Urban Oasis Hydroponic Farm Market: Fridays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Get fresh, organically grown hydroponic veggies straight from this CSA farm in Carrollwood. Open to the public. Arrive early for best selection! 5416 West Linebaugh Avenue, Tampa, 813-293-3276; urbanoasisfarm.com
World Cafe Discussions: Fridays, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Awakening and engaging collective intelligence through conversations about questions that matter. RSVP to Pat at 727.421.2746 or goodpat@tampabay.rr.com. Starbucks Cafe- 4th St N and 89th Ave N, St. Pete. theworldcafe.com
Urban Farming Workshop in St. Pete: Saturday, August 20, 8-10 a.m.
Do you want to become more independent and self-sustaining? Then grow your own food! Learn the ins and outs of urban farming at Nathan's Natural Veggies. This 2-hour workshop is jam-packed with information for you to apply in your backyard vegetable patch as you prepare for fall planting and consider growing next summer. It's a great refresher for garden veterans and solid advice for beginners. For more info, email tlevy@tampabay.rr.com or call 727-515-9469. $35 or $25 per person if attending with family members. 5305 20th St. N., St. Pete, stpete.locallygrown.net
Chassahowizka Off-Road Bike Hike with the Suncoast Sierra Club: Saturday, August 20, 8 a.m.
This large preserve serves as a nature trail, bike hike, and a licensed hunting ground. It features many varieties of wildlife; deer, turkeys, otter, bear, turtles, and many bird species. Enjoy a leisurely ride around the preserve and a small hiking adventure to the spring. The trip should take from 4-6 hours. Meet at the Mobile station on the corner of St. Rd 50 and Commercial Way (US 19) and carpool. For more information or to RSVP please contact Bonnie Aylor at Baylor@mail.usf.edu or 727-277-2656. Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge: 1502 S.E. Kings Bay Drive, Crystal River, florida.sierraclub.org/suncoast
Safety Harbor Saturday Summer Farmer's Market: third Saturdays (through Sep. 17), 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Fresh produce, flowers, plants, seafood and other vendors fill John Wilson Park every 3rd Saturday from June through September. 4th Avenue and Main St., Safety Harbor, 727-724-1555, cityofsafetyharbor.com
Brooksville Saturday Market: Saturdays, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
An array of vendors offering food, goods, plants, organics and more at this weekly event. 20 N. Main St., Brooksville, 352-428-9275.
Winthrop Town Center Farmers Market: Saturdays, 8 a.m.
Complete with more handcrafted goods, fresh fruits, veggies, and boiled peanuts than you can shake a stick at. 1109 Winthrop Market St., Riverview, 813-601-3129
St. Pete Saturday Morning Market: Every Saturday 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. (through August 27)
Featuring locally grown fresh produce, prepared foods, baked goods, plants, flowers, herbs, handcrafted gifts, live music, and so much more under the shade trees in Williams Park. 1st Ave N between 3rd and 4th Streets, St. Pete, saturdaymorningmarket.com
Ybor Saturday Market: Saturdays, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (year-round)
You'll be sure to find great produce at great prices, gourmet foods and sauces, fresh baked breads, fresh eggs, prepared foods, orchids, herbs and plants, pet treats, honey, unique gifts, photography, artwork, jewelry, woodworking, bath and body products, candles, and so much more. Centennial Park at the corner of Eighth Avenue and 19th Street, Ybor, ybormarket.com
Guided Hike at Weedon Island Preserve: Saturdays, 9-11 a.m.
Guided hikes through coastal mangrove and upland ecosystems of the Preserve are held on most Saturdays of the month. Join us to learn about the coastal environment and the early residents of Weedon Island Preserve. Be sure to bring water and a snack for this 2-hour hike. A hat and closed-toe shoes are also recommended. Reserve your space by 2 pm on the Friday prior to the tour of choice. This event is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required. Recommended ages: 6 and up. Weedon Island Preserve- 1800 Weedon Drive N.E. St. Petersburg, 727-453-6500.
Guided Hike at Brooker Creek Preserve: Saturdays, 9-11 a.m.
Take a walk through time each Saturday morning on a guided hike along the Education Center Trail. Join us for this 0.75 mile walk as we look at how the land has changed over time and discuss the ecological footprints left by those changes. Sturdy closed-toe shoes are a must, and water and a hat are recommended. Pre-registration is required by 12:00 noon on the Friday before the hike. Admission: Free. All ages welcome; children younger than 6 may find this hike challenging. 3940 Keystone Rd. Tarpon Springs, 727-453-6800
"Re-Coop" Initiative – Urban Chicken Farming Workshop: Saturday, August 20, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Gulfport Growing Greener Summer Seminar Series presents this workshop where you can learn everything you need to know about urban chicken farming, including how to make coops from recycled materials. Free event (monetary donations welcomed). Annabelle Butterfly Urban Garden Demonstration Area: 5332 Gulfport Blvd S., Gulfport (southeast corner of 22nd Ave S. and 54th St. S.), 727-321-9685
Fresh Market at Wiregrass Mall: First and third Saturdays (year-round); 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
A short distance from the city's hub, The Shops at Wiregrass, a main-street style, pedestrian-friendly, outdoor lifestyle village hosts an open-air Fresh Market located on Paseo Drive and features 50+ Vendors selling only fresh, local, homemade, handcrafted and eco-friendly products. 28211 Paseo Drive, Wesley Chapel. TheShopsatWiregrass.com
Turtle Beach Sunset Kayak with Tampa Bay Sierra Club: Saturday, August 20, 5:30 p.m.
Launch at Turtle Beach, paddle around the Jim Neville Preserve and end up at Palmer Point just in time for the sunset. Bring water, snacks and a flashlight. Reserve with Mike Lehner at 941-365-1073 or mklehn@hotmail.com. Turtle Beach, Siesta Key.
Renewal Documentary Screening: Saturday, August 20, 7-9 p.m.
Renewal is an acclaimed documentary film that captures the vitality and diversity of today's religious-environmental activists. Members of various faith traditions are re-examining what it means to be human and how we live on this planet. Their stories of combating global warming and the devastation of mountaintop removal, of promoting food security, environmental justice, recycling, land preservation, and of teaching love and respect for love and respect for life on Earth are the heart of this film. Free event. Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater: 2470 Nursery Road, Clearwater, 727-531-7704, UUClearwater.org
Corey Avenue Sunday Market: Sundays, 10 a.m.- 2p.m.
Visit Corey Avenue's European-style, open-air market with local vendors offering produce, plants and flowers, prepared foods, arts and crafts and more. Plus, live music and free parking! Free; Corey Ave., St. Pete Beach, coreyave.com
Brooker Creek Nature Hike with the Suncoast Sierra Club: Sunday, August 31, 3 p.m.
This preserve features acres of hiking trails full of scrub and pine scenery with many varieties of species including gopher turtles, deer, fox, snakes, even swallowed tailed kites and red shouldered hawk, among others. There is also an information center with a 15 min historical clip about the preserve and exhibits explaining its importance and providing education about specific aspects of what the park is protecting. For more information or to RSVP please contact Bonnie Aylor at Baylor@mail.usf.edu or 727-277-2656. 3940 Keystone Rd. Tarpon Springs, 727-453-6800, florida.sierraclub.org/suncoast
This article appears in Aug 11-17, 2011.