Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ and Food?

Last week I had an opportunity to attend a symposium covering the basics of food systems and some of the problems we are currently facing regarding food security. The challenge issued at the end of the day was to think about how each Extension program area can have an effect on improving our food systems.

After thinking on that question for a while, I believe that a Florida-Friendly Landscape can play a very positive role in a food system. A great percentage of our food relies on insects for pollination, and many of the conventional pest control practices put these insects in harm’s way. Urban landscapes should be safe havens for pollinators, and following the Nine Principles of Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ can help turn your landscape into habitat for these creatures.

Integrated pest management (IPM) is a strategy for pest control that minimizes risks to people and the environment, and IPM is part of a Florida-Friendly Landscape. Just because you see a bug in your landscape, don’t assume it’s a pest. Only 1% of insects in the landscape are actually pests.

For a great introduction to IPM, visit: http://ipm.ifas.ufl.edu/pdfs/Cir548-Pest_Management_Where_to_Start.pdf.

And for more information on Florida-Friendly Landscaping™, visit: http://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/

Brian Niemann
Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Extension Agent
UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County
1800 Weedon Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33702

727-453-6524

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