Course Description: Mary Esther Community Garden encourages residents to grow organic produce, and employs the practices of composting, collecting rainwater, recycling and the use of environmentally safe pest management. They give back to the community by inviting residents, schools, community centers, and food banks to manage a garden plot for their needs. Ten garden plots are designated for charity donations. Come see this exciting work and learn how you can join in. This one-time tour will meet on March 5, 9:00 to 10:00, at the Mary Esther Community Garden.

Class Leader Bio(s): Ruth Sykes is the Community Garden Coordinator. Ruth has managed the Community Garden since 2013 and, with the help of Master Gardeners, educates the member gardeners about the growing process and best practices for plant production. The Community Garden members have harvested and donated over 2000 pounds of vegetables to local charities and food banks.

Notes: This one-time tour will meet at the Mary Esther Community Garden in Springdale Park on Mary Esther Drive (not Mary Esther Cutoff) next to the water tower. Ample parking is available. Participants are encouraged to wear gardening clothing.

Course Description: Destin-FWB has the most active artificial reef program in the state having deployed over 500 reefs. Due to lack of natural bottom habitat and coral reefs in the northern Gulf, artificial reefs and structures are put on the sea floor to provide habitat for marine life and provide divers and fishers with known sites. This presentation will talk about the process of deploying artificial reefs, what materials can be used, and will highlight some of the most popular reefs deployed in the last 10 years. This one-time class will meet on Thursday, March 5 at 1:00.

Class Leader Bio(s): In March of 2021, Jessica Valek became the Natural Resources Manager for the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Natural Resources Team where her main focus is running the County’s Sea Turtle Conservation and Nesting Program. She also manages marine debris removal efforts and assists the team with lionfish removal, research and restoration projects, as well as education and outreach efforts.