 | "There's Justice In The Universe" |
Posted 11/20/2008 12:29 PM CST "Coffee (Coffea sp.) is a small understory tree or shrub, and has traditionally been grown amongst forest trees, in the shade. Various studies indicate that Arabica coffee has the highest yields under 35 to 65% shade. In addition, growing coffee under shade also discourages weed growth, may reduce pathogen infection, protect the crop from frost, and helps to increase numbers of pollinators which results in better fruit set. Coffee grown in the shade takes long to ripen and is often thought to taste better because the long ripening times contribute to complex flavors." http://www.coffeehabitat.com/2006/02/what_is_shade_g.html http://www.audubon.org/bird/at_home/coffee/ http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Publications/ZooGoer/1996/4/suncoffee.cfm Best bet coffee source: http://www.auduboncoffeeclub.com/shop/home.php |
Posted 11/19/2008 11:17 AM CST Before donating to a charitable organization, it's essential to know if the money goes where it's intended (and not too heavily into administrative costs). One way to do this is to utilize: http://www.charitynavigator.org/ I also like: http://www.conservenow.org/index.html Because the Conservation and Preservation Charities of America (CPCA) is a federation of America's finest national organizations working to protect and restore the Earth's natural environment and historic treasures... a wide range of organizations dedicated to environmental education, wildlife protection, conservation of open space, soil, water, forests, parks and trails. http://www.conservenow.org/info.asp?sTopImg=cpcahdr.gif&sTitle=What+Is+CPCA&sBody=WHO Some of my favorites are found: http://www.conservenow.org/memberset.asp?sTopImg=mbrhdr.gif&sTitle=View+Our+Members They are: http://www.gorilla.org http://www.populationinstitute.org http://www.numbersusa.org |
Posted 11/18/2008 10:42 AM CST In May, my house got clobbered by hail (some were the size of tennis balls that had spikes all around each one). Of course, there were the normal sized hail stones as well, but even most of them were deformed. During the storm, a small tornado like wind passed over us. Besides busting up the house, my trees' trunks look like someone with a small caliber machine gun went after them / and pots with plants were done in, too. Combined with the turquoise colored sky and all, it was quite the experience. [So has the ensuing six months of insurance claims paperwork, replacement roof, new windows and siding.] Though the ordeal of lining up contractors and monitoring the work has been tiring, the whole gestalt has been beneficial as a learning experience. As a side note, I've discovered that the workmen with the worst engine oil leaks (my driveway tells a tale of its own) are the least efficient and organized in their work. Those with the least to say generally proved to be the most effective & left me with the greatest satisfaction with the work completed. And though some individuals were somewhat lacking in integrity, most were so exceptionally honorable in their dealings that my faith in humanity has received a boost. |
Posted 11/17/2008 9:20 AM CST "Leaves are the most abundant free source of organic matter available to most gardeners. Microorganisms in soil and compost transform leaves into bits of organic matter, which helps the soil retain nutrients and moisture. By themselves, leaves contain small amounts of 16 plant nutrients. You can stockpile leaves in a bin or pen to use later as compost or mulch, but you don't have to wait until leaves decompose to put them to work. When they are shredded with a mower and allowed to rot where they fall, the grass greens up faster in spring and grows better the following summer. [Note: If you're mulch mowing a really thick layer of leaves now, just don't expect the leaves to entirely disappear from view until the grass starts growing next year.] http://www.motherearthnews.com/Grow-It/Harvesting-Leaves-For-Mulch-And-Compost.aspx?blogid=1502 |
Posted 11/15/2008 2:53 PM CST As our solar system 'bounces' up and down through the Milky Way's galactic plane, our sun's movement through the Milky Way regularly sends comets hurtling into the inner solar system. As we pass through the densest part of the plane gravitational forces from the surrounding giant gas and dust clouds dislodge comets from their paths. The comets plunge into the solar system, some of them colliding with Earth. It is estimated that we pass through the galactic plane about every 36 million years, increasing the chances of a comet collision tenfold (as per evidence from craters on Earth and the time-line of past extinctions). http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080502092145.htm |
Posted 11/15/2008 9:56 AM CST The "birth of the Dark Ages" began in 540A.D., when tree rings show that a global event occurred that stopped the trees from growing. The Gauls and the Chinese recorded fiery skies & the sun only shone 4 hours a day for over a year. The Justinian Plague ensued. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/02/040204000254.htm http://news.bio-medicine.org/biology-news-2/Astronomers-unravel-a-mystery-of-the-Dark-Ages-2610-1/ http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/template.cfm?name=BA9 |
Posted 11/13/2008 2:32 PM CST Cds/DVDs are class #7 recyclable plastic and, thus, now recycable in Austin's new 'single stream' curbside recycling program. But before you immediately get rid of your unwanted CDs/DVDs, consider keeping some for other purposes. One use is to create 'Flash Dancers' aka 'Sun Catchers' that last for many years outdoors. Materials Needed: * 2 or more CDs * Super Glue (gel preferred) * String (synthetic preferred) Instructions: Glue 2 CDs together, the sides with writing should face in. Loop desired lenth of string through hole in center and tie off. Hang from tree branch, etcetera and watch the 'flashes dance'. [You may want to co-join a series of them by using single CDs and gluing them together this way. There's a multitude of ways to glue them together and to tie them. Be creative and 'vary the variables'. This is just one idea for reusing these items. Google for more. So, either reuse them or recycle them, because: * To manufacture a pound of plastic (30 CDs per pound), it requires 300 cubic feet of natural gas, 2 cups of crude oil and 24 gallons of water * It is estimated that AOL alone has distributed more than 2 billion CDs. That is the natural gas equivalent of heating 200,000 homes for 1 year * It is estimated that it will take thousands of years for a CD to completely decompose in a landfill http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/sws/recycling.htm http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/sws/disposal_a.htm |
Posted 11/12/2008 1:49 PM CST Life is too short to drink bad coffee. And life is also too precious to drink 'unsustainable' coffee — grown using pesticides and harvested by people around the world who aren’t paid a fair, living wage for their work. [Note, also, that there’s a proven link between poverty alleviation and conservation in coffee farming communities. When growers are paid fairly, they don’t have an incentive to cut down forests in order to grow more coffee.] http://www.nature.org/activities/art25339.html http://www.transfairusa.org/content/about/overview.php Rustic 'shade grown' coffee is the best. Growing more trees in the shade at coffee plantations helps ensure that there is greater biodiversity in species and less monoculture — which protects coffee crops from pests and invasive species while reducing the need for pesticides and herbicides. Better yet, for any budding coffee snobs, shade-grown coffee beans ripen more slowly, providing a deeper, more luxurious flavor. http://www.groundsforchange.com/learn/shadegrown.php |
Posted 11/11/2008 9:57 AM CST An estimated 70% of all antibiotics used in the United States are regularly added to the feed of livestock and poultry that are not sick — a practice with serious consequences for our health. Bacteria that are constantly exposed to antibiotics develop antibiotic resistance. This means that when humans get sick from resistant bacteria, the antibiotics prescribed by doctors don’t work. Support the 'Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act'. With members of Congress who have long supported curbs on antibiotic overuse now heading key congressional committees, the time has never been better to pass this critical legislation. Take Action: https://secure3.convio.net/ucs/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=736 |
Posted 11/9/2008 1:00 PM CST
As I sit in my favorite coffee shop enjoying one of their four already brewed and ready to go 'Coffee of the Day' selections & listening to a new group of patrons speaking Chinese, I pause to reflect on the many changes I've seen in my favorite coffee shop. In 1989, it was a small coffee retailer owned and operated by 'Edmund' and his wife. Soon after, they expanded the shop to include room to sit down and enjoy a cup of your favorite coffee. They then expanded further to include a room to roast coffee beans wholesale [I really enjoyed it when they were roasting beans & you got out of your vehicle to the wonderful smell aromatizing the entire area]. Though they eventually sold their business, it still remains as friendly and enjoyable as ever. And though the 'bean roasting' is gone now, there's a nice big conference room (where the big roasters used to be) where many different groups meet in peace). It's no wonder that
their barista employees and clientele are so loyal. And it's nice to know some people in your daily rounds by their first name.
their barista employees and clientele are so loyal. And it's nice to know some people in your daily rounds by their first name.
