The blog below, written by Caitlin Finnerty, can be found on the Chesapeake Bay Program website (http://www.chesapeakebay.net/blog/post/greening_your_christmas_tree), and since the information is appropriate for all of us at this time of year, I thought it worth re-posting and sharing with all of you. Happy holidays!
From shopping bags and gift wrap to the train, plane and car trips that
we take to visit family and friends, our carbon footprints get a little
larger during the holidays. So when it comes to choosing a Christmas
tree, why not do so with the environment in mind? While the "real"
versus "fake" debate rages on, we have sifted through the arguments to
find four tips that will make your Christmas tree "green."
Image courtesy Jo Naylor/Flickr
1. Avoid artificial. As deforestation becomes a global
concern, an artificial tree might seem like a green choice. But some
researchers disagree. Most of the artificial Christmas trees sold in the
United States are made in China using polyvinyl chloride or PVC, a kind
of plastic whose petroleum-dependent manufacturing, processing and
shipping is a serious emitter of greenhouses gas. And while one study
did find that reusing an artificial tree can be greener than purchasing
a fresh-cut fir each December, that artificial tree would have to be
used for more than two decades—and most end up in a landfill after just six to nine years.
Image courtesy Dave Mathis/Flickr
2. Don’t be a lumberjack. While going artificial might
not be the greenest choice, neither is hiking up a local mountain with
an axe in hand. When a tree is removed and not replaced, its ecosystem
is robbed of the multiple benefits that even a single tree can provide. Trees
clean our water and air, provide habitat for wildlife and prevent soil
erosion. Instead of chopping down your own Christmas tree, visit a farm
where trees are grown, cut and replanted just like any other crop.
Image courtesy macattck/Flickr
3. Choose a tree farm wisely. Millions of Christmas
trees are grown on farms across the United States, emitting oxygen,
diminishing carbon dioxide and carrying some of the same benefits of a
natural forest. And some of these tree farms are sustainable, offering
locally-grown, pesticide-free trees and wreaths. Find a tree farm near you.
Image courtesy Klara Kim/Flickr
4. Go “balled and burlapped.” Real Christmas trees are
often turned into mulch once the season is over. But some farmers are
making Christmas trees even more sustainable! Instead of cutting down a
tree at its trunk, a tree’s roots are grown into a ball and wrapped in a
burlap sack. Once the tree is used, it can be replanted! If your yard doesn’t have room for another evergreen, look for a company that will return for its tree after the holidays.
Wi-CAN! Winnipesaukee Conservation Action Network
WI-CAN! is sponsored by the Lake Winnipesaukee Watershed Association. WiCAN! provides an opportunity to communities, businesses, and individuals to share concerns, information, as well as brainstorm and partner on solutions to further our shared goal to conserve, sustain and protect the water quality and natural resources of the Winnipesaukee Watershed.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Friday, September 14, 2012
Protecting Drinking Water Resources in the Lakes Region
The
Lakes Region Planning Commission, in collaboration with the NH Department of
Environmental Services, is pleased to present:
A
workshop highlighting innovative local efforts to preserve drinking water
resources and protect public health
Friday,
September 21, 2012, 8:45 AM – 3:30 PM
You are invited to join local and state experts speak on a wide variety of Sourcewater Protection topics including:
·
Salt and Groundwater, Jeffrey Marts, Emery and Garrett
Groundwater, Inc.
·
Three Recent Initiatives to Protect Drinking Water in the
City of Laconia , Shanna Saunders,
City of Laconia
·
Meredith’s Innovative Approach to Managing Septic Systems, Angela LaBreque,
Town of Meredith
·
Site-level Residential Stormwater Management, Jillian McCarthy, NH DES and Andrea
Lamoreaux, NH Lakes Association
·
Building Awareness through Public Well Testing Events in
Tuftonboro,
Steve Wingate, Tuftonboro Conservation Commission and Pierce Rigrod , NH
DES
Please
take a look at the full AGENDA at http://lakesrpc.org/documents/pdfs/drinkwater_agenda.pdf
·
Admission
is only $10 (includes refreshments and lunch).
·
Attendees
are eligible to receive 5 technical credit hours under the NH Water
Works Operator Certification Program
·
To
register, simply fill in our registration form at http://lakesrpc.org/drinking_water_signup.asp or give us a call at 279-8171.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Fall Clean Up - don't P in the water!
September – it never ceases to
amaze me! Labor Day arrives and Mother Nature turns off the heat bringing
cool nights, and pleasant warm days; poof! summer’s over.
While it’s sad to see long warm
summer days fade, fall brings its own unique and welcoming sights, colors and
scents. And with the fall, many
homeowners will turn their attention to the yard, raking leaves, pruning, and planting
flower bulbs for spring bloom.
No matter what your lawn care
practices are, there are some things to keep in mind to help protect water
quality of lakes, ponds and streams.
Yard waste makes really good fertilizer, which is why many people
compost it. If you rake leaves, consider
mulching them, and put the mulched leaves around your trees and shrubs to help
protect the roots through the winter months.
If you live along a stream, pond, or lake, don’t rake the leaves into
the water; it adds excess nutrients, such as phosphorus, which feed aquatic
plants like algae. It also makes for
good leech habitat, so unless you, your children, or grandchildren want to swim
with leeches, don’t rake the leaves into the water.
If you’d like to learn more about yard composting, check out
the Backyard Conservation information sheet “Composting” which can be found at http://belknapccd.org/pdfs/compost.pdf.
Also, for a little humor about our lawn care habits, continue
reading the discussion below found online
. . .
GOD AND ST. FRANCIS DISCUSSING LAWNS
GOD: Francis, you know all about gardens and nature.
What in the world is going on down there? What happened to the dandelions,
violets, thistle and stuff I started eons ago? I had a perfect, no-maintenance
garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and
multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long lasting blossoms attracts
butterflies, honey bees and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast
garden of colors by now. But all I see are these green rectangles.
ST. FRANCIS: It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The
Suburbanites. They started calling your flowers "weeds" and went to
great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.
GOD: Grass? But it's so boring. It's not colorful.
It doesn't attract butterflies, birds and bees, only grubs and sod worms. It's
temperamental with temperatures. Do these Suburbanites really want all that
grass growing there?
ST. FRANCIS: Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to
grow it and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing grass and
poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.
GOD: The spring rains and warm weather probably make
grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy.
ST. FRANCIS: Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a
little, they cut it-sometimes twice a week.
GOD: They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay?
ST. FRANCIS: Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and
put it in bags.
GOD: They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they
sell it?
ST. FRANCIS: No Sir. Just the opposite. They pay to throw it
away.
GOD: Now let me get this straight. They fertilize
grass so it will grow. And when it does grow, they cut it off and pay to throw
it away?
ST. FRANCIS: Yes, Sir.
GOD: These Suburbanites must be relieved in the
summer when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat. That surely slows the
growth and saves them a lot of work.
ST. FRANCIS: You aren't going to believe this Lord. When the
grass stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money to water it
so they can continue to mow it and pay to get rid of it.
GOD: What nonsense. At least they kept some of the
trees. That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself. The trees grow
leaves in the spring to provide beauty and shade in the summer. In the autumn
they fall to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture in the soil
and protect the trees and bushes. Plus, as they rot, the leaves form compost to
enhance the soil. It's a natural circle of life.
ST. FRANCIS: You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites
have drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they rake them into great
piles and pay to have them hauled away.
GOD: No. What do they do to protect the shrub and
tree roots in the winter and to keep the soil moist and loose?
ST. FRANCIS: After throwing away the leaves, they go out and
buy something which they call mulch. They haul it home and spread it around in
place of the leaves.
GOD: And where do they get this mulch?
ST. FRANCIS: They cut down trees and grind them up to make
the mulch.
GOD: Enough. I don't want to think about this
anymore. St. Catherine, you're in charge of the arts. What movie have they
scheduled for us tonight?"
ST. CATHERINE: "Dumb and Dumber", Lord. It's a
really stupid movie about.....
GOD: Never mind, I think I just heard the whole
story from St. Francis.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Protecting Lake Winnipesaukee's water quality - one lot at a time!
Managing
and treating stormwater is an important and critical strategy for lake
protection. Stormwater’s impact is
cumulative; as it travels from the top of a hillside or mountain downstream
toward the lake, it collects the runoff from each area and adds to the total
volume of flow, thereby increasing the pollution load that the lake receives.
To help homeowners learn about some simple and effective ‘Do it Yourself’ stormwater improvement projects, the Lake Winnipesaukee Watershed Association is holding their Annual Meeting on August 2nd at the Dockham Shore Estates beach in Gilford, NH from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. The program will feature simple but effective practices that the NH Lakes Conservation Corps is installing this summer at the beach area on Dockham Shore Road to address erosion issues and help the association reduce their stormwater footprint.
Improvements planned include installing a rain garden, removing an asphalt swale and apron, planting low growing shrubs along the road frontage, and redirection of stormwater into vegetated areas.
The program is free and open to the public; please bring a lawn chair as the program will be held outdoors. Pre-registration is requested. For more information visit LWWA’s website: www.winnipesaukee.org or contact the Lake Winnipesaukee Watershed Association at 581-6632 or email at mail@winnipesaukee.org to register.
To help homeowners learn about some simple and effective ‘Do it Yourself’ stormwater improvement projects, the Lake Winnipesaukee Watershed Association is holding their Annual Meeting on August 2nd at the Dockham Shore Estates beach in Gilford, NH from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. The program will feature simple but effective practices that the NH Lakes Conservation Corps is installing this summer at the beach area on Dockham Shore Road to address erosion issues and help the association reduce their stormwater footprint.
Improvements planned include installing a rain garden, removing an asphalt swale and apron, planting low growing shrubs along the road frontage, and redirection of stormwater into vegetated areas.
The program is free and open to the public; please bring a lawn chair as the program will be held outdoors. Pre-registration is requested. For more information visit LWWA’s website: www.winnipesaukee.org or contact the Lake Winnipesaukee Watershed Association at 581-6632 or email at mail@winnipesaukee.org to register.
Friday, July 6, 2012
Septic Sense Workshop
It's not sexy. It's not pretty. It's not a riveting topic of conversation. And it smells bad.
So why would we want to blog about it? Poop, pee, waste - one flush or two, and it's gone.
Forget about it, right? As long as it's 'left the building' we don't really care. But if you live on the lake you should care and you should know what happens to that 'stuff', because chances are that you have an on site wastewater disposal system, or what's more commonly referred to as a septic system.
The majority of folks on Lake Winni have septic systems; the Winnipesaukee River Basin Program sewer line runs from Center Harbor down along the shorefront of Meredith (does not include Meredith Neck) to Laconia, picking up both sides of Paugus Bay and continues to Franklin. From the southern part of the lake, it starts at Ellacoya State Beach and picks up most of the lake front of Gilford, before connecting with the pipeline in Laconia.
For the majority of folks not on sewer, care and maintenance of their septic system should be a priority, because it is a critical component of your home and a failing septic system is not only costly to repair or replace, but can potentially impact your health and that of your neighbors.
To help people better understand how septic systems work, the Lake Winnipesaukee Watershed Association (LWWA) and the Town of Meredith are hosting a "Septic Sense" workshop on July 16th at the Meredith Community Center, Room A, from 6:30pm to 8 pm. Professionals and experts will be on hand to explain about the different types of systems out there, proper maintenance and care, "Do's and Don'ts", the signs of a failing septic and what to do about it, alternatives to traditional systems, and the water quality and public health impacts.
Although the workshop is free, pre-registration is required. Please contact LWWA at 581-6632 or the Town of Meredith at 677-4228 to register.
It's sure to be a septic stimulating evening!
So why would we want to blog about it? Poop, pee, waste - one flush or two, and it's gone.
Forget about it, right? As long as it's 'left the building' we don't really care. But if you live on the lake you should care and you should know what happens to that 'stuff', because chances are that you have an on site wastewater disposal system, or what's more commonly referred to as a septic system.
The majority of folks on Lake Winni have septic systems; the Winnipesaukee River Basin Program sewer line runs from Center Harbor down along the shorefront of Meredith (does not include Meredith Neck) to Laconia, picking up both sides of Paugus Bay and continues to Franklin. From the southern part of the lake, it starts at Ellacoya State Beach and picks up most of the lake front of Gilford, before connecting with the pipeline in Laconia.
For the majority of folks not on sewer, care and maintenance of their septic system should be a priority, because it is a critical component of your home and a failing septic system is not only costly to repair or replace, but can potentially impact your health and that of your neighbors.
To help people better understand how septic systems work, the Lake Winnipesaukee Watershed Association (LWWA) and the Town of Meredith are hosting a "Septic Sense" workshop on July 16th at the Meredith Community Center, Room A, from 6:30pm to 8 pm. Professionals and experts will be on hand to explain about the different types of systems out there, proper maintenance and care, "Do's and Don'ts", the signs of a failing septic and what to do about it, alternatives to traditional systems, and the water quality and public health impacts.
Although the workshop is free, pre-registration is required. Please contact LWWA at 581-6632 or the Town of Meredith at 677-4228 to register.
It's sure to be a septic stimulating evening!
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