Florida Friendly Yards with Dr. Taylor Clem
02/04/20 • 29 min
Dr. Taylor Clem from UF IFAS Alachua county extension services joins us to talk about the Florida Yard and Neighborhood program. Tune in to find out about the 9 principles of Florida Friendly Yards, and other best practices you can implement at home! How to introduce this practices to your HOA ... and more!
Check here The Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Handbook!
What is the Florida Yard and Neighborhood program?
It is a program that compiles best management practices for homeowners to ensure water quality, water quantity, protect natural resources, flora and fauna.
If you are interested in transforming your yard to a Florida Friendly yard get started by calling your county extension agent and ask to speak to someone from the Master Gardener Program. Master gardeners are able to guide you on identifying diseases, pests, invasive species, and will provide advice on best practices to get started or continue the work on your yard.
How can I get my HOA involved in the program?
Dialogue between the two parties is the starting point to cultivate a relationship for change. Extension agent can help to push for change creating a custom plan to fulfill different needs, even the smallest changes can create the biggest impact.
9 Principles of the Florida Yards and Neighborhood Program
#1 Right plant, right place
Reduce the amount of work and inputs your plants need by choosing plants suited to your landscape conditions.
#2 Water Efficiently
By choosing to water your yard on an efficient way, you can lower down your water bill, prevent pests, and reduce the amount of maintenance your yard needs.
#3 Fertilize appropriately
Carefully follow instructions to fertilize, and only do so if needed. Limiting fertilizer use maximizes plant health and prevents runoff to water systems.
#4 Mulch
Mulch is one of your yard’s best friends! Mulch keeps soil moisture, help control weeds, and reduce water runoff. Be careful, too much mulch might play against you. Always prefer mulch from sustainable sources like pine. Cypress and cedar mulch are not sustainable sourced.
#5 Attract Wildlife
Provide water, food, and shelter in your backyard! Butterflies, birds, and other creatures will thank you. Suburban sprawl is fragmenting landscapes harming flora and fauna. By attracting wildlife, you can create an oasis and help preserve biodiversity!
#6 Manage Yard Pests Responsible
It is possible to manage pests using little chemicals! Smart planning is key to create an effective defense against pests while minimizing your impact on the environment!
#7 Recycle
It’s easy to recycle yard waste. Re-use your yard waste to save money and enrich soil.
#8 Reduce storm water runoff
The decisions you make in your lawn and garden directly influence the health of Florida’s water. Filter rain through your landscape to protect waterways and replenish the aquifer.
#9 Protect the waterfront
Surface water that leaves your yard as runoff (either due to rain or over-watering), together with any fertilizers and pestici
Due to the ongoing federal funding freeze, we must redirect our efforts to other FOG programs. But we need your help to keep programs like Fresh Take and other FOG initiatives alive!
Become a sponsor today! Your sponsorship is crucial for us to continue providing essential programs, including this podcast. Visit our sponsor page now to learn more and join our community of supporters. Together, we can make a significant impact!
Dr. Taylor Clem from UF IFAS Alachua county extension services joins us to talk about the Florida Yard and Neighborhood program. Tune in to find out about the 9 principles of Florida Friendly Yards, and other best practices you can implement at home! How to introduce this practices to your HOA ... and more!
Check here The Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Handbook!
What is the Florida Yard and Neighborhood program?
It is a program that compiles best management practices for homeowners to ensure water quality, water quantity, protect natural resources, flora and fauna.
If you are interested in transforming your yard to a Florida Friendly yard get started by calling your county extension agent and ask to speak to someone from the Master Gardener Program. Master gardeners are able to guide you on identifying diseases, pests, invasive species, and will provide advice on best practices to get started or continue the work on your yard.
How can I get my HOA involved in the program?
Dialogue between the two parties is the starting point to cultivate a relationship for change. Extension agent can help to push for change creating a custom plan to fulfill different needs, even the smallest changes can create the biggest impact.
9 Principles of the Florida Yards and Neighborhood Program
#1 Right plant, right place
Reduce the amount of work and inputs your plants need by choosing plants suited to your landscape conditions.
#2 Water Efficiently
By choosing to water your yard on an efficient way, you can lower down your water bill, prevent pests, and reduce the amount of maintenance your yard needs.
#3 Fertilize appropriately
Carefully follow instructions to fertilize, and only do so if needed. Limiting fertilizer use maximizes plant health and prevents runoff to water systems.
#4 Mulch
Mulch is one of your yard’s best friends! Mulch keeps soil moisture, help control weeds, and reduce water runoff. Be careful, too much mulch might play against you. Always prefer mulch from sustainable sources like pine. Cypress and cedar mulch are not sustainable sourced.
#5 Attract Wildlife
Provide water, food, and shelter in your backyard! Butterflies, birds, and other creatures will thank you. Suburban sprawl is fragmenting landscapes harming flora and fauna. By attracting wildlife, you can create an oasis and help preserve biodiversity!
#6 Manage Yard Pests Responsible
It is possible to manage pests using little chemicals! Smart planning is key to create an effective defense against pests while minimizing your impact on the environment!
#7 Recycle
It’s easy to recycle yard waste. Re-use your yard waste to save money and enrich soil.
#8 Reduce storm water runoff
The decisions you make in your lawn and garden directly influence the health of Florida’s water. Filter rain through your landscape to protect waterways and replenish the aquifer.
#9 Protect the waterfront
Surface water that leaves your yard as runoff (either due to rain or over-watering), together with any fertilizers and pestici
Due to the ongoing federal funding freeze, we must redirect our efforts to other FOG programs. But we need your help to keep programs like Fresh Take and other FOG initiatives alive!
Become a sponsor today! Your sponsorship is crucial for us to continue providing essential programs, including this podcast. Visit our sponsor page now to learn more and join our community of supporters. Together, we can make a significant impact!
Previous Episode
Myths around Eco-friendly practices
Join Sarah, JC, Isabel, and Jessica while they tackle #7 common myths and misconceptions that surround Eco-friendly living.
Fresh Take is your weekly dose of all things related to organic and sustainable living. Join Florida Organic Growers staff and guest experts as we discuss everything you need to know about sustainable living, organic agriculture, and how to make the best lifestyle choices that benefit you and the environment. So, if you’re an eco-warrior, a dedicated farmer, or just someone looking to make more conscious decisions, tune in every Monday to get your Fresh Take.
Florida Certified Organic Growers and Consumers, Inc. (FOG) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit established in 1987 as a grassroots organization, formed by those who believe in organic, sustainable, and regenerative agriculture. Our vision is to create a more sustainable and just food system that benefits both consumers and the environment.
Quality Certification Services (QCS) has been an industry leader in providing organic, food safety, and ethical certifications since 1989. As an accredited certifying agency, QCS has been meeting the demands of a growing food industry for more than 30 years. QCS is proud to offer organic and food safety certification for crop production, livestock, retail, restaurants, processing and handling, and importer and exporter operations of all sizes. As the largest US-based certification agency on the eastern seaboard, QCS and our staff of highly qualified and dedicated food and agricultural scientists, educators, and regulators, is capable of meeting all certification needs with expertise.
Support the show (https://foginfo.org/get-involved/donate/)
Due to the ongoing federal funding freeze, we must redirect our efforts to other FOG programs. But we need your help to keep programs like Fresh Take and other FOG initiatives alive!
Become a sponsor today! Your sponsorship is crucial for us to continue providing essential programs, including this podcast. Visit our sponsor page now to learn more and join our community of supporters. Together, we can make a significant impact!
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This USDA grant funds the creation and dissemination of resources useful for food entrepreneurs. Sarah and Andi work together in the creation of a website that includes all information needed to create and continue a successful farmers market business. This website focuses on food safety, entrepreneurship, and additional resources for beginners and advanced food workers. STAY TUNED FOR THE WEBSITE RELEASE!
Fresh Take is your weekly dose of all things related to organic and sustainable living. Join Florida Organic Growers staff and guest experts as we discuss everything you need to know about sustainable living, organic agriculture, and how to make the best lifestyle choices that benefit you and the environment. So, if you’re an eco-warrior, a dedicated farmer, or just someone looking to make more conscious decisions, tune in every Monday to get your Fresh Take.
Florida Certified Organic Growers and Consumers, Inc. (FOG) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit established in 1987 as a grassroots organization, formed by those who believe in organic, sustainable, and regenerative agriculture. Our vision is to create a more sustainable and just food system that benefits both consumers and the environment.
Quality Certification Services (QCS) has been an industry leader in providing organic, food safety, and ethical certifications since 1989. As an accredited certifying agency, QCS has been meeting the demands of a growing food industry for more than 30 years. QCS is proud to offer organic and food safety certification for crop production, livestock, retail, restaurants, processing and handling, and importer and exporter operations of all sizes. As the largest US-based certification agency on the eastern seaboard, QCS and our staff of highly qualified and dedicated food and agricultural scientists, educators, and regulators, is capable of meeting all certification needs with expertise.
Support the show (https://foginfo.org/get-involved/donate/)
Due to the ongoing federal funding freeze, we must redirect our efforts to other FOG programs. But we need your help to keep programs like Fresh Take and other FOG initiatives alive!
Become a sponsor today! Your sponsorship is crucial for us to continue providing essential programs, including this podcast. Visit our sponsor page now to learn more and join our community of supporters. Together, we can make a significant impact!
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