October 2009

The idea behind this program was to get old, inefficient, polluting cars off the road permanently.  It seems to be working.  I would like to see more programs like this that reward people for doing the right thing.

A couple of environmentally related bills came to my attention recently as they are progressing through the legislature.

Many fall bulbs are ideal for naturalizing, which means planting them outside a formal flower bed.  Narcissi or daffodils are especially suited for this because they don’t taste good to wildlife.  Late fall is the best time for naturalizing, after the grass has started to die back, so that you can easily reach the soil in a yard or forest.  (You may also enjoy my earlier posts on planting fall bulbs, crocus, tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths.)

The gap between the richest and the poorest Americans has been growing for decades.  Wages and benefits for ordinary workers have stagnated or declined while rewards to supervisors, CEOs, and other powerful workers have skyrocketed.  The following article looks at some of the resulting problems and how these might be solved.

The latest challenge in “Change the World Wednesdays” had to do with buying products made from recycled materials, or requesting such if they exist but are not available in a particular store.  In order to make the most of this, it’s necessary to know what materials can be recycled and what products are frequently made from recycled materials.  This list is not complete, but it’s a good start.

Previously we discussed some threats to honeybees and how you can help honeybees survive.  Now here is an article about the rise of organic beekeeping.

Samhain (and its parallel holidays, Halloween and Dia de los Muertos) is fast approaching at the end of October.  These holidays generally deal with death, the mystical, and late autumn motifs.  Think about what message you want to convey or explore. Then pick decorations and foods that support your theme.

President Obama has approved offshore drilling for oil and natural gas in sensitive areas of the Arctic.  This move has disappointed many people who hoped for better environmental awareness from this administration.