The thought of a decomposing pile of waste sitting in or near the home might be a little off putting to some people, but it's not nearly as much of a hassle as it may seem at a glance. In fact, compost not only provides health and vitality to your garden and lawn, it plays a major part in cutting down greenhouse gas emissions, landfill overflow and even weed control. You've probably seen scary statistics, like the World Wildlife Fund's study that claims we will need two earths to sustain ourselves by the year 2050, or that the earth's fish supply will run out by the year 2048, but that doesn't have to be the case. As buzzy and ubiquitous as the green movement has become nowadays, there's a reason it's everywhere. According to the EPA, the amount of landfills that exist in the U.S. has been steadily shrinking for the past 20 years or so. This may sound like a good thing, but in actuality we produce more garbage, so the land fills are bursting at the seams with greenhouse gas and sometimes toxic substances. Some landfills, like Cecil County Central Landfill in Elkton, Maryland even require relocation and remediation by third-party companies like Sevenson Environmental. The growing garbage problem is starting to get stinky. Luckily, there's a lot you can do at home to combat it (and look like an earth-saving hero to all your friends), starting with the simple act of composting. Why It's HelpfulThe EPA reports that approximately 17 percent of all methane gas emitted in the U.S. comes from landfills, which lump dangerous refuse with helpful organic material. By starting a compost bin or area for your family, you are lessening toxic contributions to already overcrowded landfills. The EPA estimates that if every household composted their yard trimmings and food scraps, it could reduce the municipal waste stream by up to 25 percent. Furthermore, The United States Composting Council's findings show that for every one ton of composted waste, .25 metric tons of greenhouse gases are prevented. A Sierra Club study concluded that a family of four could easily create 500 pounds of compost in a year. A Quick How-ToDid you know that you can compost egg shells, cardboard pizza boxes, nail clippings, old wool or cotton clothing, bills and even condoms? And the list goes on. All you need is a bin, bucket, soil and motivation to make the world a better place for your children. The recipe for compost is simple: use approximately a 1/1 ratio for soil and scraps, alternating approximately four-inch layers. A properly tended compost bin doesn't smell or breed harmful bacteria, as long as you don't add any fats, meats, dairy or oils. Once you begin your foray into greener pastures, be sure to aerate the soil with holes or earthworms. This also quickens the decomposition process. It is also important to stir your compost intermittently so it doesn't become impacted. From there you can use it to make the most beautiful, nutrient-rich garden that your home could ever need— and the earth will thank you.
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Have any of you heard of this world wide event where participants shut out the lights for a per-determined hour. My family has done it the past couple of years and the kids love running around in the dark and playing games by candle light. I would encourage you to check out the website. http://www.earthhour.org/ This event is more than the individual homeowner turning out their lights, some major institutions around the world participate to bring awareness to the energy that is consumed on a daily basis. So check it out and turn out your lights for an hour on Saturday night.
-- Joshua Lloyd LEED AP BD+C, BA sym-home Cell: (614) 547-3151 www.symhome.net The World Wildlife Fund projects that by the year 2050 we will need two more Earths to sustain our voracious appetites for consumption. As worldwide resources continue to dwindle, we need to get our act together quickly. Although it's not simple to change your life overnight, baby steps can reduce your carbon footprint. A more natural lifestyle is integral in doing your part for the Earth . The simple truth is we need to consume less. It seems like no matter how many images, statistics and studies are thrust in front of us, most people still go on trying to keep up with the Joneses, buying things they don't really need. Take a moment to do some research and make some savvy, even fun, upgrades to your daily life to improve the Earth and your health. Grow Food in Small PlacesIf you live in an apartment or condo with no space for a garden, stop daydreaming about delightful strolls through lush rows of greens. Bring the green indoors and grow windowsill herb gardens or other small, potted crops. More and more companies are creating DIY home gardens for the busy professional. If you love fresh, organic food they're worth looking into.
Stock Your Closets With KnowledgeMost of us like to have some semblance of style, even if it is “just rolled out of bed” chic. Green fashionistas however, are aware of the environmental impact that even hand-me-downs can have. The environmental risks of fashion manufacturing stretch far beyond the horrible conditions of sweat shops, points out Eco-fashionista Lynda Grose of Faircompanies.com. In fact, the dyes, washes and scraps from clothing manufacture can have horrible effects on the workers producing them and the environment surrounding them. And most people don't realize that most of our old clothing ends up in landfills. Environmentalist Stephen Dent recommends buying recycled and or organic clothing. Cottons and wools grown without pesticides, hormones or antibiotics are ideal.
Source: OnlineEducation.net
To help you forget the winter weather, we encourage you to think about spring planting and summer fishing. As always, we are selling a diverse selection of native Ohio trees, shrubs, seeds and perennial flowers, as well as fruit trees, berries and a mushroom kit in the tree sale. In the fish sale, you can purchase bluegill, catfish, largemouth bass, yellow perch, minnow, and white amur and a pond management guide. Why planting trees is a good idea The importance of trees grows as a landscape becomes more developed. Some of the ways that trees provide services in an urban environment:
Source: Franklin Soil and Water Whether you’re eco-conscious, an early adopter of new technologies or are simply looking for better gas mileage, researchers are uncovering multiple reasons why consumers are making the switch to green cars such as hybrids and electric vehicles. According to independent green news source Grist, more than one million green cars are expected to be on the roads across the United States by 2015. Here are just a few of the most common reasons why people choose to buy green cars:
The eco-friendly car movement in the automobile industry has seen a shift toward the use of more environmentally sustainable fuels, such as electricity and gas. Cars such as Toyota’s Hybrid, that has a mixed fuel engine using both petrol and electricity, have been a huge success, with people wanting to make environmentally smarter decisions when it comes to buying a new car. Model S, Prius and SpyderEco-friendly cars have gained another win with American car manufacturers; Tesla’s Model S is being awarded Motor Trend’s 2013 Car of the Year. The Model S is the first car with no internal combustion engine to win this coveted award, marking a significant moment in the push for environmentally friendly cars. The Model S is ready to reserve in Australia and deliveries will begin mid 2013 with a $6000 reserve payment. For those looking for something sporty, in 2014 BMW will be releasing its i8 Spyder with a dual electric/petrol engine with prices expected to be high. Despite the green progress, there are still significant issues reducing the number of consumers wanting to move into the eco car market. Toyota recently recalled over 2.7 million of its second generation Priuses due to issues with the water pump and steering. This follows previous Toyota recalls due to other manufacturing defaults. Toyota share prices plummeted because of the recall. Eco-Friendly ChoicesFor drivers who are currently unable to invest in the hybrid or electric car market, it is still possible to lower the impact you and your car are having on the environment by following some simple guidelines:
By following these simple guidelines you will significantly reduce the environmental impact that you are having on our planet and save money at the same time. |