Archive for the ‘Blog’ Category
Green Guide to an Eco Summer
From taigacompany.com:
Article by Julie Urlaub
Summer is here! Spice it up eco style to add the eco sizzle in your summer activities. Individuals aiming to become more sustainable in their personal life have a variety of eco actions at their disposal. As mentioned in our eco friendly consulting, start with the sustainability concepts are you most familiar. Areas of energy efficiency, waste management, or local and fair trade are familiar topics. You may want to apply sustainability concepts more specific to the summer months. Looking for ideas? Try these on!
Planning a party? Be an Eco Host!
• Kick your party off before it even starts with eco awareness in your party planning. Pingg is an event management site that not only allows you to create customized invitations, but it also offers options to send them via text, face book, email, and more. Another option is to use Evite. Both are great ways to integrate the sustainability concept of paperless into your party planning.
• Do you need to mow the lawn to make your yard look beautiful? Check out 12 Steps to Eco Friendly lawn care.
• When entertaining your guests, use glassware. If that’s not an option, extend eco awareness into your party by using compostable plates and utensils.
• Set up convenient recycling bins for glass and paper and serve organic and locally grown food.
• When it’s time to clean up, remember to use biodegradable plastic trash bags and cleaners with eco awareness.
Organic garden – Organic gardening leads to better health in three main ways:
• When you garden organically, you greatly reduce your exposure to pesticides, which have been linked to many severe health problems.
• Organically-grown food is more nutritious than food grown using conventional methods.
• Organic gardeners tend to use “muscle-power” rather than “machine-power” for gardening tasks.
Green Home Makeover – Transform your home into an eco haven. Express your unique style and with eco awareness. Following are resources offered in our eco friendly consulting classes to help you on your way:
• Decorate the Eco Friendly Way
• Eco Friendly Painting: A Breath of Fresh Air
• Top 10 Plants to Reduce Stress, Cut Toxins, and Live Green
• Splish Splash: 20 Ways to Green your Bathroom
• Transform your Home Office to a Green Office
• Clean Green
Keep Your Dog Happy and Healthy This Summer
From kmph.com:
Article by Dr. Jessica Vogelsang, the Daily Dog
With the dog days of summer in full swing, people’s thoughts turn to the many ways of enjoying the warm weather with their furry friends. Whether you’re hitting the beach or hanging out in the backyard, take a moment to review some basic summer safety tips to keep your dog safe while having fun.
Keeping Cool
Heat stroke is one of the leading causes of emergency room visits for dogs during the summer months. A large number of these cases result from people leaving their dogs in the car while they run errands.
My Dog is Cool has the results from a test by the Animal Protection Institute that show the difference between outside temperature and the temperature inside a car on a warm day. In this study, cracking a window shows a negligible difference in the temperatures.
In addition, a 2005 study conducted at Stanford University showed that temperatures inside a car can skyrocket to fatal heat levels even on days as cool at 70 degrees. So to sum things up: Be safe and leave your pet at home.
Pets can overheat rapidly in a warm yard if they don’t have adequate shelter from the sun and water. This risk is amplified for the “squishy face” brachycephalic breeds like bulldogs and pugs, so make sure your dog has a cool place to retreat to.
Water Safety
It’s an old and persistent myth that all dogs are naturally great swimmers. I can attest to this personally, having rescued my Lhasa Apso from the family swimming pool when I was 8 years old.
Dogs get excited and can easily overexert themselves while swimming, so make sure to enforce breaks and never leave a pet unattended by the pool. In addition, pet life preservers are available at pet stores everywhere and can be a great safety addition if you are taking your pet on a boating trip or to the beach.
Why You Should Protect Your Dog from Lyme Disease (and how to do it)
From ARAContent.com:
The urge to be outside during summer is something that’s shared by people and dogs. We all learn to tolerate the bites from mosquitoes and other pesky insects, but there’s one pest that both people and pets need to really watch out for: Lyme disease-carrying ticks.
While you might hear a lot about checking yourself for ticks after a hike in the woods, you need to check your dog, too – and remember that it’s possible for him to pick up ticks even if you live in an urban area. A number of tick species carry the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, which causes Lyme disease, but the most common is the deer tick.
While humans can look for the tell-tale sign of a bull’s-eye-shaped rash on their skin, there’s no such convenient warning for dogs, says Dr. Ernest Ward, a well-known veterinarian who has published numerous articles on MyPetED.com.
“Lyme disease symptoms in dogs are more difficult to detect than in people,” says Ward. “When people are bitten by a tick carrying the infection, they see a ‘bull’s-eye’ rash at the site of the bite within three to 30 days. This rash doesn’t appear in bitten dogs.”
Ward advises dog owners to look for other signs, like lameness, swollen joints, fever, lethargy or decreased appetite. Lameness and limping are common symptoms because Lyme disease affects the joints. The painful limping that suddenly appears may shift from one leg to another. “Some pet owners describe their dogs as ‘walking on eggshells,’” Ward adds. “This may eventually disappear and then recur weeks or months later.”
Because Lyme disease symptoms are often delayed or go unrecognized, it’s possible for Lyme disease to progress to an advanced state before it’s considered a problem. However, rare cases of Lyme disease can lead to kidney disease or failure, which is potentially fatal.
If your dog exhibits the symptoms of Lyme disease, it’s important to get him to a veterinarian quickly. A veterinarian can administer a blood test to confirm the presence of Lyme disease and prescribe antibiotics to treat it. Sites like MyPetED.com can help you find a veterinarian near you, as well as provide you with credible pet health information and a secure place to store all of your pet’s health records. MyPetED also offers a mobile app for iPhones and iPads, which can help you locate a veterinarian, even when you’re far from home.
Taking preventive measures can be an effective way to keep your dog Lyme disease-free. While avoiding areas where ticks live, such as grassy, wooded or sandy areas, it’s not always possible, particularly with pups that are eager to get outside and play. Instead, be sure to thoroughly inspect your dog after each walk or romp through the woods. If you find ticks on your dog, it’s important not to touch them – wear gloves and use tweezers to remove them instead.
For extra protection against Lyme disease, you can opt for a vaccine, which is usually administered in two doses at two- to three-week intervals, and needs to be repeated annually. Be sure to talk to your veterinarian about whether vaccination is the right choice for your dog. He or she might also recommend a topical preventive, such as those that repel both fleas and ticks.
Just a few simple steps can prevent your pet from contracting Lyme disease. When you know what to do and what to look for, you’ll be able to concentrate on having fun with your dog in the great outdoors.
Green Living: Happily Living with Less
From rye.patch.com:
Article by Jaclyn Bruntfield
The “Great Recession.” We’ve all heard enough about the economic downturn over the past few years that we may wonder if things will ever turn around.
And many of us have experienced the effects of the stalling economy first-hand: for some, jobs with retirement packages and health benefits are hard to come by. Many homeowners struggle with mortgage payments and the threat of foreclosure while others’ investments have dissipated. Still others simply don’t have enough food to feed their families.
While these struggles continue to burden Americans on a daily basis, there could be a positive side: many of us are being forced to live with less. Our culture so easily defines people by what we have–luxury cars, designer clothes and custom homes–but there’s a certain integrity in consciously limiting our material consumption.
By buying less and thoughtfully choosing the products we do purchase, we’re not only reducing the burden on our finances, but our impact on the Earth as well. After all, it takes a lot of fuel to create and ship all of the products we often take for granted in our everyday lives.
Here are five ways I’ve reduced my consumption and carbon footprint over the past year. Of course no one is perfect, but small steps do add up to create meaningful changes over time.
1. Fresh Air vs. Conditioned Air
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 66 percent of American homes have air conditioners. For each home that has only one air conditioner, two tons of carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere.
I’ve chosen to not use an air conditioner, partially because they cause one’s electricity bill to skyrocket, but also because I feel it’s something I can live without. On those really muggy days in August, I’ll go to do work at an air-conditioned coffee shop, but all in all, I suffice with a fan or a cold shower.
If you do choose to use an air conditioner, it’s wise to invest in an Energy Star rated systems, which can help reduce your electricity costs and carbon emissions.
2. What’s on TV Tonight?
According to a 2009 Nielsen survey of how much time Americans spend in front of screens (TVs, computers and cell phones,) the average citizen watches TV about 153 hours a month.
So perhaps unsurprisingly, the amount of electricity used by Americans to watch TV is about the same as that used for air conditioning. The National Resources Defense Council says that televisions account for five percent of residential electricity use.
I don’t have cable, so when I do turn on the TV, it’s to watch a movie. Not having the TV on as background noise is good for my personal peace of mind, and it’s also important to me to know that my 2-year-old isn’t being bombarded by constant advertisements.
While we have a small, old-fashioned TV, the NRDC conducted a study that found that large, less energy efficent LCD and plasma television models consume more electricity each year than a new refigerator. So if you’re in the market for a new TV, it would be a good idea to buy one that’s energy efficient.
3. Plastic Bottle Madness
Imagine a disposable water bottle that’s filled one-third with oil. That’s how much oil it takes to produce and ship that bottle, according to National Geographic. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation estimates that 2.5 million bottles of water are sold in New York each year.
While there are some very rational fears about drinking tap water, our sources are constantly tested by state and local governments, so I find that the benefits of using reusable stainless steel bottles outweigh the risks.
4. Where’s the Microwave?
In light of the scare about cell phone use possibly causing cancer, I saw a video on ABC News that seemed relevant to the potential risks of radiation exposure in our every day lives. Upon scanning a family’s home for radiation levels coming from laptops, cell phones and their microwave, the highest radiation levels came from the family’s microwave.
I haven’t had a microwave in my home for years, and while some people may think it’s odd to forgo such a convenience, I’ve always found something odd about what happens to food in the microwave and the thought of blasting one’s food with radiation.
5. Coveted Products: Baggies and Paper Towels
Baggies are a hot commodity in my home, since we don’t buy them, or products like plastic wrap, aluminum foil and paper towels. I wash and reuse the baggies that our farm share lettuce and snap peas come in.
Instead of using plastic wrap, I reuse the plastic containers from our farmers market cashews and almonds. And on the rare occasion that we have paper towels in the house, it’s because my mom donated some to us. But most of the time we use washable towels and cloths.
If you’d like to analyze your energy consumption and find out more ways to reduce your carbon footprint, the Environmental Protection Agency offers this Household Emissions Calculator.
It’s Officially Summer – Why it’s Important to Get Outside
From taigacompany.com:
Article by Julie Urlaub
Guess what officially kicks off today at 1:16 p.m. ET? The beginning of the summer solstice. What does this mean to those living a sustainable lifestyle? It means eco inspiration and a chance to reconnect with nature.
Why is this important? According to the post, Nature: The Natural Mood Enhancer, paying attention to the natural world not only makes you feel better, it makes you behave better. For those living green, the message is meaningful. Lead author Netta Weinstein says the take home message from the research is clear: “We are influenced by our environment in ways that we are not aware of,” she says. Because of the hidden benefits of connecting with nature, people should take advantage of opportunities to get away from built environments and, when inside, they should surround themselves with plants, natural objects, and images of the natural world. “The more you appreciate nature, the more you can benefit,” she says.
What better way to influence our habits, behavior and attitudes in daily life than to get outside and appreciate our natural surroundings. Hiking, walking, running, swimming, and bike riding are all activities that require a minimal investment in gear, keep you fit and get you outside appreciating and reconnecting with nature. Mentioned in our eco friendly training, there are a variety of eco actions you can take.
- This weekend, June 25th, is the Great American Campout. To learn more and to get involved with the Great American Camp out, check out the website. Or, if you are curious as to how to green your camping trip, the post Planning a Green Camping Trip by our friend @Biofriendlyblog offers some eco friendly suggestions.
- Take advantage of nearby parks and nature trails. America’s Best Idea – the national parks – gets even better with several fee-free days at more than 100 national parks that usually charge entrance fees. For a listing by state, visit here.
- Consider participating in a group hike or backpacking trip. Your local chapter of the Sierra club is a good place to look. Other options include joining a local bike club or running club.
- Get children involved! Ideas for summer time fun for kids include: 9 Backyard Games for Kids, Play in the Dirt, and 12 Fun-in-the-Sun Ideas.
Enjoy getting outside – reconnect with nature and re-discover the joy and appreciation that nature calls forth from each of us. That inspiration is the fuel that propels us towards living sustainably in our lives and our communities.
Make Flea Prevention Part of Your Spring Plans
From ARAContent.com:
Spring is an exciting time for pet owners – and cats and dogs – who have been cooped up inside all winter. But as your pets resume outdoor activity, it’s time to again think about protecting them from a common pest – fleas.
It may come as a surprise to many, but fleas are active the entire year. Once the weather warms up and your pets start spending more time outside, they can potentially come into contact with fleas in the yard or through contact with other animals that may be infested.
Adult fleas can bite your pet, causing discomfort, which can lead to irritation, allergic skin reactions and skin infections. They can even transmit other disease-causing organisms, including tapeworms.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), once a flea finds a host it can lay up to 50 eggs in one day. The time it takes for an egg to become an adult flea is dependent on temperature and can be anywhere from two weeks to eight months. Therefore, what could start off as a minor nuisance in spring can become a full-blown infestation by summer if left untreated.
Fortunately, flea infestations are preventable by taking the right steps to protect your pets. Here are five flea control tips to keep you and your pets happy and healthy:
* Regularly vacuum any place your pets spend time in your house, as carpet provides a perfect habitat for immature fleas, such as flea larvae (maggots) and eggs. Any bedding or blankets your pets come into contact with should also be washed regularly.
* If you have multiple cats or dogs, treat them at the same time for fleas since they can pass from pet to pet. This will help ensure that fleas won’t have an animal to act as the host agent.
* Take extra care if you live in an area that has a higher prevalence of fleas. Ask your veterinarian about local flea conditions or visit www.PetParents.com to check the flea prevalence in your area.
* Given that flea eggs can survive for up to one year without hatching, the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) recommends that pet owners not only treat pets year round, but treat them for life.
* Because fleas can take up to eight months to reach adulthood, it is important to use a monthly preventive product that can kill fleas at all life stages. Advantage II, made by Bayer Animal Health, is a topical, easy-to-apply, once-monthly flea treatment that kills all flea life stages to prevent fleas on a treated dog from infesting your home.
By following these simple steps, you can not only help avoid the burden of flea infestations, but you’ll ensure that the joys of warmer weather come without the potential problems that can come from your cat or dog being outdoors.
Make Your Own Fun for Kids This Summer
From timestranscript.canadaeast.com:
Article by Charline Cormier-Pellerin
There’s a Disney television show called Phineas and Ferb, where the main characters find exciting things to do during their summer break.
The lyrics to the show’s title song start off like this: “There’s 104 days of summer vacation. And school comes along just to end it. So the annual problem for our generation is finding a good way to spend it.”
To begin with, there aren’t actually 104 days of summer vacation here – it’s more like 73.
And most parents want their kids to have a memorable one. We work hard at planning outings and registering the kids for camp quickly before spaces fill up. But the truth is, having a busy summer break doesn’t always equate to having a great one.
As much as I hate to use a fictitious cartoon TV show as an example, Phineas and Ferb do make a good point.
They make their own fun. And even if a real kid could never actually pull off all of the stunts these two characters do, it doesn’t take away from the value of making one’s own fun.
After all, when every waking moment is accounted for, when is there time to daydream, create or use one’s imagination? And does the amount of money spent have any real effect on the fun had or memories made?
As a matter of fact, I recently read somewhere that’s it’s good for kids to be bored.
Now, I’m not saying that camps and such are bad: my kids participate in these things, too. But when they’re unavailable, it’s important to remember that there are lots of fun alternatives.
You could register the kids for the library’s summer reading club, or simply borrow a book about birds and make trying to identify them an activity. Maybe even take a trip to a park rarely visited, in the hopes of finding a bird the kids have never seen before. Or buy the book, keeping it in the vehicle along with a notepad so that the kids can identify birds they see while out driving around.
Take a walk along Main Street. Do a little research on heritage buildings and seek them out, or better yet, take the iTour and learn all about some of Moncton’s oldest buildings. Maybe even take along a camera – make it fun, make it an adventure but, most of all, make it a history lesson they’ll never forget.
Sit outside on a clear night, identifying constellations and stars. Or better yet, take a little drive to the outskirts of town and let them see for themselves, the overwhelming beauty of what a night sky really looks like when there are no city lights dulling it.
Having fun this summer doesn’t have to mean a lot of money spent.
But one thing is for certain, whatever you and the kids do this summer, make sure to savour every minute because these 73 days are bound to go fast!
Strike While the Season’s Hot: Tips for Avoiding Flea and Tick Infestations
From ARAContent.com:
Though they may be hard to spot, don’t let fleas and ticks elude you this season. Spring is the unofficial start of flea and tick season – and the ideal time to begin preventatively treating your pet so it doesn’t get an infestation. Not only are fleas and ticks an annoyance for dogs, cats and pet owners alike, but they can also cause health issues. And according to Dr. Nancy Hinkle, Ph.D ., professor of entomology at the University of Georgia, this flea and tick season is shaping up to be an intense one. Research shows that mild spring weather has allowed fleas and ticks to get an early start, meaning there will be higher pest populations this summer.
“Flea and tick bites are always a cause for concern. Flea bites can lead to anemia, allergy dermatitis, an allergic reaction to proteins in flea saliva; and permanent hair loss or skin problems from scratching,” says Dr. Melinda Fernyhough, DVM, Ph.D., veterinarian and manager of scientific affairs at the Hartz Mountain Corporation. “And that’s not all. Ticks can transmit Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever – both of which can be transmitted to your family.”
Keeping your pets safe and protected is just as easy as maintaining your own health. Three easy-to-implement tips from “Dr. Melinda” will help you get a head start on the season:
1. Choose the appropriate flea and tick treatment. There are a variety of options to keep your pet healthy, including shampoos, sprays, topical treatments and collars. Topicals are the most popular treatment and are applied monthly to your pet. For example, Hartz UltraGuard Pro Flea & Tick Drops are designed to kill fleas and ticks and prevent new fleas from appearing.
2. Carefully read the label. It is incredibly important to read and follow the directions on the label. Make sure to purchase the appropriate weight class of product so you don’t put too much (or too little) on your pet. Never use a dog product on a cat or vice versa. And keep animals separated until the treatment dries, typically between 24 and 48 hours, to ensure your pet doesn’t ingest the treatment from another pet.
3. Check your pet regularly. Throughout flea and tick season, make sure to rub your hands through your pet’s coat on a regular basis to check for fleas and ticks. And keep an eye out for excessive scratching. Using a monthly treatment like Hartz UltraGuard Pro Flea & Tick Drops can help keep your pet protected month to month.
It is estimated that last year alone over 70 million dogs and cats suffered from flea or tick infestations, according to Dr. Hinkle. So as the weather heats up, it’s important to educate yourself about caring for your pet during flea and tick season. To ask Dr. Melinda a question, find the appropriate treatment for your pet or learn more about Hartz UltraGuard Pro Flea & Tick Drops, visit www.hartzultraguard.com.
Summer is Time to Take Pet Precautions
From verona.patch.com:
Ahhhhhh, summertime.
Longer days. Warmer days. Fireflies at night. Fireworks on the Fourth. Barbecues and parties. Trips to the Shore.
The summer is in full gear and New Jersey residents are excited to finally be able to spend more time outdoors — with their pets.
But before people do, online pet retailer MrChewy.com offers up these summer tips for pet owners to keep furry, four-legged friends happy, cool and safe this summer.
Keep it Cool
Don’t forget about Fluffy when you leave your apartment for the day or even on vacation. Pets can easily get overheated so keep your air conditioning on low and make sure there’s plenty of ventilation. Lowering the shades will also help keep your home cool. And if you’re traveling to the Hamptons, don’t leave Fido in the car. When it’s 80 degrees Fahrenheit outside, the temperature inside your car will hit 99 degrees in 10 minutes.
Water, Water Everywhere
To prevent dehydration and exhaustion, be sure to keep plenty of cool, fresh water available for all pets – especially the older ones! This goes for even shorter sidewalk strolls or festivals in the park. Wherever your pets are, let there be water.
Paws up!
Rover loves walking the city but hot asphalt can quickly and easily put him in a lot of pain. Try to walk in parks when possible and stick to the shady side of the street.
Bugs be Gone
Ticks, fleas and other bugs are not just for country dogs. Any grassy, tree-filled area can have them, so check Spot routinely and consider arming him with a repellent like Frontline, which is applied once a month.
Window watch
Summer is prime time for “High-Rise Syndrome,” with a huge increase in the number of cats falling out of apartment windows. During the warmer months, veterinarians at the ASPCA’s Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital see approximately three to five cases a week. Falling short distances is especially dangerous to cats, so keep Tigger away from all unscreened open windows in warmer months.
Lotions, Potions and Other Tips for Summer Travel and Safety
From sewickley.patch.com:
Article by Kathleen Sauers
For many folks, summer means a trip to the ocean or beach.
For others, it might be spending hours poolside in their backyard or community pool.
Maybe you are headed out to one of our great parks for some swimming and hiking in the woods. All of those activities mean extra caution.
The Sun
Gone are the days where we slathered baby-oil all over our bodies and baked for hours in the sun.
While we all know that we should wear sunscreen everyday, let’s face it: the beach sun is different than our sun here in Western Pennsylvania. But that doesn’t mean we can be lax at home either.
According to www.dermatology.about.com, exposure to sunlight causes 90 percent of skin damage. One key to help prevent this is to properly apply the correct sunscreen.
The most harmful rays are between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., so use that as a guide. That doesn’t mean you don’t need sunscreen other times during the day; just make sure you pay extra attention during that time period.
The nurse at our dermatologist told us to purchase products with avovenzone, titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. Your sunscreen should have at least an SPF of 15, but most of us should use provides greater protection. If you plan on swimming or participate in any water sports, choose a waterproof sunscreen.
She said that you really don’t need a sunscreen with an SPF greater than 35. The American Melanoma Foundation backs that advice. According to its website, “an SPF of 34 absorbs 97 percent” of ultraviolet radiation. Products with higher SPFs aren’t necessary.
Make sure you apply enough sunscreen: about 1.25 ounces per application. While that can be hard to measure while sitting on the beach, keep in mind that most people only apply 25 percent to 50 percent of how much protection needed, so slather it up.
You also can use that formula when deciding how much sunscreen to purchase prior to a trip. Sunscreen has a shelf life of about three years, so replace it if necessary. Buy it before your trip so you aren’t paying three times more at the beach, or worse, tempted to skip applying it at all.
Don’t forget those areas that you might neglect – the tops of your ears, the backs of your knees, tops of your feet, extra for the shoulders, and men, don’t forget those little bald spots that might be peaking out on top of your head. Now is not the time to pretend you have that full head of hair you had in your teens, or you could regret it later.
Apply the sunscreen prior to going out in the sun whenever possible. It takes about 20 minutes for the skin to absorb the sunscreen for full protection.
Bugs
Bugs can be a nuisance at the beach. There are some clothing companies designing travel wear for bug protection, but there also are simple steps to take to assist with keeping the number of bites down.
I swear by Avon’s Skin-so-Soft products. I have no personal stock in Avon but appreciate the protection without the harsh chemicals found in some of the other bug protection sprays.
I am not saying they don’t work; they do, but I like the fact that something as simple as this product protects me. I hate the smell of it, but it is better than some of the smells from the other sprays.
As a bonus, your skin is amazingly soft at the end of your vacation.
Simply spray or rub the product on when you will be in a high-bug zone. Keep in mind that insect repellents can reduce your sunscreen’s SPF protection by up to one-third, according to www.dermatology.about.com. You will need to use a higher SPF, and apply your sunscreen more often when using an insect repellent.
You might also want to pick up citronella candles or mosquito coils to burn while sitting out at night to chase away unwanted bugs.
Poison Ivy
My family loves hiking, but all I have to do is look at poison ivy and I get it. During a recent hike, I saw lots and lots of poison ivy, and many of us will find it in our own backyards.
The easiest way to prevent poison ivy is to avoid it. Be familiar with what the plant looks like, then stay away. There is a saying, “If leaves I have three, then let me be,” which is good advice, but poison ivy can have more than three leaves.
If you come in contact with poison ivy, wash the area as soon as possible with Dawn dish detergent (what I use and yes, it works) or a product such as MyCleanse.
After you break out in a rash, do not scratch it. Treat it with IvyDry or another product that your physician recommends. If you have a severe rash, consult your physician immediately.
A few simple steps can help save your summer vacation and fun from the results of a bad sunburn, lots of bites, or worse, a trip to the emergency room.