Good Afternoon from Florida's Indian River Lagoon
Good afternoon from Sebastian Saltwater along Florida's Indian River Lagoon in Sebastian FL. Today is Monday October 26, 2026.
Welcome to today's Lagoon Life Report, where we explore the weather, wildlife, waterfront communities, parks, local food, and everyday moments that make life along the Indian River Lagoon so special.
Lagoon Conditions
Time: 1 PM
Air Temperature: 78 with a high of 80
Humidity: 75% - it has increased over the past few days.
Wind Direction & Speed: NE at 23+ MPH
Tide Stage: High at 11 AM and Low at 5:30 PM (.5 ft - King Tide)
Moon Phase: Full - rise at 7 PM and set at 8 AM
Water Conditions: Incredible! Look at the beautiful blue ocean water being pushed in the inlet.
Today's Lagoon Life:
Holy cow is the lagoon angry. I've never seen it like this in my time here. Waves pounding into seawalls and the shore. The outside bar at the restaurant is unusable.
Lagoon Living Tip of the Day:
The Fertilizer Ban Is Over. That Doesn't Mean Your Lawn Needs Fertilizer!
Here's something worth remembering as we move into late October.
Indian River County's annual rainy-season fertilizer restriction ended September 30.
From June 1 through September 30, the county prohibits applying fertilizers containing nitrogen or phosphorus to lawns and landscapes, subject to the ordinance's provisions.
But now that October has arrived, some homeowners may be tempted to give their lawns a generous helping of fertilizer.
Not so fast!
The fertilizer restrictions exist because excessive nutrients can wash into stormwater systems and ultimately reach the Indian River Lagoon.
Nitrogen and phosphorus contribute to the nutrient pollution that can fuel harmful algal blooms and damage aquatic ecosystems.
🌱 Three Things to Remember This Fall
First, don't fertilize unless your lawn actually needs it.
Florida's sandy soils and frequent rainfall can make nutrient management challenging. Applying more fertilizer than plants can absorb wastes money and increases the potential for runoff.
Second, know the rules.
Indian River County requires fertilizers containing nitrogen to have at least 50% slow-release nitrogen.
Phosphorus fertilizer generally cannot be applied without an appropriate soil or plant-tissue test demonstrating a deficiency.
Fertilizer must also be kept at least 10 feet away from wetlands, water bodies and the tops of seawalls, with limited exceptions for newly planted vegetation.
Third, watch the weather.
Even outside the summer restriction period, the county prohibits fertilizing saturated soils or when more than two inches of rainfall is expected within 24 hours. Other storm-related restrictions also apply. indianriver.gov
🌿 Here's an Even Better Idea
Consider replacing a little turfgrass with Florida-friendly landscaping.
Native shrubs, flowering plants and groundcovers can provide habitat for wildlife while reducing the amount of lawn requiring maintenance.
Rain gardens and rain barrels can also help capture stormwater before it reaches streets, canals and the Lagoon. indianriver.gov
🌊 Today's Takeaway
The healthiest lawn isn't necessarily the greenest lawn. It's the one that works with the environment rather than against it.
Every bag of unnecessary fertilizer we don't spread is one less potential source of excess nutrients entering our waterways.
And that's good for the Lagoon.
Learn More: Indian River County Fertilizer Ordinance
Wildlife & Nature
Somehow the birds seem to ike ther high winds as I understand they can travel easily but I'm not sure where they are going. Certainly not hunting for lunch. Maybe it is easier to stay drifing in the air then trying to sit still on a branch somewhere.
Today's Lagoon Spotlight
❤️ Today's Indian River County Do-Gooder: Shining Light Garden Foundation
Location: 7275 49th Street, Vero Beach, Florida
Founded: 2008
Mission: Growing fresh, nutritious food and giving it to people who need it.
🌱 A Backyard Garden That Grew Into Something Extraordinary
In 2008, a man named Joel Bray began growing vegetables in his backyard in Indian River County.
He enjoyed gardening, but something happened that changed the direction of his efforts.
He started giving away his extra produce.
And the more he gave away, the more he wanted to grow.
Eventually, his backyard project expanded into what is now Shining Light Garden, a nonprofit farm encompassing more than 20 acres in the Winter Beach area of Vero Beach.
Today, the farm grows vegetables, fruits and flowers, with its harvest donated to organizations serving people in need. shininglightgarden.com
And here's what makes this organization particularly remarkable.
100% volunteer. 100% donations. 100% giveaway.
That's how the organization describes its operating philosophy.
The farm doesn't operate as a conventional commercial vegetable producer. Its purpose is to grow food and give it away.
🥬 Thousands of Bushels of Fresh Food
Over the years, Shining Light Garden has grown thousands of bushels of vegetables.
Its crops have included tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, collard greens, eggplant, kale, onions, potatoes, squash and numerous other vegetables.
The produce is distributed through local food pantries, soup kitchens, veteran organizations, senior programs and other community partners.
The organization has also planted more than 250 mango and avocado trees to expand its fruit production. shininglightgarden.com
Think about the difference that makes.
Food assistance programs often rely heavily on canned goods, packaged foods and shelf-stable products.
Fresh vegetables and fruits can be more difficult and expensive to provide.
Shining Light Garden helps fill that nutritional gap by growing fresh produce specifically for donation.
🌺 But They Grow Something Else, Too
Here's my favorite part of this story.
Shining Light Garden doesn't limit its efforts to growing food.
It also grows flowers for patients at the VNA Hospice House.
Volunteers harvest flowers from the garden and create arrangements intended to brighten the lives of people receiving hospice care.
The organization also grows miracle fruit, which it provides to people experiencing changes in taste, including some undergoing chemotherapy. shininglightgarden.com
There's something especially touching about that.
One part of the garden grows vegetables to nourish people.
Another grows flowers to bring them beauty and comfort.
Both are expressions of the same underlying philosophy.
Grow something good, and give it to someone who needs it.
❤️ The Community Helping the Garden Grow
Shining Light Garden is also a wonderful example of organizations working together.
In 2024, the Garden Club of Indian River County contributed $10,000 toward purchasing and installing a refrigeration system for the farm.
The new equipment helps preserve freshly harvested produce while it awaits distribution.
That might not sound particularly glamorous.
But refrigeration can make an enormous difference when you're harvesting large quantities of fresh vegetables and trying to get them into the hands of people who need them.
The Garden Club and its individual circles have also provided volunteers and other financial support. gardenclubofirc.org
📅 Coming Up This Wednesday, October 28
Here's a particularly timely example of Shining Light Garden's community partnerships.
The Gifford Youth Achievement Center has a mobile food pantry scheduled for Wednesday, October 28, 2026, beginning at 9 AM.
The food pantry operates through partnerships with Shining Light Garden, Treasure Coast Food Bank, For the Love of Paws and community volunteers.
The program provides food assistance to local residents, including pet food when available.
It's a wonderful example of how a local farm's generosity can extend throughout the community. GYAC
🌎 What Does This Have to Do With Lagoon Living?
Quite a bit, actually.
The Indian River Lagoon is more than an estuary.
It's the ecological and geographic centerpiece of a community.
The people who live around it are part of that community, too.
We spend considerable time discussing how to restore seagrass, protect mangroves, improve water quality and conserve wildlife.
Those efforts are essential.
But building a healthy community also means caring for the people who live here.
Shining Light Garden demonstrates how agriculture, volunteerism and community service can work together to improve people's lives.
And there's another connection worth considering.
The farm is an example of how productive land can provide value beyond its commercial potential.
A piece of property can generate income through development.
It can generate food through agriculture.
And sometimes it can generate something much harder to measure.
A sense of belonging, generosity and shared responsibility.
🌻 How You Can Help
Shining Light Garden welcomes volunteers interested in planting, tending, harvesting and helping distribute produce.
The organization also accepts financial contributions to support seeds, equipment, farm improvements and operations.
People can help by organizing fundraisers, introducing the farm to community organizations or simply spreading the word.
You don't need to be an experienced gardener.
According to the organization, there's something for everyone who wants to contribute.
If you'd like to visit or volunteer, contact the farm first to arrange the details.
Garden location: 7275 49th Street, Vero Beach.
Learn More and Get Involved
Shining Light Garden Foundation Official Website
Garden Club of Indian River County: Supporting Shining Light Garden
Gifford Youth Achievement Center Food Pantry Calendar
Thinking About Life Along the Lagoon?
Flood Zone X Doesn't Mean You're Flood-Proof!
Here's a question every Florida homebuyer should ask:
"What is this property's flood risk, and what would flood insurance cost?"
Many buyers are relieved when they discover that a home is located in FEMA Flood Zone X.
That's understandable. Zone X generally identifies areas with lower or moderate mapped flood risk than high-risk flood zones.
But here's the distinction.
Lower flood risk doesn't mean zero flood risk.
Flooding can result from heavy rainfall, inadequate drainage, overflowing canals, storm surge and other circumstances.
In Indian River County, flood hazards can come from the Atlantic Ocean, Indian River Lagoon, tributaries and intense rainfall. indianriver.gov
Why This Matters When Buying a Home
Properties located in designated high-risk flood zones generally require flood insurance when financed through federally backed mortgages.
Properties outside those zones may not face that requirement, but purchasing flood coverage can still be worthwhile.
The National Flood Insurance Program notes that approximately one-third of flood insurance claims come from properties in low- or moderate-risk zones. floodsmart.gov
A Valuable Local Resource
Indian River County provides a public flood-information website where buyers, homeowners and real estate professionals can investigate individual properties.
The county's current FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps became effective January 26, 2023.
The county also provides access to available elevation certificates, which can be useful when evaluating a property's flood exposure and insurance requirements. indianriver.gov
My advice for buyers: Before making a final decision, check the flood maps, ask about any known flooding history, and obtain an actual flood insurance quote. A flood-zone designation alone doesn't tell the entire story.
🏡 Today's Takeaway
Don't confuse being outside a high-risk flood zone with being outside the possibility of flooding.
Florida waterfront living is extraordinary, but understanding the risks is part of making a sound real estate investment.
Useful resources:
Indian River County Flood Maps and Property Information
National Flood Insurance Program
Lagoon Lifestyle & Real Estate
Whether you're planning a visit, considering a move, or simply enjoy following life along Florida's Indian River Lagoon, I hope these daily reports help you experience one of Florida's most beautiful regions.
If you're looking for local insight about waterfront living or real estate anywhere along the lagoon, I'd be happy to help.
Every report is another chapter in the story of life along Florida's Indian River Lagoon. Thanks for following along.
Chris Norris
Broker Associate | Treasure Coast Realty
Serving Florida's Space Coast & Treasure Coast along the Indian River Lagoon
ChrisNorrisRealEstate.com
SebastianLagoonLife.com
YouTube: @ChrisNorrisRealEstate