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. 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- Directions).
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.
SPC Clearwater Beach Cleanup- Saturday, April 17; 9 am. The St. Petersburg College environmental clubs and SPC chapter of the US Green Building Council Students (you don’t have to be a member of either to participate) adopted a mile of beach (Lot 36) on North Shore Clearwater Beach, running from Rockaway St. to 880 Mandalay. They have scheduled their next beach clean-up Saturday April 17 starting at 9 am, meeting on the beach at Rockaway Street, right in front of Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill. Bags and Gloves will be provided, but please remember to wear a hat, sunscreen, closed toed shoes and pants for the dunes, etc. For more information, please contact [email protected] or call 727 341-3283.
Ocean Conservancy Cleanup- Saturday, April 17; 9am-12:30pm. Help the Ocean Conservancy restore the shoreline habitat of the Green Bridge Fishing Pier! Everyone is welcome. Please bring a water bottle and they'll provide water, coffee, and bagels. RSVP to Jamie McWade: 727-369-6633; [email protected]
Suncoast Surfrider's Earth Day Beach Cleanup- Saturday, April 17; 10 am. Join the Suncoast Surfrider Foundation for our Earth Day Cleanup April 17th 2010. There will be prizes for the most unique / most collected trash from the day. For more information go to www.SuncoastSurfrider.org and please help keep our beaches clean! 4th Street South and Gulf St South, Bradenton.
Earth Day Event at Honeymoon Island State Park- Saturday/Sunday, April 17-18; 10 am-6 pm. Food, live music, vendors, crafts, guided walks in the woods, kids activities, and more. Fees: A single donation of $8.00 per vehicle at the gate includes free parking. - Up to 8 people per vehicle. Pets permitted on 6 foot hand-held leash. 1 Causeway Blvd., Dunedin. http://www.celebratewithfriends.com
MarineQuest 2010- Saturday, April 17; 10 am-4 pm. We invite you to join us for MarineQuest, the annual open house of the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI). Join us on Saturday, April 17, 2010, for the most fun you have ever had out of the water. This award-winning event is an opportunity for you and your family to learn about Florida’s fish and wildlife and FWRI's new and exciting research. You are invited to tour our main building, where staff members will be on hand to discuss their research and answer your questions. Our laboratories will be open, and displays will demonstrate some of the cutting-edge research going on at FWRI. After you finish inside, journey outside and discover more of our hands-on displays, including touch tanks teeming with marine life! MarineQuest offers events for all ages, including several hands-on activities that will help our younger visitors learn about the fascinating marine life found in our oceans. Kids can dive into the water with their hands and pick up horseshoe crabs, sea stars, spiny lobsters, and other marine critters commonly found in Florida's waters. Through the age-old practice of "gyotaku," or fish printing, they can create their own artwork. Kids can also learn how to make marine-related origami—such as fish and whales—have their faces painted, put together a manatee skeleton, touch sharks and rays, and much more! FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute- 100 Eighth Avenue Southeast, St. Petersburg.
Free Recycling Drop-Off in Hillsborough County Accepting Leftover Foam- Saturday, April 17; 10 am-12 pm. Dart Container Corporation of Florida, with more than 250 local employees, is holding an open house at its post-consumer foam collection facility in Plant City to celebrate Earth Week and educate the community about the recyclability of foam (often improperly called “Styrofoam,” a registered trademark of the Dow Chemical Company). The free drop-off has pioneered the ease in which area residents, businesses and organizations can recycle foam with the number 6 on it. During the open house, the community will be able to bring leftover foam from households or businesses and track it through the recycling process. 4610 Airport Road, Plant City.
Sweetwater Earth Day Celebration- Saturday, April 17; 11am-5pm. Join us for the second annual Sweetwater Earth Day Festival entitled "Sweetwater Earth Day: Growing for the Future". This year’s festival will feature three prominent speakers on the topic of organic and local gardening. Rick Martinez, Founder and Director of Sweetwater Organic Community Farm, will discuss the basics of organic gardening in his Organic Gardening 101 workshop from 11:00-12:30. Then folk herbalist and long-time organic gardener, Willow LaMonte, will teach us "Companion Planting for Gardens & Guilds" from 1:30-3:00. Finally, Jim Kovaleski will inspire us to "Grow Community Connections in the Garden" from 3:30-5:00. His experience shows us how our home grounds can be a place of production instead of consumption, and how food transcends all boundaries, bringing neighbors together on a common ground of abundance and sustenance. In addition, we will host a Community Garden Expo to raise awareness about local community gardening groups, and a Kid's Corner with fun activities scheduled all day for the children, including – rain barrel painting, seed planting, and costume & musical instrument making for our children's parade at 12:45. Healthy food and drinks will be available, or bring a picnic lunch. Check www.sweetwater-organic.org for full festival schedule. Kids, families and adults of all ages welcomed. Suggested donation for each workshop - $10-20 based on ability. 6942 West Comanche Avenue, Tampa.
Green Collaborations Garden Party- Saturday, April 17; 1-4pm. Learn about container and other green gardening ideas, Florida-friendly plants and more from our friends at Twigs and Leaves and other experts, gardening brochures and other info from Southwest Florida Water Management District and the Pinellas County Extension Service, shopping, buy chances for cool, green prizes, coloring for kids, light refreshments. Free. RoCo Traders, 2115 Central Ave., St. Petersburg Please RSVP: http://pieraquarium.site-ym.com/events/event_details.asp?id=98932
Companion Planting and Natural Pest Control Workshop- Saturday, April 17; 12-2 pm. Aphids ate the tomatoes? Cut worms munching on melons? Join us at Twigs and Leaves Nursery for unique, two-hour course on companion planting to attract pollinators and to deter harmful bugs. Successful organic gardening requires a knowledge of what insects will work to improve yields instead of destroy them. The course will take place on Saturday, April 17 from 12-2pm. Course fee is $35 per person or $100 for a four-course series, Student fee $20 per course or $75 for four-part series. For further information or a class schedule, visit www.FireofHope.org or 727-793-5766. Twigs n Leaves Nursery- 1013 Dr. Martin Luther King St. South in St. Petersburg.
Corey Ave. Sunday Market- Every Sunday; 9 am-2 pm. The now-annual market returns with more fresh produce, plants and flowers, crafts, foods and live music. Corey Avenue, St. Pete Beach. www.coreyave.com
Earth Day Tampa Bay- Sunday, April 18; 11 am. This year marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day and the world will be celebrating! The annual Earth Day Tampa Bay festival will feature more than 70 eco-friendly exhibitors, community groups, live music, children's activities, food and fun all designed to help you create a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. Exhibits will focus on ways to go green, from water and energy conservation to green home and garden products, alternative energy, recycling, wildlife appreciation, parks and recreation opportunities and myriads of ideas to save you time and money while going green. Headline act for Earth Day Tampa Bay will be the Urban Gypsies performing at 2 pm. with guest appearances by 11-year-old eco-rapper Lil Peppi. Other performances will include Sunset Bridge, Tim Mullally, Axis Acoustic and Brides of Chaotica. Many community organizations and clubs, including city and county departments, will also be on hand to offer helpful information. Several bicycle maintenance seminars will be presented throughout the day and a secure bike corral will allow visitors to cycle to the event and safely park at the park. Kids and pets are welcome, too. Pet Portraits will be offered free and a large children’s activity area will offer arts and crafts projects and educational games aimed at learning the a-b-c's of recycling and nature appreciation. Admission and parking are free! Exhibitors and sponsors are being sought. For more information contact Rheda Weeks at (813) 926-5659 or [email protected] or visit www.florida.sierraclub.org/tampabay and click on the Planet Earth. Lowry Park (Bandshell Area) 7350 N Blvd, Tampa.
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. Every week you can enjoy native plants, organic vegetable transplants, and unique products from green vendors and artisans including; fresh baked goods, local honey, homemade soaps, handmade jewelry, organic coffees, veggie burgers and fruit smoothies. You can also enjoy our wonderful Sweetwater Sunday Music Series featuring some of the best local musicians and our popular open mic. So come check it out! 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.
Be sure to check out our guide to the weekly green/farmers' markets in the Tampa Bay Area!
