Friday Funny

YARD WORK - AS VIEWED FROM  HEAVEN


God: Francis, you know all about gardens and nature; what in the
world is going on down there in the U.S.? What happened to the
dandelions, violets, thistles and the stuff I started eons ago?

I had a perfect no-maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow
in any type of soil, withstand drought, and multiply with
abandon. The nectar from the long-lasting blossoms attracts
butterflies, honeybees, and flocks of songbirds. I expected to
see a vast garden of color by now. All I see are patches of
green.

St. Francis: It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. They are
called the Suburbanites. They started calling your flowers
"weeds" and went to great lengths to kill them and replace them
with grass.

God: Grass?  But it is so boring, it's not colorful.  It doesn't
attract butterflies , bees or birds, only grubs and sod worms.
It's temperamental with temperatures.  Do these Suburbanites
really want grass growing there?

St. Francis: Apparently not, Lord.  As soon as it has grown a
little, they cut it....sometimes two times a week.

God: They cut it? Do they bale it like hay?

St. Francis: Not exactly, Lord.  Most of them rake it up and put
it in bags.

God: They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?

St. Francis: No sir, just the opposite.  They pay to throw it
away.

God: Now let me get this straight...they fertilize it to make it
grow and when it does grow, they cut it off and pay to throw it
away?

St. Francis: Yes, sir.

God: These Suburbanites must be relieved in the  winter  when we
cut back on the rain and turn  down  the heat. That surely slows
the growth and saves them a lot of work.

St. Francis: You aren't going to believe this Lord, but when the 

 grass stops growing so fast,  they turn on the irrigation  and pay more
money to water it so they can continue to mow it and pay to get
rid of it.

God: What nonsense! At least they kept some of the trees.
That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself.
The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty and shade
in the summer. In the autumn they fall to the ground and form a
natural blanket to keep the moisture in the soil and protect the
trees and bushes. Plus, as they rot, the leaves become compost
to enhance the soil. It's a natural circle of life.

St. Francis: You'd better sit down, Lord. As soon as the leaves
fall, the Suburbanites rake them into great piles and pay to
have them hauled away.

God: No way! What do they do to protect the shrubs and tree
roots in the winter to keep the soil moist and loose?

St Francis: After throwing the leaves away, they go out and buy
something called mulch. They haul it home and spread it around
in place of the leaves.

God: And where do they get this mulch?

St. Francis: They cut down the trees and grind them up to make
mulch.

God: Enough! I don't want to think about this anymore.
Saint Catherine, you're in charge of the arts. What movie have
you scheduled for us tonight?

St. Catherine: "Dumb and Dumber," Lord. It's a really stupid
movie about...

God: Never mind -I think I just heard the whole story from Saint
Francis!****************************************************************
    www.MountainWings.com "Wings Over The Mountains of Life"

Gene Dempsey, City Forester

Environmental Services

Office - (954) 828-7704 Fax - (954) 828-7897

GDempsey@fortlauderdale.gov

Think before you print!

Park in the Shade

Decrease fuel lost to evaporation, reduce the need for a/c and stay more comfortable.

By Brian Clark Howard

During hot months, try to park your vehicle in a shady spot, which decreases the amount of fuel lost to evaporation and requires less air-conditioning when you get back in.

Gasoline evaporates rapidly, and even escapes from closed tanks. The process is sped up by high temperatures.

Keeping your vehicle cooler means you'll run your air conditioner less, resulting in a substantial savings in fuel. You'll be less likely to damage car contents from extreme heat, meaning you'll have fewer items to replace.

Also check out cardboard or shiny metallic windshield sun shades, which reflect solar heat away from the cabin.

Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/going-green/tips/park-shade#ixzz22xEclg71

Gene Dempsey, City Forester

Environmental Services

Office - (954) 828-7704 Fax - (954) 828-7897

GDempsey@fortlauderdale.gov

Think before you print!

Recycling Around the World

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/11/recycling-around-the-world/100186/  

Recycling Around the World

Nov 9, 2011

November 15 is America Recycles Day, an annual event launched in 1997 by the National Recycling Coalition. The need to reuse and recycle raw materials has never been as urgent as it is today. The human race has reached a worldwide population of 7 billion, and America is responsible for consuming a disproportionate share of the planet's resources. In many parts of the world, recycling is done by necessity. In others, artists, governments, and businesses have found creative and useful ways to reuse materials -- a plastic bottle may find itself reborn as artwork, a warm blanket, or fuel oil. Collected here are photographs of various recycling efforts around the world, ranging from small and whimsical to industrial in scale.

If you go to the article, you’ll find 33 photos.  I just picked out a few to show you here:

A laborer rests on piles of plastic bottles at a recycling center in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province, China, on November 6, 2011. (Reuters/Stringer)

A worker checks the finish on a motorcycle made from recycled materials from spare car and bicycle parts, at a workshop owned by Roongrojna Sangwongprisarn in Bangkok, on July 27, 2011. With four shops in Bangkok named "Ko Art Shop," Roongrojna also exports his artworks to clients all over the world. (Reuters/Sukree Sukplang)

Cavalo, 36, pulls his one-year-old son Joaquim Francisco in his baby stroller made of recycled wood in the financial center of Sao Paulo, on October, 26 2011. (Reuters/Nacho Doce)

A man burns computer scrap in order to retrieve metal from it that will be used to make soldering wire in a makeshift workshop in Karachi, Pakistan, on April 20, 2011. (Reuters/Athar Hussain)

 http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/11/recycling-around-the-world/100186/  

How To Clean Outdoor Furniture

Okay – this one is a little long but you can drop down to the type furniture you have.  You can also save this as a reference.

How To Clean Outdoor Furniture

Author: Melissa Maker

With the warmer weather here, we cannot help but fantasize about summer barbeques, al fresco lunches and lounging on our decks and patios.  But before we can enjoy the weather, the dreaded task of outdoor cleaning must be completed! 
I know that most of us hate cleaning (or have a penchant for not doing it), but ultimately love the feeling of a clean home – whether it’s an indoor or outdoor space.  Here is a quick how-to guide that will have your patio furniture looking spiffy in a jiffy.
With a few basic cleaning recipes and tools you likely already have at home, cleaning the furniture can be a breeze (now that patio season is in full swing).
To start, you’ll need double-sided scrub sponges and scrub brushes.  The ones I've found work best (read: save time, last longer and work better than others) are Scotch-Brite^TM tools; they are stronger and power through the backyard dirt better than other brands. 
The recipes we'll use involve vinegar, dish soap and water. These ingredients keep the yard safer for the “users” of your lawn (small insects, birds household pets), and it won’t discolour or rust your furniture like certain chemicals can.
Plastic, Resin Wicker, Steel/Metal and Fabric Outdoor Furniture Cleaning Recipe

·        1/2 cup of dish soap

·       1 cup of vinegar

·       2 gallons of warm water

Recommended Tools

·         Non-Scratch Scrub Sponge – (Blue) (Dual sided scrub sponge – sponge/scour)

·       Household Scrubber (brush with handle)

·     Garden hose

·         Bucket

·       Spray bottle

Mix these ingredients together in a large bucket and fill a clean spray bottle with the solution.  Prior to applying the solution, use the Household Scrubber to loosen dirt or debris by gently brushing off anything easy to remove from the surface (it will mean less scrubbing later on). Remove any cushions, these will be cleaned separately.
Spray the solution liberally onto each piece.  Let the mixture sit on the furniture for a few moments (5-10 minutes). If the solution has dried, re-spray the area.  For lightly soiled pieces, use the Scotch-Brite^TM brand cellulose sponge to remove dirt, for heavily soiled pieces use the Non-Scratch Scour Pad, which is specifically designed for removing build-up without scratching the surface (this is key to maintaining the furniture).  For woven pieces such as resin wicker, use the Household Scrubber to 'brush out' the dirt.  Rinse the sponge often so that dirt is not re-distributed back onto the furniture.  Hose the pieces down until all suds are gone to avoid any lingering residue on the furniture.  Then, let the sun do the rest and air-dry them beautifully for you. 
Outdoor Fabric and Upholstered Pieces
Cleaning rugged cushiofned pieces with permanent covers
First, brush any debris off with the dry Household Scrubber. Spray the solution onto the cushions liberally and allow it to sit for 15 minutes.  This will allow the product to saturate the material and break down dirt.  Wipe soiled areas well with the Cellulose Sponge to agitate and lift the dirt up.  We're using cellulose here so that it can lift the dirt up without ruining the fabric of the cushions (a scouring pad could).  Ensure both sides have been cleaned this way.  After 15 minutes have passed, hose down both sides of the piece and lay it flat to dry in the sunshine.  Flip the cushions over when the top is dry so that the bottom side can dry as well.  If the covers cannot be washed down for whatever reason, take a shop-vac out and vacuum up debris to keep it clean.  When necessary, stains can be spot cleaned with warm, soapy water and a clean cloth.
Cleaning cushions with removable canvas slipcovers
These can be cleaned twice a season.  Remove slipcovers and place in the wash with regular laundry detergent on a regular cycle.  When the slipcovers come out of the wash (i.e. do not place in the dryer), place them back onto the cushions to re-shape and stretch the covers out.  This is an important step to ensure that the cushion covers maintain their shape.
Cleaning outdoor pillows and cushions
These pillows and cushions can be cleaned annually, usually at the beginning of the season.  Most are machine washable (if they fit into the washer).  Place them in the wash on a gentle cycle and tumble dry on low.  Toss a couple of tennis balls in the dryer to help beat out the excess moisture and promote quick drying.
Cleaning outdoor umbrellas
If you notice mildew on the umbrella, act fast and clean it well to prevent more growth.  The simple way to accomplish this is to brush off as much mildew as possible using the Scotch-Brite^TM brand Household Scrubber and then spray the umbrella with a 1:1 solution of vinegar and water onto the affected area.  Leave it for 30 minutes to soak.  Take a clean Household Scrubber and remove the remaining mildew from the umbrella by gently scrubbing.  Hose it down when done to remove the solution and mildew.  Re-spray the area with the vinegar and water solution to protect against mildew build up and repeat this monthly.  In fact, this is a safe solution that can be sprayed on all outdoor furniture to keep mildew away.   Otherwise, clean the umbrella at the beginning of the season by brushing off any loose debris, spraying the interior and exterior well with the solution, soaking it for 15 minutes and then hosing it down.  Leave open to dry for at least a (sunny) day.
Teak, Wood and Wicker Furniture Cleaning Recipe

·     1 tablespoon of dish soap

·     1 gallons of warm water

Recommended Tools

·       Cellulose Sponge

·        Household Scrubber

·         Garden hose

·        Bucket

For teak and wicker furniture, try a gentler method.  Use a dry Household Scrubber brush to quickly dust off any loose debris.  Then, dip the clean Household Scrubber brush into the bucket and gently scrub away the dirt and debris, being especially careful not to scrub too hard on the wicker (or else it can lose its shape).  If being gentle is of great concern, use the Scotch-Brite^TM brand cellulose sponge instead of the Household Scrubber.  Hose the surface off when done to remove all bubbles and residue.  Only apply oil to teak if the manufacturer's instructions call for it, usually to maintain the amber glow it needs to be re-oiled about twice annually.  If not, it becomes weathered and silvery.  
Again, it is crucial to use strong tools and gentle products for this job.  Strong products can ruin the furniture and your lawn and weaker tools will require more effort and will likely become ruined during the process (and say goodbye to your enthusiasm for this project)!
For regular maintenance, nothing more than a quick spray from the garden hose once a week is all that is needed to maintain the furniture throughout the season.  Keep your furniture, your lawn and your own little ecosystem clean by employing these simple patio furniture cleaning techniques!

---

Melissa Maker is Naturally Savvy’s Eco-Friendly Cleaning Expert and  the owner and operator of Clean My Space, which focuses on cleaning condo suites for busy urbanites.

Gene Dempsey, City Forester

Environmental Services

Office - (954) 828-7704 Fax - (954) 828-7897

GDempsey@fortlauderdale.gov

Think before you print!

Friday Funny

 Hopefully there’s a few of you that haven’t seen this one…

                                            This is serious

Look what happens when we cut down too many trees.

Global warming is one thing, but see below and look at what

might happen if we continue to clear our forests!
We have to stop cutting down (good) trees! This is getting serious!

Tree Thursday - Sabal

Sabal or Cabbage Palm

Sabal palmetto

The very much maligned and abused State tree of Florida and South Carolina is not actually a tree but in the monocot family (grasses, etc.).  All palms differ from trees in their growth patterns.  Palm only growth area is the crown; palm trunks do not grow larger in diameter over time as tree trunks do.  I call them ‘maligned’ because many people fail to see the beauty of the sabal palm and because they are so inexpensive, compared to other palms, they are not considered ‘desirable’ by quite a few people.  Their low cost also lends to the abuse and lack of care they receive many times on landscaping projects.  Economically, it is hard to spend a couple (or more) of hundred dollars to protect and transplant a sabal palm when a ‘new’ one can be replanted for almost half the cost. 

Sabal palms are beautiful and very versatile.  At times, I refer to them as “plug in place” palms because they transplant so easily and they are readily available in mature sizes.  They do grow very slow but can be found in plenty in natural areas.  It’s my feeling that we should do more to protect the sabals in their natural settings and treat them with much more respect in the landscape. 

This southeastern U.S. native palm occurs near the coast, from the North Carolina barrier islands to South Carolina, to Georgia, down to the Florida Keys and then up the Gulf Coast to the northwestern Florida panhandle. Sabal palmetto is also native to Cuba and the Bahamas.  The old fort in St. Augustine was made of sabal palm trunks because of their abundance and ability to deflect cannon balls. 

Sabal palms are also called cabbage palms because the large leaf buds of immature cabbage palms are used in southern cooking to make swamp cabbage and hearts of palm salad. Removal of the bud kills the palm. I recommend that you NOT purchase nor eat hearts of palm for two reasons: 1) they're not that tasty, having only a bland crunchiness to recommend them and 2) most commercially available canned product is obtained from wild stands of Sabal species in Mexico and Central America which is decimating those populations.
In Fort Lauderdale, Sabal palms line Andrews Avenue north of Broward Boulevard and can be found in many other landscapes and most natural areas. 
Growth Rate: Slow
Salt Tolerance: High
Drought Tolerance: High
Sabals used in landscapes:

 

Gene Dempsey, City Forester

Environmental Services

Office - (954) 828-7704 Fax - (954) 828-7897

GDempsey@fortlauderdale.gov

Think before you print!

Olympic Sustainability - 2012 Olympics | London 2012

Olympic Sustainability (from the London2012 website – Hence the English spellings)

When Great Britain bid to host the 2012 Games, they made a radical proposal to the International Organising Committee.  They weren’t only going to put on the biggest sporting event in the world; they were going to hold the world’s first truly sustainable Olympic and Paralympic Games, leaving a legacy far beyond the departure of the Olympic Flame.

Pushing the boundaries of what’s possible

Working in partnership with BioRegional and WWF, Great Britain developed Towards a One Planet 2012  – a sustainable Games guided by the principle that the world should live within its means.

They recognise that with over four billion people watching and over 200 countries involved, the Games are an unrivalled catalyst for sustainable change. Planning and delivering that is a complex process and we have continued to learn and improve as we go.

Great Britain has strived to prove that there is a different way of hosting the Games, a way that provides the best experience for athletes and spectators alongside the best outcome for the community and the environment.

Here’s directly from the website:

To bring our approach to life, we have focused on four areas that directly relate to anyone experiencing the Games for themselves or watching it on television.

Venues

All our venues are designed to ensure that all the athletes perform to the best of their ability whilst pushing the boundaries of sustainability knowledge and design.

From the start we planned with legacy in mind. Where possible we have used existing venues – Wimbledon, Excel, Lords and Earls Court.  Where there is a legacy need we have built new venues - the Olympic Stadium, the Aquatics Centre and the Velodrome and where there is no need, we have built temporary venues in iconic places such as Greenwich Park, Hyde Park and Horse Guards Parade.

Travel

With millions of people on the move at the same time and extra people travelling each day in and around London alone, it is imperative to get everyone to their venues on time. We have been working with Transport for London and many other partners to ensure that London’s public transport is ready. We have also used this opportunity to remind everyone that London is a great city for walking and cycling.

Food

Reduced packaging and reusable materials.

It is estimated 82 tonnes of seafood will be served during the Games in the Olympic and Paralympic Village alone. We decided to only use sustainable fish, thereby showing it can be affordable, achievable and delicious.

Waste

With so many people descending on London and the UK at the same time, we have thought long and hard about managing all that extra waste.  We’re excited about the revolutionary new system we have created for the Games, which will make it easier for us to ensure that no waste is sent to landfill during Games-time.

http://www.london2012.com/about-us/sustainability/     Thanks to Marie Rock for giving me the link to this information!

GO USA!

Gene Dempsey, City Forester

Environmental Services

Office - (954) 828-7704 Fax - (954) 828-7897

GDempsey@fortlauderdale.gov

Think before you print!