IFAS Matters - March 2013

Posted on March 8, 2013 by Jack Payne

“Water, water everywhere…” Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Five hundred years ago, Juan Ponce de León came to Florida seeking treasure and, according to legend, the Fountain of Youth. Unfortunately, poor old Ponce found neither the fountain nor youth. However, if asked what Florida’s main attraction was, he might have said, “¡Es la fuente de la juventud, estúpido!”(It’s the Fountain of Youth, stupid!).

Our language and sayings make it clear that water is very important to us. For example, some folks may not catch the meaning of, “It won’t play in Poughkeepsie,” but they’re sure to understand you when you say, “It won’t hold water.”

And there are plenty of slogans extolling water:
Olympia Beer’s “It’s the water” or the Waterpik classic, “Why just turn on water, when the water can turn you on?”

But my favorite saying is:
“It is wise to bring some water when one goes out to look for water.” (Arab Proverb)

Please take a close look at this month’s IFAS Matters as it takes on water. Literally.

Meanwhile, here are a few sayings to make your mouth water:

A drop in the bucket. Blood is thicker than water. Crying buckets. Don’t change horses in midstream. Feeling swamped. Make a big splash. Raining cats and dogs. Sink or swim. Somebody is all wet. Still waters run deep. The well’s run dry. Treading water.

Get your feet wet. Having a ripple effect. It’s all water under the bridge. Jump in with both feet. Like water off a duck’s back. Troubled waters. Wash my hands of the whole thing. Watered down. Wet behind the ears. Wet your whistle. When it rains, it pours.

-Jack

Features

UF/IFAS Water Survey

UF/IFAS PIE Center presents results of new water survey. Watch Video | Read more...

Urban Water

UF/IFAS survey of nation’s largest cities finds water supplies not as threatened as believed. Read more...

Aquaponics

UF/IFAS faculty aid Fort White teens in building aquaponics system to raise fish, vegetables. Read more...

Apalachicola Oysters

Experts with UF/IFAS and FL Sea Grant are joining with local seafood producers to help restore sustainable populations of oysters.
Watch Video | Read more...