Green Community: Daily Loaf, Creative Loafing Tampa

25 Reasons To Have Hope In An Ecological Future

Eric Haase — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 22:27:43 -0400

After conceiving this article in honor Creative Loafing's 25th birthday my first thought was I'd have a hard time finding five items, never mind 25. However, I decided to give research the chance to disprove that thought and the results follow.…

A world to love on Earth Day Mon., April 22

Mina Abgoon — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 13:00:00 -0400

We all live on Earth, don’t we?

Mon., April 22, is a day for everyone — environmentalists and non-environmentalists alike — to surround ourselves with fresh air, feel the rich soil underneath their feet and discover their inner naturalists. Luckily, Tampa Bay organizations provide a variety of ways to help you show your love and appreciation for the planet we call home.…

Holistic Happy Hour at Pizza Fusion

Lisa Custer — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 08:00:00 -0500

Join us for Holistic Happy Hour on Tuesday, March 13, at 7p.m.

This is an open evening for anyone in a green business or who wants to meet like-minded people, share green ideas and have fun!! Join us at Pizza Fusion in Westchase for our second Holistic Happy Hour.…

Ybor IKEA to go solar

Mitch Perry — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 08:35:00 -0500

The home furnishing retailer IKEA announced today that they intend to install solar energy panels on ten of their southern stores, including their Tampa location on Adamo Drive.

For the company's three Florida stores (the others are in Orlando and Sunrise), they will be contracting the work out to REC Solar, who IKEA says have built more than 7,000 such systems across the country.…

Florida environmentalists hail Obama Administration's proposal on raising fuel efficiency standards

Mitch Perry — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 07:04:21 -0500

Like every other block of voters who strongly supported his candidacy in 2008, environmentalists aren't nearly so enthusiastic about Barack Obama these days.

A lengthy New York Times story published today illustrates why they might feel let down by the President, as the piece depicts how the administration - in particular chief of staff Bill Daley and regulatory czar Cass Sunstein pushed Obama to reject a proposal by EPA administrator Lisa Jackson to tighten the national standard for smog.…

'One Bottle One Dream' aims to teach Florida kids about environmental stewardship

Lisa Custer — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:00:00 -0500

It’s always exciting to see local people and businesses stepping up and making a difference in our local 'green' community.

Local author Stephanie Armenia started a project called One Bottle One Dream, wrote an accompanying children's book and created a teacher curriculum guide that corresponds to the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards to make kids aware of the idea of conservation.…

Temple Terrace 'Bat Tower Talk' with the Florida Bat Conservancy: Thu., Sept. 1st

Katie Machol — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 11:00:00 -0400

Join the friends of the Temple Terrace Bat Tower and the folks behind the Temple Terrace Bat Tower Reconstruction Project for a special presentation by the Florida Bat Conservancy this Thursday, September 1st.

Learn about the new location of the bat tower (and see the blueprints), why bats are beneficial to the local ecosystem, how to make a bat roost in your own yard.…

Activists hold rally for clean air

Monica Torres — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 18:45:29 -0400

This Wednesday, clean air advocates held a rally in downtown Tampa to support the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) updated air quality standards which will be announced by the end of the month. According to the EPA, proposed updates to reduce mercury pollution from power plants will “prevent as many as 17,000 premature deaths and 11,000 heart attacks a year, in addition to 120,000 asthma attacks and about 11,000 cases of acute bronchitis among children annually.”

With children starting school and the EPA’s impending decision, Phil Compton, organizing representative for Sierra Club Florida Regional Office, believes that the rally is an opportune moment to raise awareness and gain signatures for the Sierra Club’s Clean Air Promise.…

Ocean dead zones

Katie Machol — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 10:00:00 -0400

Courtesy of: EarthTalk®
E — The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: What is a “dead zone” in an ocean or other body of water? — Victor Paine, Tallahassee, FL

So-called dead zones are areas of large bodies of water—typically in the ocean but also occasionally in lakes and even rivers—that do not have enough oxygen to support marine life.…

Our destructive consumer culture

Katie Machol — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 10:00:00 -0400

Courtesy of: EarthTalk®
E — The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: I don’t hear much about the environmental impacts of our consumer culture any more, but it seems to me that our “buy, buy, buy” mentality is a major contributor to our overuse of energy and resources. Are any organizations addressing this issue today?…

Tampa Bay Estuary Program's Invasive Species poetry contest winners announced

Katie Machol — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:30:00 -0400

In May, we spread the word about the Tampa Bay Estuary Program’s interesting poetry contest. They invited budding bards to enter their best creative prose for their first-ever Invasive Species Poetry Contest and, 100 entries later, they've chosen three winners in each age category.…

Tips for environmental volunteerism during the sweltering summer months

Erin Lennox — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 17:30:00 -0400

For some, going out into the wilderness and helping clean up the environment has its rewards. But in the summertime here in Florida, it seems just about impossible to lend a helping hand for an outdoor activity in the sticky, sweltering heat.…

Environmentalists protest outside Florida Rep. John Mica's local office to protest his "dirty water" bill

Mitch Perry — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 12:39:50 -0400

Last week the GOP-led House of Representatives passed the Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act on a near party line vote, a vote that opponents say they were outspent 23 to 1 in contesting.

The bill would amend the Clean Water Act by restricting the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to issue a revised or new water quality standard for a pollutant whenever a state has adopted and EPA already has approved a water quality standard for that pollutant.…

Live-action Captain Planet movie in the works

Katie Machol — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 09:00:00 -0400

In a press release Tuesday, Cartoon Network announced their decision to partner with Don Murphy and partner Susan Montford — who took the Transformers from kids cartoon to live-action blockbuster franchise — to put Captain Planet and The Planeteers on the big screen in a live-action film.

"With the earthquakes, tornadoes, melting icebergs and all the other problems threatening the world right now, Earth really needs her greatest defender," said Murphy's partner Susan Montford.

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Nova Southeastern University listed in top 20 colleges committed to community service

Samantha A. Wilber — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 09:00:00 -0400

Nova Southeastern University is a small college located in Fort Lauderdale that was just rated one of the 20 top colleges in the nation committed to community service by Best Colleges Online.

Nova caters mostly to online graduate students and has a total student body of a modest 6,000 undergraduates and 22,500 graduates.…

The Green Report Card: Does your college make the grade?

Samantha A. Wilber — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 16:30:00 -0400

The Green Report Card website, run by the Sustainable Endowments Institute, is pretty amazing. You can search for any school to view its grades in being green, or easily compare an entire list of schools of your choice.…

Protecting migratory birds

Katie Machol — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 15:00:00 -0400

Courtesy of: EarthTalk®
E — The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: What are the major issues with protecting migratory birds that groups like the Nature Conservancy are working on? — Lorinda Bennet, Alnuquerque, NM

Migratory birds, like other animals, need suitable habitat and food sources to survive.…

Ecosexuals: from Mother Earth to Lover Earth

Sex and Love editor — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 13:26:00 -0400

Ecosexuals don't just love nature; they want to do dirty, dirty things to it.

Elizabeth Stephens, an art professor at the University of California at Santa Cruz, and former porn actress/sexologist Annie Sprinkle, Ph.D., are leading the latest sexually-charged trend in the green movement.…

"Clean" water in St. Petersburg?

Samantha A. Wilber — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 09:00:00 -0400

Tap water in St. Petersburg is safe to drink, according to the recent release of the City of St. Petersburg water quality report 2010. Those of us in St. Pete may have gotten a flier with our water bill explaining the details about the “award winning tap water and services” that the Water Resources Department delivers to you.…

What the Mississippi River flooding means for those organic farms

Katie Machol — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 09:00:00 -0400

Courtesy of: EarthTalk®
E — The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: What will be the effect of all the flooding along the Mississippi River for organic farmers, given all the pollutants in the water? When they recover, can they still certify their products as organic?…

Tampa City Council plans a summertime ban on fertilizer

Adam Richards — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 15:52:04 -0400

On Thursday, Tampa City Council members approved on first hearing an ordinance that could impact Tampa Bay, the Hillsborough River, Tampa's drinking water and most importantly, Tampa’s residents.

The second hearing, scheduled for June 23, will propose a law that will ban the summertime sale and use of any fertilizers that are treated with phosphorous and nitrogen.…

Florida under water: Global warming and rising sea levels

Samantha A. Wilber — Tue, 31 May 2011 16:00:00 -0400

Almost every resident in the Tampa Bay area lives very close to sea level. This fact puts Florida and the Tampa Bay area at the front lines of the fight against global warming, whether we want to be there or not.…

Worm's Way Tampa's Customer Appreciation Day: Expert advice, freebies and raffles on organic and hydroponic gardening supplies

Lisa Custer — Fri, 27 May 2011 15:00:00 -0400

Have you started that backyard garden project yet? If you're in need of organic and hydroponic gardening supplies, be sure to check out Worm's Way's Customer Appreciation Day Sale this Saturday, May 28.…

Environmentalists disgusted with Rick Scott approved budget

Mitch Perry — Fri, 27 May 2011 09:21:00 -0400

An assortment of groups have been condemning bills passed by the Florida Legislature over the past month, and Governor Rick Scott's bill signing on Thursday has now codified those bills into law.

Amongst those grumbling the loudest are the state's environmental groups.…

Odessa's new open fresh market a success

Lisa Custer — Thu, 12 May 2011 16:00:00 -0400

The Odessa Open Market kicked off their grand opening event on Saturday, May 7, 2011. This new outdoor market is focused on local businesses and hosts companies such as Grow Easy Organics, Intensity Academy Gourmet Hot Sauces, Gone Bananas and Rockwear Gems as well as organic produce, dairy items from The Dancing Goat, Alex's BBQ and photography, among many others.…