tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44064274085566762552024-03-05T02:26:47.662-05:00Go Green!Find tips for making your life, your business, or your organization more environmentally friendly by Going Green. Includes articles on how to both help the earth while saving money, something that makes "cents" for all of us.Elizabethtown College SIFEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11620983773479687874noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406427408556676255.post-42239986511089677272008-11-12T18:56:00.002-05:002008-11-12T18:58:34.388-05:00Protecting our Rainforests<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxmQB1mWQqhX5DSWk2qKp5bWQRl1U42e5g5qkYwpIUhtAsvjnDRprKsuPi9dTMolo8A2We5K8mguT_Jol30OOHyNT3pvfFeBbOXguKfChFON9eAY13EDAKN9CQLrfaQTDHL7eeLWn-p3u/s1600-h/rainforest.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 80px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxmQB1mWQqhX5DSWk2qKp5bWQRl1U42e5g5qkYwpIUhtAsvjnDRprKsuPi9dTMolo8A2We5K8mguT_Jol30OOHyNT3pvfFeBbOXguKfChFON9eAY13EDAKN9CQLrfaQTDHL7eeLWn-p3u/s320/rainforest.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267924681309786930" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">How many trees must development cut down before the rainforests crumble to their knees? The answer, my friend, is showing in the Amazon – in the past several decades a majority of the world’s rainforests, including the lush jungles of the Amazon River Valley of Brazil, have succumbed to development and logging. The paper industry is the culprit in much of this logging, with trees being used for pulp for packaging and paper. With the timely concern of climate change, citizens of Planet Earth should be concerned about the elimination of CO2-photosynthesizing trees. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> While there has been much pro-environmentalist and “green” lifestyle initiative across the U.S. over the last two decades, not enough has been done to preserve our crucial rainforests. Development and tree harvesting to enhance economic status in the economically stunted nations containing the majority of the world’s rainforests continue to result in the destruction of over fifty million acres of rainforest per year. According to the Amazon World Park (UK) web site, deforestation contributes to the extinction of one plant or animal species every hour. Countless species have already disappeared due to deforestation. Forests also help purify the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, which has been implicated in contributing to climate change, while absorbing rainwater before releasing it back into the environment. Tree roots help contain the water table, the underground water supply which serves as the source of the majority of the world’s drinking water. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> While it will take a collective effort to preserve the rainforests, you can contribute by practicing certain behaviors, beginning with refusing to purchase products made from exotic trees. In addition, it is important to recycle paper and use previously recycled paper for packaging and writing paper. Also, avoid buying exotic pets from the jungle such as iguanas which would be better off proliferating in their natural habitat. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> There is a ray of light for the protection of the rainforests, as statistics indicate that deforestation in Brazil has decreased annually at rates of between 31 and 47 percent from 2005 to 2007. Despite this, during the closing months of 2007 Brazil’s interior department noted that deforestation was again on the increase. However, cattle ranching and subsistence agriculture continued to account for over ninety percent of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest from 2000 through 2005. Logging, road construction, river damming, and mining contributed on a smaller scale to the problem. It is critical to continue to support anti-deforestation efforts and prevent the destruction of natural habitats for the prevention of our climate and wildlife. </span>Elizabethtown College SIFEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11620983773479687874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406427408556676255.post-56174950566223651852008-11-12T18:55:00.001-05:002008-11-12T18:55:27.950-05:00Cracking Down on Plastic<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Between 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are used worldwide each year. As an effort to cut down on plastic bag usage and waste, countries around the world have been inspired by a “green” movement. In response, Ireland has begun charging for the use of each plastic bag that consumers take with them, and instead have started selling cloth bags in stores that can be reused in all stores in which customers typically shop. This movement is also beginning to show its effects within the United States. This includes a potential law being prepared for discussion in California that would require stores to charge 25 cents for each plastic bag that a customer uses. While 25 cents may seem like a lot, this amount will add up over time and may even add up to be quite expensive in a single shopping trip if a consumer purchases a lot.</span>Elizabethtown College SIFEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11620983773479687874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406427408556676255.post-9977580048185351442008-11-12T18:51:00.001-05:002008-11-12T18:54:05.953-05:00The Breathing Air QualityAmericans take many things for granted. The environment we live in, the clean water we have, the sparkling beautiful bathrooms that leave us “oo-ing” and “ah-ing”. Most people do not know that most of the world does not live in conditions similar to the U.S., in fact, it is the complete opposite.<br /><br />My parents came from the bustling metropolis of Manila, Philippines. There, they grew up and learned how to act in the culture, learning languages like Chinese, English, and Filipino. Their experience with poor air quality is quite vivid. This is because they lived in it.<br /><br />It is not exactly what we would call an ideal living condition. I quote from my mother, “ cough, cough, the smog in downtown Manila was so bad, I could not see where I was going.”But after a visit, I discovered our entire family did pretty well for their living standards. They live with a roof over their heads and they always have food to put on the table. I thought “Gee, I would like to live to here.”I would always have family around for every holiday of the year.<br /><br />The Philippines is actually one of the most polluted countries in the world, just slightly below some other highly polluted Asian countries. The WHO organization reports that most of the pollutants come from the emissions from vehicles. My father once told me in Chinese, “Sure they live well, but you must count the chance that you put your health at risk.” The darker side of the picture is always the hardest to hear. But it is so easy to hear about what goes on in impoverished, less fortunate countries because you are not experiencing it.<br /><br />Now I understand what kind of sacrifice my parents went through just to start a family in the United States as I sit here and breathe the fresh clean air that blows into many of the facilities at my campus and even at home.<br /><br />Furthermore, what we should take from this is that everyone should take initiative to maintain this air quality that we already have in the United States. As a tip, you can reduce the amount of toxicity that enters the air by riding bicycles to visit a friend three blocks over instead of driving. Parents can car pull with a neighbor who is also going to see their son or daughter play in soccer championships, saving money on your gas bill. You can volunteer to help repair air ducts in low-income school around the area. Remember, we are truly fortunate.<br /><br /><blockquote>This article is part of a series entitled "Living in my Chinese-American home"</blockquote>Elizabethtown College SIFEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11620983773479687874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406427408556676255.post-46586872480770559982008-11-12T18:50:00.000-05:002008-11-12T18:51:33.940-05:00Define “Organic!”<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Walking the aisles of any supermarket these days means inevitably being bombarded by “organic,” “Fair Trade,” and “100% Vegan” seals on the packages of food products- but what exactly do these labels mean? </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The term “organic” has recently become a trend, and a simple way for companies to justify raising the prices of their product. As annoying as the price hikes for organic products can be, hopefully this trend is here to stay- products bearing the USDA seal for organic foods are significantly more environmentally friendly. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">In order to bear the official “organic” seal, products must undergo inspection by government-approved organic certifiers. In the case of food, this means inspections of the farm where it is grown or raised. Fruits and vegetables receive the stamp of approval only if they are grown without most conventional pesticides, if their fertilizers are made without synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge, and they cannot be grown with the use of bioengineered seeds or ionizing radiation. For animal by-products such as meat, milk, cheese, or eggs, the animals cannot be given any antibiotics or growth hormones. All food items sold in the U.S., whether they’re local or imported, must meet these requirements in order to boast the official “organic” seal. </span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Good will is not the only factor fueling the “go organic” trend. Along with the environmental incentive, producers of certified organic products will benefit from potentially lower input costs, a decrease in their reliance on non-renewable resources, the ability to capture high-value markets, and premium pricing options to boost income. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Organic products are better for the environment because they are produced by farmers who avoid the use of harmful chemical pesticides, fungicides, and fertilizers. Farmers who embrace the production of organic products are also more likely to employ renewable and sustainable resources, as well as conserve water and soil for the use of future generations. </span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">While the USDA makes no claims that the consumption of organic foods is healthier than non-organic foods, organic foods have a significantly smaller impact on the environment, making them worth the extra hassle and higher price. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Sources:</span><br /><a href="http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/environment/sustainable/living/shopping.htm?wbc_purpose=Basic"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/environment/sustainable/living/shopping.htm?wbc_purpose=Basic</span></a><br /><a href="http://www.green.cusu.cam.ac.uk/resources/littlegreenbook/1997/shop.html"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">http://www.green.cusu.cam.ac.uk/resources/littlegreenbook/1997/shop.html</span></a><br /><a href="http://www.pickyourown.org/organic.htm"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">http://www.pickyourown.org/organic.htm</span></a>Elizabethtown College SIFEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11620983773479687874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406427408556676255.post-11016943276737462012008-11-12T18:45:00.001-05:002008-11-12T18:50:00.934-05:00Paper or plastic? NEITHER!!<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Recently, it seems that many stores are trying to do their part in reducing pollution caused by paper and plastic bags by selling reusable cloth bags as alternatives. If used two times a week for two years, each reusable bag will save 832 plastic bags, enough petroleum to drive 60 miles, 11 pounds of garbage and $140 the city spends on disposal. Investing in some reusable bags is a good way to do your part in helping the environment. But until then, become and educated consumer with these facts:</span><br /><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">It takes 70% more global warming gases to make a paper bag instead of a plastic bag.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The petroleum used to make 14 plastic bags could drive a car 1 mile.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">An estimated 100,000 marine animals are killed annually by plastic bags.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Cities spend up to 17 cents per bag in disposal costs—wasting millions of tax dollars.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">In some parts of the ocean there are 6 pounds of plastics for every pound of fish. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Americans use 380 million plastic bags every year.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Paper bags do not biodegrade in landfills.</span></li></ul><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Source: </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="Paper%20or%20plastic?%20NEITHER%21%21%20Recently,%20it%20seems%20that%20many%20stores%20are%20trying%20to%20do%20their%20part%20in%20reducing%20pollution%20caused%20by%20paper%20and%20plastic%20bags%20by%20selling%20reusable%20cloth%20bags%20as%20alternatives.%20If%20used%20two%20times%20a%20week%20for%20two%20years,%20each%20reusable%20bag%20will%20save%20832%20plastic%20bags,%20enough%20petroleum%20to%20drive%2060%20miles,%2011%20pounds%20of%20garbage%20and%20$140%20the%20city%20spends%20on%20disposal.%20Investing%20in%20some%20reusable%20bags%20is%20a%20good%20way%20to%20do%20your%20part%20in%20helping%20the%20environment.%20But%20until%20then,%20become%20and%20educated%20consumer%20with%20these%20facts:%20%20It%20takes%2070%%20more%20global%20warming%20gases%20to%20make%20a%20paper%20bag%20instead%20of%20a%20plastic%20bag.%20The%20petroleum%20used%20to%20make%2014%20plastic%20bags%20could%20drive%20a%20car%201%20mile.%20An%20estimated%20100,000%20marine%20animals%20are%20killed%20annually%20by%20plastic%20bags.%20Cities%20spend%20up%20to%2017%20cents%20per%20bag%20in%20disposal%20costs%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%94wasting%20millions%20of%20tax%20dollars.%20In%20some%20parts%20of%20the%20ocean%20there%20are%206%20pounds%20of%20plastics%20for%20every%20pound%20of%20fish.%20%20Americans%20use%20380%20million%20plastic%20bags%20every%20year.%20Paper%20bags%20do%20not%20biodegrade%20in%20landfills.%20%20http://www.onebagatatime.com/index.php?page=misc&section=solution">http://www.onebagatatime.com/index.php?page=misc&section=solution</a>Elizabethtown College SIFEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11620983773479687874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406427408556676255.post-90426252164268771222008-09-24T10:30:00.000-04:002008-09-24T11:21:46.004-04:00Fast Facts<span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >American Facts</span><br /><ul style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><li>Americans comprise of 4.7% of the world’s population, but use 25% of the earths’s resources</li><li>Americans account for 40% of the world wide gas consumption, burning 155 billion gallons annually.</li><li>American consumption accounts for 25% of the world’s greenhouse-gas emmissions.</li><li>Since 1950, Americans have consumed more resources than the world’s entire population in human history before that date.</li><li>On average, each American generates 4 and 1/2 pounds of waste per day</li><li>We spend more for trash bags than 90 of the earth’s 210 countries spend for everything.</li></ul><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Recycling Saves Energy</span><br /><ul style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><li>Recycling a six-pack of aluminum cans can save enough energy to drive a car 5 miles. </li><li>Every ton of newspaper that’s recycled saves 4,100 kWh of electricity, enough to power a TV for 31 hours.</li><li>The energy equivalent of 16.3 barrels of oil is used to produce on ton of plastic bottles. </li><li>Steel recycling saves enough energy to electrically power the equivalent of 18 milllion homes a year.</li><li>Americans waste 500,000 trees every Sunday by throwing away their newspapers instead of recycling them.</li></ul><blockquote style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Sources:<br />Getis, Judith. You Can Make a Difference. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 1999.<br />Go Green Initiative. <http://gogreeninitiative.org/>.<br />Neighborhood News, Ruxton-Riverwood-Lake Roland Area Improvement Association Winter 2007.<br />Urbanska, Wanda, and Frank Levering. Nothing's Too Small to Make a Difference. Winston-Salem, North Carolina: John F. Blair, Publisher, 2004.</blockquote>Elizabethtown College SIFEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11620983773479687874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406427408556676255.post-52468852761359101452008-09-24T10:29:00.000-04:002008-09-24T11:21:37.617-04:00Get Rid of Those Unwanted Catalogs<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">In just a few minutes, you can get rid of all those unwanted catalogs, and save the hassle of having to recycle them. This online service is called “Catalog Choice”, a website that allows you to compile a list of catalogs you don’t want to receive and it will contact the retailers and request that you be taken off their mailing lists.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">It was started by The Natural Resources Defense Council, the National Wildlife Federation, and the Ecology Center to soften the environmental impact that was caused by the mass amount of catalogs being mailed.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Give it a try at: www.catalogchoice.org</span>Elizabethtown College SIFEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11620983773479687874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406427408556676255.post-91280488387190709562008-09-24T10:28:00.000-04:002008-09-24T11:22:09.734-04:00Make a Difference: Green Your Office<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">You can make a difference and help improve the environment by purchasing recycled products. You will find that most recycled products cost less, or the same as products made from normal materials. Recycled products cost more when the market for them is very limited; however, prices will fall over time when consumers buy these products regularly.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">There are many materials that you can buy for your of office that are recycled. Recycled paper products include: copy paper, cards, envelopes, folders, notebooks, binders, checks, post-its, and cardboard boxes. Other recycled items include: computer disks, toner cartridges for photocopiers and printers, pens, rulers, and scissors.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">When buying paper products, the three arrows chasing each other on a dark background indicate that the paper contains recycled fibers, and on a light or no background, indicates that the paper can be recycled. </span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">There are a few other simple things to do to make your office green:</span><br /><ul style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><li>Bring your own coffee mug to work, and encourage other employees to do the same.</li><li>Contribute guest mugs for visitors.</li><li>Save coffee grounds for compost, and give them to anyone who gardens at home.</li><li>Substitute cloth towels for paper towels, and keep them laundered.</li></ul>Elizabethtown College SIFEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11620983773479687874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406427408556676255.post-62335493885353893742008-09-24T10:25:00.001-04:002008-09-24T11:22:09.734-04:00Why Go Green?<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Going Green is not a new term, but this term has become widely used in the past few years. It is important to recognize the state of our environment, and how we use the world’s resources. The world’s natural resources are fixed, when they’re gone, they’re gone, and we need to reduce how wasteful we are, in order to preserve the earth for future generations. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The greatest threat to our environment comes from what we throw away every day. Electronics and batteries contain harmful chemicals, and when they are thrown into a landfill, may seep through the barrier and contaminate the ground water and affect everything from the soil in which our food grows, to the water that we drink. Throwing things away that could be recycled, not only diminish energy, but also natural resources that may be saved by recycling.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">We need to understand that all our choices will affect our interconnected world in one way or another. If we want to pass along our standard of living to future generations, we need to recycle, and buy recycled products in order to better our environment.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The world currently consists of 6 billion people, and is expected to increase to 9 billion by 2050. If things do not change, the previous fact would mean that each person would only have access to 25% of the resources we had in 1950. The fact that we are diminishing our resources is real, and we need to help slow that process down. Every little thing you recycle is never too small to make a difference.</span>Elizabethtown College SIFEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11620983773479687874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406427408556676255.post-91256619646821595292008-05-01T11:00:00.000-04:002008-09-24T11:22:09.734-04:00Conserving Materials can Save Money, and the Environment<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8xg_-2C3K3FuEyJSzKLbe8XoNf3BKg4qvdlyNtTchVSQd3lQsYZYo7zzB4Q-UwI2oggFw8ep9OtDn24vRKBc4JzY0fjOKtQHHSgOwMbMBcZCe3T3MZ0e7usX7XyQ33HG65rgTTX8HnRQi/s1600-h/GoGreenIssue02.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8xg_-2C3K3FuEyJSzKLbe8XoNf3BKg4qvdlyNtTchVSQd3lQsYZYo7zzB4Q-UwI2oggFw8ep9OtDn24vRKBc4JzY0fjOKtQHHSgOwMbMBcZCe3T3MZ0e7usX7XyQ33HG65rgTTX8HnRQi/s200/GoGreenIssue02.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249603333766080850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Simple everyday business tasks can cost your business more money than you may think. Yet by looking at your typical tasks, it is sometimes very easy to find ways that save you money, while helping to reduce waste and save the environment. Take a look and see what you can save, here are some common places to start:</span><ul><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Turn your computers off at the end of the day, and set your computer to go into power save mode when you walk away from it. Doing this will both reduce power usage, sometimes considerably, but it can also increase the security of your computer systems with proper passwords.</span><br /></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Don’t use paper when it isn’t necessary. Sending emails is more efficient, and reduces paper waste. Modern email software can be used to backup all of your email so that you don’t need to print emails to maintain backup copies except when entirely necessary.</span> </li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">When you need to print, print double sided documents. This reduces paper waste, which in a short time can turn into a lot of savings. Many modern printers are designed to print double sided,or they have low-cost adapters to allow double sided printing (called duplex printing).</span><br /></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Look to find ways to reuse old equipment. This can often be much less expensive then replacing the item with a brand new one. For example, office furniture can be refurbished, saving money and reducing waste.</span><br /></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Avoid making unnecessary trips. Combine your daily drive to the post office, bank, and other places into one trip to help reduce your gas usage and costs. Avoid idling engines and keep vehicles will maintained.</span> </li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Recycle your materials. Many times, recycling waste is less expensive then disposing of it in the trash. Depending on your business, you may be able to find ways to reuse old materials, or find new uses for seemingly obsolete items.</span><br /></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Be creative. Encourage employees to come up with their own recycling ideas. Develop a rewards system to give employees an incentive if they find an environmentally conscious way to reduce costs.</span> </li></ul><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Simple things can add up to big savings for your organization.</span>Elizabethtown College SIFEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11620983773479687874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406427408556676255.post-76022375442660741202008-05-01T10:54:00.000-04:002008-09-24T11:19:45.176-04:00Create A Worm Bin for Natural Fertilizer While Reducing Your Waste<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Do you love to garden? Nothing is better for your garden than worm castings and worm tea, and this little tutorial will teach you everything you need to know to enrich your garden.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">What you need:</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1. Two 8-10 gallon plastic storage boxes (dark color and not see through), Cost: about $5 each</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">2. Drill (with 1/4" and 1/16" bits) for making drainage & ventilation holes </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">3. Newspaper</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">4. About one pound of red worms</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Step 1:</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Drill ¼ inch holes in the bottom of both bins for drainage.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Step 2:</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Drill ventilation holes about 1 – 1½ inches apart on each side of the bin near the top edge using the 1/16 inch bit. Also drill about 30 small holes in the top of only one of the lids.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Step 3:</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Use shredded newspaper for the worms bedding. Shred the newspaper in 1 inch strips. Moisten the strips, and ring any excess water out of them. Fill the bottom of each bin with 3 – 4 inches of fluffed up newspaper strips. You can add any old leaves from the lawn, and a handful of dirt or grit to help the worms digest.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Step 4:</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Add your worms to the bedding in one of the bins, and put that one on top of the other. One way to capture red worms is to leave a piece of cardboard on the garden for the night, and when you lift it up in the morning you will have worms. You can also buy them. An earthworm can consume half its weight a day, so if you have a half a pound of waste, you will need 1 pound of worms. There are about 500 worms in a pound, but if you start out with less, they will multiply fairly quickly.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Step 5:</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Cut a piece of cardboard to fit over the bedding of the top bin, and moisten it. Worms love the cardboard and can digest it in a few months. Put the one plastic lid with wholes on the top worm bin.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Step 6:</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Put you bin in a well ventilated area, like a garage, laundry room, or outside in the shade. Put it on top of bricks to keep it off the ground, and place plastic containers to catch worm tea, a great liquid fertilizer.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Step 7:</span> Feed your worms slowly at first, and as they multiply you can add more food. Gently bury the food in a different section of the bin each week, under the cardboard. For a list of food worms can eat, see the list below.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Step 8: </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">When the first bin is full and there are no recognizable food scraps, place new bedding material in the second bin and place the bin directly on the compost surface of the first bin. Bury your food scraps to the bedding of the second bin (now the top bin). In one to two months, most of the worms will have moved to the second bin in search of food. Now the first bin will contain almost worm free vermicompost for your garden. (You can gently lift out any worms that might remain, and place them in the new bin, or put them into your garden!)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Worms enjoy eating:</span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Breads & Grains</span></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Cereal</span></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Coffee grounds & filters</span></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Fruits</span></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Tea bags</span></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Vegetables</span></li></ul><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Worms will <span style="font-weight: bold;">not </span>eat:</span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Dairy Products</span></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Fats</span></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Meat</span></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Feces</span></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Oils</span></li></ul><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Source:</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Cheap and Easy Worm Bin</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/compost/Easywormbin.htm</span></blockquote>Elizabethtown College SIFEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11620983773479687874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406427408556676255.post-34822853972390163712008-05-01T10:48:00.000-04:002008-09-24T11:21:04.170-04:00Television Goes Green<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">On June 4, 2008, the Discovery Channel launched a new television network called Planet Green. Reaching 50 million homes the network will present original green lifestyle programming. Some of the shows will include:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >The Green Life</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Adrian Grenier a star of HBO's hit series Entourage and his "Green Team" will be showing audiences simple steps to transition their lives to be green. The group will work with celebrities and ordinary people alike to share their tips. One show will focus on a bar-friendly recycling program while in another the team will test the latest sustainable snowboard gear.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Supper Club With Tom Bergeron</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Each week Tom Bergeron from Dancing with the Stars will host an evening discussing the recent news and events in the green movement. Four guests, including celebrities, activists, business leaders will enjoy a green meal during their discussions. This show will demonstrate the full spectrum of green topics.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >WA$TED!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This show will demonstrate that homeowners do not have to be extreme to be green. Annabelle Gurwitch, former host of Dinner and a Movie on TBS, will lead a team while they audit a household's waste and energy, water, and transportation consumption. The household has three weeks to clean up their act and then the team rewards them cash for all improvements. Many easy tips, helpful resources, and green insights will be shared.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Greensburg</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The town of Greenburg, Kansas was destroyed by a tornado May of 2007. The citizens of Greensburg decided to rebuild their town "green." This series documents the rebirth of the rural town telling a story of a community coming together while facing the task of greening an entire town. This show will be an inspiring look into the human spirit.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Stuff Happens</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Bill Nye the science guy will present to audiences the life cycle of everyday products. After seeing how products are created and disposed of, Bill Nye will offer suggestions to reduce the impact that products are having on our environment. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Visit PlanetGreen.com or their sister site TreeHugger.com to learn more about the new network and access solutions- oriented tips and information about green lifestyles.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Source:</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Discovery Channel</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">http://planetgreen.discovery.com/work-connect/tune-in-to-planet-green.html</span></blockquote><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span>Elizabethtown College SIFEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11620983773479687874noreply@blogger.com0