We’re adopting a stream!

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Back in March, our family attended a local stream monitoring session at Accotink creek.  We waded out in the cold stream, stirred up the invertebrates (animals without a backbone) that live in the bottom of the stream (the “benthic” habitat), and counted the various invertebrates.  By taking a look at which particular animals live in a stream, we can determine whether the stream is healthy or polluted.  Some animals are very sensitive to pollutants; you’ll only see them in healthy streams.  Some animals can live in very heavily polluted streams.  A healthy stream will have a mix of sensitive and not-so-sensitive animals, while a polluted stream will have mostly the tough ones.  Unfortunately, Accotink creek (the creek to which our yard and roads drain) is relatively polluted.

But the monitoring experience was not a failure.  Oh no!  Based on this experience, our family decided to adopt a stream in our neighborhood.  Four times a year, we’ll be monitoring the benthic invertebrates in our stream and reporting back to the northern VA soil and water conservation district.  It’s not too difficult to adopt a stream.  The program is sponsored by the Izaac Walton League and our local water conservation district.   I simply attended a few different creek monitoring sessions, studied the benthic invertebrate “cheat sheets” (they even have interactive games to help you learn!), and then took a short test to make sure I could identify preserved specimens, and answer questions like “what is a watershed?”  Pretty soon, we’ll find out the name of our stream – I’ll keep you posted!

There are lots of great environmental volunteer opportunities in your neighborhood too.  Start sleuthing, figure out what you’re interested in, and get your business done!

Endangered Species of the Week–A Success Story!

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For Memorial Day, we’re going to take a look at an endangered species success story – the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)!  Who doesn’t love seeing our national symbol (since 1782) flying majestically through the skies?  I know that one of the high points of our recent visit to Chincoteague NWR (also credit for photo at left) was seeing the beautiful bald eagle fly above us as we biked the island.  But views of bald eagles weren’t always so common.  According to National Geographic News, there were only 417 nesting pairs in 1963.   Many attempts were made to try to protect bald eagles, including the 1940 Bald Eagle Protection Act and listing under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, but it was the banning of DDT that really helped the recovery of these birds. 

DDT was a commonly used insecticide in the 1950s and 1960s.  Insects had the DDT in their systems, and fish then ate the insects.  Eagles then ate the fish.  As we move up the food chain (insect to fish to eagle), more and more of the insecticide would accumulate in the tissues of each animal (ie.  an insect has a little insecticide; fish eat many insects, thus their tissues have more insecticide; eagles eat many fish).  This phenomenon is called “bioaccumulation”.  DDT caused the eggshells of eagles to soften, so young would not survive.  Thanks to the banning of all hunting of eagles and of all use of DDT, we can enjoy seeing our national bird today and everyday!

Bald eagle fun facts: 

• The bald eagle is a large bird, weighing between 10 and 14 pounds. 
• Bald eagles can live up to thirty years, reaching sexual maturity at around 5 years. 
• Both males and females share the duty of incubating the eggs (about 35 days)
• Bald eagles can fly at speeds up to 35 mph

Check out NWF’s eagle cam to get your daily eagle fix!

Broadcasting live with Ustream

Meat-Free Friday–Papaya and Avocado Salad

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This week’s meat-free Friday recipe comes to us from Jackie Di Mauro!  Although we’re not related, we live in the same town and often heard each other’s names.  Jackie is the busy mother of two, patient owner of an active puppy, former environmental consultant, and gardener extraordinaire!   She learned from the best -- her parents are expert gardeners (they even managed to have very productive gardens in NYC).  Jackie is leading the effort to bring an outdoor classroom and organic garden to her children’s school, and today we get to benefit from her expertise – thanks very much Jackie! (photo from organiclifestylemagazine.com)

Salad ingredients:

1 firm papaya
1 large ripe avocado
Juice from half a lemon
4 cups mixed lettuce greens
1 cup pecans

Gingery-Citrus Dressing:

2 Tbs very finely minced fresh ginger
¼ cup orange juice (freshly squeezed)
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
1/3 cup light grade olive oil
1 Tbs thin/light soy sauce
½ tsp Asian chile sauce

Preheat the oven to 325. Using a potato peeler, peel the papaya, then split in half, scoop out the seeds, and cut the flesh into 1/2 inch cubes. Cut the avocado into ½ inch cubes and sprinkle in lemon juice. Toast the pecans for 15 minutes (check every 2 minutes). Remove the pecans from the oven and chop.

In a small bowl, combine the dressing ingredients. Stir well, then taste and adjust seasonings.

Happy World Turtle Day!

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It's World Turtle Day -- time to celebrate these fascinating creatures.  Here are 4 fascinating facts about turtles from Arkive:

• The age of most juvenile turtles can be determined by the upper shell, which grows each year from a central point
• Turtles are found on every continent, except for Antarctica
• Turtles are thought to have lived on earth for over 200 million years
• The sex of most turtle hatchlings is dependent on the temperature at which they are incubated, with males hatching at low temperatures and females hatching when the temperature is higher.  (greenmomster’s tip:  think about how climate change might affect turtle populations in light of this fact)

For more information on turtles be sure to check out greenmomster's recent post on loggerhead turtles.

This week, I’m spitting mad and breathing fire!

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My family’s health insurance provider just informed us, for the umpteenth time, that they won’t be paying for any of the therapy needed by our family member who has autism.  Although that’s a topic for a different type of blog, it has relevance here too.  “Sounds like a personal problem, Greenmomster.  What on Earth do your health insurance woes have to do with the environment?” you may ask.  Well, my health insurance woes make me mad.  Really mad.  Spitting mad.  Mad enough to BREATH FIRE!  And that brings us to our endangered species of the week – the Dragon’s Blood Tree (Dracaena cinnabari)!

This incredible tree looks like an upside-down umbrella, growing at elevations of approximately 900 to 4500 feet.  It is found on Socotra, a small island in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Yemen.  Its sap is a deep red color and is used to make cinnabar for medicines, dyes, and other uses; it is often confused with the mineral-based cinnabar which is highly poisonous.  Dragon’s Blood Trees are a type of plant known as “monocots,”  which means they’re similar in many ways to palms and grasses.  The island on which the Dragon’s Blood tree is found is also home to the source of frankincense, a species of Boswellia.  The Dragon’s Blood Tree is listed on the IUCN Red List as Vulnerable.  What’s threatening the tree’s future?  No one is 100% sure.  According to www.arkive.com, overgrazing is often mentioned as a possible threat.  The gradual drying of the island climate, exacerbated by changes due to global climate change, also seems to be a possible cause. 

For more photos and information on the Dragon’s Blood Tree, be sure to check out www.arkive.org.  Ah, just looking at these beautiful trees is making me feel calmer…..

Non-native invasives crashing the garden party

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It’s finally warm, which means I spent the morning in my garden, planting (which I love), weeding (which I don’t love), and listening to country music on the MP3 (which makes the weeding more bearable).  I love planting all the different vegetables – tomatoes, of course, but also zucchini, okra (fried, oh yeah!), snow peas (they went in earlier), radishes, lettuce (hoping it doesn’t bolt too soon), eggplant (always a challenge), sweet potatoes, and beloved basil!  After the vegetables are planted, my eye wanders to the rest of the garden.  The blueberries, raspberries, and figs will be on our table soon, if the birds don’t get them first.  And I’m always looking for some nice perennials that will bring in the butterflies and feed my honeybees.  I just planted some bee balm, right next to the joe pye weed that’s a favorite of the butterflies.  Planting wild indigo (for the wild indigo duskywing butterfly) was a stroke of genius – it fills my garden with beautiful blue blossoms in the late spring and early summer.  Don’t forget the milkweed, which is necessary for the monarchs (as in the picture to the left).

Unfortunately, there are also unwanted invaders in my garden.  Usually, plants (and animals) that we want in our gardens, or forests, or any other natural area, are native to the area.  They’re species that have evolved in the region; they are well-adapted for life in a particular climate with particular neighbors.  But there are other species, the non-natives, that were somehow brought to an area and allowed to establish themselves.  Sometimes, non-native species are not a problem for the ecosystem.  They stay where they’re planted and don’t outcompete native species for resources.  Examples of common non-native plants are roses, tulips, or Japanese cherry blossoms.

But then there are the non-natives that aren’t so innocuous – they’re referred to as “invasive non-natives”, because they can outcompete native species and have a tendency to turn a landscape that once had much biodiversity into a landscape with just one main species.  Not exactly a healthy outcome for an ecosystem.  Common invasive non-native plants include English ivy, Japanese honeysuckle, periwinkle, garlic mustard, porcelain berry, and kudzu (the photo at the right is kudzu taking over an area, from http://www.fws.gov/invasives/volunteersTrainingModule/nwrsystem/kudzuorigin.html).  As we’re planting our gardens in the spring, the goal should be to minimize introduction of these harmful plants into the ecosystem.  It’s not as easy as it sounds, because many plant nurseries sell these plants!  Be sure to go to the nursery armed with a list of invasive non-natives to avoid for your geographical area.  We also want to try to remove the invasives from our gardens and yards as much as possible – again, not the easiest thing, because you don’t want to cause erosion (by leaving big empty spaces) or remove large swaths of bird habitat.  Take your time, be methodical.

But really, why should we give a flying flit about invasive non-native removal if we just want to plant one or two?  Because invasive non-natives affect ecosystem health, economic health, and human health.  For more information on invasive non-natives in your area, check out http://www.fws.gov/invasives/.   And Happy Planting (natives only please)!

Happy Endangered Species Day! And it’s Meat-Free Friday–Cheesy chard (or spinach)!

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Happy Endangered Species Day from the Greenmomster!  Check out the Center for Biological Diversity’s list of endangered species success stories.  Remember, eating low on the food chain decreases your impact on the environment and helps endangered species maintain habitat.  This week’s recipe comes to us from Susan Stillman, May’s Treehouse Chat environmentalist.  Cheesy Chard from “Recipes for a Small Planet” by Ellen Buchman Ewald (photo from uprisingorganics.com)
  
Ingredients
3/4 cup raw brown rice, cooked
1/3 cup grated cheese
oil
One large bunch chard (or other leafy green)
2 onions, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
soy sauce to taste

Instructions
1. Chop the chard and stems separately and add stems to the onions.
2. In a large pot or wok, saute the onions, garlic, and chard stems until onion is transparent.
3. Stir in the cooked rice and put the chopped chard leaves on top. Cover and let steam a few minutes until the chard is wilted, then stir into the rice.
4. Add the cheese and soy sauce, stir and serve.

Other than cool accents, what do Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) and Virginia Opossums (Didelphis virginiana) have in common?

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Koalas – our endangered species of the week - and possums are both marsupials (photo from worldsmostamazingthings.com)!  Virginia opossums are the only marsupials in North America, and koalas are only found in Australia.  Who doesn’t love koalas, the tree-climbing spokes-mammal of Quantas Airlines?  Adult koalas eat eucalyptus leaves and have a specially evolved intestinal system to be able to harmlessly digest these leaves and the toxins found in them.   Koala size is a perfect example of an ecological rule called Bergmann’s rule  (individuals of a species are bigger in populations that live in cooler climates, usually closer to the poles); southern koalas weigh between 20 and 30 pounds, while northern koalas weigh closer  to 15 pounds. 

Koalas give birth to just one baby, a “joey”, at a time.  When the joey is born after about 35 days of gestation, it is only about the size of a jelly bean.  It makes its way from the birth canal to the mother’s pouch, where it will live and grow for the next 6 months, drinking milk and “pap” , a substance from the mother’s intestines.  Much like tree kangaroos, the nipple of the mother koala actually swells or bonds to the mouth of the baby so that the two cannot be separated while the joey develops.

Koalas spend A LOT of time sleeping – 18-22 hours per day!

During the early 1900s, koalas were overhunted for their fur.  Today, koalas are considered threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act throughout their range.  Current threats include loss of habitat due to development, car collisions, dog attacks, and disease.  If you’re interested in learning more about koalas, there’s a terrific article in the May 2012 issue of National Geographic Magazine, or in Wildlife Heroes by Scardina and Flocken.

So, koalas are cute and have fascinating evolutionary adaptations – but why should we really care about koala preservation?  According to Wildlife Heroes, “The koala is the symbol of Australia.  It is estimated to be contributing between $1.1 and $2.5 billion dollars annually to Australia’s economy through koala-linked tourism, koala-viewing industry revenue, and purchases of “koalabilia,” which translates into 9,000 jobs for Australians.”  As stated by Deborah Tabart in the same book, “If you cannot save the koala, who does not destroy crops, does not destroy livestock, does not attack – just sits beautifully in a gum tree – then it will be impossible to save any of our nature.  If there is not enough will to save an animal as beloved and harmless as the koala, how can we even begin to address conservation needs for animals like lions and elephants that come into conflict with humans regularly?”

Want to help koala conservation?  Check out the Australia Koala Foundation, the Sunshine Coast Koala Wildlife Rescue, or the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital.

Mike Leonard Knocks it Out of the Park…..Again

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One of my favorite reporters is Mike Leonard of NBC News.  Mr. Leonard often reports on average, everyday topics and people, but he shows us what makes them special and interesting.  He helps you to see what’s important about the story (the same as greenmomster’s “who gives a flying flit”).  Today he had a fascinating story about two artists who demonstrate why we should care about plastic in the ocean.  I hope you enjoy this video clip.

 

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

From Today Show May 16, 2012

Susan Stillman–May Treehouse Chat

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Actors have The Actor’s Studio, the Redskins have the Redskins Report, and politicians have Meet the Press.  Now the greenmomster’s got Treehouse Chats, a once-a-month introduction to someone working or volunteering in the environmental field.
This month, we’re chatting with Susan Stillman, local activist on environmental issues, particularly energy and climate issues.

How did you get interested in working on environmental issues?   Four or five years ago, climate change became very evident to me, so I started to inform myself on the facts. An old colleague from my Department of Transportation days came to me and asked if I would bring my sales skills to the advocacy of the Sierra Club.

When I was in college I wrote a paper about the politics of the tobacco industry in Virginia. It was amazing to me that a product that was obviously causing horrible health harms to those who used it and the innocents around them was still allowed and that there was big corporate money that was fighting to the death to keep tobacco as a mainstream part of our society. There are a lot of similarities between the denial of the harms of tobacco and the denial that climate changing is occurring and that it is human caused. It is disconcerting to me when the profits of a company are considered to be more important than the health of living beings. We will have other ways of generating energy besides fossil fuels. I want to make this transition happen more quickly than not.

What is your current job (volunteer or paid) and what do you like best about it?    My work is totally volunteer. I feel so privileged that I can do volunteer work, because it is so rewarding. The people that I work with are the best part of the effort. The staff people at the Sierra Club aren’t paid very much. They could have much better paying jobs as they are very bright and hard working. They are, however, dedicated to making the world a better place and for this they are willing to be paid less. The volunteers that I work with are incredibly well versed in various areas. Some are lawyers that are experts on environmental law and energy. Electricity, in particular, is very complicated. We have volunteers that understand the ends and outs of the generation, transmission and dispatching of electricity. The details just make your eyes glaze over. These folks could be relaxing on the beach or earning salaries, but they have decided that making things better for future generations is more important.

The issues that I work on at the state and national level are very long term, as the political impasse that we have reached as a country is obstructing our movement toward energy efficiency and renewable energy. The Community Enhancement Commission (CEC) in Vienna, VA, has the responsibility of making the town more sustainable. Sustainability is a very broad term, but it generally means that we leave a place in a better state than we found it, so that those that come after us can enjoy the same natural resources. The CEC co-hosts the Green Expo each April. We have made available, for free, devices to help homeowners figure out where electricity is being wasted in their homes (Watt Watcher Program). Recently the CEC announced a program to recognize home builders and homeowners that build or retrofit homes to nationally recognized energy efficiency standards like Energy Star (My Green Vienna Home). The CEC has already recognized 3 builders with this program. In the fall (September 15 and 16, 2012) we hold a native plant sale at the Community Center and a Sustainable Home and Garden Tour. We are currently looking for home owners that would like to show off their energy efficient homes, geothermal systems, rain gardens, native gardens, gardens that are protected from deer, and other interesting sustainable practices. We had 18 homes on the tour last year and it was very well attended.

What is your educational and professional background? I have a BS Degree in Political Science and Psychology from James Madison University and a Masters in Urban Affairs from Virginia Tech. Right out of graduate school I worked at the Department of Transportation and became involved in computer technology. We designed the first integrated office automation system. Moving from the government to private industry, eventually to Sun Microsystems, I sold systems to the Defense Department for command and control. About 14 years ago I became a professional volunteer, spending 8 years teaching English as a Second Language in a variety of venues.

What is your favorite activity outside of work (green or not green)? I’m an avid bicyclist and spend as much time as possible on my bike.  I’m also a member of the Ayr Hill Garden Club. I garden at my home, and I love to do creative floral design.

What’s your favorite environmental book? Doug Tallamy’s book “Bringing Nature Home”. As my sister says “that book will change your life.” It encourages you to plant native plants to create food for the creepy crawly things that birds feed their babies. Using so many non-native plants in our landscape, as we have done over the last 30 years, has endangered the bird population. It is so easy to integrate natives into your landscape and will save you work and money as they are meant to grow here.

What’s your favorite non-meat meal?  Cheesy Chard from “Recipe from a Small Planet”  (It’ll be posted on Meat-Free Friday)

What’s the place that most inspires you to keep working for the environment?  The White House grounds!  More and more people are coming to realize that climate change is really happening and they are speaking up for their future, the future of their children and their children’s children. I participated in the anti-XL pipeline demonstration at the White House. There were people there from all over the country and we surrounded the White House grounds many times over. It was amazing.

As we say thank you for this great interview, do you have one green tip for blog readers?  I love to watch my gas and electric bills go lower just from paying attention. Additional insulation really made a difference in home comfort and the gas bill. This is an investment that just keeps on giving.

Happy Mothers’ Day!

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To help you celebrate this special day, here are a few of my favorite pictures of Mother Nature!   

Meat Free Friday–Spicy Mango Salad

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This salad is crazy good!   The recipe comes from Girlfriends Forever by Susan Branch (photo from africanmangodiet.us).

Ingredients:
¼ cup fresh lime juice
1 tblsp light soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tblsp sugar
1 tsp crushed red pepper
¼ tsp salt
3-4 mangoes, firm but ripe, peeled and cut into cubes
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 large red pepper, thinly sliced
½ cup red onion, finely chopped
½ cup cilantro leaves, chopped
½ cup fresh mint, chopped
 
Instructions:
Combine first 6 ingredients in a large bowl and whisk until sugar is dissolved. To the bowl, add remaining ingredients but don’t toss until an hour before serving. Keep chilled.

Nature that can freakin’ kill you!

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Scrambling up Old Rag

Last weekend, our family took a terrific guided hike through the Harper’s Ferry, WV area led by Larry Broadwell from the Maryland Sierra Club.   We bushwhacked through brambles and up hills to find old Civil War forts that are now covered with weeds and trees.  This was not an easy hike.  The kids were covered with scratches from tangles of vines, burns from spring-growing nettles, bruises from falling down hills, and smiles from the fun they were having!  We imagined ourselves as civil war soldiers, climbing up hills to surprise the soldiers in the forts.  We really got a great sense of how difficult it must have been to be a soldier, wearing a wool uniform in summer, carrying a heavy rifle, and probably fighting on one meal a day.

This hike reminded me of a friend I had many years ago.  We were at a party and people were talking about all sorts of interesting strolls they had on various nature trails in the area.  My friend, who worked in organic agriculture and lived for many years in a house-trailer in Kansas responded, “Nature! These people don’t know anything about nature, the real nature!  Nature that can freakin’ kill you!”  Now, I don’t advocate doing fool-hardy stunts or ignoring dangerous weather conditions, but my friend did have a  point that’s applicable to my life (he also gave my family a great catch-phrase).  I’ve often found that although my kids always like getting outside, they really love experiences that involve some challenge and they really respect Mother Nature more when they feel her power.  Like bushwhacking up a hill to find a long-forgotten fort or climbing through the rock scramble to get to the top of Old Rag.  Like getting wet in a cold stream while hunting for salamanders and crayfish (and then getting pinched by those same crayfish).  Or hiking in the snow.  I still remember camping as a kid and waking up to snow all around our tents – and that was back in the days of cotton sleeping bags, brrr!  (Full disclosure:  I do prefer “glamping” these days and just bought some very comfy cots for this summer’s outings).

Planting trees in the rain

On our trip a few years ago to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (the most visited park in the U.S.), one of our most enjoyable hikes was one we took in a rainstorm (no lightning or thunder – again, I’m not stupid).  Because the weather was lousy, the crowds were fewer (a big plus in the Smokies), and the waterfalls were spectacular in the rain.  The kids loved telling their friends about that particular hike!  And my kids aren’t the only ones who love a challenge.  Just last week, I photographed a small group of girl scouts planting trees for Earth Day at a local state park – it was 50 degrees, raining, and they were laughing the whole time!  My in-laws in Portland OR, never let a little snow or rain get in their way – they’re always off snowshoeing or hiking in the mist!  And those of us who live in warmer climates can grab the sunscreen and water and head into the summer swelter for a few adventures.

The bottom line is, we don’t have to wait for 70 degrees and sunny to venture out with the kids.  Some of their most memorable experiences will be when nature wasn’t at its easiest!

Endangered Species of the Week–Northern Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis)

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When I worked for the U.S. Coast Guard, I was introduced to this week’s endangered species, the northern right whale (photo from nationalgeographic.com).  These majestic creatures are endangered throughout their range (NOAA/NMFS are primarily responsible for their protection in the U.S.), with a population number of 300-400 whales.  Despite weighing nearly 70 tons, right whales survive by eating zooplankton, some of the smallest creatures in the sea.  Right whales are baleen whales, which means they strain water through brush-like mouth parts, rather than teeth, to get the food they need.  Right whales can live for over 50 years, first producing offspring at about 9-10 years.  Their gestation period is roughly one year, and they usually only give birth to one calf at a time.  According to the International Whaling Commission, right whales migrate up and down the U.S. east coast as they cycle through their four yearly activities:  feeding, calving, nursery, and breeding.  The most common threats to right whales are ship collisions and entanglement in fishing gear.  The U.S. and 70 other countries no longer hunt whales, but Norway, Iceland, and Japan are three countries still pushing for commercial harvest of whales.  On a personal note, my grandfather worked on a whaling ship once, after WWII. He was in the German navy and needed to find work after the war. My mother told me that after he returned from his trip on a whaling vessel, my grandfather said that if whales could scream, no one would ever hunt them again, but we do, because they can’t.

 

OK, so they’re majestic, but why should we really care about great whales in general and right whales in particular?  As stated in Wildlife Heroes (Scardina, Flocken 2012), “The great whales are top-feeders in their ecosystems, controlling the populations of other creatures in their habitat by consuming massive amounts of species such as krill, copepods, plankton, and small fish every day.  Additionally, whale watching generates more than $2 billion annually for coastal areas in more than 100 countries.” 

Meat-free Friday–Chickpea Salad

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Here’s a great salad adapted from Cooking Light (photo from Cooking Light) –even your pickiest eaters will like it!


Ingredients:
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 tblsp olive oil
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 tblsp minced, jar garlic
2 (15 1/2 oz) cans of chickpeas, drained
1 diced red onion
1/4 cup pitted nicoise olives
1 tblsp chopped fresh parsley
1 tblsp chopped fresh oregano
1 tblsp chopped fresh rosemary
1 tblsp chopped fresh thyme

Instructions:
1)  Combine vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic in a small bowl
2)  Combine chickpeas and remaining ingredients in a large bowl.
3)  Pour vinegar mixture over the chickpeas and toss.

May 5–Climate Impacts Day

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If you’re looking for something worthwhile to do on May 5, you may want to get involved by “connecting the dots” between climate change and extreme weather events.  On May 5, citizens around the world will be participating in activities

to show that we care about climate change and its effects on us.  We know that climate change is occurring and that we need to speak up in order for change to take place.  If you’d like to participate in an event, be sure to visit the Climate Impacts Day webpage to find an event near you.