WILD FLORIDA AS TOLD BY THE PIONEER "COW HUNTERS AND HUNTRESSES" WHO LIVED IT Two hundred years ago, pioneer "cow hunters and huntresses" in search of a better place to grow their families and raise cattle forged their way into the heart of wild Florida. They survived by wit and fortitude and drove down stakes in the unforgiving land. Traveling in covered wagons, alongside their cattle, they carved rutted trails through pine forests, trudged through swamps, black clouds of mosquitoes, survived pestilence, and disease to settle on Florida's rich prairie grassland. These rugged men and women cultivated the land, grew crops, put up clapboard houses, and rounded-up "scrub cattle" left by early Spanish explorers to breed and improve their herd. These pioneer families passed down their heritage of hard work and persistence. As Norman Proveaux, pioneer Myakka rancher puts it, "true 'cow hunters' are bred not made." Indiantown "cow huntress" Iris Wall, quips, she is a "Florida cracker with a little extra salt!" These are the true adventures of wild Florida told by the pioneer "cow hunters and huntresses" who lived it and gave birth to the Florida cattle industry. CONTACT: Nancy Dale, Ph.D. (863) 214-8351 or www.nancydalephd.com or [email protected]

Explore the wonders of Wild Florida with this hand-illustrated coloring book. Featuring over fifty of Florida's most iconic species across seven habitats, each page will stoke your curiosity and ignite your creative spirit. Coil-bound version.

A Land Remembered has become Florida's favorite novel. Now this Student Edition in two volumes makes this rich, rugged story of the American pioneer spirit more accessible to young readers. Patrick Smith tells of three generations of the MacIveys, a Florida family battling the hardships of the frontier. The story opens in 1858, when Tobias and Emma MacIvey arrive in the Florida wilderness with their son, Zech, to start a new life, and ends in 1968 with Solomon MacIvey, who realizes that his wealth has not been worth the cost to the land. Between is a sweeping story rich in Florida history with a cast of memorable characters who battle wild animals, rustlers, Confederate deserters, mosquitoes, starvation, hurricanes, and freezes to carve a kingdom out of the Florida swamp. In this volume, meet young Zech MacIvey, who learns to ride like the wind through the Florida scrub on Ishmael, his marshtackie horse, his dogs, Nip and Tuck, at this side. His parents, Tobias and Emma, scratch a living from the land, gathering wild cows from the swamp and herding them across the state to market. Zech learns the ways of the land from the Seminoles, with whom his life becomes entwined as he grows into manhood. Next in series > > See all of the books in this series

From Sassafras to Dandelions to Wild Onions and Garlic, readers will enjoy the flavors of the Sunshine State in an all new way with this helpful book. Florida is filled with an abundance of native plants with roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruit, and seeds that can provide tasty and nutritious food for people. Salads, teas, soups, and even breads can be made from flora that grows wild and can be foraged throughout the year. This guide offers identification tips, recipes, and other useful information for foragers interested in venturing out to sample the bounty of the land. Clear pen-and-ink illustrations aid in identification of leaf, fruit, and root shapes—key to harvesting the delicious and interesting plants that can be found throughout the state.

From the deepest swamps to the most civilized sidewalks, 50 Great Walks in Florida features the best short, but significant, outdoor jaunts in the Sunshine State. Experienced tour guide Lucy Tobias fills each page with fascinating local history and vivid descriptions of the sights and sites encountered along the way. 50 Great Walks in Florida is divided by geographic regions and each section includes at least one beach or wetlands walk, a historic walk, a garden walk, a place to see wildlife, and one locale with an unusual natural feature. Included are the Vietnam Memorial, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Coca-Cola Town, Ybor City Fresh Market, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, and even a ghost tour! Tobias recommends additional activities for each walk and offers suggestions for where to stop nearby, including local restaurants, to enhance the regional and cultural experience. This handy guide includes comprehensive locator maps, listings of trip essentials, and useful warnings about possible dangers such as poisonwood sap. These manageable walks will appeal to tourists in search of the real Florida, as well as to residents who want to become better acquainted with their state but still be done in time for lunch. Though shoes may be required, backpacks are not.

A fun- and fact-filled investigation into why the Sunshine State is the weirdest but also the most influential state in the Union.