Here I am sitting on the lanai at my Tampa area home, sipping my organic coffee, absorbing the early morning mild sun and a cool breeze from the gulf. The garden that we started late in 2008 looks alive, with birds, butterflies, and all manner of bugs making their early morning rounds as grazer or predator. The plots of tomatos, collards, peppers, snap beans, cucumber and squash all stand at attention so early in the morning, before the mid-day Florida sun, even now in May, beats them down fiercely, when only vegetable pride keeps them from a full wilt.
The garden thrives, I think, for several reasons. We prepared the sandy soild with much organic material and we feed the garden with organic compost. We do not use pesticides and instead keep the natural balance of predator and pest insect species (OK squirrel have stolen peppers but a chicken-wire fence solves that problem.) We mulch to keep weeds down. Most important of all, we water the garden every day. Florida is in an extended three year drought -- worst since the 1950s -- and our garden, like so many other products of horticulture here, would be dying otherwise.
I could go on about how this drought, like so many across the country and the world, is not a normal pattern and another sign of global climate change. I won't -- I'll leave that to the scientists for now -- but I argue that Florida must face one fact that it cannot escape. Excessive, irresponsible development for decades has now outstripped our water resources. Yes - even here in Florida, the land of the daily summer showers and once teaming wetlands, we are running out of enough fresh water. We've know this for some time and yet we allowed irresponsible development to continue. Because of our lust to deplete the supply of fresh water, the citizens of the "taxing hating" state have even been willing to pay out for expensive boondoggle like a de-salinization plant, instead of restraining our water lust.
For now severe state and county water restrictions should hopefully carry us through to the rainy season. Let's hope the rainy season is rainy enough.
Tragically a few weeks ago the lobbyist-dominated state legislature, under the guise of economic stimulus, undid many environmental protections and limitations on irresponsible development. They still do not get it. The key to a better future is to achieve economic growth without depleting our resources and permanently fouling our environment. Yes, some developers may not be able to pull out quick profits. So be it. I say to them -- go green and get sustainable. Your profits will come and, more importantly, perhaps future generations will applaud you, not condemn you, as more and more of current generations are starting to do now.
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