Sustainable Florida Announces Finalists for 2009 Best Practice Awardsd

Sustainable Florida - Collins Center is a statewide organization committed to the balance of economic interests with the need to be socially and environmentally responsible. They are doing a great job of connecting green leaders in the state of Florida.

One of their annual projects is the Best Practice Awards. Now in its 11th year, the event solicits nominations, recognizes and honors businesses, organizations and individuals whose work demonstrates that a healthy environment and a healthy economy are mutually supportive.

Awards categories include Small and Large Business, Leadership, Non-Profit, Government, Business Partnership, and the Green Building. The Health Chic team is hoping to be nominated in 2010.

Honoring the recipients is only the first step. Promoting winning practices statewide is equally as important so that others may benefit from their accomplishments and ultimately implement similar or equally successful practices.

Sounds totally in line with the philosophy here at The Health Chic House. This year the award ceremony will be held in Orlando and the winners get to spend some time with Governor Charlie Crist.

Polk IS Florida-Friendly, one of our Earth Day sponsors has made it to the finals this year. We wish them lots of eco-luck!

Polk County Builders Association is the lead agency on the Polk IS Florida-Friendly program, a cooperative education project funded primarily by the Southwest Florida Water Management (another supporter of Earth Day) with additional funding from the Polk County Board of County Commissioners.

The goal of this program is to promote landscape best management practices by teaching the nine Florida-friendly landscaping principles to the residents of Polk County.

The program will create materials, including a list of plants specifically suited to Polk County’s climate and soil conditions. There will also be a touring map that will direct citizens to more than 15 publicly-accessible demonstration gardens around the County where the nine principles of Florida-friendly landscaping can be seen put into practice.

All materials created will be distributed free of charge throughout the County and will be made available for events and workshops. Along with our partners we will be hosting workshops and participating in community events. Materials will be available at the new Aromatherapy Home & Garden Studio inside The Health Chic House.