I’m writing this the week before
Thanksgiving and thinking about what I’m thankful for this year. At the top of
that list is knowing that I live enfolded in the Springs Heartland of Planet
Earth.
What healing gifts these springs offer
to the world! Gifts of beauty, inspiration, relaxation, rejuvenation, life
itself. Gifts not only to humans, but also to fish, birds, turtles, manatees
and plants that depend on our springs and spring-fed rivers for life-giving
water.
Water makes these gifts to us and,
because we are interdependent with the world around us, we can also give back
to water.
Since we’re moving into the season
of Christmas, Hanukkah and Yule/Winter Solstice—holidays traditionally marked
by gift giving—here are a few suggestions for local places to shop, if you’re
looking for a water-related gift, or to offer a contribution, if you want to donate
to a good cause. (See links in the sidebar.)
Rum 138 has something for almost everyone on your gift list, from
canoe/kayak trips on a section of the Santa Fe River known for its many springs
to water-themed books, paintings, pottery and jewelry. The gallery offers work
by artists including John Moran, Jill Heinerth, Mark Long and Rum
138 owners Doug Jipson and Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson.
Lanza Gallery and Art Supplies carries paintings, jewelry and
pottery from local artisans as well as art and craft supplies. Lanza also
offers classes and workshops for adults and children. Whose water-related creativity
could you inspire with the gift of a class or art supplies? Some of the artists
whose work you’ll find at Lanza are Barbara Knutson, Tim Malles, Karen
LeMonnier and owner Tina Corbett.
Canoe, Kayak and Stand-Up Paddleboard (SUP) Outfitters. Why not
give someone a chance to experience our rivers and springs on a fun outing? In
addition to Rum 138, there are many outfitters who offer shuttle service and rent
canoes, kayaks and SUPs for trips on local waterways. Check out Adventure Outpost and its Springs
Republic boutique, Drift, Santa Fe Canoe
Outpost, Paddling Adventures, and Ichetucknee
Family Canoe & Cabins.
If you’re considering a year-end
donation to a nonprofit group that educates and advocates for protection of our
springs, rivers, and aquifer, check out these local and nearby organizations.
Our Santa Fe River (OSFR) stopped a potential influx of water bottling plants
on the Lower Santa Fe, advocates for a moratorium on water use permits, and is actively
opposing the Sabal Trail Pipeline and a proposed phosphate mine on the New
River (a tributary of the Santa Fe in Bradford and Union counties). OSFR also holds
regularly scheduled paddle trips and is involved in a multitude of other
activities.
The Ichetucknee
Alliance legally challenged a bad minimum flow and level rule and worked to
move the Sabal Trail Pipeline away from the Ichetucknee. The group monitors
water quality and fish populations, organizes the “Water Voices” speaker series,
and maintains a dialogue with state agencies that resulted in a new restoration
focus area and economic incentives for agriculturalists to protect the
Ichetucknee.
With a long-term goal of establishing a
permanent springs research center, scientists at the Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute (FSI) develop restoration plans
and management goals that serve as blueprints for many springs advocacy groups,
including members of the Florida Springs
Council. FSI also offers monthly Springs Academy classes at its new North Florida Springs Environmental Center and
holds annual “Give Springs a Break” events for college students. The
Environmental Center also sells springs-related books and t-shirts.
The Florida
Springs Council is made up of close to 40 advocacy organizations that
represent over 150,000 citizens. The Council organized the 2016 Springs
Restoration Summit that brought scientists, water managers and advocates
together for 2-1/2 days of discussion about how to save our springs. The Education,
Legal, and Legislative committees work actively in those three areas to
restore, protect and preserve Florida’s springs.
Through their website, exhibitions, transit
bus wraps and other activities, the three artists (John Moran, Lesley Gamble
and Rick Kilby) who run the Springs
Eternal Project (SEP) work to inspire people to value and redefine our
relationship with springs. This past summer, SEP ran a Springs Ambassadors camp
for middle school students.
The 10-year-old Center for Earth Jurisprudence at Barry University Law School in
Orlando is focused on changing and expanding our laws to provide better
protection for springs and other natural systems.
To learn more about…
Rum 138
Lanza Gallery and Art Supplies
Outfitters
Our Santa Fe River
Ichetucknee Alliance
Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute
North Florida Springs Environmental Center
Florida Springs Council
Springs Eternal Project
Center for Earth Jurisprudence
This article originally appeared in the December 2016 issue of "The Observer," a free monthly tabloid (circulation 5000 copies) distributed in the High Springs/Alachua/Newberry/Jonesville/Fort White areas of North Florida. Many thanks to publisher Barbara Llewellyn for her kind permission to post it here.
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