Well the Sun is shining and temperatures over 50 degrees, which makes me think of gardening. So I thought I would come up with a list of my favorite 12 vegetables (not all are actually veggies) that I like to grow. I just posted the list on Lunch.com here: Favorite Vegetables To Grow. I'm sure your favorites are different than mine. What are your favorite vegetables to grow?
My top 5 in the list are below:
A pesticide may be a chemical substance, biological agent (such as a virus or bacterium), antimicrobial, disinfectant or device used against any pest. Pests include insects, plant pathogens, weeds, mollusks, birds, mammals, fish, roundworms, microbes and people that destroy property, spread or are a vector for disease or cause a nuisance. Although there are benefits to the use of pesticides, there are also drawbacks, such as potential toxicity to humans and other animals.
Pesticide use raises a number of environmental concerns. Over 98% of sprayed insecticides and 95% of herbicides reach a destination other than their target species, including non-target species, air, water and soil. Pesticide drift occurs when pesticides suspended in the air as particles are carried by wind to other areas, potentially contaminating them. Pesticides are one of the causes of water pollution, and some pesticides are persistent organic pollutants and contribute to soil contamination.
Below are two lists from the Environmental Working Group on the fruit and vegetables with potentially the most and least pesticides.
The Dirty Dozen: Fruits & Vegetables that contain highest pesticides load
- peaches
- apples
- bell peppers
- celery
- nectarines
- strawberries
- cherries
- kale
- lettuce
- imported grapes
- carrots
- pears
Clean Fifteen: Fruits & Vegetables that contain the least pesticide residue
- onions
- avocados
- sweet corn
- pineapples
- mangoes
- asparagus
- sweet peas
- kiwis
- cabbages
- eggplants
- papayas
- watermelons
- broccoli
- tomatoes
- sweet potatoes
You can peel your fruits and vegetables and trim outer leaves of leafy vegetables in addition to washing them thoroughly. Keep in mind that peeling your fruits and vegetables may also reduce the amount of nutrients and fiber. Some pesticide residue also collects in fat, so remove fat from meat and the skin from poultry and fish.
So how do you possibly avoid pesticides totally? The answer is either grow your own food or going Organic. Or both. Organic farming is the form of agriculture that relies on crop rotation, green manure, compost, biological pest control, and mechanical cultivation to maintain soil productivity and control pests, excluding or strictly limiting the use of synthetic fertilizers and synthetic pesticides, plant growth regulators, livestock feed additives, and genetically modified organisms. Since 1990, the market for organic products has grown at a rapid pace, to reach $46 billion in 2007.
Think before you buy. I'm starting to do that and buy organic foods. There are more and more options because demand is increasing. Be healthy and eco-friendly.
Last week I started the Ways 2 Go Healthy Blog located at: http://Ways2GoHealthy.blogspot.com.
I am a person who tries to live healthy and who has a family history of heart disease and cancer. I am 36 years old and was diagnosed with high blood pressure years ago. So not only am I constantly looking for green and eco-friendly habits and information, I also am doing the same for all things healthy. I have been doing this "healthy" research for years and I thought it was high time to start a blog about what I find.
A few years ago I started going to a doctor. I am now on blood pressure medication as well as taking an omega-3 fatty acid pill, a multivitamin and a baby aspirin everyday, as prescribed by my doctor. This may sound like a lot to take everyday, but it's due to the fact that I have a bad family history with heart disease. My dad and his two brothers all died of heart attacks before the age of 65. My medication is playing defense. My offense is that I am also eating well and exercising. Of course, we all could do better.
Anyway, I have done a massive amount of research on nutrition, fitness and general health. I'm always reading the latest and greatest news in magazines and online. I thought I would share my findings in this health blog. I'm searching nearly everyday for knowledge that will help me on my way to a better and healthier life.
You can probably guess how I chose the name Ways2GoHealthy. I like the name anyway, but I also thought the name would make a good "sister" blog to the Ways2GoGreen website and blog. My hope is that we all learn a lot here and over there. To your health.
You can already follow Ways2GoHealthy on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/Ways2GoHealthy.
Last year I received a white trumpet flower plant from a friend and I liked it right from the beginning.
I mean you have large white blooms and nice foliage. It is what my little flower garden needed: some green
with a Pop of white. What's not to like, right? Then as I always do, I did some research on the internet,
and I found out some interesting information about the Datura Inoxia (Devil's Trumpet) plant that I now possess.
This plant has a dark side.
The most obvious item is the ominous Devil's Trumpet name. Many have heard of the Angel's Trumpet flower, in
which the blooms droop down. Well, my friends, the Devil's Trumpet blooms upward as in a trumpet from not heaven
but hell. Devil’s trumpet is
grown in all but the coldest climates as a flowering
ornamental. There are white, purple, and yellow
varieties with large, single and double blossoms
available. Devil’s trumpet grows naturally in
disturbed areas such as eroded sites, old fields,
vacant lots, overgrazed pastures and rangeland,
roadsides and abandoned roadbeds, and fencerows.
Apparently, disturbance and reduced competition
are required for the plant to become established
and grow. A wide variety of well-drained soils on
both igneous and sedimentary parent materials are
suitable.
The Datura Inoxia (Devil's Trumpet) Dark Past, Present and Future: Use With Caution
From ancient times continuing to the
present, the taking of Datura tissues,
particularly the seeds, was used in shamanistic
rituals as a path to enlightenment. Today, people frequently
experiment with it for the hallucinogenic effect,
but the results are so unpleasant (dark visions,
disorientation, amnesia, blurred vision, dry mouth,
and incontinence) that they seldom recommend the
experience. Overdoses can result in
death. The plant has been used to treat impotence,
asthma, diarrhea, as an analgesic, to control fever,
kill parasites, and as a drug for criminal purposes. Devil’s trumpet
contains a host of phytoactive chemicals including
atropine, hyoscyamine, hyoscine, scopolamine,
norscopolamine, meteloidine, hydroxy-6-
hyoscyamine, tiglic esters of dihydroxytropine,
and a number of withanolides. It causes erratic
behavior and even death of livestock that have
eaten it, but it is seldom a problem for pastured
animals because they carefully avoid consuming it.
Hummingbirds sometimes visit the flowers,
but are affected by the alkaloids in the nectar and
must limit their consumption. Honeybees are
apparently unaffected. The flowers have an intense
night fragrance, which
perhaps helps attract night-flying moths.
I like my Devil's Trumpet flower, but with all that is going on with this plant, I couldn't
recommend it to everyone. Come to think of it, I guess it has Devil in its name for more reasons than one. You've been warned.
Source: John K. Francis, Research Forester,
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service,
International Institute of Tropical Forestry,
Jardín Botánico Sur, 1201 Calle Ceiba, San Juan PR
00926-1119,
in cooperation with the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras, PR 00936-4984
Wikipedia defines litter as "waste that people unlawfully dispose of out of doors. It can be packaging or other unwanted items. Litter can be vandalism, carelessness, or inadvertence. Litter is a form of visual pollution. It can harm health, safety, and welfare. It adversely affects wildlife and environmental quality." That’s a pretty darn good definition.
A couple of times on the Ways2GoGreen twitter account I have posted this little phrase about littering:
Don't litter. Ever. I mean it. I will find you and rub your nose in it. Seriously.
Note: In the above quote, I’m only half kidding.
I usually get a lot of re-tweets from this post which tells me there are many others who feel like I feel about littering. I think that littering is the ultimate in laziness and is such as selfish act. However, some people seem to feel that everywhere is their personal wastebasket. I can't tell you how many times I've found trash in my front yard from passer-bys who throw what they just finished eating or drinking from their vehicles.
Not littering is about as easy of a green activity to get in the habit of doing as there is in this world. If you are a habitual litterer: Stop littering! Put your trash in the proper trash receptacle. If you do litter, remember the above quote. We are watching.
I’ve watched a couple of episodes of a new show on the Sundance Channel called ‘The Lazy Environmentalist’. It looks at being Green through the eyes of the average person. A lazy and impatient person, that is. A vast majority of people fit in that category.
The show, which is hosted by Josh Dorfman, contains very helpful eco suggestions which are trying to save you time and money. On the show I’ve seen eco sky-lights, smart power strips and even organic cocktails. I find the show to be very helpful, but it makes me jealous. If I had a show, it would be this show just like this. I recommend that everyone watch this show. You’ll learn something about helping the environment without feeling overwhelmed over what he suggests.
‘The Lazy Environmentalist’ hosted by Josh Dorfman airs on the Sundance Channel on Tuesdays at 9PM EST.
Josh Dorfman talks about his show "The Lazy Environmentalist" on the Sundance Channel
Recently I've needed to look into the possible replacement of one of my smoke alarms and of a fire
extinguisher. I quickly found very helpful information on the proper disposal of both of these. I'm
sharing what I found below. If you find yourself in the same situation as myself, please properly
dispose of your smoke alarms and fire extinguishers.
From Earth911.com:
Tips for Properly Disposing of Smoke Detectors
According to the U.S. EPA, both photoelectric and ionization smoke alarms contain plastic, electronic
circuit boards and in some cases, batteries. When it comes time to dispose of your device, it’s
important to know that ICSDs cannot be recycled, due to their radioactive content. For this reason, it
is extremely important to properly dispose of the unit. Do this by:
1. Removing the battery and recycling it
2. Safely removing the plastic cover, and recycling it with your other plastic casing.
3. Sending it back to the manufacturer, who will properly dispose of it. The address of the supplier is usually listed in the product warranty or user’s manual.
4. Finding a drop off location or HHW event in your area if the manufacturer will not accept the unit.
Tips on the Disposal of Fire Extinguishers
You likely have two reasons for disposing of a fire extinguisher: it is too old or the contents have
been discharged. Disposal options depend on whether or not the extinguisher is empty.
If it’s not empty:
1. Check the Pressure Gauge: Your extinguisher should have a gauge saying whether it is overcharged, if it’s at the correct pressure or in need of a recharge. This is your first clue as to whether the unit is operating correctly.
2. Call Your Fire Department: You might be able to exchange your extinguisher or get it recharged.
3. Take it to a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) event: Extinguishers with contents remaining are considered hazardous, so find your nearest HHW collection event or program using Earth911.
If it’s empty:
1. Squeeze the Lever Above the Handle: This will ensure that all contents are discharged.
2. Remove the Head: This will let whoever disposes of the extinguisher know that all contents have been removed.
3. Recycle the Steel Body: Once the head is removed, your community should accept fire extinguishers with the rest of your ferrous metal.
In both cases, make sure to follow any instructions on the fire extinguisher. Once your old extinguisher is disposed, make sure you replace it with a new fire extinguisher immediately.
