Alert – “Dirty Waters, Dangerous Fish”

Posted on 26. Feb, 2013 by Howard Salus in featured, Florida News

Redland Tropical Gardens Champions Homestead Centennial Celebration

Posted on 18. Jan, 2013 by Howard Salus in Education, Environment, featured, Florida News, Green Events

Homestead, FL-On Saturday, February 2, 2013, from 2:00 pm-7:00 pm, at Harris Field, 1034 Ne 8th St, Homestead, FL, Redland  Tropical Gardens (RTG),  will partner with  the State of Florida, Viva Florida 500, Miami-Dade County, Homestead Centennial Committee, The Greater Miami Host Committee, Dade County Farm Bureau, Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association, the National Parks Service,  the Miami-Dade College, and Homestead Job Corps to participate in the Homestead Centennial Celebration, and present Tropical Cornucopia, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow, 100 years of Agriculture & Natural Resource  History of Homestead, an integral part of the multi-billion dollar vegetable, fruit and tropical foliage market in Miami-Dade County and the State of Florida, and the only city in the United States with two national parks.

This event celebrates a century milestone of rural Homestead that promotes civic engagement, and brands this area as a sustainable tourism destination dubbed the “Bridge between Man and Nature”, where people “Love the Land”… an American Heritage.

Highlights include: a Historic Farm Family interactive living history presentation from the Historic Homestead Townhall Museum, and an exhibit of  local tropical exotic fruits, spices, herbs,  and vegetables, natural and organic products, native  plants and flowering trees, as well as the National Parks Service, promoting the ancient and archaeological natural heritage of the Everglades and Biscayne National Parks.

The exhibit area is adjacent to the Centennial Kids Zone, which will include the   “ Dean of Green”  a “Greenwise” 45 minute  interactive musical that promotes Homestead’s cultural, agricultural, and natural history, environmental stewardship, and healthy living for children and families with music, dance, and storytelling, a Pirate’s History Treasure Hunt, Environmental Face Painting- flowers, plants, butterflies, animals, bugs, rainbows,  and clouds, Multicultural Historic Games, arcade, bounce houses, rock climbing, refreshments, history contests, and more!

Also on February 2^nd, 2013, RTG will launch Tropical Cornucopia Pioneer, Agro and Eco-Farm and Garden Tours, as an ancillary component of the celebration, to include a one hour “Homestead Then and Now Bus Tour” with Miami-Dade College and RTG certified cultural and nature-based Tour Guides, beginning at 9:00 am-1:00pm, starting at the Historic Homestead Townhall Museum, 41 North Krome Ave. This tour will promote Homestead’s Historic Downtown District, the home to three nationally designated and four locally designated structures, as well as the Main Street District listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.

“Through this event, RTG Board of Directors look forward to building relationships that will serve to provide the network to help us produce, host, and promote RTG’s upcoming smart growth, sustainable world-class, family, signature event “TROPICALCORNUCOPIA™”, INTERNATIONAL TROPICAL FARM, GARDEN AND FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL, to national and international markets, scheduled to take place November 2^nd and 3^rd, 2013, from 10:00am-6:00pm in Homestead.  All our initiatives provide our community the opportunity to Learn, Live, Work, Play and Grow Together, in an agrarian, sustainable farm and garden lifestyle that supports agriculture, the first historic industry of the State of Florida. We also seek to promote, connect, maintain, protect, preserve, and enhance the historic, natural, cultivated, recreational, and diverse cultural resources of this area for sustainable tourism, economic and workforce development, community education, life-long learning, inclusion, social justice, equality, well-being, and a better quality of life for all; planting the seeds to grow a clean, safe, healthy, and green economy, and leaving a green legacy for future generations”- Margie Buster, President RTG.

ABOUT RTG

MISSION

RTG is now celebration its 17^th year! Redland Tropical Gardens and Botanical Foundation, Inc., d.b.a. Redland Tropical Gardens is a not for profit foundation dedicated to providing the resources for the development, preservation, education and promotion of sustainable nature-based, historic and cultural heritage products, services and industries of the Redland and South Florida.

RTG is the first nonprofit community-based sustainable and rural tourism destination management nonprofit organization founded by women in South Florida.  It established the first co-operative with other organizations furthering the interests of horticulture, conservation, environmental protection and beautification, as well as new economic generators, diversification of the agricultural industry in South Dade, and the connection of Tropical South Florida’s Green and Blue Corridors.

VISION 

To encourage the establishment and maintenance of botanical gardens, arboreta and horticultural centers for the advancement of science, enjoyment and education of the public

Ÿ  To advance the study of gardening, landscape design, environmental issues, floral design and horticulture and assist deserving students through college scholarships in these fields of endeavor established the first co-operative with other organizations furthering the interests of horticulture, conservation, environmental protection and beautification.

Ÿ  To aid in the protection and conservation of natural resources, to promote civic beautification and encourage the improvement of roadsides and parks

Ÿ  To empower women in travel/tourism and hospitality as well as allied fields through education, information, promotions and professional development.

Arts Ballet Theatre Participates in Great Opera Moments

Posted on 17. Jan, 2013 by Howard Salus in featured, Florida News

Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida is proud to be part of this production 

BIRTH 2012 – Unifying 100,000,000 People to Celebrate the Birth of a New Era

Posted on 15. Dec, 2012 by Howard Salus in featured, Florida News

Dec. 20-22, 2012: The Awakening

By John Perkins

I’m headed to Guatemala to participate in the powerful Awakening, the birthing of this new era prophesied long ago by the Maya. I hope you will join me at the celebration on December 22 led by Barbara Marx Hubbard and many well-known spiritual teachers (see press release below). It is broadcast live from all over the world — including a group, I am facilitating of 30 from the “North” and a community of Mayas performing sacred ceremonies around Tikal and in Lake Peten, Guatemala. These are the times we’ve been waiting for — a wonderful opportunity to open our hearts and celebrate this new epoch that is so full of hope, love, and potential.

John

BIRTH 2012:

Global Movement Aims to Unify 100 Million People to Celebrate the Birth of a New Era

DECEMBER 20-22, 2012

Bestselling Authors, Musicians and Cultural Leaders Unite in More than 40 Major Events from Mexico to Australia in an Unprecedented Global Webcast, Culminating with a Los Angeles Gala Event.

December 10, 2012 (Los Angeles) – The end of the long-count Mayan calendar on December 21 has provoked apocalyptic fears, doomsday books and films, parodies, and even triggering outbreaks of panic, as recently reported in a December 1 New York Times article on Russia’s end-of-the-world anxiety. By contrast, the far more positive and forward-looking Birth 2012 movement, organized by The Shift Network, offers a creative and hopeful alternative. Rather than feed fears, the movement aims to turn this marker point into a “birth day” for a new era that is healthy, sustainable, and peaceful. The conveners recognize the power of this once-in-five-thousand-years turning point to unify people globally around a commitment to create a world that works for all. Through the Birth 2012 movement and its unprecedented 33-hour global live webcast linking more than 40 major locations, many of today’s top cultural leaders, bestselling authors, religious leaders, and musicians will join together in a call for a collective shift to a new way of living. Livecast locations include Mexico, Egypt, India, Japan, Israel, Ghana, Kenya, Scotland, Guatemala, Brazil, and Canada, plus dozens of locations in the United States. Led by bestselling author Barbara Marx Hubbard and The Shift Network’s Stephen Dinan, the movement features New York Times bestselling authors and thought leaders such as Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, John Perkins, Neale Donald Walsch, don Miguel Ruiz, Jack Canfield, Joan Borysenko, and Lisa Nichols; spiritual leaders such as Michael Bernard Beckwith, Ram Dass, Jean Houston, Shiva Rea, Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, Mayan elders, Oscar Miro-Quesada, and members of the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers; actors such as Esai Morales; social change leaders such as Lynne Twist, Dot Maver, and James O’Dea; journalists such as Lynne McTaggart; academics such as Ervin Laszlo of Global Shift University and Ashok Gangadean of Haverford; business leaders such as Rinaldo Brutoco of World Business Academy; and musicians such as Ozomatli, Donna DeLory and Rickie Byars Beckwith. Many of these leaders will participate in a live celebration on December 21 and 22 at Agape International Spiritual Center in Culver City, CA, while others will join the celebration from other locations around the world. Millions more will connect via 12 waves of unity that will be staged every two hours leading up to the “birth moment” at noon Pacific on December 22. These will include synchronized meditations, prayers, songs, and practices worldwide, ranging from a Havdalah prayer from Jerusalem to One Billion Oms led from India to a world peace prayer ceremony from Mt. Fuji and a global Yoga Wave. For example, One Earth. One Voice., an earth-focused campaign through singing, will be creating a synchronized global song at 2:00 pm Pacific on the 21st, with locations around the world singing a Nigerian Yoruba song.

An Unprecedented Global Webcast

The major 2012-themed events around the globe will be shared live during an unprecedented 33-hour webcast that begins December 21 at noon Pacific and continues until December 22 (9 pm Pacific). Executive Producer Charlie Gay, who once managed Cher and produced Billy Graham stadium events said, “I’ve managed shows with a high number of locations, but the Birth 2012 broadcast is the longest stretch of programming of this kind ever attempted while also handling the simultaneous challenge of multiple locations worldwide—and all of this is being put together on relatively short notice.”

The first major event will begin in Byron Bay, Australia, featuring Barbara Marx Hubbard in a multi-media piece called Theater of Our Birth. The program continues with a “Three Days of Love” pledge and media campaign inviting participants to commit to actions and words of love from December 20-22. Celebrated graphic designer, Shepard Fairey, contributed his iconic design, Peace Fingers, for the Three Days of Love campaign. On December 20, a partner initiative called “A Big Project” will focus on activating artistic visions for a better world with a 10-hour webcast from New York. On December 21, many of the large global events will begin, continuing through December 22.

“Birth 2012 is a celebration for the world that helps us build a critical mass of people committed to positive change. Drawing inspiration from visionary Barbara Marx Hubbard and many of today’s bestselling pioneers, we aim to co-create a historic turning point that helps to interconnect the social, spiritual, and technological breakthroughs that can lead us forward out of our current global crises,” shares Stephen Dinan, the co-founder and architect of the Birth 2012 campaign as well as CEO of The Shift Network, which serves 225,000 members with transformational online events, courses, and trainings.

Culminating Gala Event in Los Angeles

Since the Mayan calendar date marks the end of a calendar cycle on December 21, Birth 2012 will designate the Birth Day for a new era on December 22, specifically marking the Birth Moment at noon Pacific time. This moment will be celebrated during a Gala event at Agape International Spiritual Center and include a live global broadcast featuring music, ceremony, inspiring talks, visioning, multi-media, and Shift Awards for peace, sustainability, health, and economics.

The planetary birthing movement is gaining momentum worldwide, with synchronized spiritual and social events designed to shift global consciousness toward love and harmony. Birth 2012 can connect these events in a way that represents a unification on a scale we have perhaps never seen” shares Barbara Marx Hubbard, co-founder and President for the Foundation for Conscious Evolution and former Democratic Vice – Presidential nominee (1984). Hubbard sees this time in history as a critical turning point into the next stage of what she terms “Conscious Evolution” – defined as evolution by choice not chance. Additional elements in the global program to create longer-term change include a Declaration of Interdependence to be signed in Philadelphia and presented in New York, a Declaration of Commitment to Indigenous Peoples, and promotion of the Pledge 4 Peace to encourage actions for peace in the coming year. Participants will be encouraged to former local hubs and invited into future programs such as the Winter of Wellness, Spring of Sustainability, and Summer of Peace to create longer-term changes.

Media companies that are contributing to the global production include FANetwork.tv, PeaceDay TV, EmpowerMe TV, Agape Media, and Peace of Mind TV. Co-sponsors of the Birth 2012 campaign range from Green America to The Peace Alliance and Humanity’s Team. Unity churches (1 million global members) and the Brahma Kumaris (with 2500 global centers) are actively participating in the movement, as are non-profit groups such as EarthDance, and United Nations Women, Los Angeles.

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For information on detailed webcast schedule and locations: www.birth2012.com

For information on the Los Angeles Gala: www.birth2012la.com

For information on Three Days of Love: www.threedaysoflove.com

The Shift Network, Inc. empowers a growing global movement of 225,000 members who are creating an evolutionary shift of consciousness that in turn leads to a more enlightened society, one built on principles of sustainability, peace, health, and prosperity.

Press Contact: Jill Mangino, cell: 973-222-1116, office: 908.637.6022, jill@circle3media.com.

__________________________________________________________

NOTE:

December 15-24, 2012: “A Journey to Prophecies in the Lands of the Maya: Shapeshifting into Higher Consciousness with John Perkins and Daniel Koupermann” For more information please email Linda Leyerle: lleyerle@aol.com

For information on more upcoming events please see www.johnperkins.org – SCHEDULE

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Join in Now – Tropical Cornucopia Tours

Posted on 10. Dec, 2012 by Howard Salus in Eco Tourism, Education, Environment, Everglades, featured, Florida News, Green Events

Redland Tropical Gardens “Seeds” Community-Based Tourism in South Dade

Homestead, Fl-On Wednesday, November 15, 2012, at 6:00 PM, the first community-based tourism workforce educational program awarded “Certificates of Completion” signed by both Redland Tropical Gardens and partner Miami-Dade College Homestead’s School of Continuing Education and Professional Development during a reception hosted by Mr. Mark Bell owner of Hotel Redland to seed South Dade, as a natural and cultural heritage tourism destination.  These uniquely educated tour guides were trained in nature based tourism covering agriculture in our most diverse Redland ( our cultivated area) as well as both national parks (our wilderness with their unique ecosystems), while being polished to Host International Visitors through cooperation of the Greater Miami Host Committee.

ENTIRE CLASS

This is Phase One of a two year South Dade Smart Growth/Sustainable Communities Project, established by Redland Tropical Gardens (DBA) a State of Florida nonprofit 501(c)(3) listed as Redland Tropical Gardens & Botanical Foundation, Inc.   These initiatives will serve as a vision to bridge man and nature by connecting yesterday, today and tomorrow (at the same time embrassing multicultural indigenous individuals seeking harmony, economic and social vitality, with long term sustainability).  This project will enhance the quality of life for residents in all CRA areas where poverty rates are a staggering 44% well above the county’s 14% average. While assisting to promote the 2013 City of Homestead Centennial, and 2014 Florida City Centennial while prparing for tourism by green restoration, a plan for a green economic generator.

Please join us by reserving your seats for Redland Tropical Gardens, Tropical Cornucopia Tours, presenting a special “Home for the Holidays Historic Tour” in cooperation with the “Historic Homestead Town Hall Museum” on Saturday, December 15th for $10.00 each. You will meet our charming Certified Tour Guides and spend one hour on a bus tour, where you will receive a booklet celebrating Homesteads Centennial, “Homestead Then and Now”.

On your return to the museum you will be provided with Holiday Refreshments and a walking tour inside the museum guided by Director Ruth Campbell. Tours depart 10:00AM, 11:00AM, 12:00PM, 1:00PM, 2:00PM, 3:00PM, 4:00PM (final tour). Please call Redland Tropical Gardens 305-247-2016 for reservations or pay on line at paypal.com you may view our website, theredland.org