Further, we encourage you to get involved in their campaigns. These are two incumbents we must retain so they can continue their good work.

Did you know that you could get farm fresh produce delivered right to your door at very affordable prices? If you are looking to increase your family's health and wellness while decreasing your own carbon footprint, discover the endless benefits of eating local. Many farms offer online programs where you can shop for the freshest, in season produce, pasture raised meats, and even artisan cheeses, milk, and eggs in the convenience of your own home. You do not even have to venture to the grocery store to enjoy the delicious tastes of fresh, whole foods.

Services such as Local Fare North allow customers to sign up for a farm bag delivery. In this farm bag, that is delivered as often as you prefer on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis, you will find a wide assortment of fresh and ripe produce that was picked just days ago. Local Fare North stuffs their reusable farm bags full of mouthwatering goodies for your entire family to enjoy. You can also add on fresh meats, artesian cheeses, pastured eggs, and much more on weekly basis. They even include a freshly baked loaf of bread that is sure to impress even the pickiest of eaters.

Black Hog Farm has partnered with the local YMCA to bring their fresh selections to the community. If you would like to hand-select the seasonal products that you receive then this membership is for you. Simply, browse their online website for current deals and add to your cart the same way you would at the grocery store. Your farm fresh food is then delivered directly to your door or you can select a preferred pick up location. YMCA members even get a discount on their groceries. It cannot get much easier than this!

I have recently signed up for this program and could not be more thrilled! I look forward to my delivery of farm fresh goodies each week and feel at ease knowing that I am feeding my family with the healthiest and freshest food options around. If you would like more information about either of these farm fresh programs, visiting here and here.

By: Ken Fisher, Sierra Club Outing Leader

It is summer time, and hopefully a vacation is on the horizon for you. Even if you just returned from a vacation, no worries, the tips in this month's article are good locally and are everlasting. With help from my friends at the World Wildlife Fund, here are 10 tips to help you travel with conservation in mind...do them all and do them consistently!

1. Plastic bottles are one of the biggest pollution problems in natural spaces I have visited. Bring your own water bottle with you when you travel...and when on Sierra Club outings!!

2. Don't use the trashcan in your hotel room, which is usually lined with a plastic bag. Each time housekeeping comes in to clean, they will change out the bag. Instead, use the trashcans in the hotel lobby.

3. Ask when you check in that your sheets and towels not be changed every day, but every three days instead (or longer if you can manage). Often, housekeeping will swap out your towels even if you follow the "towel on the floor means exchange" rule. This way, the receptionist will make a note of it. Don't worry, you'll still get service.

4. Don't forget to turn off the lights and air conditioner / heater when you are not using it. Yes, it's nice to come back to a cool or heated room depending on where you are, but wasting energy not only costs the hotel more money (and if everyone's doing it, then rates will go up), it leads to more burning of coal and other fossil fuels that contribute to global climate change.

5. If you need to rent a car for your whole trip or even part of it, choose the smallest vehicle possible or rent a hybrid. Larger cars are gas-guzzlers, so you'll save on money and gas and help the environment.

6. Choosing a fuel efficient aircraft such as the Boeing 777 or Airbus 345 is one of the ways to reduce your carbon footprint on your next trip. Soon, the Boeing 787 aircraft will be the best option since its fuel consumption will be 27 percent less than other similarly sized aircraft.

7. Chemicals in detergents and sunscreens can damage coral reefs - the very habitat that WWF is working hard to protect. Use biodegradable soaps and reef-friendly sunscreen.

8. Eat local. Find a farmer's market or street stall and eat what the locals eat. You'll get to know the culture, and more than likely the food will be locally grown and sourced. And you get to support local communities and their needs - in this case, paying the vendor directly instead of paying up a chain of command.

9. Don't encourage local people to keep wild animals as pets by paying to have your picture taken with them. This may actually provide incentive for them to hunt endangered species in order to obtain pets to display for tourists.

10. When you encounter animals in the wild, blend into their world. Don't feed them, don't taunt them, and most importantly don't try to take them home with you. If you come across people selling wildlife or wildlife products, be aware that those "souvenirs" could very well be endangered species that have been poached from the wild and are being sold illegally.

 October 14, 12-1:30pm

As anthropologist Margaret Mead famously noted, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." 1000 Friends' free October webinar will focus on how thoughtful citizens in Florida can organize for positive community change. Using case studies, speakers will share effective strategies to mobilize citizens, build coalitions, work with the media, persuade elected officials, raise funds, and more.  The webinar will conclude with a question and answer period.   

Presenter Pamela Hall is one of the leaders of the citizen-based Keep It Rural coalition. Originally coalescing in 2014 to oppose an inappropriately placed gas station and convenience store in rural Leon County, the group went on to convince the County Commission to take a holistic review and update of land use policies to better protect rural areas from inappropriate development.   

Executive Director of Tropical Audubon, Laura Reynolds is an active leader in the decade-old Hold the Line Coalition in Miami-Dade County. Representing close to 140 organizations, businesses, homeowner groups and municipalities, the coalition works to protect rural and natural areas outside of the county's Urban Development Boundary and support smart growth within the urban core area.  

Cris Costello is a Regional Organizer for the Florida Chapter of Sierra Club, focusing on grassroots mobilization on environmental and smart growth issues. Working with teams of volunteers who organize their own teams of volunteers, she supports citizen-based efforts to promote Everglades restoration, improve water quality, protect panther habitat, support green transportation and more.

As this webinar is geared to citizens, no professional certification credits will be offered 
but all are welcome to attend. Register now!