Celebrate the History of Our Nation's Trees

This historic pigeon-plum has survived countless hurricanes and the initial construction of the Vizcaya, the former villa of businessman James Deering. It is estimated to be 350 years old.

 

By Julie Bawden-Davis   Parade                 @jbawdendavis

July 3, 2014

 

If trees could talk, they’d have a lot to tell us about the history of our nation. Among the longest lived plants on the planet, trees represent our past, present and even our future.

“Many trees have witnessed history and have the potential to see the achievements of future generations,” says R.J. Laverne, a board-certified master arborist at The Davey Tree Expert Company. “Trees chronicle the events of a region year after year. Their rings tell stories of droughts, floods and diseases,” he says. “They record evidence of lightning storms, heat waves, mild summers and bitter winters. With each layer of growth, they mark the passage of time and hold countless secrets within their trunks.”

Davey sponsors American Forests’ National Big Tree Program, founded in 1940 to feature big and often historic trees. The oldest national non-profit conservation organization in the country, American Forests protects and restores urban and rural forests.

“Some of the trees in the National Big Tree program are discovered by ambitious Big Tree Hunters who scour wilderness areas to find and measure them,” says Lea Sloan, vice president of communications for American Forests. “But many of these trees are in people’s backyards, farmyards, town commons or on street corners and have borne witness to the history of those places and generations of people for hundreds of years.”

Long-lived trees have experienced many historical events, says Laverne. “Trees are silent observers to world history,” he says. “For instance, the Battle Creek Oak in Michigan started growing around 1547, at the same time that King Edward VI of England neared the end of his reign, and it watched as European settlers crossed the Atlantic.”

Countless trees provide a connection for current generations to historical events.

“When trees associated with past events die, that can alter how we feel about that history,” says Laverne. “For instance, in 2011, Hurricane Irene unfortunately brought down the famous Arlington Oak that had stood there for 220 years. It oversaw John F. Kennedy’s gravesite and was part of the reason his family chose that area of Arlington for his final resting place. That tree provided shade to millions of mourners who traveled to grieve the loss of a president.”

The Arlington Oak tree fortunately lives on through three sapling descendants that were grown by Davey from acorns and cuttings of the historic oak. The trees will have their own history to share with future generations.

See the slideshow for photos and stories of some of our nation’s historic trees.

 

For more photos of historic trees go to:  http://parade.condenast.com/313147/juliebawdendavis/celebrate-the-history-of-our-nations-trees/#

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Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden writer and master gardener, who since 1985 has written for publications such as Organic Gardening, Wildflower, Better Homes and Gardens and The Los Angeles Times. She is the author of seven books, including Reader’s Digest Flower Gardening,  Fairy Gardening, The Strawberry Story Series, and Indoor Gardening the Organic Way, and is the founder of HealthyHouseplants.com.

 

 

 

 

Wildlife Wednesday - Not a Bird! Unexpected Bird Bath Visitors

from Wildlife Promise

6/10/2014 // By Danielle Brigida

 

Providing water for wildlife on your property is one of the required steps to having a Certified Wildlife Habitat and many fulfill the requirement by having a bird bath. While providing water this way can help wildlife, it is important to remember that it can also be highly amusing! Here are some amazing donated photos through our National Wildlife Photo Contest that show a breadth of visitors to an otherwise common bird bath!

Opportunistic Raccoons

 

 

More photos at http://blog.nwf.org/2014/06/not-a-bird-unexpected-bird-bath-visitors/?s_email_id=20140705_MEM_ENG_Habitat_News_July_Edition|STKc

 

 

 

 

Check Out Energy Star's Save Energy at Home tool to save money

Energy Star's Save Energy at Home Tool can guide you in making your home more energy efficient — whether you do it yourself or hire a qualified professional. The online tool has tips for saving energy all around your home and targets each room individually. Remember, when you save energy, you're saving money and cutting carbon pollution.

Try the tool: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=popuptool.atHome

 

 

 

 

 

This Organic, Cheap, Rechargeable Battery Could Change the Future of Renewable Energy

by Kristine Lofgren, 06/29/14

 

 

 

Large-scale energy storage is one of the major challenges facing renewable energy, but a recent breakthrough could be a real game changer. Scientists at USC, led by professor Sri Narayan, just developed a new long-lasting battery that is cheap to build, water-based, and made out of green components with no toxic chemicals and no metals. The battery can be used in power plants where it can store large amounts of energy for on-demand use.

 

Wind and solar energy are both limited by how much sun and how much wind is in the environment, but these new batteries could store large-scale energy, making renewable resources a more reliable source of energy and more attractive as a source of power for the energy grid. In other words, the unreliability of solar and wind could become a thing of the past. The batteries last for about 5,000 recharge cycles, far more than the traditional lithium ion batteries, which only last about 1,000 cycles, Lithium ion are also expensive to make – at least 10 times as much as these new batteries.

The design works on the same philosophy as a fuel cell and the tanks that hold the electroactive materials can be made as large as needed, and energy can be released slowly or quickly, depending on what is needed. And because the electroactive materials dissolve in water, there is no need for chemicals, making each battery cheaper and better for the environment. Scientists also expect to be able to make the compounds using carbon dioxide in the future, as opposed to the quinones used now, making them even more environmentally friendly.

Via Phys.org

Read more: This Organic, Cheap, Rechargeable Battery Could Change the Future of Rene

 

 

 

 

Summer BBQ, the Green Way

 

Everyday Environmentalist

Get our top 10 tips for greening your summer backyard BBQ party.

 

 

By Darci Palmquist 

Darci Palmquist © Aaron Becker

 

 

The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that 60 million Americans have BBQs on the Fourth.

 

These millions of BBQs release some 225,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide, burn the equivalent of 2,300 acres of forest and consume the same amount of energy as the city of Flagstaff, Arizona, uses in a year.

And those are just the stats for Fourth of July cookouts. With environmental consequences like these, what's a griller to do?

I recently hosted a BBQ and, being an eco-minded person, felt confident I could make it an Earth-friendly event. But as the RSVP list grew to more than 60 people, I found myself making compromises on my green intentions.

Take food, for example — I know buying local, organic and sustainably raised meat is better for the environment, but when it came time to stock up for the party, I let my wallet rule. Which meant shopping at the nearest big-chain grocery store and buying packages of cheap hot dogs.

 

When all was said and done, the party was a big success, but not necessarily my greenest moment. After the clean-up, I took stock and compiled my top 10 tips for greening a BBQ party.

 

Learn from my mistakes — and the things I did right — and make sure your summer cookouts aren't environmental disasters.

 

 

"Grill locally grown veggies! One of our guests brought gobs of locally grown asparagus that were the hit of the party." — Darci Palmquist, editorial manager for nature.org

 

 

Top 10 Ways to Green Your BBQ Party (in no particular order):

 

1. Use reusable or biodegradable plates and utensils. If you can't find those, at least go for products made from 100 percent recycled materials. Remember that your biodegradable plates will need to be cleaned before going in the compost bin — ketchup, hamburger grease and other-non-veggie food matter doesn't compost.
2. Fill up pitchers of water, homemade lemonade and iced tea instead of buying huge quantities of personal-sized beverage containers.
3. If you take heed of tip #2, you'll need to provide cups. If you use plastic or paper cups, provide markers at the drink counter so people can write their names on their cups — and therefore not use more than one.
4. And even if you follow tip #2, you're likely to have beer and other individual-sized beverages in a cooler. Encourage recycling by putting out easily identifiable bins — you'll find fewer bottles and cans smeared with ketchup in the garbage.
5. Use gas, propane or electric grills, which aren't perfect but burn more efficiently and cleaner than charcoal or wood. If you have a charcoal grill, make sure you burn natural lumps, not briquettes, and don't use more than you need.
6. Grill locally grown veggies! One of our guests brought gobs of locally grown asparagus that were the hit of the party. While local doesn't necessarily mean organic, small farms are often more likely to be more sustainable and pesticide-free.
7. Going vegetarian has been shown to be much better for the planet than eating meat. But if you do eat meat — or your guests do — don't compromise here. Spend the extra money to invest in organic, sustainably raised wieners and hamburgers.
8. Encourage walking, biking or carpooling to your party. We live in a rural area, so it was impossible for everyone to come by foot, but we helped coordinate carpooling for our guests. Neighbors walked or biked over.
9. Make sure mosquitoes don't drive your guests away. Before the party, take a look at prime mosquito breeding grounds — clean out rain gutters, check other spots with standing water and mow your grass (with a reel mower, of course). Even better, help the mosquito-problem year round by installing a bat house in your yard.
10. Don't forget the little things. Choosing organic condiments, reusable napkins instead of paper ones, e-vites versus mail invitations, homemade decorations over store-bought and other details will help round off the finishing touches of your green BBQ.

 

http://www.nature.org/greenliving/gogreen/everydayenvironmentalist/green-your-summer-bbq.xml

 

 

 

 

 

How To Have a Greener Fourth of July

by Gina-Marie Cheeseman

July 1, 2014

 

Editor’s note: This post was originally published on July 3, 2011. Enjoy!

 

The 4th of July is the iconic American holiday when we remember our past as we spend time with family and friends. However, if we aren’t careful, we can have a bigger impact on the environment as we celebrate than we realize. Take fireworks, for example, whose brilliance comes from chemicals, some of which are toxic to us. A Mother Nature Network article cites a 2007 study of an Oklahoma lake after fireworks displays in which perchlorate levels were over 1,000 times more than the baseline level for 14 hours following the displays. Perchlorate blocks iodide from entering the thyroid gland.

What if you really want to see fireworks? Is it better to buy your own or go see public displays? Personal firework displays carry the added risk of fires and injuries. There were 576 injuries and fires caused by fireworks in the state of Washington last year. How green is it to risk fire and injury? So, if you really must see fireworks, it’s better to check out the displays at your local stadium.

Barbecuing is part of the 4th of July for many Americans. What is greener: charcoal or gas-powered grills? Charcoal is basically dirtier, an article on the Planet Green website states. However, charcoal can come from renewable resources, while gas is a fossil fuel. Yet, charcoal, when burned, “can result in 105 times more carbon monoxide than burning propane and lots of harmful volatile organic compounds.” Real or chunk charcoal doesn’t have the dirty additives, but comes from “thousands of miles away,” which results in more carbon emissions. Research by the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory founded that gas produced 5.6 pounds of carbon an hour, while charcoal produced 11 pounds.

Another way to green your 4th of July is by using reusable plates, bowls, cups, and silverware. Plastic-based disposable plates and silverware are made from petroleum. Paper plates may seem like a greener choice, but paper comes from trees. If the thought of having to wash all those dishes is daunting, throw them in the dishwasher, which uses less water than washing by hand. And if you live in the country like me, then you have a well, which means that using water uses electricity.

Here are a few other ways to green your 4th:

Serve pitchers of water instead of providing water bottles

Use reusable table cloths

Limit or avoid pre-packaged foods and you will avoid a lot of waste

 

Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/how-to-have-a-greener-fourth-of-july.html#ixzz36JKBN2AH

 

 

 

 

An All Electric Harley Sportsbike and 0 to 60 in 4 Seconds!

Harley-Davidson's new electric motorcycle can hit 60 mph from a standing start in 4 seconds.

The company plans to unveil the LiveWire model Monday in New York.

 

 

Harley-Davidson's New Bike Hums, Instead Of Roaring

 

by Bill Chappell

June 19, 2014

 

Don't expect to hear the roar of a gas engine when you see the new motorcycle from Harley-Davidson. That's because it's powered by batteries. The Wisconsin-based company unveiled its new LiveWire bike today, saying it's "time to shape the next generation" of riders.

Harley-Davidson says it's sending the new bike on a tour of its dealerships to let fans of motorcycles often called "hogs" get to know a bike that's notably quiet and has zero emissions. The company will officially unveil the motorcycle to the public in New York Monday.

The LiveWire reportedly has a range of more than 50 miles and can speed from 0-60 mph in 4 seconds. It also has a push-button ignition, lithium-ion batteries, and direct drive.

Motorcycle critic Susan Carpenter of the Orange County Register calls it "one of the biggest game changers in motorcycling history," noting Harley's role as America's biggest motorcycle company (accounting for 44 percent of sales of road bikes last year).

"Electric motorcycles have been on the market since 2008," Carpenter notes, "but they are made by niche manufacturers who account for less than one percent of overall sales."

A video promoting the new motorcycle appeared on the Harley Facebook page today, sparking a lively debate in the comments section.

 

Here's the top-rated response, from a man named Ryan:

"It is funny to see the fear in change. Harley is not posting this saying all models will disappear when this comes out. They are just saying look what they have developed and are giving an alternative.
"Buy a model you would ride but don't slam a company for innovation and a small change."

But another fan, named Mike, didn't agree, writing "Boo" with a stream of o's, before summarizing the views of others: "We don't want electric bikes."

 

The motorcycle isn't yet for sale; Harley hasn't yet announced a release date or an expected retail price.

Here's how Susan Carpenter summarizes her test ride of the LiveWire: "In short, it rides nothing like a traditional Harley. It accelerates like a hot rod and corners like a sport bike."