Eye on Sustainability

Please do not remove all leaves. There is no need to remove ALL leaves from your grass as leaving a thin layer will help maintain a healthy lawn as well as provide habitat for overwintering and beneficial insects.

Shred leaves in place using a mower. A normal mower can be used to shred leaves and therefore speed up their decomposition right there in your lawn.  If you shred leaves, they will also produce a very valuable mulch that can be used wherever you need mulch!

Rake or blow leaves INTO garden beds and DO NOT remove leaves from garden beds.  A layer of leaves 3-6 inches thick will act as a mulch in your garden beds and around your tree bases.  It will help keep weeds at bay, improve water retention, and reduce leaching of nutrients.  It will especially help new plantings or those that are in the first years of establishment.  Don’t leave bare soil, leave the leaves!

Remove leaves from drain areas, gutter areas, street sides and any walkways or driveways. Removing leaves from where you want to walk seems like a no-brainer, but the number of times I have watched people blow leaves from their yard right onto the gutters, drains, or streets along their property is mind blowing.  The only place you do need to remove leaves is from draining and walking areas.  If leaves are allowed to clog the sides of streets, gutters, or drains, they will cause water to backup and create icy disasters.  Furthermore, the more leaves we can keep out of our sewer system, the better for everyone, including the expensive filtration systems. 

In summary…..

Do NOT remove all leaves from your yard.

Shred leaves in place.

Rake or blow leaves (shredding first is ideal) INTO garden beds.

Remove leaves from drains, gutters and street sides.

Remove leaves from walkways.

Other reasons to leave the leaves:

Vital overwintering habitat

Reduces cost of mulch and fertilizer

Improves that bare soil patch by building healthy soil in its place!

Reduction of taxes in your municipality

Reduction of gas usage and noise pollution for those with blowers

More time to enjoy the beauty of your yard!

Additional Resources:

BIKE COMMUTING FOR THE WIN!

If you have been considering bike commuting, even just for short distances...I am here to tell you that its worth it! Just running some stats on my bike commuting to work over the last month and half and in addition to regaining my baseline fitness, getting vitamin D every day without having to try, saving time and not having to wait at stoplights....I rode a total of 113 mi, burned ~5,880 calories, saved 40 kilograms of CO2 from being emitted, and SAVED $228.48 IN GAS MONEY.

Let's break that down per week ....my roundtrip Bike Commute of 2.69mi

- 10 mins less roundtrip, 50 mins Saved ☑️ - 1.7 gallons of gas saved/day, 8.5 gal/wk or $27.5 Saved ☑️ - 140 cal burned/day, 700 cal burned/wk Body Condition ☑️ - 0.94 Kg of CO2 saved/day, equivalent to planting 1 tree every 2 months, charging my cellphone4.866 times, recycling 12.7 Kg of waste, or keeping a car off the road for 103 mi a week, Saved ☑️

We've got answers to your top questions about LEDs, CFLs, halogens, color temperature and more.

Along with many other like-minded individuals, I have a personal vendetta against the formidable plastic bag and the plastic water bottle.  I don't say plastic in general, because, no, I am not that naive.  I understand that plastic has been equally important in the modernization of our world as western medicine, food storage, modes of transportation and new types of communication.  And yes, all four of those symbols of modern life would not be nearly as effective or available without the invention of plastic.  Even for those of us who strive to rid our daily lives with the seemingly unstoppable accumulation of plastic, we have to admit that is would be near impossible to completely rid ourselves of this, at once, miraculous and devilish material.  However, as materials scientists know all too well, there are many, many different types of plastic.  This is where the story gets more complicated than many of us have the time or passion to truly grasp.  However, the point is that there are some plastics that are essential to modern life while there are others whose riddance would be a benefit for ourselves and every other organism that depends on clean, uncontaminated water and plastic free food sources.  

I know that I am not the only one to make the argument against plastic bags and bottles.  But lately, I have been feeling defeated in my efforts to show others why a change in their shopping and daily habits could reap benefits across the globe.  

More or less, it seems that the reasons WHY we should say 'no' to plastic bags at the check-out lane and why to carry a personal water canteen are not as understood as I thought by the layman.  So, I found that rather than fester in my frustration, I would try to enlighten whoever is willing to listen.  Following are just 4 reasons why we should  JUST SAY NO! and get your neighbor to do the same.  

And if you want answers to the age old question "Paper or Plastic?" check this out:  http://prezi.com/qjh38cnfz4da/paper-vs-plastic/

Comments are appreciated. 

1. Contamination via dietary intake of microplastic by marine wildlife is widespread and WILL lead to population declines or crashes.  **new studies have confirmed microplastics in almost every part of the human body, including the brain!!!**

https://www.aamc.org/news/microplastics-are-inside-us-all-what-does-mean-our-health

http://conservationmagazine.org/2014/02/plastic-ingestion-seabirds-worse-thought/

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2012/05/08/report-pacific-ocean-has-100-times-more-plastic-in-it-than-70s

A photo I took at an exhibition in the Field Museum of Chicago displaying Chris Gordon's photographic work the stomach contents of a baby Laysan albatross.  Any thoughts on how this baby met its demise??   Yup, our actions have consequences in the farthest away most remote and pristine places of this world....well, at least they were pristine before being riddled with our trash.

2. What's in our food, our water, our air and our soil is in us. 

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10151227/

https://www.aamc.org/news/microplastics-are-inside-us-all-what-does-mean-our-health

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/12/12/250438904/how-plastic-in-the-ocean-is-contaminating-your-seafood

http://www.salon.com/2013/11/21/plastic_pollution_may_be_transporting_toxic_chemicals_into_our_seafood/

3. What took Evolution billions of years to make will be undone in just a few generations. 

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/05/09/152350088/study-plastic-garbage-in-pacific-ocean-has-increased-100-fold-in-40-years

www.empressofdirt.net

4. The energy to make and then recycle a plastic bag is exponentially more than the usefulness of the plastic bag.  Especially when there are alternatives....the reusable bag and canteen.

bhttps://alumni.stanford.edu/get/page/magazine/article/?article_id=30164

Just in case you need more prodding....

The natural world is intricately woven and our actions don’t always have an immediate reaction.  But, there is always a reaction, sometimes it just takes us a while to figure it out.  

When we create islands of plastic, change the temperature and salinity content of our oceans, deafen the sea with ship noise, over fish with out stop and make beach habitat uninhabitable, do we really think there are no consequences?  And no, these are not actions taken by “other” people.  By choosing to take home a plastic bag rather than carrying your own re-usable, by choosing to drive rather than exploring other options and supporting public/bike transport, by choosing t0 have mangos in Ohio in winter, by choosing to buy that yellow fin tuna or atlantic salmon, by choosing to have a beachfront house rather than supporting local habitat and walking just a little bit farther to the beach…..you are contributing to the problem.  Our everyday decisions and actions are what drive these greater unsustainable forces in the world.  It is not someone else’s fault, the guilt lies with all of us.  Please take the extra time to inform yourself and become part of the solution, not the problem.  

Usually the consequences are not seen in such charismatic and cute wildlife as baby sea pups, but rather little known species or those we have yet to discover.  

Tip #3:  For any of us that are avid bike commuters, recreational bikers, mountain bikers, sports bikers......folks who use their bike just once a year.....we all have the same question when it comes to what to do with inner tubes that just won't hold air anymore?  You have tried to patch it multiple times, but it has finally come to the end of its life.  With all the effort we have put into cycling rather than driving, recycling, toting our own totes to the grocery store and feeling like we are permanently attached to our re-usable coffee mug.....you definitely don't just want to throw those inner tubes in the trash!  But, you also feel assaulted when the city recycling centers ask you for $$ to recycle these tubes (as they do with car tires).  So what to do?  

A.  Well first of all, call your local bike stores because some of them may collect inner tubes for bulk recycling with organizations like 

Resource Revival https://www.resourcerevival.com/.

Or they may have other suggestions for you.  However, not all bike stores will be able to help you out.

B. Sometimes, depending on where you live, there are recycling centers that are willing to take your bike inner tubes for free and recycle them along with car tires.  

C. But what I think is the greatest option is doing a quick google search to find places such as 

Bike Furniture Design  www.bikefurniture.com/ 

that accept your bike parts (inner tubes, chains, cassettes, etc.) and use them to make kick ass furniture!  All you have to do is be willing to box up your bike parts and send them off.  Bike Furniture Design is based in Marquette, MI and will even give you a discount on their products for your contribution.  Pretty kick ass!  There are other such artists and organizations around the country (globe) such as 

Heritage Bicycles Chicago - Hand-Crafted Bicycles

www.heritagebicycles.com/

Add tips and tag friends as you find appropriate. The aim here is to share knowledge/discoveries so that more people will make the decision to be an active part of the solution.

  Tip #1: Compact Fluorescent light bulbs cost more at the get go but last 10x's longer and use 75% less energy. But remember, fluorescent light bulbs contain a small amount of mercury and must be taken to a collection facility. Here;s a link to more information:http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/promotions/change_light/downloads/Fact_Sheet_Mercury.pdf

and a link to help you find collection facilities in your town:http://www.epa.gov/waste/hazard/wastetypes/universal/lamps/live.htm

    Mother's Day Tip: Hope everyone is having a wonderful Mother's Day! A great way to save money, reduce your energy use, and enjoy the outdoors is to install a simple clothesline in your yard. Not everyone has the luxury of a back yard but there are clothes lines for all types of houses and apartments. Rotating clothes lines can have up to 250 feet in line and still fit outside an apartment window. Or if you have a couple of trees, you can install a cheap clothes line in no time at all! Take advantage of great weather and save $$$! Here is a link to some clothes lines:www.clotheslineshop.com although being innovative often saves money too!

  Better Gardening Tips: Hi everyone! SO, its beautiful weather out so I have been helping my mom with the garden. In suburbia, gardens are a big thing and can be used to serve the purpose of having enjoyable places to relax as well as provide shelter and food for wildlife. Its important to know the history of what you are planting aka plant native species vs. nonnative species. Depending on where you live, these species change. If you live in Ohio (or eastern hardwood areas) here is a wonderful website with much great information:

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Home/ExperienceWildlifeSubHomePage/backyard_wildlife/tabid/5982/Default.aspx

I will be posting more info on this topic as time goes on, but since this is peak planting season, please peruse the website yourself.

  Winter/Spring Cleaning Tip:  So its been a wile but I haven't forgotten about this little project of mine.  Actually, I am feeling more inspired these days as I am headed to work on the Gulf of Mexico and the BP oil spill response.  So, energy saving is in my thoughts.  Anyhow, I have been doing some cleaning out of old closets at my parent's house and trying to figure out the best places to donate and recycle items.  I think of all of you know that there are many Goodwill, Volunteer of America  and other charities that are happy to take those clothes that just don't look as good on you as they used to.  Also, if you need a few extra bucks most every city has an array of consignment shops.  My favorite here in Columbus is One more time on 5th Ave. (www.onemoretime.com).  But what I really want to bring to your attention is how to deal with electronics that you no longer use.  In today's ever updating technology, we are all bound to have cellphones, cameras, computers tv's that were last years version.  Well electronic recycling/reuse is a wonderful way to be more green!  There are even websites where you can get $$ on electronics that are not too old, or too damaged.  Also, there are a host of charities that would love to take your old electronics and restore them for people in need around the world.  If your electronics are deemed no longer useful there is also the option of simply recycling them.  There are a host of companies and enterprises that will help you remove your own data and break each electronic down into its parts (gold from cellphones, plastic, computer motherboards, glass etc.).  Then they recycle the parts into new electronics or recycled plastics and glass.  Phone and computer companies can then buy these parts to be made into new electronics without having to brea into the world's limited store of natural resources and emitting less toxins to the environment.  All in all, this is an fast and easy way to really make a difference.  Here I'll list some websites that contain valuable information and direct you to locations across the country.  Thanks for your support and please add your own ideas!

  General Info:

http://www.epa.gov/osw/partnerships/plugin/reuse.htm

  Donations: 

http://www.digitaltips.org/green/donate-electronics.asp

http://www.goodwill.org/get-involved/donate/

http://www.donate-to-charity.org/?gclid=CPjtpfDW2KUCFcTb4Aod6l0Sjw

www.voacentralohio.org/ 

  Cash back:

http://www.digitaltips.org/green/go-green-get-green.asp

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/null/Recycling-Electronics/pcmcat149900050025.c?id=pcmcat149900050025&DCMP=rdr0001422

  Recycling:

http://www.digitaltips.org/green/default.asp

http://www.ohiodropoff.com/?gclid=CKqw5KvW2KUCFQl_5QodGTqclQ