Tampa Downtown Market: Fridays (through May 27), 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
The vision of the Tampa Downtown Market is to provide local residents and businesses of the community with the freshest, highest quality, most nutritious, and most reasonably priced food and gourmet products. This year the Tampa Downtown Market will be located on the 200 and 300 Blocks of Twiggs Street, spanning Franklin Street, in the heart of downtown Tampa. Parking is available at several locations throughout downtown including the Maas Bros. parking block, which is accessible directly across the street from the Market. tampadowntownmarket.com
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
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
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
Successful Urban Farming Workshop: Saturday, October 29, 8-10 a.m.
Do you want to become more independent and self-sustaining? Then grow your own food! A great refresher for garden veterans and solid advice for beginners. 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. Check out stpete.locallygrown.net or call 727-515-9469 for more information. $35 per person or $60 when two family members attend together. 5305 20th St. N., St. Pete.
St. Pete Saturday Morning Market: Every Saturday (October-May), 9 am-2 pm.
Featuring locally grown fresh produce, prepared foods, tempting baked goods, plants, flowers, herbs, handcrafted gifts, live music, and more! Downtown St. Petersburg in the Al Lang Stadium parking lot: 1st Ave. S and 1st St. S., 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
Organic Gardening Workshop: Saturday, October 29, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Learn how to build a perennial food forest where food keeps growing year after year at this informative workshop. Also, get tips on growing a variety of perennial vegetables as well as what fruit trees grow best in your backyard area. $25; Green Dreams: 14510 Black Lake Road, Odessa, 727-439-6700, greendreamsfl.com
Hernando Farmers Market: Every Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Fresh produce, homemade, handmade products, plants, crafts and more! Offering local small businesses a venue to sell their products and grow their business. St. Rd. 50 and Mariner Blvd. (Located behind Walgreens in the Western Way Plaza), Spring Hill, hernandocountyfarmersmarket.webs.com
Rain Barrel Workshop: Last Saturday of every month, 10-11:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
The Ybor City Saturday Market in conjunction with theGreen Footprint, a market vendor, is helping Tampa Bay residents conserve water! Learn how to make your own rain barrel and receive valuable information regarding the importance of water conservation. Please register by sending an email to: ybormarket@yahoo.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with "rain barrel" in the subject line, include your name, time attending (10am or 11:30am) and contact information in the body of the email. The cost to participate in the workshop is $5 and attendees will have the option of purchasing either a blue ($30) or terra cotta ($50) rain barrel at the conclusion of the each workshop. Centennial Park, Ybor City, ybormarket.com
Rain Harvesting and Basic Irrigation Workshop: Saturday, October 29, 1-3 p.m.
Learn about rain barrel assembly, connection to gutter spout, and basic pump instructions. We will discuss various irrigation for your garden as well as Permaculture ideas at storing and using water. $30 Class, $80 with supplies; Green Dreams: 14510 Black Lake Road, Odessa, 727-439-6700, greendreamsfl.com
Whole Foods Market's 'Green Halloween': Saturday, October 29:, 3-6 p.m.
Bring the kids to Green Halloween at Whole Foods Market and learn some fun and healthy ways to enjoy the holiday. They'll have a kids costume contest, local eco-friendly businesses and vendors, and trick-or-treating tours around the store. For more information, visit: greenhalloween.org/tampa or contact Maria.Gumina@wholefoods.com. Free; 1548 North Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa. 813-874-9435, wholefoodsmarket.com
Green After Dark: Saturday, October 29, 5-9 p.m.
Bring your friends and family for an eco-friendly evening filled with healthy living, green exhibitors and live entertainment. This will be a family friendly night to celebrate green efforts in Tampa with the community. The outdoor market venue with a night-time twist makes this event unique to our area. In the spirit of Halloween, there will be a pet costume contest with the winner announced at 7 p.m. Kids are encouraged to dress in an eco-friendly, recycled or upcycled costume. Free; 8701 Gunn Hwy, Tampa, goinggreentampa.com
Suncoast Sierra Club 'Spookfest Fun-draiser': Saturday, October 29, 6 p.m.-12 a.m.
The Suncoast Sierra Club is throwing a Halloween bash for the whole family that's a deeper shade of green. Dress up in your best eco-themed getup to enter the environmental costume contest and enjoy food, live music, dancing, raffles and "Sweets by Sierra" goodies. Dinner and dessert to be served from 6:30-9 p.m. and drinks are BYOB. This event is a fundraiser for the Suncoast Sierra Club. Contact fundraising Chair Kira Barrera for more information: 727-686-9631 or kbarrera777@yahoo.com. $20 (at the door); 1700 Park St. N., St. Pete.
Corey Avenue Fresh Market: Every Sunday, October 16-May, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Attend the new Corey Fresh Market's grand opening and see the new look and vendors it has to offer. This open-air market will feature local vendors, including Brady Johnson "Mr I Got 'em BBQ", who will have their wares set up for sale along with Corey merchants open during market hours for shopping and dining, as well as live music by local musicians. Free; Corey Avenue: Between Blind Pass Road and Boca Ciega Drive in Downtown St Pete Beach, 727-461-7674, coreyave.com
This article appears in Oct 27 – Nov 2, 2011.