6 Tips for Building Soil for Your Raised Garden Beds and Planters | Eartheasy Blog

6 Tips for Building Soil for Your Raised Garden Beds and Planters Eartheasy Blog

Here are some tips for building productive soil for your garden beds and planters – while there are some differences based on locale, these tips pretty much apply anywhere…

Associated Link:  https://robinsonloveplants.com/

AND THEN THERE WAS LIGHT

http://www.wimp.com/lightenup/

What to do with all those pesky plastic bottles we have become so attached to. . . well, someone found a use that not only provides a solution for the third world poor but also gives us safe, reliable method of reuse.  Watch this and see for yourself.  I think i just might try this at home. . .

Energize Alberta - Cow-pattie power

Energize Alberta - Cow-pattie power  -- Who could possibly NOT be interested in reading about a subject called 'Cow-pattie Power'?  On a cattle feedlot located outside  of Vegreville, Alta., cow manure may just be this province’s energy future.  Interest in this technology is, by no means new.

In Vermont, seven dairy farms are transforming millions of gallons of cow manure into electricity through the Cow Power project.  Converting farm manure to energy may also help alleviate a problem in some areas, where too much poultry and livestock waste is generated to be safely used as fertilizer on crop fields. A study presented by Chevron representatives showed that processing horse manure-to-energy could be worth roughly $7.3 million over the next two decades.  Guelph may lead North America but a village in India beat us by decades. Twenty years ago, methane collected from the village cow’s manure fuelled the simple oven that cooked delicious thalis in the south India village of Mitraniketan.

Resources:
http://www.energizealberta.com/index.php/energy-features/renewables/71-cow-pattie-power
http://www.good.is/post/cow-manure-and-other-waste-can-create-power/

http://www.pe.com/local-news/riverside-county/corona/corona-headlines-index/20120216-norco-city-moves-forward-with-manure-to-power-project.ece

http://www.guelphmercury.com/opinion/columns/article/670671--turning-methane-into-a-valuable-fuel

Updated: Shop At Walmart But Ashamed to Admit It? We Should Be

http://grist.org/business-technology/walmarts-biggest-green-feat-putting-sustainability-on-the-corporate-agenda/

so -- what do you REALLY think of Walmart?  personally, i was never much of a fan; the quality of food and clothing wasn't to my liking; the aisles narrow and often plugged with an irritating column that you can't quite manage to squeeze a cart around; while the staff are friendly enough, it's almost impossible to track one down when you really need one.  and we've all seen the emailed photos of the kind of people that shop at Walmart. . . . nobody wants to be one with that bunch!

and then one day, while i was having my car repaired in one of my favourite Central Alberta towns, i found myself in need of some supplies and Walmart was one of the few stores within easy walking distance (by 'easy' i mean close enough that i was willing to carry a few bag of groceries back from).

i'd heard about the new Walmart Supercentres but had yet to grace one with my presence.  but there it was, just a little west and north of where my car was being serviced.  so i thought, why not check it out?  i think it was 3 hours later when i finally made it back to the servic centre -- and not because it was a difficult distance to carry my bags.  this brand new store was nice and clean, with lots of room between the aisles for me and my cart, and man, the people were friendly.  i think the 'friendly' had more to do with the fact that i was in a smaller community but the fresh and clean appearance of the store and decent produce was pure Walmart.

i have to admit, somewhat shamefaced, there are times that i secretly adore Walmart.  i still don't shop there for clothing, or any quality purchases.  i still support my local farmers and try by best to stick to buying local, regional, or at least Canadian, but the attraction for me is that Walmart is a great place to one-stop shop -- and, since i hate shopping -- it fits me to a 't'. 

so it warms my heart to read about the successes Walmart is making in reducing its environmental footprint.  yes, Walmart has a L O N G ways to go to become the store i would be proud to admit i shopped at on a regular basis -- but at least now, i'll actually ADMIT that there is the occassional trip to town with the actual intention of going straight for Walmart. 

Am I The Only One?

Is Patrick Moore an Environmentalist or a Paid Lobbyist?

There seems to be much controversy around the man, Patrick Moore, perhaps, for good reason.  While he was clearly a strong environmentalist at one time -- he was an early member of the organization, Greenpeace, eventually rising to the station of President -- in later years, he has made his living primarily as a public relations consultant.   He seems to tirelessly lecture, lobby, provide professional opinions and participate on committees to government and industry on a wide range of environmental and sustainability issues. He is a frequent public speaker at meetings of industry associations, universities, and policy groups.

Of late, has taken a strong stance in several 'hot topic' environmental issues, not the least of which is the Albert Oilsands Project -- in case you're wondering, he's a supporter.  He is particularly well known for his support of nuclear energy.

While I don't  prescribe to all of Moore's opinions, you have to give the guy his credit due and we certainly can't write off anything he says simply because he might be paid to represent a cause we don't believe in.  He is clearly a well educated individual well versed in his subjects of choice.  Perhaps one needs to read between the lines a little but, isn't that the case with everything?  Isn't it our personal responsibility to undertake our own research and make our own determinations? 

Something none of us can deny is that Moore is certainly one of the most interesting, if not controversial, Canadians of our time.  Here are a few sites that might help YOU decide what side of the fence Moore stands on:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Moore_(environmentalist)

http://seeker401.wordpress.com/2012/01/12/greenpeace-founder-questions-windfarms-the-industry-is-a-destroyer-of-wealth-and-negative-to-the-economy/

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/about/history/Patrick-Moore-background-information/