March 2023

This month, we’ll tackle the environmental focus area of waste by learning about some simple changes you can make at home for the planet. Then, we’ll learn about reducing waste from an environmental software CEO’s perspective. Lastly, we’ll learn from Fleet Farming about the miracle soil amendment: biochar!

The IDEAS Hive: Reduce Your Waste, Reduce Your Impact

We welcome Kali Rabaut from Suncoast Compost and Amanda Streets from Pinellas County Composting Alliance to join us as our virtual speakers. With waste becoming more and more of a global crisis affecting the health of our planet, now more than ever is time to learn about this important subject and to TAKE ACTION within our own communities, in a fun way! 

People. Planet. Profit
with Stephen Bay of earthUp

Stephen Bay is the Co-Founder and CEO of EarthUP, an environmental software as a service platform for companies and individuals to save money, reduce waste & create a healthier home.

Waste Activism

Photo Credit: trashisfortossers.com

The world generates 2.01 billion tons of municipal solid waste annually, and the amount is expected to rise to 3.40 billion tons by 2050. As our population grows, so does our waste. Fortunately, waste activists are taking a stand to reduce our environmental impact and promote sustainability.

Waste activists are individuals or organizations who advocate for a sustainable approach to waste management. They aim to raise awareness about the harmful effects of waste on the environment and promote eco-friendly solutions. Waste activism can take many forms, from organizing community cleanups to lobbying for waste reduction policies.

One example of a waste activist is Lauren Singer, who founded the blog “Trash is for Tossers.” Singer’s mission is to live a zero-waste lifestyle, which means producing no garbage that ends up in landfills. She achieves this by practicing the 5 R’s of waste reduction: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rot. Singer inspires others to follow her lead by providing tips and resources for a waste-free lifestyle.

Waste activism is crucial in the fight for sustainability. The current “take-make-dispose” linear economy model is not sustainable in the long term. Waste activists are advocating for a circular economy, where resources are kept in use for as long as possible, reducing waste and pollution. By reducing waste, we conserve natural resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and protect the planet.

Biochar 101 with Fleet Farming

Do you have compost in your backyard and want to make it even more rich and fertile? 

We interviewed Lorenzo Monduy Jr, the designer and face behind My Community Compost to talk about biochar, composting, and his Gasifier invention.

Fleet Eats: protein/energy vegan recipe

Sara Miller, our former Fleet Education Manager, invites us into her kitchen to show us how you can easily cook a vegan meal at home with all the nutrients, protein, and energy your body needs. Ingredients include oven-roasted carrots, beets, and butternut squash. Plus, rice, garbanzo, avocado, and kale.

In need of some produce? You can always come see us at our Monday night Farmer’s Market in Audubon Park from 5 – 8 PM.

 

Interested in starting to grow things like kale and squash at home, but want professional guidance? Schedule a FREE consultation with our Edible Landscapes team!

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March Planting Guide

Our friends at University of Florida’s IFAS Extension program have a great guide for March planting throughout Florida including what to grow by transplant or by direct seed!