Transforming Florida Yards

I nearly flipped out in the food forest today because I thought I had found Styrofoam breaking apart in the garden 🧐😳🧐😳

Then my son calmly explained that it was actually the internal pith/foam from the stems of Mexican sunflower (perennial yellow tithonia) 🌻

Ironically, this plant has been somewhat of a bane of my existence because I’ve tried to remove it multiple times and it just keeps thriving 😂 But seeing that lightweight natural internal structure immediately got me thinking…

At a time when polystyrene foam pollution is everywhere …and some potting mixes now even use foam materials as substitutes for more expensive inputs …I can’t help but wonder about the potential of resilient, carbon-sequestering plants as biomaterials.

Unlike Styrofoam: plants feed pollinators, build soil, sequester carbon, biodegrade naturally, and regenerate themselves

Research on styrene/polystyrene exposure has raised concerns about possible carcinogenicity and reproductive impacts in occupational settings😷😭

These are exactly the kinds of regenerative design questions researchers, growers, and innovators should be exploring:

How do we replace toxic waste streams with living systems?

We’ll be discussing ideas like this and many more, including patent-ready plants and the process of filing a patent, during our 10-Day Permaculture Design Certification Course this August 🌿🌎🙏🏼

📍 Pike Food Forest, Jupiter Farms, FL
📅 August 17–26, 2026

https://jupiterfarmspermaculture.eventbrite.com/

20% off with discount code PDCMAMAS by 6/1/26!!

Mulberry leaves cook up just like collard greens… they’re incredibly sustainable and surprisingly nutritious!! 💪🏼

Unlike many annual greens, mulberry trees produce edible leaves year after year with very little input once established. The leaves are rich in: protein, calcium, iron, fiber, vitamin C, antioxidants and polyphenols.

They’re tender when young, delicious sautéed or simmered, and can be harvested repeatedly from the same tree 🌳 🌈 A perennial vegetable hiding in plain sight!

We’ll explore this and many more ways to enjoy food directly from your food forest during our 10-Day Permaculture Design Certificate Course this August🙏🏼🌸🦋

📍 Pike Food Forest, Jupiter Farms, FL
📅 August 17–26, 2026

https://jupiterfarmspermaculture.eventbrite.com/

20% off with discount code PDCMAMAS by 6/1/26!!





SustainableLiving

Ready to finally finish your food forest this year?! 🌿🌳

Pro-Tip: Order your plugs in bulk from AgriStarts!! Plugs average around just $1.20 each 🤯 I just received 72 strawberry trees for about $100!!

No business or resale certificate? No problem 🌱 Message me and I can help walk you through the process or partner on a bulk order.

We’ll be exploring this and so much more during our 10 Day Summer Permaculture Design Course ☀️🌴

🎉 20% OFF with discount code: PDCMAMAS
⏳ Valid through 6/1/26

📍 Jupiter Farms
💳 Step Up scholarships accepted
(Log into your Step Up EMA account and search “Pike Wellness” or “Amanda Pike,” then select Gardening/Horticultural Lessons or Training Programs)