3 Ways To Make Yard Work Greener

With the rainy season (or Spring) upon us, yard work becomes an every weekend task.  Here’s some things to think about when you are working in the yard...

Three Ways To Make Yard Work Greener

April 26, 2013

It’s very easy to get dirty when working in the yard yet what ends up on our hands and clothing isn’t true guck and grime. That’s because in reality the earth is clean and nature is constantly renewing itself as a place for life to exist.

Ironically, because of limited time but a desire to keep our properties looking somewhat respectable, we try to speed up the process that harm our environment. We use machines that run on or derivatives of fossil fuels which pollute, harsh substances that contaminate, and misuse natural resources.

In many ways what ends up happening is that we leave the ground a little worse off than when we started. That’s why there is no better time than now to make a few adjustments to our landscaping and gardening practices and bring about a greener future for our communities and the environment at large.

Consider the following three points to help achieve this goal:

Tools

The automatic tools we use in the yard like lawn mowers, weed whackers, and bush trimmers make cleaning up  a lot easier but depending on their energy source can negatively impact the ecosystem around us.

How so? Take the models that use gasoline. They burn it just like vehicles driving down the street and depending how big a lawn is studies have shown the average lawnmower can create as much pollution as a car on the freeway. That means the person holding the lever is breathing in fumes until the last blade of grass is cut!

Electric power is a better option but during the summer electricity is in high demand. Additional pressure on the grid equals more pollution, especially for power plants that run on coal.

The bottom line: Whenever possible, try using manual tools. They may require a little extra effort but when juxtaposed with the effects automatic tools have on our health and environment they are worth a few extra minutes outdoors.

Chemicals

Pesticides are a common problematic chemical used on a homeowner’s property. When they are sprayed on plants producing food they can be absorbed by fruits and vegetables and scrubbing and washing won’t remove what's under the skin. Also, pesticides not only kill pests but beneficial insects as well which means they can drastically affect the local ecosystem.

A second category of chemicals is weed killers, which don’t always discriminate between weeds and desirable plants. They can make pets and wildlife very sick and potentially contaminate soil by tainting aquifers when absorbed into the ground.

Exposure to both weed killers and pesticides are believed to cause uncomfortable symptoms in people like itchy eyes and dizziness and repeated contact with these substances may result in serious long term health problems.

The bottom line: There are many natural methods for warding off pests and killing weeds including store bought products and solutions made from household staples. Make one of these your preferred choice for striking back at pests or unwanted vegetation. Also, keeping plants healthy can control weeds and avert disease.

Resources

A third point for greening yard work involves focusing on resources. On the one hand resources need to be used wisely, such as water, which should be distributed near a plant’s roots.  When water it poured on leaves or sprayed with a garden hose it creates a lot of waste.

Another consideration about water usage is the types of plants in the yard including the lawn and how needy they are as some species require less water than others.

Meanwhile, resources aren’t just about keeping certain things in check but also checking what’s available for improving overall efficiency. For example, it’s very easy to go to a home improvement store to buy fertilizer, mulch, and other landscaping and gardening products but usually unnecessary.

Depending on your surroundings many of these items can be made on site. Food scraps can be composted and clippings and trimmings can be turned into mulch. Doing so is simply another form of using and reusing that makes the world a better place.

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Jakob Barry is a home improvement journalist for Networx.com. He blogs about Green topics for professionals across the U.S. like fencing contractors in Scottsdale, AZ.

http://www.naturallysavvy.com/eco-living/3-ways-to-make-yard-work-greener

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!

   

Worried About Water Pollution? Plant a Tree

Sorry, I’ll get back on track with my Tree Thursday articles soon.  In the meanwhile here’s an article on one of the important benefits of trees.  -Gene

Worried About Water Pollution? Plant a Tree

What trees to plant and where to plant them to reduce runoff.

By Josh Peterson
Los Angeles, CA, USA | Jun 2009

You should plant trees as often as you can. You can go carbon neutral by planting twenty trees a year.  If that's not a good enough reason, you can plant them to increase the energy-efficiency of your home or use them to reduce runoff.

Runoff pollution is a major contributor to the decrease of water quality and is an often overlooked environmental problem. A single medium-sized tree can filter over 2000 gallons of water a year. The water is then put back into the water cycle via evapotranspiration. Planting a tree can keep our water clean and drinkable.

How to Plant Trees to Reduce Runoff

Evergreen or Deciduous?
Evergreens are better at preventing runoff pollution than deciduous trees. Evergreens never lose their green and, therefore, they never stop transpiring. If you are planting a tree for shear runoff prevention, then an evergreen is definitely for you.
However, one of the best ways to keep runoff pollution from running off of things like cement and buildings is by covering it with a tree canopy. Deciduous trees are better at creating an overhead canopy on cement areas, but always plant trees at least two feet away from cement and five feet from buildings. Vines might be a better option in some cases.
And if you are planting trees to save energy in your home. Deciduous should go on the south and east side and evergreens should go on the north and east side.
Another case for deciduous trees is that it creates more tree litter. Leaves and branches are great at impeding the flow of runoff. Roots (present in evergreens as well) also help to break up the soil and further retard runoff.
Things to Remember About Planting a Tree
Trees are not rain gardens. They are not as hardy. If you use a water catchment system to divert water to a tree, the tree may die.
Check for overhead wires before planting a tree and remember to check with your neighbor if the tree is close to his or her property line. And if you do plant a deciduous tree near cement, you risk inciting a tree root-cement conflict in the future.

Green your Mother's Day

Continuing the thought from yesterday, here are some more ideas to make your Mother’s Day celebration and gift giving greener!

Green Your Mother's Day

By Brian Clark Howard

Every mother deserves the best, including Mother Earth. So here are some suggestions for Mother's Day gifts made from organic, sustainably grown, fair trade or recycled materials for pampering your mom:

Delight her with gorgeous organic flowers from Organic Bouquet. They have paired over 50 bouquets (price range $39.95-$64.95) with specific charitable organizations, from The Nature Conservancy and The Rainforest Foundation to Coop America and Oceana. Part of the proceeds from each sale will go directly to the charity you choose. Or go for the dramatic with a bouquet of five-foot-tall roses ($249.95). (Remember living plants grown locally are even better! –Gene)

Soothe her with a selection of organic, fair trade teas, from Green, Earl Grey and Irish Breakfast (25 tea bags, $4) to specialty loose teas such as Darjeeling First Blush (price range $10.49-$13.59) from Equal Exchange, the oldest and largest for-profit online company to sell fair trade products.

Treat her to a sampler of terrific chocolate from Dagoba Organic Chocolate, dedicated to the Art of Chocolate Alchemy. Their 12 bar Alchemist's Blend basket ($39.99) includes, among others, Dark and Bittersweet bars, their Lavender bar, which contains essence of lavender and blueberry, and their new Lemon Ginger, a blend of citrus, ginger and chocolate.

Let your mother celebrate with a great organic wine from one of the growing number of vineyards that subscribe to a natural winemaking philosophy. La Rocca Vineyards offers reds, whites and blushes (price range $8-$50) that are certified 100% organic and sulfite-free. The Benziger Family Winery has a selection of biodynamic wines (price range $29-$80) that take organic one step further and work with nature to bring about balance and healing in the soil. Bonterra Vineyards is another brand with a rich selection of organic wines (price range $20-$40). And the award-winning Grgich Hills offers gift boxes (price range $70-$125) of a selection of their 100% estate-grown biodynamic wines. (Since not every state allows out-of-state delivery of wine through the Internet, check each site for shipping information or visit your local wine shop.)

Shower her with body care from Aveda. Each product is made with sustainable, organic plant-based ingredients (and produced with 100% certified wind power). Aveda has special Mother's Day gift sets such as Feel Relief ($36), Island Retreat ($54) and Caribbean Retreat ($102), among others.

Let her luxuriate at home in one of Under the Canopy's delicious spa robes, made with sustainably grown fibers. Choose the 100% organic cotton interlock kimono style ($48) or the 100% organic velour terry cotton hooded style ($88). The mission of Under the Canopy, founded in 1996, is to make a positive impact on the future of the planet through their product line that uses the earth's resources in a sustainable way.

Brighten her home with wonderful handmade, recycled-glass-infused pottery from Paloma Pottery. Browse the online catalogue for coasters, bowls, candlesticks, clocks, garden and steppingstones, door pulls, jewelry and more (price range $5.50-$75). All pieces are made by owner/artist Nicole Whitney from materials that would normally be thrown away. Her mission is to reduce, reuse, recycle. The pottery comes in such colors as sky blue, amethyst crystal, tropical water, cappuccino ice and forest, and can also be found in stores around the country.

Transform her table with glasses, cups, platters, bowls, dinnerware and accessories made with recycled glass and natural, sustainable materials (price range $5-$350) from Natural Spaces.

And finally, enlighten her with one of the Mother's Day gift baskets specially assembled by Global Exchange ($29.95-$55.95), each wrapped in recycled gift packaging, with a card that tells the story behind each selection.

http://www.thedailygreen.com/going-green/latest/1457

Mother's Day is Sunday!

Hopefully this isn’t a big surprise to anyone but Sunday is Mother’s Day.  If you are thinking about giving flowers, why not give a living plant instead of giving cut “dead” flowers.  Living plants have many advantages over cut flowers:

1.  They last longer.  Cut flowers will only last a week or two where a living plant can last for years!

2.  If you give an indoor plant, it can help clean the air of your mother’s house. 

3.  If you give a plant that will be planted outside, it will beautify the landscape and be a lasting memory of your love for your mom!  It will also contribute to the environment. 

4.   In many cases, living plants are less expensive than cut flowers so you can stay in your budget easier or maybe give two plants instead of one bouquet!    

It’s easy to get caught up in the same routine each year and give the same old dozen roses, but this year be different and green at the same time!

Tesla Model S Nets World Green Car Award Winner For 2013

So are you thinking about buying a new car…

by Joel Arellano

The World Car Awards started in 2004. Candidates for the four categories – Design, Performance, Green, and the overall World Car – are selected by some of the most well-known and respected journalists covering the automotive industry. This year, they selected the Tesla Model S as winner for World Green Car.
States Tesla CEO and co-founder Elon Musk, “The success of Model S is a critical step towards the widespread adoption of sustainable transport and we are grateful to the World Car of the Year Jury for the recognition. Winning the 2013 World Green Car award is great acknowledgment of what Tesla has accomplished with Model S in the last four years.”

Competition was stiff for this year’s award. The number of candidates continues to grow. This year, twenty one vehicles were considered and ranged from the Audi A8 Hybrid, Honda Fit EV, to the Peugeot 508 RXH. Only one American vehicle, the Chevrolet Malibu Eco with eAssist, made it from the Detroit Three. Due to the complexity and sheer number of technologies used to fulfill criteria such as improving fuel economy and lowering tailpipe emissions, five “green” automotive experts were brought on board to assist in the selection process. These experts include Phil Berg of Popular Mechanics and John Voelcker at Green Car Reports.
The judges then narrowed it down the choices to five: Renault Zoe, smart fortwo Electric Drive, Tesla Model S, Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid, and the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid. The Telsa S made the judges’ top three list along with the Zoe and Volvo hybrid before declared the winner. The experts agreed. “The Tesla Model S has wowed the world’s press, and for good reason: It’s a car from a startup maker that actually competes on its merits with vehicles from established global players. The Model S is fast and stylish, its high-end models offer more range than any other electric car, and thus far, it appears to be well-built and selling well. Now that it’s in volume production, it can be argued that it is already the world’s most alluring green car that’s also practical and desirable.”
Previous World Green Car winners include last year’s Mercedes-Benz S 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY, the Chevrolet Volt (2011), and the Honda Civic Hybrid, which won the first award in 2006.

http://www.earthtechling.com/2013/04/tesla-model-s-nets-world-green-car-award-winner-for-2013/

Gene Dempsey, City Forester

Office of Sustainability

Office - (954) 828-5785  Fax - (954) 828-4745

GDempsey@fortlauderdale.gov

In the beginning

Five years ago today, I sent out my very first “Green Thought”.  Since then, I’ve probably have sent over 1000 thoughts.  Last year I was able to start a blog – Gene’s Green Scene and start collecting the thoughts online.  When this all started, thanks to Terry Rynard, I don’t think I envisioned still sending out thoughts five years later.  I know it has changed me in small ways and I hope it has helped some of you become a little greener.  It will be interesting to see what the next five years will bring!  Thank you for all your comments and input! 

From: Gene Dempsey
Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2008 8:34 AM
Subject: Green Thought of the Day!

Starting today, I will be sending out a green thought of the day in hopes of helping our department become more "green friendly", reduce our carbon footprint and save money.  If you have suggestions of "thoughts" please forward them to me.

May 1st - Think before you print emails.  We waste a lot of paper (trees and money) by printing emails to just be discarded or filed away.  Create folders in your Outlook Mailbox to save emails that you think you might be need in the future instead of printing and filing.

Gene Dempsey

THINK BEFORE YOU PRINT!