SOUTHEAST FL. – What will your resolution be for 2021? If you live in Southeast Florida, there are plenty of eco-friendly opportunities to explore.

In 2020, we learned to transform our backyards and balconies into edible gardens year-round. We adapted to work-at-home solutions. Educators became students of online learning to build engaging virtual lesson plans for K-12 classes. The pandemic also opened our eyes to new ways to protect our community’s biodiversity from our own backyards. We have come to learn that the virtual space is infinitely bigger and more flexible than we thought, with new opportunities to adjust, grow and enjoy.

Why not take this a step further and make resolutions that are eco-friendly through a variety of virtual programs readily packaged for you to register.

In Southeast Florida, County Extension agents at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) offer plenty of eco-friendly programs from which to choose. Contact your local UF/IFAS County Extension office for information.

The Martin County Water Ambassador training is an educational program that unites and empowers residents that have an interest in protecting local waterways and giving back to their communities. The program, in partnership with Martin County and UF/ IFAS Extension, provides a way for motivated individuals to connect personal decisions with information about lagoon-friendly practices. The 2021 Water Ambassador Program will be conducted through a virtual lunch–and-learn webinar series with subject matter experts and participant Q&A sessions. Webinars are offered every other week at noon, starting on Jan. 12. To find out more about the program, please contact Lisa Krimsky at lkrimsky@ufl.edu or go to https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/martin/sea-grant—martinst-lucie/ to view the agenda and past recordings.