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Fertilizing 101: The Florida-Friendly Way – 5 Easy Tips to Protect Local Water Bodies!
With more than 1,000 people moving to Florida every day, it’s important that we work together to protect our water resources. Lawn fertilizers can seep into our natural water systems, impacting water quality and harming ecosystems. That’s why we’re launching this campaign—to provide clear guidance on when, how and what to fertilize to keep your lawn healthy while protecting Florida’s waterways. Key Takeaways from Fertilizing 101: ✅ Check Local Fertilizer Regulations – Before you fertilize, always check with local ordinances to see if there are any seasonal restrictions—applying fertilizer at the wrong time can harm water quality and lead to runoff pollution. ✅ Conduct a Soil Test – A simple soil test can reveal exactly what nutrients your lawn needs, helping you avoid over-fertilization and protecting our waterways from excess runoff. ✅ Choose the Right Fertilizer – Opt for a slow or controlled-release fertilizer to nourish your lawn longer while minimizing nutrient runoff into nearby water bodies. ✅ Apply Fertilizer at the Right Time – Timing is everything! Apply fertilizer when your grass is actively growing, and always avoid fertilizing before heavy rain to prevent harmful runoff. ✅ Water Properly After Fertilizing – Lightly water your lawn with just ¼ inch of water after applying fertilizer—just enough to help nutrients soak in without washing them away. Watch this video: Fertilizing 101: The Florida-Friendly Way – 5 Easy Tips to Protect Local Water! www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-VvtvYYUyg |
February 2025
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently removed whole sections of its website that focused on climate. Farmers rely on this information to adapt their practices and access funding in the face of climate change. Excessive heat and wildfires caused over $16.5 billion in crop losses in 2023 alone. Earthjustice, along with the Knight First Amendment Institute and other partners, just sued the USDA for unlawfully censoring climate information that farmers, researchers, and the public depend on. The USDA is legally required to provide access to critical agricultural policies and climate data, and we’re holding them accountable. Read more January 17, 2025
Court strikes down federal rule that would have allowed U.S. “bomb trains” Major rail car explosion risk now averted throughout American communities Read more here: https://earthjustice.org/press/2025/court-strikes-down-proposed-rule-that-would-have-allowed-u-s-bomb-trains |
ECOSWF support Florida Forever purchase by fee simple of 550 acres identified as Myakka Corridor.
See supporting letter Are you interested in news from Lee County?
Sign up for here for updates. Be Informed, Get engaged, and make an Impact! Engage Estero is an all-volunteer, non-political, non-profit Community Engagement Association. |
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Announces $4 Million in Grants to Support Sustainable Fisheries
Grants will support efficient fisheries data collection and expand innovations to new fisheries
On March 28, 2024, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and NOAA Fisheries announced $4 million
in grants to support data modernization and electronic data collection in U.S. fisheries. The grants will generate
$7.5 million in matching contributions for a total conservation impact of $11.5 million.
The 17 projects will expand proven electronic technologies to new fisheries, deploy artificial intelligence onboard
vessels to make electronic data collection more efficient, and enhance data collection in some of the nation’s largest
fisheries. Projects will support sustainable management efforts in federal and state fisheries in Alaska, California,
Florida, Hawai‘i, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington State, along with the
territory of Puerto Rico. Read more in the EPA newsletter here
Grants will support efficient fisheries data collection and expand innovations to new fisheries
On March 28, 2024, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and NOAA Fisheries announced $4 million
in grants to support data modernization and electronic data collection in U.S. fisheries. The grants will generate
$7.5 million in matching contributions for a total conservation impact of $11.5 million.
The 17 projects will expand proven electronic technologies to new fisheries, deploy artificial intelligence onboard
vessels to make electronic data collection more efficient, and enhance data collection in some of the nation’s largest
fisheries. Projects will support sustainable management efforts in federal and state fisheries in Alaska, California,
Florida, Hawai‘i, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington State, along with the
territory of Puerto Rico. Read more in the EPA newsletter here
Longtime ECOSWF Board member honored in North Port
Please join us to honor Allain Hale as being chosen as the City of North Port's Greenest Citizen, for his tree planting on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, at 10am.
Allain has been a long-time environmental advocate (close to 40 years!) having been involved and active in many groups and causes to support the well-being of our natural environment, as well as being instrumental in the initial forming of a few environmental groups. These groups include being a board member of People for Trees and ECOSWF (Environmental Coalition of Southwest Florida), the Sarasota-Manatee Sierra Club (an outings leader for many years), a member of the the City of North Port's Environmental Advisory Board, Friends of Wildlife ( FOWL), and the Audubon Society, just to name a few.
Born and raised in Orlando Florida, and being an accomplished artist in his own right having graduated from the Ringling School of Art, Allain has often used the natural surroundings of Florida to transfer onto his canvases.
Tree planting will take place in the back of the North Port City Hall building (4790 City Hall Blvd.). Allain now lives in Sebring Florida, but he is planning on making the trip back to North Port for this wonderful tribute to his tenacity and never wavering dedication to protect and respect our flora and fauna.
For any additional information, contact Alice White (941) 468-2486.
Allain has been a long-time environmental advocate (close to 40 years!) having been involved and active in many groups and causes to support the well-being of our natural environment, as well as being instrumental in the initial forming of a few environmental groups. These groups include being a board member of People for Trees and ECOSWF (Environmental Coalition of Southwest Florida), the Sarasota-Manatee Sierra Club (an outings leader for many years), a member of the the City of North Port's Environmental Advisory Board, Friends of Wildlife ( FOWL), and the Audubon Society, just to name a few.
Born and raised in Orlando Florida, and being an accomplished artist in his own right having graduated from the Ringling School of Art, Allain has often used the natural surroundings of Florida to transfer onto his canvases.
Tree planting will take place in the back of the North Port City Hall building (4790 City Hall Blvd.). Allain now lives in Sebring Florida, but he is planning on making the trip back to North Port for this wonderful tribute to his tenacity and never wavering dedication to protect and respect our flora and fauna.
For any additional information, contact Alice White (941) 468-2486.
