A "Shore" Thing

I took a trip to a Delaware State Park beach late last week to spend a few days seaside enjoying the sun and surf with my family. I was dismayed to find the beach littered with trash and believe it or not a few scattered clumps of oil (which a nearby litter cleaning volunteer stepped in and had a terrible time getting off).

After getting several notes from friends around the world expressing concern over how our country is handling the BP fiasco in the Gulf of Mexico, I found myself shocked to see the impact on such a distant shore. One particular note I received from friends in South Africa’s Cape Town, expressed their dismay over the handling of this crisis-not by our government, but by our citizens. Their note indicated serious concern that our pubic wasn’t outraged and demanding action and resolve.

I was taken aback by the accusation that we were unconcerned as a society about the situation. Taken aback, that is, until I spoke with friends, coworkers and family to gauge for myself the level of this accused apathy.

I hate to admit it, but I was more than disappointed. It seemed the accusations were on target. Few people could tell me what was going on with the spill. Almost all, however, could tell me who won the Stanley Cup, the NBA championship or American Idol. Many had no concept of the irreparable damage being done to such vast ecosystems or the potential impact not only to our fisheries, but our little known oceanic frontier.

In this bloggers opinion, if we continue to be blissfully unaware and apathetic about negative consequences of our consumption decisions, the devastation of our environment will become much more than a “Shore” thing.

Global Worming

If composting outside has you all hot and bothered this summer, consider the cooler indoor alternative of vermicomposting. Vermicomposting is composting with worms and is becoming increasingly popular with those interested in gardening, and minimizing their ecological footprint through a reduction of their waste stream.

To setup a home verimicomposing system, you can purchase a fancy model of worm composters available online, or you can make your own. The Environmentals created a great short film with some easy and entertaining instructions on how to build your own unit for garage, basement, or even under your kitchen counters in a few quick steps. Following their instructions and purchasing Red Wigglers online cost me less that $40 to get a home unit that nicely manages my kitchen scraps for a family of four each week.

There is virtually no odor (really!), and the compost produced is like magic for house and garden plants when used as a rich soil conditioner. For more detailed information on vermicomposting, check out these helpful books on worms, compost and a greener garden: Worms Eat My Garbage, The Complete Compost Gardening Guide and The Green Gardener’s Guide.

Some claim that many of the environmental issues we are plagued with today have come about due to a lack of education or awareness. Figuring out how to solve them is no easy task.

Einstein said that, “we cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”

So how can we change our thinking to be able to combat the eco-issues facing us today (think Gulf oil spill, diminishing landfill space, global warming, etc.)?

Eat more cereal I say!

No, seriously.

Mismanagement of school funds by school boards across America along with general underfunding has contributed to the blight on our education system. How can you help? The main thing is to know who you are voting for, and to participate in our democratic process.

Beyond that, eat more cereal!

General Mills and Campbell’s Soups offer labels that can be cashed in for rewards and monetary contributions toward your local educational institute.

By no means am I advocating the processed food jungle, but most everyone eats cereal and soup at some point of the year or another. What I am suggesting is that, if you do fall off the all natural greenie bandwagon and buy a box of General Mills cereal, be sure to clip the boxtops and give them to your local school. Each one is worth 10¢. You wouldn’t go throwing away your dimes in this economy would you?