together science and the arts in celebration of a vision of green living.” There are $50 half-access passes, $100 full-access passes or single tickets to individual events available. Details are different for each event, so visit www.cinemaverde.org for more information and to purchase tickets.
March 19 2011 Jacksonville Seed Swap and Community Garden Expo Find out where the nearest community garden to you is and get to know the folks there, get organic seeds and starts, learn how to amend soil, learn about the friendly bee, and more from 10 am to 2 pm at the Garden at Jackson Square, 2554 Philips Highway. There is no cost to attend, but this is the home of the Sulzbacher Center’s garden so please bring an herb to plant for them. Tidbits will provide lunch ($5) and drinks ($1). For more information, visit www.firststardev.com/thegarden.html or email GardenJacksonSquare@gmail.com.
March 19 Eco-Safari for North Florida Land’s Sake How does a chance to win an African safari sound? That and other great prizes will be auctioned off by the North Florida Land Trust during the Eco-Safari for North Florida Land’s Sake at J. Johnson gallery in Jacksonville Beach. The North Florida Land Trust is dedicated to permanently preserving natural areas and special places. The evening begins at 7 pm, and tickets start at $100 with other sponsorship levels available. To order tickets, call 285-7020 or visit www.northfloridalandtrust.org/safari.html.
March 20 “Go Green, Go!” at Wind Horse Wellness Center If you happen to be down near Eustis, Wind Horse Wellness Center (www.windhorseworld.com) is hosting a day of free fun educational family activities called “Go Green, Go!” from 10 am to 5 pm. Learn about green technology, electric cars and more. See the area’s first electric car charging station and two new, no-gas vehicles. Call (352) 455-6371 or visit their website for more information.
March/April Riverkeeper events The Riverkeeper has so much going on, it’s a good thing they have their own events listing! Visit www.stjohnsriverkeeper.org/events for information on everything from the Riverkeeper social at Bold City Brewery to “River Celebration Day,” “Kayak for a Cause,” and so much more.
Sustainable Jacksonville lists a wide variety of eco-events at their Meetup.com site: www.meetup.com/sustainablejacksonville/events/.
Those interested in green building and remodeling might want to check out the events of the North Florida chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council. The upcoming “Low emitting paints and coatings” workshop seems particularly useful for those considering repainting their homes. www.usgbcnf.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17&Itemid=83
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