Viridescence - be green!

The holiday season is upon us and most of us will travel to visit friends and family. In fact, tens of millions of passengers will use air travel during the holiday season. While at the same time, long-distance travel by vehicle increases by 54% during the Thanksgiving holiday and by 23% during the Christmas holiday ( USDOT , n.d.). This extra travel causes an increase in carbon emissions, an increase in energy use, and an increase in waste. When all is said and done, the holiday season is not a good time for the environment. Did you know? There are ways you can travel this season guilt-free of your increased carbon-footprint. Air Travel Participate in carbon offsetting program, which are non-profit organizations that support carbon-reducing projects. Investigate the program before you purchase to ensure you know how the funds are used, if the results are guaranteed, and is the company certified. Save paper – use electronic tickets Opt f...

Do you part to  Save the Ash Trees  from the invasive ash boorer beetle. 

Preventing Food Waste Food Waste - Public Domain Can you believe that collectively we wasted  63.1 million tons of food  in the 2018. Wow, that is a lot of food! Each of us individually wastes about  209 – 253 lbs. of food per year. To know how to stop wasting food, you need to know what the causes food waste. What are the causes of food waste? The two largest contributors to food waste are over-consumption and surplus. We buy more than we need. And we do not use what we have. EPA , 2021 What are three ways to reduce food waste at home? Three ways to reduce food waste are plan, buy only what you need, and understand food labels. Make a menu for the week, so you know what you need. Check the refrigerator and cupboards before you go shopping. And understand food date labels , so you do not throw away good foods. What are the benefits of preventing food waste? Composting - Oregon Metro One of the benefits of preventing food waste is saving money. If you make a sho...

When exploring the forests, prairies, deserts, lakes, rivers, and oceans, it is important to remember you are a visitor in the wildlife’s habitat. During you visit to the great outdoors, please be respectful of their habitat and habits. By doing so, you will be helping to protect wildlife from disease and physical harm. When you encounter wildlife, it is important to remember – NEVER FEED WILDLIFE. Why you ask? One reason is the animals will get accustomed to receiving food from humans and begin to expect it. This can cause wildlife to be aggressive and sometimes violent. Secondly, it is harmful to the animals’ digestive system. Lastly, feeding wildlife can interrupt the migration cycle of wildfowl.  Keep Wildlife Wild!

EARTH DAY, APRIL 22, 2022 I am excited to be part of EARTHDAY.ORG’s #InvestInOurPlanet campaign, in celebration of the 52nd anniversary of Earth Day! A more sustainable world starts with all of us. See how you can get more involved here: [ https://bit.ly/3neB4pN ]

Microplastics in Human Blood The Smithsonian Magazine recently reported about a study that discovered microplastics in human blood. Healthy adult volunteers donated blood samples were obtained. And of all the blood samples, seventy percent had microplastics. Research There were two types of microplastics that made up over eighty percent of the total sample. The most prevalent microplastic found in more than half of the samples was PET (polyethylene terephthalate). Polystyrene ( PS ) was the second most common type. PET – disposable water bottles PS – food packaging   According to the research , exposure may have occurred by the following means: Air Water Food Toothpaste Lip gloss Dental polymers Implants Tattoo ink residue Risks The health risk of having microplastics in our blood is unknown currently. Researchers are working to better understand how microplastics affect the human body.  Actions The two most common plastics found ...

When should you plan a garden? If you are like me, the winter weather limits what I can do in my garden. That is why I use the winter months to plan my spring, summer, and winter garden succession. The winter months are the best time to plan a garden. I start by browsing through the numerous seed catalogs I receive in the mail. I recommend purchasing seeds from a nursery in your area for a few reasons. The first is the plants are acclimated to your local climate, so you have a better chance of a bountiful harvest. Secondly, you will be supporting a local farmer. Make a list of the plants you want to grow. The number of plants you can grown depends on your garden space. If you have not done so already, measure your garden bed and raised beds. Now you can use the "Planting Guidelines" chart to determine how many plants you can grow in your garden space. I like to make a diagram of my garden area, which includes the raised beds' measurements. Remember to consider the plants ...