Naturewise Grows

Staghorn and Live Oak by Fran Hardy copyright

Graphite and watercolor on fixed and varnished panel

48" x 42"

to see more of my trees go to http://www.franhardy.com

One of the creative people we interviewed in our south Florida documentary from the Creative-Native Project Series was Kari Ruder, owner of Naturewise Native Plant Nursery. She told us that because of our show there was a noticeable increase in customers who were inspired to come to her nursery. This was very gratifying for us because we knew our show had reached people and delivered the message. Kari as the education director of the Florida Native Plant Society also arranged a lot of other interviews and locations for us in her region of Florida as well as taking us to an elementary school where she assists them with an innovative gardening program. 
To see clips from our Florida program on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJd5DX1BMac

http://www.fnps.org/

Above is a link to the Florida Native Plant Society whose aim is  preservation, restoration and conservation of Florida  native plants and ecosystems.

We hope 'down the road' to do an another documentary in the Creative-Native Project Series on northern and central Florida which is very different from south Florida. We received this enthusiastic email from the Florida Arts Council.

Good morning Fran, 

I learned of you yesterday by receiving a phone call from the Arts Education Director in Oklahoma. When he mentioned your name, it did not ring a bell, however the creative native project reminded me of something. After researching the You Tube video, which is beautiful by the way, and reading your resume, I realized your connection to us was through the Individual Artist Fellowships and a grant Brevard Art Museum had for Culture Builds Florida in 2009/2010. Needless to say the news of the “Artist Process” spread like wild fire through the office generating much excitement. We have posted a link to our Facebook Page for the video and will do a feature story soon on this. http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Florida-Division-of-Cultural-Affairs/31574928078    Our Director remembers working with you several years ago on an exhibit in the 22^nd floor gallery at the Capitol.

I am interested in learning how the documentary came about that ran on PBS through WMFE in Orlando? Is that something that can be shared with WFSU? I look forward to hearing back from you…

Very excited to happenstance across you. Amazing work!! 

Laura Lewis Blischke

Arts Administrator

Accessibility Coordinator/Arts in Medicine/ Healthcare Coordinator

Florida Department of State / Division of Cultural Affairs

Here is some great news from Kari. If you visit you will find her incredibly knowledgeable.

Naturewise is Located at The Green Marketplace 

2295 Adamson Rd., Cocoa, FL 32926 | Phone: 321.536.1410 | kari@naturewiseplants.com

We're Moving!!

The Green Marketplace will be moving in July! We are very excited to announce that The Green Marketplace will be relocating to another farm just up the road from our current location on Adamson Road at Country Eight Farm! Kari (Naturewise) and Mary and Tim (Hise Farms) have decided that it's time to grow our business and we have found a nearby farm that can help us do that. We want to provide our customers with more produce, farm products and more opportunities for classes, workshops, and meet and greets with farm animals. Country Eight Farm (Dave and Sandi) declined our offer to move with us, and will set up their own farm stand on their property (current home of the marketplace). You may continue to visit them to purchase eggs, dairy goat products, and produce. Stay tuned for more details about our new location, partners, hours, products and more in our upcoming newsletters. Visit www.naturewiseplants.com to see their monthly newsletter and find out about the farm they are moving to.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Florida-Division-of-Cultural-Affairs/31574928078