Central Ohio “Public Green” installation

Posted by A. Caleb Hartley on May 12th, 2008 filed in art
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The Worthington Arts Council is seeking donations of plastic bottles and containers for a “visual-arts installation” this summer called Public Green.

Supported by Sustainable Worthington, these plastic bottles and containers will be collected until June 18th, and will be used by William Cravis to create the “installation” during the summer of 2008. Mr. Cravis is a professor of sculpture at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Check out the above sites for more information or for drop-off sites for your plastic bottles and containers.

Namaste,
A. Caleb Hartley

I hope the installation gets recycled at the end of it’s run. What do you think about this concept? Tell us all about it in the comments!


3 inches of mulch + a few months = garden bed

Posted by Joe Bauer on May 7th, 2008 filed in gardening, landscape
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When you want to start a garden, chances are you’re going to have to get rid of some grass.  You could spray non-selective herbicides or till, but those methods require harsh chemicals or hard labor.  My favorite method is to smother the existing lawn, usually with mulch.  I think the best time to start this is in the fall, because then you have a good grass free zone by spring.  If you use leaves to accomplish this you get the added bonus of a thin layer of compost in the spring.  Those who have a deep hatred of weeds would wait a whole year- then there’s little chance of any seasonal weeds slipping through, but I think that’s a bit excessive.  If you’re planting native plants you don’t normally need to get crazy with tilling the land after you’ve smothered it.  Remember, nobody tills the land for these plants in the wild and they do just fine.  Remember to use a thick layer (about three inches) of leaves or mulch, let it stay untouched for a few months, and you’ll do just fine.  This is my kind of gardening- no hastle, no rush, and no chemicals :)

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Interested in a type of garden but want to know more about it?  Looking for a plant to fit a specific site?  Add some comments and I’ll make sure to factor in your feedback when deciding what to write about next :)


Dying to offset your carbon emissions?

Posted by A. Caleb Hartley on May 5th, 2008 filed in carbon footprint, tree
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A cemetery in Australia, Adelaide Centennial Park, has decided to plant a tree for each burial or cremation it conducts.

Based on a study of the environmental impacts of cremations and burials done by the cemetery, cremation produces less carbon emissions in the long run because of ongoing upkeep of the burial site; however, in the “short run,” cremations generate about 353 pounds of carbon dioxide, compared to 86 pounds for a burial.

The cemetery’s research showed that planting about one tree for each service would offset Centennial Park’s carbon footprint, so chief executive Bryan Elliott set a goal, “to be carbon neutral within the next six months.”

Read more about it by clicking here.

Namaste,
A. Caleb Hartley

What do you think about this? What would you think about “green burials,” where a tree is planted on top of the grave site? Sick? Cool? Ambiguous? Plant your opinion in the comments!


Tree Planted in environmentastic!’s Honor

Posted by A. Caleb Hartley on May 2nd, 2008 filed in gift, tree
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I received an email the other day telling me that someone had had a tree planted in my honor…

Arbor Day Foundation - Tree Planted in your honor

My friend Anne Florenzano, who writes and runs the blog Light, Motion, and Magic, had offset a recent flight’s greenhouse gas emissions by planting three trees! Anne had linked to my post Greening Your Travels - Part 1, and had asked about emissions from different aged aircraft - to which I replied that planting three trees per round-trip on an airline would (give-or-take) offset your emissions from that trip.

SOMEBODY ACTUALLY LISTENS TO WHAT I SAY! Imagine the power I now yield (send me money).

In all seriousness, this is a really cool way to recognize someone that will pay back for years, decades, maybe centuries. I had been a member of the National Arbor Day Foundation in the past (their “Tree City USA” initiative is very cool), and had forgotten - or perhaps never known - that they offered this service to people.

The rest of the email is below, if you’re interested:

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This gift will make a difference.

Your tree will be planted in one of our National Forests, home to such noble creatures as lynx, grizzly bears, wolves, bald eagles, trumpeter swans, and hundreds of other species.

Yet grand as they are, our National Forests are in desperate need of replanting because of recent unprecedented fires.

Someone has honored you with this Give-A-Tree card, so that our forests can be restored to their full grandeur…making them once again a place of inspiration for all who pass through, and a sanctuary for wild things of a rare beauty and grace.

Visit arborday.org/yourtree to learn more about the importance of replanting our National Forests.

You can send someone their own Give-A-Tree card, so that replanting our forests in desperate need can continue. Share with someone how you care, and how each Give-A-Tree card makes a difference.

Visit arborday.org/giveatree.

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Thank you, Anne, for doing this - it’s highly appreciated! And to my readers: Anne has a great blog in Light, Motion, and Magic - it’s a regular read for me. She’s a strong business-woman who is insightful and writes very well. Please check it out and encourage her on her entrepreneurial journey!

Namaste,

A. Caleb Hartley

What do you think about Arbor Day’s “give a tree” service? Who might you have a tree planted for? How about for Mom on Mother’s day (it’s coming up you know…)? Know any other cool, green ways to recognize someone? Let us all know in the comments!


United States Government Helps Businesses Go Green (no really!)

Posted by A. Caleb Hartley on April 30th, 2008 filed in business
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Business.gov recently added some content focusing on environmental compliance, energy efficiency, and money saving tips for small business owners.

The tax page highlights federal deductions and state incentives for small business owners who purchase energy efficient products as well as a savings calculator to determine how much money you can save by using energy efficient products.

Here are a few of the links that a small business owner might be interested in…

So it appears that someone in the Bush administration is at least thinking a little green - and not just greenwashing plans for greenhouse gas reduction like G.W. himself. Just an FYI to those who think Bush is budding green in our US policy:

The US’s greenhouse gas emissions have risen about 1% per year for … forever. What Bush proposed this month was to … let the US’s greenhouse gas emissions rise about 1% per year for … almost forever - about 15 more years. While Bush should be applauded for admitting that the environment even exists (he really hasn’t said as much in his first 7 years as president), he should be kicked in the ass for his lame attempt at fooling the country into thinking he CARES that it exists.

What he has done is propose something that, if passed, would make it more difficult for the NEXT administration to pass something that would actually change US policy about the environment. Anybody follow that? In other words, Bush is trying to ensure that another hate-the-greenies Repuglican is in the white house before anything would have to change in US policy on the environment - or that the environment will be wiped from the face of the Earth before someone else has to make a change.

Disgusting.

Mother Earth for President in 2008!

Namaste,
A. Caleb Hartley

I say, “Props to the Small Business Association for it’s small steps and encouragement to the business community on greening up!” And “Drops to the President for his greenwashing of his entire presidency, summed up so well in his pointless proposal on greenhouse emissions.” What do you say? Say it in the comments!