Calling anyone interested in being involved with a community garden!

John Ciani at Odessa Organic Market is holding an open meeting on March 3, 2012 @9:30am and it will be open to anyone in the community who wants to participate. He has already off to a great start by teaming up with GreenDreams, Magnolia Organics and Pizza Fusion Westchase.

The garden will be on the property of the Odessa Organic Market and is easily accessible for residents of Odessa, Citrus Park, Westchase and surrounding areas.

If you have an idea, want to contribute, donate or just want to learn more, please feel free to join us.

Odessa Organic Market is located at 8701 Gunn Hwy, Odessa. John can be reached at 813-944-8654.

Good news for electronic recycling! According to Creative Recycling Systems website -

Creative Recycling Systems, Inc. (CRS) announced that it has entered into a joint venture to form GreenRock Rare Earth Recovery Corporation. GreenRock will recover and recycle the rare earth elements found in consumer electronics, magnets, phosphors and industrial batteries. Essential to the manufacturing of everyday technology, rare earth elements are difficult to mine and are almost entirely produced in China. Industry experts calculate that 95% of rare earth metals, rare earth ore and rare earth oxides are mined in China. Demand for rare earth elements will soon exceed production, causing a global shortage in the supply of these vital elements.

Using Creative Recycling’s state-of-the-art processing and separation technology, along with their extensive collection network, GreenRock will capture rare earth elements from components found in obsolete and end-of-life electronics. CRS’ experience and expertise in the recycling and material separation of consumer electronics is central to the recent joint venture. By the end of 2011, CRS will have four industry leading processing facilities with the capacity to process 500 million pounds of electronics annually.

“The dwindling supply of rare earth elements is an issue of the utmost importance,” commented Jon Yob, CEO and President of Creative Recycling. “We are uniquely positioned to capture and facilitate the recycling of these finite elements in a truly closed loop process.

Read more on their website here.

The International EV Expo charges into Tampa February 21 – 23

The Forums of The EV Expo will provide attendees three days of conferences and workshops devoted to key market segments: Consumers, Business owners and Community planners.

The EV Expo Forum will serve as a gateway for discussion that will open new and long-lasting business opportunities in the Southeast United States. In addition to showcasing today's electric drive vehicles available to consumers and specialized commercial markets like local fleet and logistics vehicles

The EV Expo Forum’s opening day schedule will supply consumers with decision-making information including a review of automaker e-drive portfolios with publisher Bill Moore of EV World, the leading source for EV information since 1998. Electric vehicle expert Ed Benjamin will cover two-wheeled EVs such as motorcycles and bicycles. Then, David Kerzel introduces homeowners to the important aspects of safely charging EVs at home.

Day Two

Day two of the Forum focuses on business owners interested in learning how to take advantage of new opportunities EVs provide. Martin Schuerman will discuss electric vehicle fleet operations and his company's experience developing port logistics trucks. Battery experts will discuss the integration of this critical technology into conversions, followed by the business of installing residential and commercial charging stations.

Day Three

The third day of the conference caters to the needs of those responsible for planning, implementing and administering energy and transportation systems. Experts from New York, Tampa and Santa Monica will share their insights into the development needs of communities introducing electric mobility technologies and the implications on economics and public policy.

Each day ends with a networking reception. EV Expo Forum attendance is $295 for one day and $695 for all three days. Industry and education discounts are available. Stand alone tickets for the EV Expo Show are also available for $10 per day or $20 for three days. For event and registration information visit www.facebook.com/EVExpo

Electric and alternative transportation use is growing significantly. Attending this conference is the first step in developing and planning for a green future. This will provide a platform for discussion and planning that will enable Florida to take a leadership position in the EV industry leading to sustainable jobs for Florida. Join in the ground floor of this annual event designed to showcase the technology, business opportunities, better living and all the cool things about going green.

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Tampa Bay's Voice For the Local Food Movement

One of the reasons why I started Going Green Tampa was to find out where I could get local food. I firmly believe that we should all be supporting our local farms, eating local and even learn to grow and harvest our own food. If you aren’t able to find something locally produced or grow your own, you should choose the most sustainable producer that you can find. For those that don’t have the time to produce their own food, the Tampa area is very lucky to have a growing local food movement. And the voice of the local food movement in Tampa is getting louder and louder.

The Local Dirt is a magazine that was recently launched to provide a way for us to discover our local resources of farmers, restaurants who support them and those that are making it happen. The magazine was the vision of Ferrell Alvarez and Ty Rodriquez, chefs at Café Dufrain and Cathy Hume – owner of Urban Oasis Hydroponic Farm.  Within the recent issue you will find articles on Sweetwater Organic Farm, The Refinery, Urban Oasis, Pasture Prime Family Farm, The Suncoast Food Alliance and more. They provide a list of local restaurants and markets that offer sustainable, local and organic food as well as a list of where to find 100% local produce.

Also pictured in the magazine are Eddie Shumard and Robin Milcowitz who founded Tampa Urban Food Forum (T.U.F.F.). These two have done amazing work this past year in bringing attention to the local food movement in our area. (in October) They recently hosted the Food Day event at The Roosevelt 2.0 and are working to bring Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms into town to speak on sustainable farming. 

With folks like this supporting local food, Tampa is headed in the right direction of becoming a sustainable community. You can find The Local Dirt at: 

I would also like to bring attention to The Odessa Organic Market. Market operator, John Ciani, is committed to making local food available to those in the Westchase/Odessa area. Stop by his market and you will find produce, eggs and seasonal items all produced locally using organic, pesticide free or hydroponic methods. The market is located at 8701 Gunn Hwy and is open Friday - Sunday.

Please support the farms and restaurants who are named in The Local Dirt and who are listed on GoingGreenTampa.com. They are doing their best to provide a higher quality product to the residents of the greater Tampa area. We should all thank them for that!