Kayak Local Econfina Creek

The weather is beginning to get warmer here in the Florida Panhandle as the spring equinox draws closer. Looking for something to get you out in the wonderful world of nature or something to occupy the kids on the weekend? Consider visiting the local Econfina Creek and its beautiful canoe trail in Youngstown, FL for a leisurely trip down the calm trail. The local Econfina Creek Canoe Livery LLC is currently offering shuttle services by reservation only seven days a week. They offer one or two-person kayaks as well as a pick-up from the end of the trail to take you back to your vehicle. They suggest bringing lunch and/or snorkeling gear to make the most of the trip, turning the 3hr paddle trail into a lovely, relaxing day-trip along the cool waters. 

Visit their official website HERE for more information or to make a reservation today. 

Quilting Day

Did you know quilting may date back as far back as 3400 BCE?! It has remained a popular skill and hobby for many ever since it arrived in the United States with the first European settlers. It is a rich tradition with many interesting developments and stylistic differences. In honor of the rising popularity of the annual March 18th Quilting Day celebration, consider visiting one of the Panhandle’s wonderful quilting stores listed below: 

  • Quilting by the Bay, Panama City (website)
  • Margie’s Sew Much Fun, Crestview (website)
  • Lynn’s Sewing Center, Fort Walton Beach (850-864-4555)

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

Today is St. Patrick’s Day, an annual event that began as a religious holiday honoring St. Patrick. Also called the Feast of St. Patrick, it is observed on the day of St. Patrick’s death. As the patron saint of Ireland, this day of observance has evolved into a fantastic celebration of Irish culture with parades, special foods, music, dancing, and drinking. Interested in learning more about the history of the holiday, the culture, or how you can participate? Visit A&E’s History page on St. Patrick’s Day HERE

 

House Hunting for Honey Bees

The swarm season for bees is underway. A spring phenomenon, this is an event that is growing rarer to see as the global bee population is rapidly declining due to various threats to their life cycles. Swarm season is actually an important step in bee colonies’ natural reproduction. Bees swarm a temporary home such as a tree branch while scouts go out to find new homes (aka hives) for the season. In this process, one swarm often becomes two or more colonies. If you see a cluster of bees, do not panic! Simply contact a local beekeeper if you need them removed or simply leave them be as they are often gone within two weeks.
If you desire to have the bee swarm removed, call a beekeeper, your County Extension Office, local beekeeping club, police department, or a similar organization. Many of them will gladly direct you to a beekeeper who would be happy to pick up these bees and give them a good home. Swarms are usually quite docile as they have no need to defend their hive, so simply walk away and contact an expert to keep everyone – and everybee – involved safe and sound! 

Blueberry Popovers & Panhandle Pride

Today is National Blueberry Popover Day! Popovers are airy rolls that puff up when baked, popping over the edge of the tin. They are light and crispy on the outside while the insides are warm and hollow, perfect for filling with your choice of custards, creams, and fruits – especially blueberries! Blueberries are the perfect filling for popovers here in the Florida Panhandle. Not only do they decrease your cholesterol level and lower the chances of heart diseases, diabetes, and obesity but there are plentiful places to get blueberries fresh: Jackson Farms, Harmony Vineyard, Blue Sky Berry Farm, Blueberry Springs, and more.

Check out this website for a full listing of Florida Panhandle U-Pick Farms. 

National Dentist’s Day

National Dentist’s Day falls annually on March 6th. It was established as a way to show appreciation and thanks to dentists, dental hygienists, and nurses. It’s also a way to bring awareness to dentistry so that people will know more about how to care for their teeth. It also encourages people who may have avoided going to the dentist to come in for a checkup. Here are some tips to help keep your teeth healthy:

1. Brush teeth for two minutes, twice per day. 

2. Floss daily!

3. Visit a dentist twice per year if possible. 

4. Eat a balanced diet and limit eating and drinking between meals to reduce corrosion. 

Unplug from Technology Today

National Day of Unplugging is an awareness campaign that promotes a 24-hour respite from technology annually observed the first weekend in March. From sundown-to-sundown March 5-6, 2021, remove yourself from social media and technology, in general, to spend time on other, tech-free things. For over a decade, schools, religious institutions, and businesses have helped their communities celebrate this event to promote healthy life/tech balances. 

Consider going outside for a walk, reading that book you’ve had on your nightstand for a few weeks, spend quality time with friends/family/or pets, enjoy a hobby you haven’t practiced for awhile, and more! 

Visit the official National Day of Unplugging website HERE for more information such as things to do while unplugged, online gatherings, and more! 

Vegetable Gardening 101 in Tallahassee

Today was the first Organic Vegetable Gardening 101 course held at Native Nurseries in Tallahassee. New to vegetable gardening? New to Tallahassee? Looking for a refresher course? This workshop is for you! Joe Walthall goes over the basics of organic vegetable gardening – preparing a bed, soil building, what to plant, when to plant, and more. This is an outdoor workshop that features a demonstration in Native Nurseries’ vegetable garden. Missed today’s event? Never fear – this special workshop will occur again on March 6th at 10 a.m. EST. 

PLEASE NOTE: Registration is required by phone. There is a $5.00 fee; your payment holds your spot in the class. Please call (850) 386-8882 to pre-register. Class size is limited to 15 people. Masks are required. When parking, please use the driveway next door to the nursery with ‘Workshop Parking’ sign seen from Centerville Rd.

National Bird-Feeding Month

Here in the Florida Panhandle and surrounding areas, the health of our local ecology plays a huge part in helping migratory (and local) bird populations. February is National Bird-Feeding Month, dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of providing wildlife with necessities as well as encouraging healthier, sustainable bird feeding habits. Birds have it tough in winter as they have new families to feed and the natural resources to do so aren’t as plentiful as at other times of the year.

Want to help? Most importantly, make sure you are only putting out seed that is natural to the diet of birds in your area. Secondly, be sure to squirrel-proof any bird feeders or baths you put out. As birds often gather in places where food, shelter, and water are reliable, being consistent and generous is the best way to get to see a wide variety of species. Furthermore, bird watching in your yard or surrounding land will not only help you relax and make you happier but also help provide the right resources to get those birds coming back again and again. Spotting patterns and identifying species will help you identify what kind of feed is most beneficial, what plants will help encourage birds to land, and what kind of water sources are most useful. 

National Holiday and Local Library Spotlight

Did you know that February is National Libary Lovers’ Month? It is a month dedicated to recognizing the value of libraries as well as work to assure that libraries in the U.S.A. will continue to serve their patrons. 

In celebration of this month-long celebration of school, public, and private libraries, let’s highlight a local public library that is continuing to provide wonderful experiences despite the restrictions of the time. Calhoun County Public Library turned 181 years old this January and is continuing to host its weekly Storytime every Thursday at 10 a.m. via Facebook. 

Visit the Calhoun library’s official website HERE or go straight to their Facebook page to access future storytime events and more by CLICKING HERE!