Marissa Evans, Going Green in the Florida Panhandle

Marissa Evans is a military spouse and a green mom to one very active toddler, Hudson. They live in Northwest Florida along the emerald coast in Navarre. She is a stay at home mom and an independent consultant for Go, Baby, Go! A cloth diapering and baby wearing company. You can find her giving tips on being living green to neighbors and strangers or working in her gardens, of course with no pesticides or chemicals! She is an advocate for cloth diapering, natural parenting and educating families along the Gulf Coast with cloth diapering classes.

Tara Burner, Florida's Green Parent

Tara Burner is an eco-friendly vegan who owns multiple businesses in South Florida. Tara is mom to “Trendy Diva Talk” who’s 13 and to a son, 20. After nearly two decades of entrepreneurship, she enjoys sharing her knowledge in the environment, green living, recycling, veganism, vegetarianism and other important aspects of living a greener lifestyle with others.  She decided to help fellow earth conscious tree huggers become successful change-agents by producing a series of websites, blogs, special reports and other guides. You can see her landing page, which details her various endeavors at: http://www.TaraBurner.com

Forums

Florida Green Parents

Food
Whole Foods
Locations throughout the state. I’ve got about a 2 yr wait for the one to open in Pembroke Pines which would be 5 mins from me!
You can find a local store via their site:
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/all/index.php#fl

Nutrition S’mart
Few locations in South Florida, I personally shop at the one on the SW Corner of Pines Blvd & Flamingo Road.

Fresh Market
2200 N. Flamingo Road Pembroke Pines, FL
Just stay out of this one on Sunday afternoon unless you’re into massive crowds and people pushing and shoving.
Food selection is excellent and prices are fair.

Organic Buying Club of South Florida

Good Earth Foods
Bradenton, FL
3 locations
In 1978, Good Earth Natural Foods was Bradenton, Florida’s first full-service natural food store.

Farmers Markets
St. Augustine Farmers Market
Year round every Saturday 8:30 until 12:30 pm
St. Augustine Amphitheatre, 1340 A1A south. 2 miles south of the Bridge of Lions and 1 mile north of SR 312 on A1A
Excellent selection, friendly vendors.
I visit here when in St. Augustine.

Gardners Farmers Market
8287 SW 124th Street, Pinecrest FL
They hold their farmers market every sunday til the end of March from 8a.m to 1 pm.
I haven’t been to this one in years because it takes nearly an hour drive south to get there, but it used to be great.

Ft Myers Downtown Farmers Market
I’ve been to this one and it’s great.
year-round market, is open every Thursday November through April from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm and May through October from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm in Centennial Park under the US 41 Caloosahatchee Bridge at the corner of Heitman and First Streets.

The Fort Myers Market is a “green market” where consumers may purchase fruits, flowers, vegetables, native plants, palms, flowering plants, baked goods, local seafood, and ethnic specialities. The “green market” sells commodites that are eaten or grown. Non-edible items such as soaps, lotions, or candles must be made from an agricultural product, and vendors must be involved in some aspect of the process.

Coconut Grove Farmers Market
Saturdays
3300 Grand Avenue, Coconut Grove Florida

Lincoln Road Farmers Market
Lincoln Road, Miami Beach
Every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
features an Organic Market in front of the Lincoln Theatre at Lincoln Road and Pennsylvania Avenue.
If you’re in the Miami Beach/South Beach area this is an awesome one to visit!

Coral Gables Farmers Market
Saturday’s 1/17 through 3/09 in front of City Hall at 405 Biltmore Way, Coral Gables

Pompano Beach Green Market
Located in the city’s historic downtown, at Flagler Avenue and NE First Street, the Market will be open for business from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM every Saturday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. through April.
When I used to go here, they had awesome selection and quality.

Las Olas Gourmet Market
1201 E. Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale
Every Sunday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Offers variety of freshly baked breads and pastries, ceviche, hummus, farm-grown fruits and vegetables, pickles, local honey and pollen products, beautiful orchids, plants and fresh cut flowers.

Tampa Downtown Market
Lykes Gaslight Square Park, 10am-2pm, October-May
The vision of the Tampa Downtown Market is to provide local residents and businesses of the community with the freshest, highest quality, most nutritious, and most reasonably priced food & gourmet products.

Dunedin Green Market
Every Friday morning 8 AM -1 PM, October to the end of April
Excellent vendor selection: Produce including blueberry and citrus growers, honey, seafood, herbs, orchids, spices, cheese, pastries, pasta, pickles, nuts, soap, organic clothes, pet snacks, food, meat pies, and much more

Avalon Park Farmers Market
Orlando, FL
Saturdays 7 a.m. to noon
3651 Avalon Park East Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32828
fresh produce, pasta, breads, honey

You can also find more Farmers Markets in Florida by going to http://www.localharvest.org and searching Florida there.

Restaurants

The Manatee Cafe
525 S.R. 16 #106
Westgate Plaza
St. Augustine, Florida  32084
Phone: (904) 826-0210 Fax:  (904) 826-4080
I eat here when I visit St Augustine, and the hummus pita and veggie burrito are yummmmy!

Pizza Fusion
Weston, FL
2378 Weston Rd.
Weston, FL 33326
Phone: 954-641-5353
I don’t go their often because I don’t like to drive but their “Very Vegan” pizza is divine!

5th Avenue Cafe
116 E. 5th Ave., Mount Dora, FL 32757
Warm, inviting restaurant offering clean eating!
High quality, fresh, natural & delicious foods

Gourmet Greenhouse Restaurant
5809 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, FL
Tues-Sat 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Raw vegan and vegetarian foods
affordable

Sublime
1431 North Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33304, 954-539-9000
The goal of Sublime is to show that plant-based food can indeed be sublime.  Additionally, 100% of Sublime’s profits will go to organizations that promote animal welfare and a vegan lifestyle.
Expensive, but the profits go to various organizations.

Parks, Recreation, Educational

You can get a full listing of Florida Parks at http://www.floridastateparks.org/

Anne Kolb Nature Center
751 Sheridan St.
Hollywood, FL 33019
Excellent nature park, behind the scenes aquarium tour and other nature walks.

Secret Woods Nature Center
2701 W. State Rd. 84
Dania Beach, FL 33312
Office: 954-791-1030
I haven’t been to this one for few years but have various nature trails, butterfly gardens.

Florida Keys Eco Discovery Center
Take a journey into the world of the native plants and animals of the Keys, both on land and underwater.
The Center features over 6,000 square feet of interactive and dynamic exhibits including a mock-up of Aquarius, the world’s only underwater ocean laboratory.

Gumbo Limbo Nature Center
1801 North Ocean Boulevard; Boca Raton, FL 33432
Stroll through the butterfly garden, climb the observation tower located on the winding boardwalk through coastal hammock, sit in a Chiki hut, visit the saltwater tanks brimming with marine life, including sea turtles, fish, sharks and rays and take pictures in our sea turtle garden with 7 giant turtles

My daughter and I visited Gumbo Limbo last year
http://www.taraburner.com/blog/travel-points-of-interest

Festivals & Events
You can find Earth Day Events in your area by searching
http://earthday.net/search/node

Casselberry, FL Earth Day Event

Lake Count Green Fair

Wooton Park in Tavares, FL

Miami Green Expo
June 11, 12, 2009
Miami Beach Convention Center

Going Green Tampa Bay
Friday afternoon, October 9 and all day Saturday, October 10, 2009
At the USF Marshal Center in Tampa, Florida

Clearwater – Pinellas Living Green Expo
Saturday, May 2, 2009
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Sunday, May 3, 2009
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Harborview Center

300 Cleveland St., Clearwater FL

Jacksonville Green Expo
Saturday/Sunday April 25/26
10-5 pm
Prime Osborn Convention Center

Green Cities
Orlando, FL
This event held May 19-21, 2009 at the Orange County Convention Center South Concourse Building, will create significant opportunities for building a green economy in the state of Florida.

Accommodations
To locate members of Green Hotels anywhere in Florida you can visit
http://www.greenhotels.com/members.htm and search the member listings to find a green hotel.

Amelia Island Plantation Family Beach Destination
Approved member hotel through http://www.greenhotels.com/members.htm
Nature Center with fun and educational nature tours along with spa, other activities.

Wakulla County and Wildwood Resort
Certified Green Lodge by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Bayfront Westcott House
146 Avenida Menendez, St. Augustine, FL 32084
Also a member of http://www.greenhotels.com/members.htm

Shopping:
http://www.ecoist.com/

Recycled CANDY-WRAPPER handbags
Corporate office, Miami, FL
also available in other areas: http://www.ecoist.com/pc/Maplocator.asp

Green Dwellers
Plantation, FL