For the majority of my life, I have steered clear of red meats and have eaten poultry and fish. Once I learned more about factory farming and how inhumane the industry is, I have been gradually progressing to a plant-based diet. I do “meatless” meals about 75 percent of my diet and hope to encourage others to do the same.  

By ditching meat, you naturally incorporate your meals with more veggie-dense, nutritious sides and ingredients. Some examples are veggie stir-fry, eggplant parmesan, five-bean chili, sweet potato and black bean tacos, salads, etc.

The best advice I can give others who want to try "Meatless Mondays" is to make it fun, do it with your family and try recipes you have never done before! Also, give the meatless protein options a try, “impossible” burgers are sold everywhere now and they are closer to the real deal than anything else. Learn more about getting protein from your veggies like broccoli, chickpeas, mushrooms and spinach.

When I was young, my family casually gardened so those experiences shortened my learning curve.  I grew up in South Georgia, which had a stronger than average agricultural culture.  I’ve always had an interest in agricultural pursuits and our societal relationship with gardening and relatively sustainable practices.

My recommendation for first-time gardeners would be to start with container gardening and gauge your interest before investing the time and resources in plowing up a plot in your yard. You might be surprised how successful a container garden can be even on a small scale.  A fistful of three to five-gallon pots can produce a surprising amount of garden bounty with limited investment. 

Grow plants and/or vegetables that you're passionate about.  Some items can’t be readily found in the grocery store.  If you have a cultural relationship with a particular food item, buy seeds and make it happen.  Focus on a food item that is rewarding and is challenging to source locally.  For instance, I adore Thai hot peppers for a particular Asian fusion/rice bowl meal. It’s challenging to source these peppers without scouring the local grocery stores during the peak season for this item.  I purchased the seeds online and have been growing them for years now with great success.

I got involved with CFAEP early in my career because of a recommendation from another member. It was a way to connect with other professionals and learn about different environmental issues that affect Central Florida/the Environment. I appreciate the opportunity to help preserve some of Central Florida’s great natural resources for future generations to enjoy.

I urge people to get involved by joining local Environmental Organizations, such as CFAEP. CFAEP strives to give back to the community by members volunteering their time at events, such as trash cleanups, invasive plant species removals and creating oyster mats to restore Florida’s oyster bars.