laying around. I put on some music, sit down
with my bones, and see what happens.”
Michele’s pieces include all types of bones,
from Burmese python vertebrae to raccoon
rib earrings. She also makes sculptures of
mythical creatures like squirrel dragons, and
creates bone gardens. She also sells skulls,
such as coyote and turtle.
Her work has not gone unappreciated.
She currently sits on the board of directors
at the North Port Art Center, and has won
numerous awards for her work. For as many
who are puzzled by her choice of artistic
materials, there are others who just “get it.”
“One of my greatest joys is to see the love
that people have for bones,” she said. “I am
humbled that I get to do this every day.”
Garrett Stewart started to gain a name
for himself around Southwest Florida right
about the time that the bad red tide bloom
hit several years ago. Using his pseudonym
“Captain Planet,” he became a voice for the
people along the Caloosahatchee, Charlotte
Harbor and beyond. His outspoken belief
was that a problem created by nature (with
man’s help) could be fought with nature; he
frequently used duckweed as an example of
a potential fi x for the cyanobacteria coming
out of Lake Okeechobee.
Part Scottish and part Lakota Indian,
Garrett’s massive presence and booming
voice comes with the enthusiasm of a small
boy … at least when it comes to all things in
nature. He works with
groups of school
children and
some adults,
to teach
them about
our natural
environment
and how
important
a balanced
ecosystem is
to humans, and
to the creatures we
share it with.
If you follow Garrett’s videos or social
media posts, one word you will frequently
see is “homie,” which means “friend.” The
turtles, the manatees, even the microscopic
creatures in the water are his homies. Nature
is his homie. It is hard to envision him in
the role of biologist and marine scientist
as he seems more of a hippie type, but in
truth Garrett can take the most complex
information and boil it down to terms that
the layman can understand.
That is why his work with children is so
important. Many of the groups he works
with are from schools and organizations
that encourage
today’s youth
to get out and
explore nature,
with the belief
that the things
we hold precious
are the things we
preserve.
So it was no
surprise that two
years ago he created the Eco Preservation
Project, which Garrett hopes to use to
change the way future generations think
about the natural world. He uses his
storytelling background to explain methods
of sustainability, safe farming and gardening
to adults and children alike, and partners
with many different companies to get the
word out.
All proceeds from partners go directly
toward providing free education to schools
and state parks throughout Florida.
Honoring the Earth Mother
September/October • 2020 • GASPARILLA MAGAZINE 57