2008 Info Sessions

2008 Info Session Descritptions List of 2008 Info Sessions. The Seminar rooms are on the third floor at the Harborview Center. There will be signs at the event to direct you to the correct area.

Room A

Living with Urban Wildlife
Jeanne Murphy, Extension Widlife Specialist
Saturday - 10-10:45
There is surprising wildlife diversity in your own urban yard. Learn the secrets to co-existing with your animal neighbors.

Gardening for Florida’s Butterflies
Pam Traas, Pinellas County Parks Dept.
Saturday - 11-11:45
Discover the many Florida native plants that will attract and provide a meal for these beautiful creatures. Learn how to create a butterfly haven in your yard!

Co-Existing With Shorebirds
Pat Edmond, St. Petersburg Audubon Society
Saturday - 12-12:45
For us the beach is a playground, for shorebirds it is where they raise their babies. See how you can help Least Terns and shorebirds nest in peace!

Creating a Wildlife Habitat without a Jungle
Jeanne Murphy, Extension Widlife Specialist
Saturday - 1-1:45
Wildlife habitat doesn't have to make your neighbors cringe. Discover ways of creating an attractive wildlife oasis.

Why Protect Seagrasses
Steve Robinson, Pinellas County Env. Mgmt.
Saturday - 2-2:45; Sunday 12-12:45
Uncover the path to success regarding local sea grass protection efforts, including the effectiveness of signage in the Fort DeSoto sea grass and Aquatic Habitat Management Area to reduce the adverse effects of propeller scarring.

Advancing the Relationship between Humans and Wildlife
Pat Kiesylis, Defenders of Wildlife
Saturday and Sunday- 3-3:45
From coyotes to black bears to snakes...learn ways to enhance your relationship with the wildlife around you.

Co-Existing With Shorebirds
Pat Edmond, St. Petersburg Audubon Society
Sunday - 10-10:45
For us the beach is a playground, for shorebirds it is where they raise their babies. See how you can help Least Terns and shorebirds nest in peace!

Gardening for Florida's Butterflies
Pam Traas, Pinellas County Parks Dept. Sunday - 11- 11:45
Discover the many Florida Native plants that will attract and provide a meal for these beautiful creatures. Learn how to create a butterfly haven in your yard!

Lakewood High School Hydrogen Cars
Lakewood High School Team
Sunday - 1-1:45
Come see how our youth are Going Green! Students at Lakewood High School competed in the EnergyWhiz Olympics at the Florida Solar Energy Center, winning First Place in the “Vehicle Performance” category for their hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. Speak with them about the experience!

Water Birds of Tampa Bay: Identification and Feeding Behaviors
Tom & Lindsay Bell (Extension Master Naturalists)
Sunday - 2-2:45
Discover how feeding techniques help to identify water birds commonly found in the Tampa Bay area and learn how to help minimize the various environmental issues impacting local water birds.

Room B

It’s Easy to do Green Construction
Chris Sullivan / Matt Ross
Saturday and Sunday - 10-10:45
Cost effective green options for residential construction and remodeling: learn about locally available solutions to improve health, efficiency and disaster resistance.

Green Purchasing for Home & Office
Vestina Crayton
Saturday and Sunday - 11- 11:45
Learn how to identify a green product, what questions to ask, and what to consider when purchasing green products such as product life cycle costs.

Save the Watts: How Energy Efficient Is Your Home?
Progress Energy
Gary Cook, Saturday - 12-12:45
Melvin Pilpot, Sunday - 12-12:45
How energy efficient is your home? A Progress Energy field expert will be sharing energy-efficiency tips to help lower your monthly energy bill. Sign up for a FREE Home Energy Check!

Using Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs) in Construction
Gray Rideout, Saturday and Sunday - 1-1:45
Learn how the use of insulating concrete forms (ICFs) in residential, commercial and municipal construction provides safe, strong, sustainable and energy efficient building envelopes for now and the future.

PANEL DISCUSSION: Challenges & Obstacles in Green Building
Green Building Professionals
Saturday and Sunday - 2-2:45
The ABC's of building and remodeling green are provided by local construction professionals. Discussion topics include state and local regulations, reusing building materials, minimizing waste, and recycling water.

Reading and Understanding Organic Food Labels
Brenda Ball, Saturday and Sunday - 3-3:45
Learn about the standards for organic foods and what defines "certified organic". Make sense of those confusing labels and become an educated consumer to make the best choices for your money, health and the environment.

Room C

Knowing Your Stormwater Pond
Mark Flock, Saturday - 10-10:45
Melissa Harrison, Sunday - 10-10:45
Stormwater ponds are a rarely understood feature in our totally urbanized county. Learn what a stormwater pond is meant to do, and how to best utilize and live with them.

The Solar Decathlon Experience
Florida International University Students
Saturday and Sunday - 11- 11:45
Florida International University students who participated in the 2005 Solar Decathlon, an international competition hosted by the Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Lab will explain how they designed and built a stand-alone 800 sq. ft. energy efficient solar powered house.

Remodeling Your Florida Home to Save Money and Live Comfortably
Dr. Pierce Jones, Director, Program for Resource Efficient Communities Univ. of Florida
Saturday - 12-12:45
Learn how to most efficiently use our natural resources. The University of Florida's Florida Institute for Sustainable Energy provides a strong, balanced energy research program to help citizens create a sustainable energy future.

PANEL DISCUSSION: Completing the Recycling Triangle
Recycling Professionals, Saturday - 1-1:45
This session will address common recycling questions and present important local resources for reusing and reducing waste. Attend this session to learn more about recycling in the Tampa Bay region.

Environmental Certification for Homes, Businesses, and Schools Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council Saturday and Sunday - 2-2:45 How does one know if a building is truly “green”? LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, the premier third party verification, ensures it!

Natural and Organic Skin Care
Constance Duke
Saturday and Sunday 3-3:45
This presentation explores natural and organic skin care, including benefits, ingredients, labeling and application, and explains why and how they impact your health and that of the environment.

Bicycle Commuting 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Riding to Work
Cheryl Stacks, St. Petersburg Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator
Sunday - 12-12:45
Reduce your carbon footprint and make bike commuting work for you! Learn how to maintain and outfit your bike, find secure bike parking, pick your route, and how to stay safe at night.

Room D

Rain Barrels
Dale Armstrong
Saturday and Sunday - 10-10:45
Learn how to collect rain water for use in your yard. Not only do rain barrels help save water, they also minimize the amount of polluted stormwater runoff.

Compost Happens
Dr. John Kingsbury
Saturday - 11-11:45; Sunday - 2-2:45
Think composting is a mystery? Discover how easy it is to recycle yard and kitchen waste while creating your own soil and fertilizer!

Trees and Public Utilities
John Whitney, Saturday - 12-12:45
Trees and power lines can co-exist - preventing problems through appropriate tree selection is the key! Progress Energy's utility arborist provides insight into tree selection and pruning practices found to work best when conflicts exist.

Palm News You Can Use
Loren Westenberger
Saturday and Sunday - 1-1:45
Learn about palm and tree care from well-known arborist Loren Westenberger. Topics include the deadly palm diseases now invading Florida, and how to properly prune your trees and palms.

Creating Your Outdoor Pest Management Strategies Toolbox
Jane Morse, Extension Commercial Horticulture Agent
Saturday - 2-2:45
Learn the different methods for controlling pests and how these work together to get the best possible pest management in the landscape.

Drip Irrigation
Susie Thayer
Saturday - 3-3:45; Sunday - 11-11:45
Learn how to save water and improve plant health through the use of drip irrigation. When installed and used properly, this method minimizes water loss by placing water where plants can use it.

Landscaping and Gardening with Florida Native Plants
Bill Bilodeau, Florida Native Pland Society
Sunday - 12-12:45
Learn why using native plants has a positive impact on the environment and supports wildlife. This program compares conventional and natural landscaping and explains how you can plan an effective native plant landscape design.

Water Conservation Potential of New Soil Moisture Sensor Technology
Bob Peacock, Sunday - 3-3:45
Residential lawn and landscape irrigation can account for more then 50% of a home’s total water use. This presentation discusses the water conservation potential of a new technology - soil moisture sensors.

Questions?