Eco-Talk

Your hub for environmental problems and solutions

[political-us]

[wtf-fun-factss]

The planet is so saturated with microplastics that researchers have recently found them in clouds over Japan. Click to read the full fact.

[ecotalk]

How to turn your yard into a wildlife sanctuary this year!

The number one cause of population decline in species is from habitat loss. It is a major global threat, only 75% of the land surface of earth is considered habitable, the rest being taken up by deserts, tundras, or glaciers. Humans occupy about 45% of the Earth's land surface with the majority of that going to farming. That leaves only 30% left as wilderness. With the human population expanding exponentially the amount of land we occupy will have to increase. This leaves many of the worlds species at an increasingly high risk of extinction if they cannot adapt to living in an urban environment.

That sound like a pretty huge and overwhelming problem but the good news is there is something you can do about it. Ditch the lawn. On average 70% of the yards in america are made up of cool season mowed grass lawns. These lawns offer very little to wildlife in terms of food shelter or water. What you can do is take some or even all of your lawn and turn it into a wildlife garden! This will help the animals in your neighborhood have a place to live, make your yard more beautiful, and bring nature into your daily life.

Step 1: Find out what animals are in your area.You can usually find this information pretty easily on line or you can call your local ODNR for information.My recommendation is to pick 5 species you would like to attracks, remember to consider mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. Also consider the size of your yard and how much work you would like to do. Larger mammals will need a lot more space than insects.

Step 2: Find out what they need. Remember the 4 needs food, water, shelter, a place to rise young. You will need to do some research on your chosen species to find out what kinds of trees they like, what there favorite foods are, if they need cover to hide in, what kind of breeding boxes they like, what invasive species threaten them. Etc.

Step 3: Figure out what you have.  Consider the potential benefits your current plants offer offer in the form of food, water, shelter, and a place for young. If the plant does not offer at least one need consider replacing it with a species that does. Remember the plants and animals of North America have had millions of years to co evolve, and are best suited to be together. Native are a the best choice.

Step 4: make a plan. The most important part of creating your beautiful natural garden will be to make a good plan. Consider how much space you have, how much time and money you want to invest, and the needs of your species. Make sure to include as much diversity in your plan as you can not just in species but topography high and blooming periods as well. Adding edges to your garden will make it more attractive and add diversity. Don't forget non living things like nesting boxes, water features, and feeders.

Step 5: Execute the plan. Prepare the site by removing all the grass and weeds. Make sure two read the instructions on your plants to see what light, moisture and soil requirements they have.  One of the benefits of native plants is that they should be well suited for your environment meaning they will need little care and once established should come up year after year. Try to keep your garden as natural as possible, a healthy garden can take care of itself.

Remember that rome was not built in a day and neither will your beautiful natural area. A lot of research is needed for a successful native area but he benefits are amazing! Set goals for yourself and don’t give up. If all you can do this season is plant a few native wildflowers in your front yard for the bees then that is something. Remember to think global and act local. Together we have the power to reshape our world.

[ecotalk]

The cost of food

We all think about prices when we go to the supermarket, some of us may even use a budget, or spend hours shopping around at different stores or clipping coupons to make sure we get the best deal possible. Rarely however do we stop and think why the item costs the price that it does.

 Why do grapes cost $4 a pound when bananas cost 50c? Why does organic milk cost $6 a gallon while regular milk is $1.50? How can you buy a microwave steak dinner for $5 when it would cost you three times more to make it yourself?

Think about how much more work goes into producing a cup of microwavable mac and cheese compared to an apple yet their price is about the same. You first have to make pasta which requires eggs. This means you have to grow chickens somewhere, feed them (usually corn), harvest there eggs, ship them to the production facility along with flower, water, and salt, just to make the noodles! hen you need to make that powdered cheese which, let's be real hear, no one really knows what its made of. Since it claims to contain real cheese we’ll assume some milk is involved. To get milk we need to raise cows, feed the cows (again usually corn), milk the cows, take care of the cow waste. Cows can drink any were from 3-30 gallons of water a day! Dairy cows will be on that higher end because of the water needs of making milk. And we haven't even considered yet the extraction of the oil used to make the plastic packaging! 

Now let's go back to that apple. The apple grew on a tree likely around california or if you are getting it in the winter south america. The apple tree needed sunlight and water to grow, it was put on a truck, likely cleaned in some way and then trucked off to stores across america. That apple took 1 maybe 3 truck trips. That box of mac and cheese took some were closer to 14 rides on a truck to get all the ingredients from were they are produced to the factory and then to the store. So how is it that that box of mac and cheese can cost the same amount as the apple? 

Externalities. We have an unfortunate problem in our society with externalities  or hiding the true cost of a good by having someone else pay for it. 

[ecotalk]

Cosmetic Chaos

Did you know that personal care products are one of the least regulated industries in America? I learned only recently. It turns out that FDA has almost no power to regulate the industry. This means the products that end up on store shelves contain untested or unsafe materials.

Personal Care refers to products such as, make up, body wash, shampoo, lotion, shaving cream, sunscreen, and deodorant to name a few. All of us use at least one of these products per day and likely five or more. Every day we cover our bodies in these substances and the majority of ingredients have not been tested for safety. Worse still, many contain chemicals that have been connected to adverse health effects, such as cancer. The FDA receives about 400 complaints a year that a personal care product caused adverse side effects, but little happens. For example The New York Times reported in 2016 that Wen Hair products was casing serious reactions, itching , rash, even hair loss. The FDA received 127 complaints about the product by the time an investigation began and discovered the company had received 21,000 complaints! However cosmetic manufacturers are not required to report any adverse effects of their product to the government even if someone dies! In the end Wen hair products had to pay a $26million settlement, but still maintains its product is safe and continues to sell it.

The bottom line is this is a huge problem and there is not a lot consumers can do. Change needs to come from the top with a significant increase in the regulation of the personal care product industry. We need to support legislation that would give the FDA more power to make sure the products on store shelves are actually safe.

Read my full article at https://ecoproblemssolutions.wordpress.com/   

[ecotalk]

House Plants for All

House plants are one of my many passions in life, So I thought I would take a break form all these heavy topics to write a fun article. The problem: none of us get outdoors as much as we would like especially in northern Ohio in the winter. A solution: house plants. I love my plants and I like to think they love me back, even just as the being that brings them water. Everyone should have house plants and here are a few reasons why.

They are good for your health. Studies have shown that people who see green plants daily have fewer instances of mental health disorders. Furthermore, doctors have even begun prescribing “forest bathing” or spending time in nature for such illnesses as depression and anxiety. House plants also help to remove CO2 from the air replacing it with clean oxygen which is good for our health. Plants are beautiful I find that a single plant dose a lot to spruce up a room with a growing, changing display that is more fascinating then any painting. Flowering plants are even better offering color and a reminder of spring during harsh winter months. Plants give us something to care for. Not all of us have a situation that lends its self well to a pet, but everyone can grow a plant. No matter how much of a black thumb you think you have I guarantee there is a plant out there for you. Succulents are great If your prone to spending long period away from home or if you tend to forget to water. Low light ivies are great for apartments or northern facing windows that other plants might struggle in.  Orchids are a great plant for people who want to dote on their plant and be rewarded with gorgeous flowers. Herbs grown in a kitchen window are fantastic if you like to cook or want a plant with a purpose. There is a plant for everyone!

https://ecoproblemssolutions.wordpress.com/ read full post here

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The only glassy one that rolled thru ✨ | avg.surfer

[ecotalk]

Welcome

Thank you for checking out the new home of my blog