Happy St. Patrick’s Day everone!

I ran across some interesting statistics on trash here in Missouri.   People either do not stop to think about the things they use and throw away or they just do not care.  For those who do not care I would recommend an attitude adjustment session.

Source: Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) survey of Adopt-A-Highway volunteers – 1994

 Here is how long it takes some things to decompose…..

The next time you grab a cup of coffee in a styrofoam cup, think about the one million PLUS years it will take for that cup to decompose.

Primary sources of litter: (KAB Research, 1998)

• Pedestrians
• Drivers
• Household garbage cans
• Commercial dumpsters
• Demolition Sites
• Loading Docks
• Trucks With Uncovered Backs

Five types of people with respect to litter:

• Non-litterers – environmentally conscious, don’t litter and usually pick up litter of others
• Inconvenients – too hard, too much trouble, someone else’s problem
• Ignorants – these people are simply unaware of a link between the environment and their litter behavior
• Willful Arrogants – usually litter in a context, i.e. “It’s okay to litter in urban areas but not in the country”
• Anti-establishments – make a statement with purposeful littering

Let’s wake up everyone and be responsible with our actions!!  Look for recycling centers in your local area, they are there!!

Stats from www.nomoretrash.org 

How many of us remember the commerical that Iron Eyes Cody performed for the Keep America Beautiful campaign in the 1970s?  I remember as a child being so struck with a heavy heart every time I watched it.  I wanted to cry right along with Iron Eyes.  Go view the commerical again.

 http://youtube.com/watch?v=87S0jmdYCWI

http://youtube.com/watch?v=GlyRRDi1eAw&mode=related&search=

It would have been wonderful if we had listened back then, almost 40 years ago.  But things have gotten so much more worse.  When will we wake up and see what we have done?

It’s an absolute beautiful day out today.  The sun is shining brightly, warming the earth from a long winters nap.  My freespirit is also awakening.  This would be a perfect day to climb on the back of a kindred spirit, no reins no bridle, just letting the awesome creature roam where it may, becoming one with the sun, the air, the echos of long ago.

 The wind is gently blowing making it a perfect day to use my solar clothes dryer. I’ve heard from some that where they live in the city they are not permitted to have solar dryers.  My thoughts on that are that I would not even consider living in such a place.  Give me fresh air, sunshine and wide open spaces.  As well as solar dryers are super for the enviroment and the soul.   What have you done to reduce your carbon footprint today?

I saw posted on a friends blog that she knows how to belly dance.  This sounds extremely interesting and fun as well as getting a good ab workout.  I just ordered some instructional dvd’s on belly dancing and I’m anxious for them to get here so I can learn how.  Are there any other belly dancers out there?

I am a respiratory therapist by trade and cold and flu season is in full swing.  One of the best and easiest ways to keep from getting a cold or flu is to practice nasal washing.  It may sound a bit odd but it really works and it’s very easy to do.  You can either buy a neti pot which is washable and reausable or you can buy premade bottle systems.  Basically you place your tongue to the back of your throat, tilt your head sideways a little bit and pour in the saline solution into one nare or side of your nose.  It will run through your nasal passageway and come out the other side flushing out any germs and debris along with it.  When germs can’t stay put they can’t grow and make you sick.  This is also excellent for those who suffer from airborne allergies and sinus troubles.  You can buy premade saline solution packets to mix with water or you can make your own with 8 oz. distilled warm water a half teaspoon of salt.  Go to www.nasopure.com for more information.

This statement is in no way intended to take the place of your physicians advice, but is an excellent preventive measure you can easily perform at home.

This is my newest venture in gardening….worm farming.  It makes so much sense to use one of natures own to compost organic trasht that would otherwise get buried in a landfill to rot and stink.  It’s so easy to get started in using worms to compost our trash…that being vegetable scraps, paper, tea bags, leftovers, egg shells etc.  All you need is a bin, which can either be bought or made yourself.  And redworms.  You should not use just plain earthworms as they basically only earth movers and not composters.    I’ll be starting out with a four tier bin and a pound of lil workers.  I’m going to get my boys in on this venture, it will be good for them to learn about ‘farming’, gardening, recycling and making our earth a better place.

Howdy yall.  I’m trying to figure this out and get it up and going.  We’ll see just how techno I am. lol