Yesterday we spotted a manatee in the river along Fort Lauderdale’s Riverwalk. Learn more about gentle manatees at SavetheManatee.org.

Are you an Eco-Hero? Do you know an Eco-Hero?

Our friends at Action For Nature, a San Francisco-based non-profit, are now taking applications for the 2010 International Young Eco-Hero Awards! The awards recognize accomplishments of young people (ages 8 – 16) whose personal actions have significantly improved the environment. Award recipients will receive up to $500 cash, an award certificate, and other forms of recognition. The application deadline is February 28, 2010.

Their judges are experts in environmental science, biology and environmental health. They select Young Eco-Heroes from applicants from around the world. They are looking for young people to follow in their footsteps.

Kevin Huo, First Place Winner (Grade 4-5) of our “I Love Costa Rica’s Rain Forest Contest!” won an award from Action for Nature.

Please find more information, including guidelines and the application form, at www.actionfornature.org.

Action For Nature, Inc.
2269 Chestnut Street, #263
San Francisco, CA 94123
Phone: 415-513-2421

Kevin Huo is the First Place Winner in the 4-5^th Grade Category in Smart Poodle Publishing’s recent “I Love Costa Rica’s Rain Forest!” Contest. The extraordinary artistic talents of this ten-year-old from Northern California astonished the contest judges and many contest followers as well. As soon as Kevin received his prizes in the mail (thank you Rand McNally!) he called me to say thank you! No one ever calls to thank me, so I was impressed. I asked Kevin (and his parents) if he would be interested in doing an interview. He said yes. Read on for answers many questions you may have about what inspires him to paint. You’ll also learn more about Kevin’s commitment to Green Living.

Kevin Huo, Age 10

Before we ask Kevin some questions, here is a list of awards he has won:

Smart Poodle Publishing “I Love Costa Rica’s Rain Forest!” Writing and Art Contest – Kevin’s spectacular painting of Costa Rica and clever story landed him First Place in the 4th-5th Grade Category.

Kevin’s award-winning entry “Living Color: Costa Rican Rain Forest”

Go Green SamTram Bus Contest – When he was in third grade Kevin won the Grand Prize for this contest for his painting of a bus with an energy conservation theme, reducing the carbon in our atmosphere. His artwork was featured on some of the actual SamTram buses and on the bus passes.

Kevin’s spectacular art was displayed on Sam Tram buses

Filoli Art Contest – The San Mateo County Board of Education and the Filoli organization sponsored an art contest. Filoli is an historic country estate that is part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. For this contest, Kevin created a painting of the California countryside.

Action For Nature Young Eco Hero Awards- This nonprofit organization in San Francisco encourages young people to take personal action to better their environments, and to foster love and respect for nature. Kevin was honored for his environmental activism. Click here to see the pdf. Apply for the 2010 Action for Nature International Young Hero-Eco Awards 2010. Deadline is Feb 28, 2010.

Town of Atherton, CA Evironmental Program Contest – While in 2nd Grade, Kevin won the Grand prize for his title Green Kid Saves the World.

Kevin proudly displays his artwork and blue ribbon

Mangrove Art Project International Contest – This is a nonprofit organization, dedicated to the protection of the world’s mangrove forests ecosystems. Kevin was the only award winner in the US. He painted this outstanding picture of mangroves, which was included in the organization’s calendar.

Kevin’s award-winning painting of mangroves

Environmental Awareness Camp; Cultural Exchange – Kevin was interviewed by Michael Caduto, Director of Programs to be featured in his upcoming new book about young activist kids

Hip Housing Contest – Kevin won 2 awards for his participation in the San Mateo County Hip Housing Project. In 2007 his painting  “My home is my moving castle” depicted houses being saved from a hurricane after Katrina.  The pictures were included in Foster City, CA calendars.

Kevin won the Hip Housing Art Contest 2 years in a row

San Mateo County Board of Education – Kevin’s work was displayed at a solo exhibit at the school board office, after he was inspired to create 6 paintings of the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere. (This was not a contest, but rather an exhibit of his work)

Interview

How old were you when you started to show an interest in art?

I was about 5 years old when I started to draw. My Dad draws a lot because he is an architect. Watching him work really inspires me to draw and paint. He’s so good at what he does. My Mom is very creative too. She used to work as a stage manager in the theater.

Kevin with his parents, Kenneth and Gina Huo

I understand that you and your parents are very interested in “Green Living.” Can you tell us how your family got interested in that?

Sometimes my Dad designs Green Living houses and other buildings. He’s taught me a lot about preserving our environment. Our family loves nature too. Through a great organization called V-O-CAL we volunteered for a project to help clean up some nature trails.. We talk a lot about the environment at home and at school. Also participating in the Go Green SamTram contest got me even more interested in the environment. It is important to learn about keeping our world clean.

What is your favorite art medium?

When I first started to draw I used colored pencils only. Now that I’m a little bit older, I also use watercolors.

What inspires you to paint?

I love to look at drawings and paintings from famous artists, but I do not have a single favorite artist. There are so many good ones! I am also inspired by nature and really love learning about and painting animals of all kinds. I love to research animals and places and then combine my interest in nature with my art.

Do you draw from memory, use photos or get your perspective from real objects and scenes?

I usually look at pictures in books for ideas and to see what shapes things are, but I also draw from looking at real objects. Before I start, I always spend time imagining what the finished drawing will actually look like. I often finish the painting, and it looks just like I imagined it would.

How often do you paint/draw?

Whenever there is a contest announced that I am interested in, I paint. I also paint when I am inspired or just get a new idea. Sometimes I paint every week, but not always.

Have you had any professional lessons?

No I haven’t. I have only watched my Dad. He doesn’t just design houses and buildings. He also draws or paints sometimes, and has given me direction or has helped me with ideas.

What did you learn about Costa Rica that interested you most, while researching to write your essay for the Smart Poodle “I Love Costa Rica’s Rain Forest!” Contest?

I knew there were forests in Costa Rica, but I had no idea how many unusual plants and animals were there. I was fascinated to learn about alien possums, which I wrote about in my essay. And the number of different species of plants is amazing! I loved learning about the rain forest, and I cannot wait to visit Costa Rica to learn more.

Kevin, it is great t hear you say that, because the purpose of our contest was to encourage kids to learn more about Costa Rica and the plants and animals of the rain forest. What did you learn about mangroves for the Mangrove Art Contest you won? That painting is spectacular!

I visited mangroves in Taiwan and found it fascinating. I remember the sounds, the smells of the decaying plants and all the animals that live there. Both visiting and reading about mangroves really helped me understand it all. Doing that painting was a lot of fun.

Did you know that we have mangroves here in Florida too?

Yes, I knew that, though I have never been to Florida to see those mangroves. Some day I’d love to visit.

I realize you are only 10, but do you have any idea what you’d like to do for a career when you grow up?

I can imagine myself being an architect and designing green living houses.

That sounds perfect with your talents! Will you design a house for me?

Sure. I’d love to. (laughing)

What else do you enjoy doing other than art?

I love to read adventure stories like yours – Lilly Badilly – and others. I enjoy studying history, like I did with Paul Revere. I also like to travel. I’ve been to Taiwan, where my parents are from and also to Japan. But when I get older, I’d love to travel a lot more and see the world.

What advice do you have for other young students who want to become excellent at art?

The most important thing is to just try. There are so many things that can inspire you to paint; it does not have to be just one thing. Try imagining what the finished drawing will look like in your head before you get started. Don’t be afraid to draw or paint, because if it doesn’t work out the way you want, you can always start over. No one even has to see it. Just keep on trying, and you’ll eventually get it. Never, ever give up.

Kevin, thank you so much for sharing your artistic talents with us. You may be only 10 years old, but you have inspired so many children and adults with your artwork. You are living proof that having a passion can lead to great accomplishments – no matter what a person’s age may be. You also know how important it is to say “Thank You.” That will take you very far. You also remind us that the only way to win numerous contests is to enter them often! Please stay in touch with us and let us know about any future projects you have. Your future is looking as bright as your watercolor paintings!

Epilogue

We all know that “passion” is the main ingredient to success. It is achieved through incurable curiosity and unstoppable motivation. Passion is not something we have to wait for until adulthood; it can appear at an early age. Kevin’s love of art and nature are not forced. These are simply part of his soul. How inspiring for us all!

Ever wonder what Spanish Moss really is? It thrives here in the south, especially among live oak trees that provide the plant with perfect minerals and nutrients. Spanish Moss is actually a flowering plant, an epiphyte, which means that it relies upon another plant to grow, since it cannot grow on its own (much like orchids). It is actually part of the bromeliad family of plants. So you see, it is not really a moss at all. I love the way it looks and the shade it provides!

Bald eagles are a spectacular sight up close. I photographed this one from a few feet away at the wildlife center at Miami Science Museum. He has a wing injury and is being nursed back to health. Check out those talons! Eagle talons are used for both slicing their prey and carrying them. Yikes!

These eagles got their name because the word “bald” was at one time used for meaning plain or white. More than half of North America’s bald eagles live in Alaska and Canada’s British Colombia. Apparently the abundance of salmon is what attracts them to this region. In addition to different kinds of fish, a small percentage of the bald eagle diet also also includes small mammals.

Did you know it was once believed that there were 2 subspecies of bald eagles – Southern and Northern? It turns out that there really aren’t. It is just that eagles who live in hot climates like Florida are smaller in size.

In 2007  the bald eagle was taken off the endangered species list. They are protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

Check out The American Eagle Foundation website for more info about our National Bird.

Today my family visited the Miami Science Museum. We were captivated by a wall of Eco Art created by artist Xavier Cortada, part of the environmental Reclamation Project. Mangrove seeds are raised in these plastic holders, which are mounted to a wall. When they reach the right size, volunteers will plant them in the ground to revive some of our mangrove forests.

Mangroves are trees that grow with their roots showing above ground. They grow in coastal areas of tropical and subtropical climates in brackish water (a combination of both fresh and salt water). The roots provide a perfect habitat for oysters, crabs, barnacles as well as other fish and plants, and the complex root system plays an important role in the flow of water. Decomposition of organic matter in the water around the roots results in a distinctive and rather unpleasant odor.

The Miami Science Museum is just one of ten places where these seedlings have been sprouted and displayed as art. Please click here to learn more about the project and the artist. Imagine having a wall like that on your patio at home. Awesome!

You do not have to live in S. FL to be interested in learning, with your kids, about iguanas. They are not natural to our area, yet they are taking over. Read this article from the Sun Sentinel today.

Just like pythons and other exotic creatures, iguanas were introduced into our subtropical terrain by uneducated pet owners, who could no longer care for their lizards and thus released them into the wild. They have reproduced in such astounding numbers, that they are causing problems here. When full grown, they can reach 5 feet in length, so they do not have many predators. They seem to enjoy life in well protected residential neighborhoods, and they are known to devour fruit trees, household plants and orchids and leave their poop (which can contain salmonella) all over the place.  The odor is atrocious! They also like to dig burrows, which can cause paved areas to collapse.

It is illegal to release iguanas into the wild here, but apparently that is not stopping many pet owners from doing so. I find them to be fascinating to watch and exotically beautiful (in a prehistoric sort of way), and I would be sad to hear they are being destroyed. If people would just leave exotic animals where they belong, we would not have this problem.  I am perfectly happy living with a standard poodle and not a lizard.

Photo courtesy of Free Digital Photos

Burrowing owls love grassy open areas, and are very common in South Florida. The problem is, that like many other species, they are being threatened due to land development. The State of Florida has declared them a protected species to help prevent further destruction. It is common to see roped off sections of fields in the Miami area where they have burrowed in the ground. These adorable owls are unique in that they are active during the day. This is good news for humans, because we can observe them during the daylight hours. Don’t get too close, because they tend to feel threatened and get nervous!

I took these photos on the playground of our local elementary school. Thanks to the cooperation of these creatures, my Nikon D40’s telephoto lens and perfectly blue skies, I was able to capture their unique beauty. The owls often nest in holes that were already dug by other creatures or by construction crews. The mom’s lay up to 8 eggs, and the babies appear from the burrows only a couple of weeks after birth. Unfortunately there were no babies in sight. I’ve seen them before, and they are the cutest, fluffiest little birds on earth.

In addition to land development and flooding land, burrowing owls are threatened by insecticide use and their predators – large snakes, raccoons and cats. The owls hunt for insects, lizards, frogs, small rodents and snakes.

Their bright yellow eyes and piercing pupils are like a ray of sunshine on a dark, gloomy day.

http://www.webweaver.nu/linkus.shtml

What a great day it is to celebrate our earth! Here are 10 ways to celebrate with your kids:

1. Plan your summer garden today. Research plants that grow well in your zone.  Shop for seeds online. Think organic gardening!
2. Clean up the trash in a street or parking lot near your home.
3. Check out a science book from the library about the earth.
4. Lay on a blanket in your yard and take in all the sounds of nature. (birds chirping, leaves blowing, etc.)
5. Do a craft together using natural items you find in your back yard or use items you no longer need inside your home.
6. Shop for – or better yet – make a bird feeder.
7. Look around your house at your possessions and talk about ways the family can consume less stuff. (Clothing, toys, knickknacks, household supplies and more).
8. Make a plan to donate and recycle unwanted items this summer.
9. Eat dinner outside.
10. Gaze at the stars at night.

At the end of the day, thank the earth for its incredible resources!

In South Florida, we plant our tomatoes in the fall and enjoy our harvest after January 1st. I planted 12 buckets of tomatoes today and nearly broke my back. The worst part was buying the 10 humongous bags of potting soil, which must be lifted into the cart, then into the car, then out of the car, then into the pots. That is certainly not my favorite part of gardening, but it must be done.

Sometimes I think I should not bother with planting the tomatoes, because it is a lot of work and upkeep. But then all I have to think about is how those pesticide free, vine ripened tomatoes really taste, and I don’t mind all the work. You cannot compare the home grown taste and texture to those gas-ripened Styrofoam tomatoes at the grocery store that have NO flavor. Plus I am helping clean the air by planting so many plants in my yard.

The greatest challenge is keeping insects, namely hornworms and mites off the plants. I spray the tomatoes with a concoction I make in the blender. It contains a dash of crushed red pepper and garlic. I grind it all up, let it sit for a while and then strain it. Then I put it in a spray bottle and make sure I get all the fruit with it. That seems to work well most of the time, and it rinses off well when you are ready to eat the tomatoes.

By the way, did you know that there are almost 40,000 acres of tomatoes grown in Florida every year? It takes well over 30,000 workers to pick those tomatoes. So be grateful for your tomato pickers!