6/04/2010

Did you know? Maine


  • The Port of Portland receives crude oil shipments, which it then sends via pipeline to refineries in Quebec and Ontario.
  • About three-quarters of Maine’s households – the highest share in the Nation – use fuel oil for home heating.
  • Maine generates a larger share of its electricity from nonhydroelectric renewable resources than any other State.
  • Maine is the only New England State in which industry is the leading energy-consuming sector.
  • Maine has the highest wood and wood waste power generation capacity in the United States.

source: Energy Information Administration

6/02/2010

How to clean up BP's disaster

I came across an interesting article regarding the cleanup of the massive oil spill that BP is trying to stop. Hair and mushrooms! Yes, a strange combination. To read the article click here.

5/23/2010

Eco Friendly Pots

Winter is gone for many across the country and the annual march to the local garden store has begun. It's time to add color to the yard and get this years garden in shape to produce beautiful vegetables, fruits and flowers. Red, blue, green, yellow, all of the colors that people enjoy during the summer while sitting on their patio or taking a walk in the park. But what about rust and black? These are the colors of many of the pots your pretty flowers and veggies were potted in by the nurseries that grew them. What do you do with them after you have planted the garden? Well, one company pots their vegetables in biodegradable pots. Bonnie Plants uses pots that are 100 percent biodegradable. They prevent transplant shock by allowing the roots to remain intact from container to soil so that plants make an easier transition to the garden. It couldn't be any simpler, remove the label, tear off the bottom of the pot and plant the whole thing in the ground. And don't worry about the roots, they will grow through the pot as well. As the pot decomposes it becomes part of the soil.


Not only do the pots decompose in the ground, they also have a plastic label around the pot that is recyclable. Nothing goes into the trash.
The efforts of Bonnie Plants have prevented hundreds of millions of plastic pots from entering our landfills and they've also dramatically reduced energy and petroleum required in the manufacture of plastic pots. But, what do you do with all those rusty red and black plastic pots you purchased plants or vegetables in? Many are recyclable and can be taken your local recycling center. If you're unsure, ask. You can also save your plastic containers and use them next year. Have too many perennials? Put them in a leftover plastic pot and give to a friend. So go out and garden, garden, garden! But, do your part to grow a "greener" garden.





















5/19/2010

The Canyon

Canyon so deep. Canyon so tall. Don't stand too close 'cause surely I'll fall.

The grass grows green. The sky is so blue. Look at the clouds, you know that it's true.

I stand at the top and think of the drop. If I only had wings I could soar from this spot.

This canyon is deep. This canyon is wide. Until I get near, it appears that you hide.

You live all alone in the desert so dry. Yet water fills your bed from mountains so high.

You are a canyon with walls very steep. I'll treasure the moment with memories I keep.

Written by Chuckie C.
copyright 2010

5/18/2010

Did you know?

3 to 10 degrees Farenheit. Scientists say that's the increase in temperature on the earth's surface by the end of the century if heat-trapping emissions are not reduced.
If you were to recycle a mere 1/2 of your household waste per year, you can save up to 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide. Are you doing your part? Are you filling your recycling bin every week with items you used to throw in the garbage? It's really a simple thing to do, you only have to make the effort to change your garbage habits.

5/17/2010

Did you know?

Glass produced from recycled glass instead of raw materials reduces related air pollution by 20%, and water pollution by 50%.

Glass bottles and jars are 100% recyclable and can be recycled endlessly without any loss in purity or quality.

States with container deposit legislation have an average glass container recycling rate of just over 63%, according to the Container Recycling Institute.


5/15/2010

Did you know?

If just 25% of U.S. families used 10 fewer plastic bags a month, we would save over 2.5 BILLION bags a year.