The Southern Environmental Center (SEC) has filled the month of July with fundraising events. Whether you’re a creek-wading enthusiast or more of the dinner-and-drinks type, the SEC is hosting two events this week where you can celebrate, learn about, and maybe even taste their work.

Figs and Rosemary: 5 p.m. Thursday, July 18 at Rojo

For the sixth summer, the SEC is partnering with Rojo (co-owned by BSC alumna Laney DeJonge ’91) to serve some of the food and herbs produced by the center’s EcoScapes around north Alabama. These parks, set within urban neighborhoods, serve as both a pocket of nature to enjoy and also a natural and practical food source for the community.

“EcoScapes are designed to transform vacant lots in the metro area into community gathering places. We make them, as much as we can, edible landscape for wildlife,” SEC Director Roald Hazelhoff says. “We have our parks close to public transportation because they are also an edible landscape for humans.”

The EcoScapes are often set in food deserts — areas that lack affordable fresh foods — so the edible landscapes can provide nutritious fruits and plants to local residents. With lots of berries for Alabama birds and other animals to find, the gardens also grow figs and cooking herbs.

Rojo will roast the EcoScape figs on Thursday night and serve them with local Alabama honey and goat cheese for a tapas appetizer. They’ll also infuse rosemary into either tequila or vodka for a specialty drink. The SEC will receive the proceeds from the night.

While everyone is encouraged to visit the EcoScapes, Hazelhoff points out that events like Figs and Rosemary help celebrate the efforts without overrunning the parks.

Float Your Boat: 10 a.m. Saturday, July 20 at Turkey Creek

About 15 miles north of Birmingham, the SEC is involved in another fundraising event at Turkey Creek Nature Preserve. The 10^th annual Float Your Boat, put on by Friends of Turkey Creek, will feature boat races, food, music, swimming, and free ice cream.

There are multiple options for the non-motorized boat race, from small $1 boats to $25 fleets to $50 armadas, and the proceeds all go toward the preserve’s operations. Hazelhoff says that you never know when a small, handmade boat might win the entire race.

This event follows an important ribbon-cutting ceremony that’s happening on Friday, July 19. Turkey Creek now has a new parking lot with 70 spots to help manage the thousands of visitors they see each year.

Family events and festivals like Float Your Boat help contribute to the continued growth and preservation of Turkey Creek. The next plan for the preserve is to build a pavilion on the grounds for weddings, reunions, and other groups that want to reconnect with nature.

The SEC has been a part of preserving Turkey Creek since the Freshwater Land Trust asked for its help 10 years ago. The SEC works on events with Turkey Creek throughout the year, and BSC students have the opportunity to get involved as well.

“We have urban environmental studies classes that go out there, and we maintain Turkey Creek. Jefferson County really recognizes this as a Birmingham-Southern initiative,” Hazelhoff says.

To learn more about the Southern Environmental Center’s projects, find information both on their website and Facebook page.