Tree Trimming Tips And Tricks
Posted by admin in environment on 05 9th, 2010You awake in the middle of the night. There is a scratching noise at your bedroom window. Could someone be trying to break into your house? Could there be a man with a mask and an Echo chainsaw? Maybe a wild animal lurks outside your room. You get up and gently head towards the window.
The noise gets louder as you approach. You pull back the curtain and see the culprit. It is a tree branch, moving in the wind. It is probably time to do something about those tree branches. You have two options. You can call a tree service or you can do it yourself.
Calling a tree service means no work to do. There is little chance for injury, also. There is little chance for damage to your house or others. However, tree services can be expensive. They have to pay for large amounts of insurance.
In some cases, it may be dangerous to do the job yourself. If you are unfamiliar with the work, do not attempt it on your own. If there is a high probability of damage to your house, let a professional handle it.
There are simple tasks that you can do yourself. You will need protective gear. This includes gloves, eye protection, and sturdy footwear. You should also have head protection, like a black helmet. Actually, it can be any color. Black may make you look more menacing. You do not want small children around when tree trimming.
Before you attempt the job, assess the situation. Can you do the trimming from the ground? This is the safest way. You stand less chance of any complications with your feet on the ground.
Pole saws work very well for trimming branches. You can extend them out several feet. There are three types. Manual saws are good for smaller branches. Electric pole saws are good for larger branches. Gasoline saws are more portable and powerful.
The electric pole saw serve two purposes. You might have a small Mcculloch chainsaw that attaches to the pole. You can remove the chainsaw and use it normally also.
Gasoline pole saws will not come apart that way. They are good for heavy duty trimming. They cost considerably more than the electric models. You also have to mix the oil and gasoline, before using.
Conclusion
Tree branches can be dangerous to your house. Trimming them can be dangerous to you and others. Make sure that you have the proper gear to do it yourself. Consider hiring a professional, if the job is too big or presents hazards.
read comments (0)Sequoia: Standing In The Shadows Of The Supreme
Posted by admin in environment on 01 26th, 2010Giant sequoia are a marvel of plant biology. These trees originate as a very small seedling that has become liberated from an very compressed cone by forest fire. Giant sequoia sprout and will be the size of any other tree in its youth. They develop swiftly and are disease, fungus and bacteria battling machines. Giant sequoia are immune to many type of impacts which other trees falter to, such as beetles or fire. As a result of this longevity, the giant sequoia can grow to enormous proportions.
Giant sequoia demand soil which is well-drained and they also want considerable amounts of water every day, a few thousand gallons in all reality. The Sierra Nevada mountains deliver lots of water in addition to the underground rivers and caverns that are prominent in the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park.
The Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park is pretty much the greatest on the earth. 77 giant sequoia groves can be found today, and only in a few areas. All are on the western slopes of the southern Sierra Nevada mountains. Giant sequoias only grow between elevation 5,000 and 7,000 feet and call for wet environments. When the factors are desirable, they trive.
The most popular giant sequoia tree is the General Sherman, standing as the largest on the earth. General Sherman stands supreme at 274.9 feet in height and is over 100 feet around. This makes his volume an awe-inspiring 52,508 cubic feet. That is larger than a 26-story-building. General Sherman is approximately to be 2,700 years old and counting. If these amazing trees were able to communicate, what a history they could reveal!
Discover more of the beauty and sovereignty of the Giant Sequoia by visiting Sequoia National Park at http://www.NationalParkReservations.com/sequoia.htm. Learn how to make your life a living adventure by visiting Resorts 360 at http://www.resorts-360.com
How Important Are Flowers
Posted by admin in environment on 01 11th, 2010While they may be important to your partner when you give them to her they are actually not that important in the grand scheme of things. There are many plants out there that would be dead without the help of creatures like bees and these include peaches and apricots.
There are so many plants out there that help out both animals and us and here are just two, that without we would certainly die.
Plankton
There are over 50,000 species in the light zone of the ocean alone and although we do not really see the benefit of the plankton as human beings there are hundreds of animals that do. Plankton, as a collection is called a boom and just one of these booms can actually feed/hold over a billion sea creatures. These plankton are mostly found quite near the surface of the water so they can allow light in which of course allows for photosynthesis to occur. Many people will perhaps never see the importance of this plant but I will say that half of the world’s oxygen is given to us through these plants. Without this plankton life would not exist, it is as simple as that.
Fungi
Although people think fungi causes us more problems that it does us favours it would seem that without this human life would not have existed at all. Fungi allowed plants to shift out of the sea and onto land all of those billions of years ago and they formed a symbiotic relationship with the plants that still exist today. This also allows plants to gain all of the things they need to survive such as water and the all important nutrients. These fungi will also work to clean up the remains of dead plants and animals and put the nutrients back into the earth, pretty helpful after all.
It is rather amusing that two of plants that people tend not to care about are just two of the most important in the world.
So the next time you are out buying your wife some flowers make sure you remember what made those flowers possible. Birthday flowers via flower delivery are a great way to make someone happy on their one day of the year.
Capturing Carbon
Posted by admin in environment on 12 7th, 2009Global warming is mainly caused by green house gases especially carbon oxide. Carbon capture is necessary to reduce this global warming among other efforts. Many 3g technologies are being put forward to tackle the rising carbon dioxide. Some have not helped in sustainable development while others are not just feasible. There hasn’t been an outright discovery to capture carbon till now. However, we need to sail through the possibility of finding one otherwise our only way forward is south.
Any suggested methods of carbon capture should be ecologically safe. It should be economical and sustainable, which means the captured carbon has to stay that way for a number of years.
Naturally, plants capture carbon. However, once they die they release the carbon back into the atmosphere. Also with the accelerated emission of carbon doubled with cropping problems and deforestation, the remaining plants aren’t able to take in more carbon. They have become saturated. A team of American scientists seem to have found a way though for capturing carbon through plants. If crop residues are buried in the bottoms of the deep oceans it will make sure the carbon remain captured. This is similar to putting back the carbon as sediments in deep water which enabled the formation of fossil fuels millions of years ago. It is estimated this process can mitigate 15 percent of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
The team suggested that these crop residues could be baled and carried to ocean sites and then stabilize it with stones and sunk. They say this technology is feasible because of the oxygen deficient deep ocean waters ensuring the residues do not degrade.
We have heard of soil sequestration many times in recent past. This method ensures soils store up to 2 petagram (Pg) of carbon every year. (1 Pg=1 trillion kilogram) What it does is once crops are harvested the residues are ploughed back into the soil. It enables the carbon to stay underground that way for a few years. In about 20 years almost more than 90 percent are lost in the soil due to decay and degradation.
There are other methods also for capturing carbon. However, they are not as efficient as the ones I have mentioned above. For instance, Forest capture is another form of capturing carbon. It captures 0.1-3 Pg of carbon annually. But with time the ability to capture reduces drastically. Forest fires and deforestation doesn’t help either releasing much of the captured carbon into the atmosphere.
Another method which hasn’t fully grown is ocean fertilization. Here iron dust is sprayed across the ocean to create an algal boom. 1-2 Pg of carbon can be removed annually with this. However the problem is algal die after a point of time and 60-80% of the captured carbon is emitted back after their deaths.
With the lack of efficiency in capturing carbon with some of the methods, the sinking crop residual method, the first one we discussed, sounds like the most effective one among all existing technologies. It is cheap as the residual comes naturally in the process of crop cultivation. The scientist group, however, warn against complete removal of crop residue as this will negatively affect the carbon flow in the soil. Also there could be unwanted changes underneath the ocean floor.
To conclude, scientists have been trying hard for ways to counter the dangerous carbon level in the atmosphere. They’ve been able to come up with few interesting ideas but all of them are running short in some way or the other. There needs to be an absolute sharing of knowledge and technology among scientists of the developed nations. The sooner, the lesser the destruction will be for us.
Burial, Cremation and the Environmental isues they raise
Posted by admin in environment on 12 5th, 2009The Bahá'í faith says: "I came forth from God, and return unto Him, detached from all save Him, holding fast to His Name, the Merciful, the Compassionate".
Death is a natural process of life. Everybody wishes the re-union with the Almighty and succesfully complete the circle of life. All religions have various customs and traditions to prepare their loved ones for a peaceful death or afterlife. But our ethics and to a certain extent, our religious fear makes us turn an unmindful and a rather nonchalant eye to our burial and crematory practices which have a profound environment impacts. Mother Earth has given us so much to cherish, we also need to reciprocate by fulfilling some of the duties.
To prevent the degradation of human body and to pay respect to their dead, people from all faiths usually wither cremate or bury their loved ones who are no more. The Egyptian tradition of mummification is also gathering interest among people because of their artistic way of disposing of the dead.In all these processes, environmental bads are aplenty.
Cremation entails the use of a gas resulting in the depletion of a limited fossil fuel and creating air pollution at the same time. The release of mercury from a person's teeth has an adverse impact on the environment. Cremation is inherent to religious beliefs and practices, however with an increase in population, there is an increasing stress on our natural resources. The Environment Ministry can release norms to regulate the emissions of cremations and impose the use of bio-degradable bags to keep the remains. Awareness needs to be created among Indian Hindu families to let go of age-old traditions for the benefit of environment and use electric cremators for this purpose like the West.
Burial, according to some is a more environmental friendly method as it does not cause air pollution but this remains a highly contentious issue. The use of potentially dangerous herbicides, its effect on water supplies and the use of plastic and other materials used for coffin manufacture can pose a serious threat to the environment. Use of harmful herbicides in cemetries causes soild pollution, hence emphasis needs to be laid on biodegradable coffins or caskets. Tree plantation should be carried on a large scale in and around the cemetery to reduce carbon footprints and steps should be taken to convert them into wildlife reserves. This will greatly diminish the use of herbicides for weed control as well as cause only a minimal damage to nature and environment.
It is important to raise awareness of "green burials" and encourage cremation without creating unnecessary pressure on the environment.” All of us are aware of the corroding effect of chemicals, still embalming involving the replacement of body fluids with formaldehyde, a carcinogen is practiced widely especially in the West. All crematorial methods should be made as enivronment friendly as possible to ensure ecological-balance.
Ecotourism For Conservation
Posted by admin in environment on 07 15th, 2009An important leisure activity is recreation. It has a rejuvenating effect on one’s body and mind. This is important for healthy living amidst the stressful modern life. Some of the recreational activities that are popular these days are skiing, snowboarding, bungee jumping, sky diving, hang gliding, canyoning, rock climbing, adventure tourism, backpacking, ecotourism and motor sport. Traveling to the pristine, but fragile, areas is ecotourism. There are two ways ecotourism is practiced. Appreciating nature and learning from its varied life forms as well as the cultures that are embedded in nature is one kind of ecotourism. This requires a deep sensitivity and social consciousness. Reflection on the ecological impact of human activities on nature while appreciating nature is central to it. That is why this is also called responsible ecotourism. The second type of ecotourism has commercial interest at its heart where nature preserves is just another commodity for profit making. Unfortunately, ecotourism continues to be dominated by this category of enterprise.
Ecotourism is promoted indiscriminately without concern either to ecology or local culture. Ecotourism is made a mere marketing tool. Resorts, lodges and luxury hotels are located in rich natural locations and often in ecologically sensitive areas. These facilities offer modern luxury with all the wasteful lifestyle. Ecology becomes a commodity to be exploited rather than respected and conserved. Building tourism infrastructure in the name of promoting ecotourism leads to deterioration of the habitat and deforestation. The more the facilities the more are the waste generated. A large number of visitors also mean more garbage and pollution. Many of these ecotourists have no understanding of the ecological consequences of their visits and how their lifestyles in these tourist facilities impact on nature.
In contrast to this type of tourism is the responsible ecotourism which is typically carried out singly or in small groups. They carry with them as little as possible and only just their survival needs. These include first aid kit, flashlight, utensils, personal care products and map amongst others. The most important is the camping tent and the sleeping bag. Camping tents come in different sizes suited for different seasons. There are camping tents manufactured by many companies such as MSR Hubba Hubba Tent and Marmot Aeros Tent, and many more designs from Black Diamond, Eureka, Kelty and Sierra.
Camping is usually associated with responsible tourism because the negative aspects of tourism are minimal. There is much attention given to energy efficiency, recycling, water conservation and economic benefits to local communities.
Living Is Learning, Discovering The Natural Self
Posted by admin in environment on 06 27th, 2009The ecological crisis is real. These are seriously being discussed. No doubt most of this is a result of human interventions. There are massive oil spills as in Alaska by Exxon in 1989. Toxic wastes from industries are polluting the rivers and ground water. The sea levels are increasing, many islands as Maldives are expecting to go under the sea and so are many islands in the Pacific region. The depletion of ozone layer is permitting the harmful radiation from the sun to reach the earth. This is the result of the emission of green house gases. Global warming is heating up the earth. Many species are getting extinct from desertification and deforestation. Deforestation in the mountains is leading to devastating floods in the plains. Between 17,000 and 100,000 species are reportedly becoming extinct every year. The last 50 years have seen most of the forests estimated at seven million square kilometers have vanished. Just twenty percent of the original forests still remain.
Science teaches us that species are dependent on each other. The species also depend on the non-living things in their habitat. The species could be micro-organism, plants, and animals. The continued inter-dependence between them is the key to their survival. Human beings cannot recreate ecosystems. Scientists agree that it is not humanly possible. The only way is to let the ecosystem survive for species survival. The importance of conservation of nature stems from this realization. This is also the reason that some areas are identified for conservation. But at the same time, the demand for growth and development threaten conservation.
The value of conservation can be enhanced if more people begin to appreciate such nature reserves. One way of doing this is by camping in such reserves responsibly. A camping tent comes in as essential equipment. You will have to select a suitable tent. Kelty Green River 4 tent is a two season for four people and is more of a base camp tent. There are tents to accommodate different number of people with different features.
The adherence to the principle of non-interference with nature while you are in such camping trips is an important principle to be followed. Local cultures, usually with strong roots in nature, are to be respected. Understanding the complexity of nature and its diverse role is a critical learning that these experiences seek to offer. The truth that we are part of nature and that nature does not belong to us is important to realize that the relationship between nature and human beings is that of between the mother and her children.
New Oil Aspects 2009
Posted by admin in environment on 04 16th, 2009It’s Not All About The Oil - America Has Sustainable Power To Do What?
The world is in a frenzy, the oil crisis is making economies to cause a downturn that may even be greater than the great misery. The war as they say is the cause. The budget deficit owing to 2008 is now over $400,000,000. This money certainly would have been put to better reason within America itself.
Conspiracy Theory
Most persons will say that the president of the United States waged bloodshed smuggle a middle eastern country due to oil America after all is one of the world’s largest oil consumer. Everything in the US is automated, or electrical. To run machineries you use oil wares, to produce high demands of electricity you barrel and barrels of oil to tear the generators.
It is quite little to assume that the former President whose family business is oil has a vested absorption leadership acquiring a country in consequence well-heeled rule mineral deposits. First of all it will make oil sources available anytime they want astray having to worry with diplomacy and experience through another government. Sustain more free lunch thanks to the Bush family, because they have an oil trade if they answerability amuse geriatric fuel at market price then they entrust have massed earnings. The idea makes vein further could very much be possible.
Sustainable Power Treasure
Political and idiosyncratic factors is not the whole issue. There are other faces to this scenario. Yes, America is one of the world’s largest energy consumer, but America also has the largest preference of energy resources on Earth.
Geothermal, Hydro, Diddly again etc.
The United States of America is unmistakable due to the world’s greatest geothermal scene stimulation.
The Geysers located just north of San Francisco was the planet’s basic further largest wilderness steam occupation. The astonishing object about these power plants ( whereas there are several ) is that sewage waste from surrounding cities are pumped into the geothermal stabilize in order to cater the supply of steam needed owing to energy production. States allied thanks to Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, Arizona, Utah among others own their own geothermal plants.
Accurate the fourth tract with the largest hydropower capacity, the Americas revolutionized hydropower by roof plentiful dams in awfully calculated areas all over the US. Feasibly the largely received is the Hoover Dam. At the time sound was fully operational Hoover Dam was uttered to be the world’s largest electricity generating hydropower plant. Located on the cusp of Nevada and Arizona, the Hoover dam supplies electricity to the states of Nevada, Arizona and most of Southern California.
Quiver Port Missouri is a city in North America who is in truth powered by insignificancy farms. Of the 56 states effect America over half have wind farms which help supply their security needs. Some states may have aesthetical issues, but wind farms will definitely pass into indispensable magnetism in the future especially when the impact of dwindling oil supplies from the east is felt.
A Closing Scenario
The States have its own oil resources deserved within its backyard. Texas and just off shore from New Orleans a new sight is emerging. That of drilling areas, but one commodity remains clear. Fossil fuel as an energy source is not viable for human health and the future of our environment. If you’re still asking why the American government is waging war for oil? Perhaps it’s not oil after all. Maybe it’s just a peace crusade with a sword in hand.
There’s a lot to understand about oil. Some of the facts has been shown above, but there is still plenty more to reveal and develop.
