UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County 6700 Clark Rd., Twin Lakes Park Sarasota, FL. 34241 941-861-5000 FLORIDA-FRIENDLY LANDSCAPING PROGRAM 2012 ANNUAL REPORT I. Overview This report covers the months of January through December 2012 for the activities of Annemarie Post, Extension Agent (Environmental Horticulture) and overall coordinator of the Florida-Friendly Landscaping Program, working under the guidelines of the University of Florida /IFAS Extension Sarasota County. This program is funded through Sarasota County general funds, with $25,000 provided by Sarasota County Integrated Water Department. Educational assistance is provided to community associations, neighborhoods and associated professionals. This Extension Agent also coordinates (collaborates on program development, presentation and grant funding) the homeowner Florida Yards & Neighborhoods program and the activities of the full-time program specialist funded through a grant from the Southwest Florida Water Management District; and the FYN Builder/Developer program (no longer funded). In addition, the Extension Agent provides educational assistance to the Green Industry Best Management Practices (GIBMP) training for the landscape maintenance industry. The Florida-Friendly Landscaping Program is based on Environmental Landscape Management practices, and was developed in 1992 by the University of Florida, Sarasota Bay and Tampa Bay National Estuary programs, EPA, FDEP, SWFWMD and local governments to help reduce the pollutant load from stormwater runoff. The main objective of the program is to educate the public on how to develop and maintain sustainable landscapes that impact the environment as little as possible. It has been documented that certain landscaping practices contribute to many different forms of air, noise and water pollution. The Florida-Friendly Landscaping Program is working to change behavior by teaching alternative forms of design and maintenance practices to create and sustain a landscape that is more ecologically in step with the surrounding environment. The key to the success of the program is in its efforts to conceive and nurture the sense of responsibility that people must have for the protection of their natural resources. Participants will usually not change their behavior, even with incentives, if they do not feel personally involved, responsible, or attached in some way. The scientific backbone of the Florida-Friendly Landscaping Program is its nine principles (Right Plant/Right Place, Water Efficiently, Fertilize Appropriately, Mulch, Control Yard Pests Responsibly, Recycle, Reduce Stormwater Runoff, Attract Wildlife and Protect the Waterfront) and their related actions and/or activities that participants can incorporate to develop a more sustainable landscape. These activities can reduce the impact of the landscape on the environment and reduce non-point source pollution from stormwater and irrigation water runoff. The Extension Agent partners with several county departments and other agencies and institutions, and supports county regulations and permits (see chart on page 2). Several ordinances such as the Water Efficient Landscaping and Fertilizer ordinances refer to Florida-Friendly Landscaping. Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Institution
Florida-Friendly Landscaping Sarasota County Regulations/ Permits Community Planning Community Services Sustainability Capital Assets Land Development Environmental Utilities Extension Operations and Maintenance Comp. Plan Utilities Libraries National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Water Resources Solid Waste Natural Resources Parks and Recreation Water Efficient Landscapes Neighborhood Services Fertilizer Code Agencies / Institutions Incorporated Cities School Board of Sarasota County EPA FDEP SWFWMD SBEP Selby Gardens UF specialists State College of Florida New College LifeLong Learning Academy CAI / PCMA/ BMI Habitat for Humanity Sarasota Garden Club Venice Area Garden Club 2
II. Accomplishments A. 2012 Accomplishments The Florida-Friendly Landscaping program seeks commitment from participants through actively involving the target group, through site visits and presentations, by conceiving and nurturing the sense of responsibility that people have for the protection of natural resources. Community Association participants at site visits are interviewed after one year, and participants in the Homeowner Irrigation Evaluation program receive a survey after two months.. Those present at presentations receive an evaluation form, and participating community associations receive quarterly newsletters and follow-up educational programs for reinforcement. The 2012 audit of the 462 Community Associations receiving site visits during the length of the program (September 2000 December 2012) revealed that 95 percent (n=439) reported that they have made some positive changes and that they make better plant choices when making landscape changes. In addition, many of the community associations that received presentations made changes. Of the 95 percent that made changes: 87 percent (n=402 reported changes to irrigation system management such as adjusting irrigation systems seasonally, calibrating irrigation systems, capping irrigation heads in areas with mature xeric plants and installing or expanding microirrigation components. 11 percent (n=51) reported removing invasive plants and/or restoring natural areas or stormwater retention areas. Participation and Changes M ade by Participants in the Community Associations Program 100 80 60 % 40 20 0 2008 2010 2012 % participation % changes in irrigation management % invasive plant removal. % Participants in the Irrigation Evaluation Program Making Changes % 100 80 60 40 20 0 2012 3
Of the 4,397 attendees at educational programs during 2012, 100 percent of those evaluated indicated that they intend to make changes in their landscape practices. The knowledge gain was 36 percent, as determined by pre- and post tests. 2012 2010 Program Attendance 2008 # attendees 2006 2004 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 17 homeowners and 2 commercial properties were awarded Florida-Friendly Yard Recognition in 2012, indicating that the nine Florida-Friendly Landscaping principles are incorporated in yard design and maintenance. 255 attendees at rain barrel programs (cooperation with Sarasota County Environmental Services) purchased and installed at least one rain barrel. B. 2012 Contacts 17 new contacts with Community Associations developed 6 new contacts with related businesses developed. These businesses include management companies, landscape maintenance companies and other associated professionals. 15 new contacts with civic and educational organizations developed 18 volunteers (Master Gardener Yard Advisors) trained Florida-Friendly Landscaping Advisory Committee (14 members): County Commissioner SWFWMD representative Natural Resources representative SBEP representative USDA NRCS representative Aquatic industry representative Landscape Industry representative Community managers (3) Community Assoc. representatives (3) Yard Advisor representative C. 1. Major accomplishments during the length of the Community Associations Program (September 2000 December 2012): 612 (49%) of the approximately 1237 HOAs and Condominiums in Sarasota County, have been reached. Each received informal (on-site outreach) or formal (classroom style) educational programs. All receive quarterly newsletters and other educational materials. 314 related contacts, such as management companies, landscape maintenance, civic associations, educational institutions and government entities. Familiarizing these groups with Florida-Friendly Landscaping principles contributes to changes made by participants. The program received the 2003 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo) in the environmental protection and energy category for creating 4
and implementing an innovative program. Observed water savings of four Condominium and Homeowners Associations visited during the length of the program: o Approximately 21,400,000 gallons yearly. o Total acreage of these associations is approximately 54.5. o Water saved per acre approximately 390,000 gallons. o It is extremely difficult to measure the impact of this program. Although a community may incorporate Florida-Friendly Landscaping principles, to date there is no accurate way to document the reduction of impact. However, potential future water savings of the 612 associations visited (total acreage approximately 10,916) during the length of the program based on 80% participation (10,916 x 0.8) = 8.733 acres x 390,000 gallon / acre x 50%): 1,703,000,000 gallons yearly, conservatively. An Olympic size swimming pool holds approximately 668,000 gallons, the water saved would fill about 2,549 Olympic size swimming pools (1,703,000,000 / 668,000). C. 2. Major accomplishments during the length of the Homeowner Program (October 2010 December 2012): Estimated water savings (based on reports from a similar Manatee County program) of participating homeowners in the Irrigation Evaluation Program: o Estimated annual water savings per participating homeowner: 26,600. o Number of participating homeowners: 180 o Potential annual water savings: 180 1621 rain barrels were sold by Sarasota County Environmental Services since the start in 2010 of the rain barrel program. Potential water savings (1621 x 55) 89,155 gallons yearly, if the rain barrels were only filled once. Continued use will in crease water savings considerably. D. Program Enhancements through Partnerships: Sarasota County Utilities Department from the Environmental Services Business Center provided $25,000 (budgeted through FY14) to general funds in support of the Community Associations program. Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) provided $50,000 in support of a full-time program specialist for FY2012. Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) provided $1,023.00 for reprints of the Guide to the Mangroves of Florida and $1,989.52 will be transferred to FY 2013 for plants for the buffer areas around the ponds at Twin Lakes Park. The Community Associations Institute (CAI) provided a $500.00 in-kind donation (booth for 2012 CA Day). Palmer Ranch provided a $150.00 in-kind donation (booth for 2012 Spring Fest) and the City of North Port provided a $35.00 in-kind donation (booth for 2012 Second Nature Festival). Master Gardener Yard Advisor Volunteers provided 396 volunteer hours @ $18.66/hr = $7,389. The Reddy2Drinq Group donated 56 rain barrels @ $35 = $1,960 Aquatic Systems, Inc. donated annual maintenance to ponds at Twin Lakes @ $3,000 5
The Step-by-Step Florida-Friendly Landscaping Training generated $301. The 2012 Spring Garden Tour of Florida-Friendly Landscapes generated $590 III. Activities A. Educational Efforts: 179 on-site educational programs to 509 attendees. These programs include: o 77 programs provided to decision makers (boards and committees) of community associations (conducted by Extension Agent). Since the participating community associations range from 20 to 3400 homes, the number of residents and commercial and municipal professionals that are indirectly reached extends far beyond the program. o 77 Homeowner Irrigation Evaluations (conducted by Program Specialist). o 12 new Yard Recognitions (conducted by Extension Agent, Program Specialist and Master Gardener Yard Advisor volunteers) provided to homeowner, government, and commercial sites. 125 educational programs conducted to 3,268 attendees through presentations and classes to community associations, associated professionals, builders/developers, homeowners, and youth. These programs include: o Community and Civic (76 programs, conducted by Extension Agent, Program Assistant and Master Gardener Yard Advisor volunteers): Topics include Florida- Friendly Landscaping and the Law, Edible and Medicinal Native Plants, Rain Barrels, Composting, Vermi (Worm)-composting, Water Conservation, Irrigation 101, Stormwater Ponds, Florida Snakes, Native Plants, Palms in the Landscape, etc. o Continuing Education Unit (CEU) classes for the Community Association Management (CAM) license, Landscape Professionals and government employees (7 programs, conducted by Extension Agent): Topics include Florida- Friendly Landscaping and the Law, Turf Management, Right Plant/Right Place, Water Efficiently, Fertilize Appropriately, Water Conservations. o Extension Professionals Training (4 programs, conducted by Extension Agent). o Step-by-Step Florida-Friendly Landscaping Training (11 programs, conducted by Extension Agent) o Florida Yards & Neighborhoods: Nine Landscape Principles and Florida Yards & Neighborhoods: Creating Your Florida Yard DVD presentations at various Sarasota County locations (7 programs, conducted by Master Gardener Yard Advisor volunteers). o Youth Education (9 programs, conducted by Extension Agent, Program Specialist and Master Gardener Yard Advisor volunteers): Topics include Edible and Medicinal Native Plants, Rain Barrels, Composting, Worm Composting, etc. o Master Gardener Training (11 programs, conducted by Extension Agent). 1,129 one-on-one contacts at 11 Community Events such as CA Day (Trade Show and Educational Expo organized by the Community Associations Institute, Sarasota Nature Festival, Palmer Ranch Spring Festival,, Master Gardener Plant Sale, North Port Community Garden, Water Festival and Spring Garden Tour of Florida-Friendly Landscapes. 139 internal and external meetings (Extension Agent) 715 telephone consultations (all programs) 6
3,152 e-mail consultations (all programs) 74,038 handouts distributed, includes downloaded from web pages B. Media, Website, Publications and Materials: Media o Nine Landscape Principles and Creating Your Florida Yard DVDs: 60 airings on Access Sarasota and the Education, and downloaded from website 2,595 times. o Homeowner Irrigation Evaluation PSAs: 66 airings on Access Sarasota and the Education Channel, and downloaded from website 894 times. o o Four issues of Palm Prints, the quarterly newsletter for Community Associations and Associated Professionals (downloaded from web site 34,580 times). o Area Schools Get Rain Barrels: North Port Sun o Yards Finally Get More Florida-Friendly: Sarasota Herald Tribune o Surviving Sarasota Hunger Games : Englewood Sun o Yellowing Slash Pines and To Demoss or not to Demoss: the West Florida Wire, newsletter of the Community Associations Institute o The South Venice Beachwave publishes information on the Shamrock Educational Programs monthly. o The Herald Tribune (Home and Garden Calendar) and Pelican Press (Community Events) regularly post educational programs. o Homeowners Associations are reprinting articles from Palm Prints for their internal newsletters. 278,829 Florida-Friendly Landscaping web page visits Publications and Materials o o o o Fact Sheets (13) o Palm Prints, the quarterly newsletter for Community Associations and Associated Professionals o Florida-Friendly Landscaping Recommendations (16) Materials o Exhibits and Displays (4 posters) o Instructional Multi-Media (Power Point) Presentations (7) o Website Blogs (4) o Community Associations brochure o Step-by-Step Florida-Friendly Landscaping Training brochure o o o Florida-Friendly Landscaping grocery bags 7
C. Highlights of the past twelve months: Success Stories 8
Collaborative Efforts Sarasota County Environmental Services: Data to support NPDES and SWFWMD permits was provided. Sarasota County Natural Resources: Working partnerships continue to be maintained. This partnership has led to better understanding and maintenance of preserve areas and stormwater retention areas throughout the County. In addition, information was provided for the Stormwater Pond - Littoral Zone web pages that were developed. Sarasota County Neighborhoods Grant Program: Site visits were provided to prospective applicants and grant applications were reviewed to assure that landscape plans adhered to Florida-Friendly Landscaping principles. Sarasota County Parks (Community Services), Shamrock Park: Educational programs provided for community associations and the South Venice Neighborhood. Sarasota County Libraries: Educational programs were provided at Gulf Gate, Fruitville, Venice, Jacaranda, Englewood and North Port libraries. In addition, a series of programs on Edible and Medicinal Native Plants were provided to libraries in support of the One Book Campaign. Sarasota County Extension: Educational programs provided to support regular Extension programming and Master Gardener, Agriculture/ Natural Resources, and Family and Consumer Sciences programs. Sarasota County, G eneral: The Guide to the Common Epiphytes of Florida, Guide to the Mangroves of Florida, and the Neighboring Nature brochures were made available to educators at Parks, Resource Protection, and Natural Resources departments. Sarasota Bay Estuary Program: o Participation in the Water Festival at Ken Thomson Park o Technical Advisory Committee Member Sarasota County Schools: o Judged o Provided educational programs on Edible and Medicinal Native Plants in support of the One Book Library Campaign. Multi-County Efforts Manatee, Lee and Charlotte County Extension: Educational materials shared and program input provided. Hillsborough/Polk and Pinellas/Pasco County Extension: The coordinators of the Florida-Friendly Landscaping Community Association programs in these counties 9
(modeled after the Sarasota program) are supported and resources shared. State Collaboration Educational materials, such as the Nine Landscapes Principles and Creating Your Florida Yard DVDs, and The Environmental Landscape: An Environmental Approach are made available state wide. Links to electronic copies of educational materials are provided. Materials pertaining to the Florida-Friendly Landscaping program were reviewed. Professional Outreach Community Associations Institute (CAI), Professional Community Managers Association (PCMA) and Building Managers International (BMI): CEU classes for the Community Association Management (CAM) license are presented to managers associated with these organizations. The evaluation of the classes revealed that the attending managers have control over 6,200 acres! Working relationships developed with landscape maintenance companies. These companies refer many of their clients. This not only has immediate impact but will have lasting implications by reducing water demand and fostering better understanding of environmental landscape management practices. Professional Development Positive Feedback (selection) Judith Andrews: Russ Arpaia, Venice (regarding irrigation evaluation program): Thank you for 10
the evaluation. We had the entire system repaired just before we left, and reset the timers to reflect your recommendations. G eorge Angello, Sarasota THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROFESSIONAL AND VALUABLE SERVICE. WE WILL BE ABLE TO SAVE VALUABLE WATER AS WELL AS REDUCE OUR WATER BILL. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. THANKS AGAIN. (CAI): Thank you so much for instructing the CEU class as always you had a great turnout & they loved your presentation. Thank you for all that you do for CAI. Evangeline Linkous, Extension Director (regarding Neighborhood Grant Program): Looks like you are a reviewer on half of these applications for more than any other person! Just want to commend your outstanding partnerships in the county you are such a valued and valuable part of county operations. Maida Atkins, Venice Area Garden Club: Thank you so much for helping the Venice Area Garden Club organize the first two of four gardening studies courses. You made it so much easier for the committee to find locations to hold the classes and to find qualified instructors. Jack Payne, UF/IFAS Senior Vice President for Agriculture and natural Resources (regarding removing Roberts Bay from impaired water bodies list): Congratulations to all the partners involved and our Sarasota County Extension faculty and staff! Rebecca Jordi, UF/IFAS Nassau County Extension: Thank you so much for sending us the DVD of your Florida-Friendly Landscaping program presentation. We are just beginning the program in Nassau County and as I sourced for educational materials to enhance training here, I found your DVD an excellent overview. 11
IV. 2013 Work Plan Extension Agent (prioritized by Advisory Committee): Continue regular program activities with Community Associations to reduce the pollutant load from stormwater runoff Continue to provide CEU classes for community managers and other related professionals Explore future cooperation in regards to Builder/Developer program with Sarasota County Zoning representatives Explore development of quantitative case studies Convert PowerPoint presentations into asynchronous (online) educational programs Organize 2013 Spring Garden Tour Apply for continued SWFWMD Cooperative funding for Program Specialist Program Assistant (prioritized by SWFWMD and Extension Agent): Continue the Homeowner Irrigation Evaluation Program Pursue training Meadows staff during the Summer in performing irrigation evaluations Increase homeowner Florida Yard recognitions Provide monthly rain barrel programs coordinated with Environmental Services Florida-Friendly Landscaping programs for homeowners, garden club and plant society members, retail garden centers, and youth as assigned 12