Looking for something green-related to do this weekend? Look no further than our own Green Community Calendar.
Dunedin Green Market- Fridays: 8 am-1 pm, Saturdays: 9 am-2 pm (through April). Featuring fresh, local produced goods such as baked good, ready-to-eat-foods, organic plants and herbs, coffee, honey, seafood, clothing, and so much more. The Dunedin Green Market is located in Pioneer Park at the cross streets of Douglas Avenue and Main Street in Downtown Dunedin.
Arbor Day Tree Planting in Downtown Tampa- Friday, April 29; 9:30 a.m. This Friday, April 29th, marks the 139th anniversary of Arbor Day and to commemorate this holiday, the City of Tampa and Tampa Electric Company (TECO) will partner to plant four large Cathedral Live Oak trees on the 600 block of Franklin Street in downtown Tampa. The event will take place at 9:30 a.m. Tampa Electric will be giving away free Dogwood tree seedlings and Tampa Parks and Recreation Department will be offering free Longleaf Pine tree seedlings during the Tampa Downtown Market on the mall following the ceremony. Free event.
Tampa Downtown Market- Fridays (through May); 10 am-2 pm. 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. With a strong focus on sustainability, the Tampa Downtown Market intends to provide a vehicle to educate the community on the importance of good health as we create more business opportunities and residential benefits. Located in Lykes Gaslight Square- Tampa St. & Kennedy Blvd., Downtown Tampa.
Urban Oasis Hydroponic Farm Market- Fridays 10 am-6 pm; Saturdays 10 am-4 pm. 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- Every Friday; 7:30-9:30 pm. 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. www.theworldcafe.com.
Winthrop Town Center Farmers Market- Every Saturday; 8 am. 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.
Green Thumb Festival- Saturday-Sunday, April 30-May 1; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. St. Petersburg's annual Arbor Day and Earth Day celebration returns for its 25th year to Walter Fuller Park. The free family festival features horticultural and environmental exhibits, programs and seminars highlighting ways to landscape effectively, conserve natural resources, recycle and improve the environment. Highlights also include 2,000 trees for sale for $3, free pine seedlings, a Silent Plant Auction, Plant Diagnostic Clinic, Grow and Share programs, and a Children's Plant Fair, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., both days. Kid's crafts, food court and entertainment can be enjoyed throughout the weekend. Free. Walter Fuller Park: 7891 26th Ave. 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.
Ybor Saturday Market- Every Saturday; 9 am-3 pm (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.
Land O’Lakes Saturday Market- Every Saturday; 9 am-2 pm (through May). The Land O’Lakes Saturday Market is a weekly community event with live music. Land O’ Lakes Saturday Market donates profits to the Heritage Park Foundation and the Suncoast Harvest Food Bank. We are located at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, on the west side of US 41 — Land O’ Lakes Blvd., three miles north of SR 54 (across from the Land O’ Lakes Post Office).
Guided Hike at Weedon Island Preserve- Every Saturday; 9-11 am. 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, FL 33702. (727) 453-6500.
Guided Hike at Brooker Creek Preserve- Every Saturday; 9-11 am. 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, FL 34688. (727) 453-6800.
'To Your Health' Wellness Event- Saturday, April 30; 2-8 p.m. Attendees can take part in educational wellness seminars, healthy cooking demonstrations, an organic wine tasting and end the night with a rockin' dance party. Food will be provided by Rollin' Oats Market & Cafe. Kathleen Maclsaac, MD, Katrina Morales of Rollin' Oats Market & Cafe and Bobby Aduna will give lectures on healthy eating, wellness and medicine, and Sherrell White, "The Healthy Chef", will show guests how to prepare an array of healthy dishes and lead a tasting of organic wines with Master Sommelier Bruce Heiman. And it's no coincidence that the wine tasting will take place immediately before the dance party, allowing people to loosen up a bit to boogie down. A $10 donation is requested at the door. Please RSVP at creativityincommerce.com. $10. 1812 N. 15th St., Ybor.
Sweetwater's 19th Annual Pesto Festo- Saturday, April 30; 6-10 p.m. The farm's end-of-season fundraising party is its most popular event, serving up fresh pesto pasta and salad made from veggies from the farm and other organic ingredients. Organic beer and wine are also available. The band Urban Gypsies performs, and a silent auction offers cool items from local merchants and farmers. $15 advance, $20 at door, children 12 and under free. 6932 W. Comanche Ave., Tampa, 813-232-0326, sweetwater-organic.org.
Florida Voices for Animals Annual Dinner- Sun., May 1; 4:30-8 p.m. Florida Voices for Animals (FVA), a Tampa Bay-based non-profit animal-advocacy organization, welcomes residents from around the bay area to attend its annual dinner on Sunday, May 1, from 4:30 to 8 p.m. at Trang’s Viet Cuisine in Tampa. Tickets include a dinner buffet, silent auction, raffles and a special guest speaker by Amy Joy Lanou, Ph.D., an associate professor of health and wellness at the University of North Carolina Asheville. Tickets can be reserved by mailing a check payable to Florida Voices for Animals to FVA, P.O. Box 17523, Tampa, FL 33682. For information, call 727-656-8368. $25 in advance, $30 at the door, and $15 for students. 1524 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa.
Corey Avenue Sunday Market- Every Sunday, 10 am-2 pm. Bigger and better for 2010! The Corey Sunday Market will boast 2 produce vendors, local arts and crafts, live music, foods and fun! Located between Blind Pass Rd and Boca Ciega Drive, Corey Ave will be blocked off for a safe shopping day at the market. Corey merchants and restaurants will be open for business as well, lending a fabulous addition to your normal market venues. From antiques to boutiques, dog stores and more, the Corey Sunday Market is the one to visit every Sunday during the fall and winter seasons. Corey Avenue is located just off Gulf Blvd in downtown St Pete Beach. Always free parking. All within walking distance. 727-498-8778.
Sweetwater Organic Community Farm's Sunday Market- Every Sunday (through May); 12-4 pm. Our on-site market features organic produce harvested fresh from our own farm, as well as organic fruits and veggies from other farms. Shop for your produce and environmentally-friendly products, have a picnic lunch, meet like-minded individuals, and enjoy our orchard and gardens under the trees all while listening to some great live music! Bring your friends, family, and leashed dogs. It's a great way to support local programs, agriculture and business. 6942 W. Comanche Ave, Tampa.
This article appears in Apr 21-27, 2011.