City Government

CITY INITIATIVES

Plantation Farmers Market

Introducing Plantation’s new Farmers Market. Beginning March 13, and every Saturday thereafter, Plantation hosts a Farmers Market featuring fresh, certified organic produce. It will be located at Volunteer Park, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 noon, and will run year round. Produce available at the Market is provided by Baleigh's Organic Buyer's Club, and will include carrots, beans, potatoes, broccoli, oranges, apples, peppers and more. And as the Farmers Market grows, we hope to be able to expand to a second location, and add more items, such as flowers, herbs, baked goods and honey.

Whenever possible, the produce is locally grown or at a minimum, is grown in Broward County or the state of Florida. The word “organic” refers to the way farmers grow and process their agricultural products, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products and meat. Organic farming practices are designed to encourage soil and water conservation and reduce pollution. Farmers who grow organic produce don’t use conventional methods to fertilize or control weeds, but rather organic farmers may conduct sophisticated crop rotations and spread mulch or manure to keep weeds at bay. When produce or other products are “certified organic,” that means they have passed rigorous standards established in 2002 by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that include annual inspections, detailed records of farming practices and ecologically friendly methods.

The Plantation Farmers Market is the most recent project implemented by the City’s Climate Change Task Force, in an effort to encourage and educate our citizens – especially our youth – on the importance of being environmentally responsible and of healthy eating habits. On your way home from shopping, Saturday games, or lunch, please stop by and see what's new. We're sure you'll find something to enjoy.

The City of Plantation established its Farmers Market for the purpose of providing the Plantation community access to fresh and wholesome goods. But in addition to that, our hope is that Plantation’s Farmers Market will become a weekly event that families will look forward to attending; that it will help them feel connected to the community and the friends and neighbors they may see there. We hope to see you there!

“We were green before green was cool!”

You may have noticed many “green” practices already in effect throughout Plantation, such as the residential recycling program, Operation Habitat, which worked to certify homes, businesses and schools through the National Wildlife Federation’s Backyard Habitat program, environmentally friendly construction and demolition debris management requirements, nearly 14 miles of multi-use recreation trails throughout the City, and the establishment of “healthy neighborhoods” such as Plantation Midtown, which makes it safer and easier for residents to navigate throughout the community without the use of a motorized vehicle.

Each of these efforts is a small part of a larger effort to find ways to sustain our natural resources in order to ensure they remain available for generations to come.  Here are a few more: 

  • We've pass a resolution (Res 10481) before Council formalizing our commitment
  • We have created a Climate Change Task Force that meets monthly, and we have drafted a mission statement and goals for the group
  • We have received Gold certification through the Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC) Green Local Government certification program - only the third City in the state to achieve the gold level. 
  • We are developing an Action Plan for the City that will help guide and focus our efforts for the future. 
  • We have updated the City's mission statement to include a "green" component and added a budget goal for sustainable practices:
    Mission statement:  Continually improve citizens’ quality of life through the provision of value-driven, quality public services and facilities that reflect the expectations of Plantation residents and the business community and confirm the City’s commitment to responsible environmental stewardship.
    Sustainability practices goal:  Support sustainable development projects that promote positive economic growth, increase social conscience, advance fair competitiveness, stimulate technological innovation and ultimately lead to improved quality of life for this and future generations.  
  • Plantation’s Landscape Architecture department has been leading the way in “green” efforts for years. With its long standing PLANT Awards, Arbor Day activities at Plantation schools throughout the months of March and April, and Street Tree program, and more recent additions, GreenDay, Operation Habitat and Shade Brigade, they are the leaders among us in communicating the importance of planting trees and other landscaping for the benefit of all.
  • We have worked to become a National Wildlife Federation (NWF) certified "Community Wildlife Habitat," which means we have certified at least 200 homes, 5 schools and 6 businesses.  (We are actually WAY over 300 homes!) 
  • We are a member in good standing of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC).
  • We are holding a poster and essay contest for grades 6 – 12.
  • We are working with a company to start a farmers market here in Plantation. 
  • For several years now the City has been using "green" cleaning products in all our facilities. 
  • The Public Works department has replaced all City thermostats with programmable thermostats, and replaced traditional lighting with T-8 alternatives. They are also working with the Purchasing department to replace many of our everyday household items (cleaning products, paper goods, light bulbs, etc.) with more “eco friendly” and quite frankly less expensive alternatives.
  • Administration and Planning & Zoning encourage sustainable practices in all new development and redevelopment, and are looking in to biodiesel conversion for the community bus service buses. 
  • Individuals within the Development Services building recycle paper, glass, plastic, binders, magazines – anything they can reuse, they do; print and copy duplex whenever possible; use ceramic mugs and plates, rather than paper and plastic; shut off lights in the department when not in use; save documents electronically rather than printing them out; and turn off their computer monitors after hours. 
  • Our Building department requests all employees to e-mail or fax correspondence related to permits whenever possible; to scan documents and link to appropriate files rather than printing out. All department forms are available online, reports and e-mails are stored and viewed on computers instead of printed out, and soon permits will be paperless with online or electronic permit submissions.
  • Through the Police department and the Helen B. Hoffman Plantation Library, volunteers from the community take cell phones to Women in Distress and other organizations.  Used books are also collected and resold by Friends of the Library.
  • Whenever possible, Parks & Recreation Aquatics Division uses rain water to backwash pool filters and keeps chlorine levels to a minimum while still within health department standards. 
  • Kids at the Veltri Tennis Center recycle used tennis rackets, restringing them, and send them to Mexico for children to use.
  • Information Technology has worked with other departments, including City Clerk, Human Resources and Building, to help them implement several paperless initiatives (Council agenda, employee timesheets, online job applications and permit applications, etc.).  IT also recycles computers by donating them to non-profit organizations. 
  • Most every department recycles toner cartridges and other end of life office supplies.
  • And everyone’s favorite:  recycling used and scrap copy paper to make note pads!