Surfrider's Florida Keys Chapter is excited to announce that the Green Turtle Hammock Nature Preserve is now officially certified as an Ocean Friendly Garden!
The Green Turtle Hammock Nature Preserve is an 8.7-acre protected area owned by the Village of Islamorada. The preserve protects one of the Florida Keys’ rare tropical rockland hammock habitats and features a scenic 0.4-mile trail for walking, birdwatching, and nature observation.
Ocean Friendly Gardens use sustainable landscaping practices to protect clean water, support wildlife, and build more resilient coastal ecosystems. Key elements include:
🌱 Native Plants – Support wildlife and create resilient habitat
🌎 Healthy, Living Soil – Absorbs water and filters pollutants
💧 Water & Irrigation – Conserves water and reduces wasteful runoff
☔ Redirect & Soak Up Rain – Helps prevent stormwater pollution before it reaches our waterways
By working with nature, Ocean Friendly Gardens help keep our oceans healthier for generations to come. A special thank you to the Village of Islamorada for its partnership and commitment to protecting our coastal environment through this project.
As Ocean Friendly Gardens Manager, Kathryn is passionate about advocating for watershed protection through gardens and landscapes. She graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a B.S. in Marine Biology, and developed a love for California native plants and restoration work during her time at the Los Cerritos Wetlands in Long Beach.