A honey of an art exhibit!

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(photo credit:  George Miller)

Scientists often have difficulty explaining scientific concepts to the public.  It's challenging to know one's audience and effectively communicate complex scientific concepts.  This communication is such a challenge, that  Stony Brook College has developed the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science to help scientists "communicate more directly and personally."

Using art to talk about science is a very effective way to reach people who might not necessarily be interested in science.  I was fortunate to observe this type of communication at a local art opening at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria VA this past weekend.  Among many other fascinating pieces, Lisa Schumaier presented her creation, "Habitation of Bees." Ms. Schumaier is a skilled communicator, using her art to share ideas with local audiences.  I first met Ms. Schumaier when my son attended one of her art camps, and witnessed her skill at communicating with students, young and old.

In her latest work, Ms. Schumaier continues to effectively communicate environmental ideas to the public.  The artist's explanation stated that the work "explores bees, highlights their individuality, ingenuity and importance to our world.  The use of entirely recycled materials for the installation hints at our own part in the destruction of the environment that sustains us all."

As a former beekeeper, I found this display beautiful and fascinating.  The tiny bees were each created out of Christmas lights and their hive was made of thousands of pieces of rolled paper carefully glued into place to resemble a beehive or the tunnels of solitary bees.

(photo credit:  George Miller)

(photo credit:  George Miller)

Near this display was a table reminding attendees about the role that bees play in pollination.

(photo credit:  Desiree Di Mauro)

The tiny bees are for sale with the proceeds supporting The Navajo Bee Project.  This program reintroduces beekeeping into the Navajo pastoral economy, where a hive that brings in between $600-$800 worth of income from honey and wax can be a great benefit to this community with an unemployment rate of up to 42%. 

This art exhibit is especially effective, because it uses different methods for communicating to different audiences.  Whether you're a visual arts lover, a foodie, or a philanthopist, there's something here for you.  But here's the take-home lesson, as Ms. Schumaier explained it -- we need to love our bees and pollinators!

(photo credit:  Desiree Di Mauro)

Washed Ashore

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I strolled around the National Zoo last week, a place that I've visited hundreds of times, and had a very pleasant surprise.  Unlike my past visits, it wasn't the live animals that I found so fascinating -- it was an art exhibit!  This exhibit, called Washed Ashore, is presented by a non-profit organization "whose mission is to use the arts to educate a global audience about plastic pollution in oceans and waterways and to spark positive changes in consumer habits."

This powerful exhibit does a terrific job of demonstrating the type of trash found in the sea and explaining its impact on marine life.  The sculptures, built totally out of trash from the sea, are beautiful,  Each sculpture is accompanied by an interpretive sign to help the public understand the exhibit and learn how they can change their behavior to protect the oceans.

Be sure to visit this exhibit when it comes to your area for a moving and educational experience for all ages.  Here's a little more of what you'll see:

We adopted a stream!

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We strolled along the trail on a gorgeous, warm July evening for our summer stream monitoring on Difficult Run Stream in Great Falls VA.  As we've done since we became stream monitors a few years ago, we were off to check the water quality of our stream using benthic macroinvertebrates (critters without backbones that live on the stream bottom) as indicators of stream health.  The last time we visited was during the winter, and the score for the stream was an 8 -- pretty good for this particular stream!  This time it wasn't quite so good -- the score was a 5.  We saw many clams and LOTS of common netspinners, which are animals that are fairly tolerant of low water quality.  We'll see what the fall survey brings!

Grass clippings -- take the easy way out!

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The grass is always greener when you leave it on the lawn!  That's the word from Vienna VA's newsletter, The Vienna Voice.  By leaving grass clipping on your lawn, you reduce unnecessary waste in landfills and protect your local waterways.  From the July 2016 issue of the Vienna Voice:

"The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that yard waste accounts for 18% of refuse dumped into landfills.  And when grass clipping ans excess fertilizer enter the curb line and storm inlets, they eventually drain to our local streams and rivers.  This yard waste pollution contributes to excess nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus in our waterways, which can cause uncontrolled growth of algae and aquatic plants.  Excess algae causes deoxygenation of water and can have a detrimental impact on aquatic ecosystems, including on fish and other stream creatures."

What's the best way to leave grass clippings?  Let your grass grow to about 3 inches, and then mow only 1 inch.  Mow every 4 to 7 days, depending on rain.  This method (the one-third rule), helps the lawn to become healthier and develop a deep root system.

Leaving grass clippings is less work, better for the environment, and builds a healthy lawn -- win!win!win!

(Image from:  http://geelonglawnmowing.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Geelong-Lawn-Mowing.png)

Zucchini tacos

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Today's meat-free Friday recipe is adapted from Marthastewart.com.  You'll see from the details that you can play freely with the ingredients -- we like lots of cumin and zucchini. We've had it twice in one week, so it must be good!

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 medium zucchini, cut into 1/2 inch rounds (I used 3 zucchini)
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin (I used more)
• 1/4 tsp ground coriander (I used more)
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 tsp minced garlic (I used 3 tsp jar garlic)
• 1 tblsp tomato paste (I used 1 small jar)
• 1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained (I used 2 cans)
• 8 corn tortillas (I used 16 small flour fajita tortillas)
• sour cream, salsa, lime wedges for garnish

Instructions

1. Saute zucchini in oil with cumin and coriander for about 8 minutes.  Remove from pan and season with salt and pepper.
2. In the same pan, saute onion and garlic until soft.  Add tomato paste and cook for another minute.  Add beans and 1/2 cup water.  Simmer and smash beans with a spoon.
3. Warm tortillas in a pan or microwave.  Fill with zucchini and bean mixture.  Garnish with sour cream, salsa, and lime.  

Enjoy!

The Brown Pelican -- an endangered species success story

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They glide over the beach in a coordinated line, dipping and rising as the wind blows against them.  One bird peels off to fly high in the air, and then dive beak-first to catch a snack below the ocean's surface.  The brown pelicans on the South Carolina shore are great beach-side entertainment.

But these birds aren't just a great show, they're also proof positive that the Endangered Species Act works.  A common myth about the Endangered Species Act is animals and plants are never removed from the list; they don't recover.  The brown pelican is happy to say, "au contraire!"  After near extinction due to DDT exposure in the 1960s and 1970s, this bird species has made a remarkable recovery.  They can now commonly be found in coastal estuaries and marine habitats from Maryland to Venezuela.

Be sure to check out Cornell Lab of Ornithology's All About Birds website to learn more about these fascinating birds, like the fact that they swallow more in their pouches than their stomachs can hold.

Why shouldn't I climb on the dunes?

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You're walking along the beach and see the signs along the edge of beach -- PLEASE DO NOT CLIMB ON THE DUNES (photo credit).  But it's fun, so why do we need to protect dunes?


Dunes, marshes, and wetlands are nature's sponges.  They help keep the water where it belongs (in our waterways and oceans) and out of where it doesn't belong (your house, street, basement, etc).  Healthy dunes help protect the land behind the dune from storm damage and protect the beach from erosion.  I snapped a couple of pictures on Edisto Beach SC last week.  These photos do a great job of demonstrating the beach damage that occurs when we build on or destroy dunes.  This first picture is the beach at Edisto Beach State Park, where dunes are protected.  Note the size of the beach and the vegetation buffer.

After taking this picture, I wandered down the shore, just a couple of hundred yards.  In this area, houses are often built ON the dunes, rather than behind them.  Note the lack of vegetation (except under houses) and the width of the beach.  

Not only is the first beach a much more pleasant place on a summer day, it's also much better protection when storms hit.  The same is true of marshes and wetlands.  These areas provide natural absorption of rain and stormwater.  

So avoid the urge to scramble on the dunes and ensure that the beach remains healthy!

What's for dinner tonight? Fantastic Falafel!

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Summertime is a great time for falafel, when you can garnish with fresh tomatoes and cucumbers!  I used to cook up the prepared falafel from a local restaurant, but now that I’ve adapted this great recipe (My Favorite Falafel, Epicurious), I like to make my own.  I’m providing the version using canned chickpeas.  Enjoy!

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Ingredients
1 can chickpeas, drained
1/2 large onion, roughly chopped (about 1 cup)
2 tblsp finely chopped fresh parsley (about 1 tblsp dried)
2 tblsp finely chopped fresh cilantro (about 1 tblsp dried)
1 tsp salt
1/2 – 1 tsp dried hot red pepper
4 cloves garlic (or 4 tsp jar garlic)
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp baking powder
4-6 tblsp flour
canola oil for frying
chopped tomato, chopped cucumber for garnish
tsatsiki sauce for garnish
pita bread

Instructions

1. Put chickpeas and onions in a food processor or blender.  Add parsley, cilantro, salt, hot pepper, garlic, and cumin.  Blend until mixed, but not pureed.
2. Sprinkle in the baking powder and about 4 tblsp of flour and continue to blend (If you’re using a blender, I recommend you take the mix out of the blender and begin mixing by hand at this stage).  Keep adding flour until dough forms and you can make a little ball without the dough sticking to your hands. 
3. Place bowl in frig and cool for a few hours (this step is optimal, but not mandatory – it just keeps the falafel from falling apart in the oil.  If you don’t refrigerate, just use hot oil and be very gentle.)
4. Heat 3 inches of oil to 375 degrees in a deep frying pan.  Form the falafel into little balls and fry a few minutes on each side, until golden brown. 
5. Serve in pita with tomatoes, cucumbers, and tsatsiki.

Red, White, Blue, and GREEN on the 4th of July!

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It's the 4th of July -- on of my favorite holidays!  So how can we make the 4th of July red, white, blue, and green?  Sure, you could forgo the home fireworks, serve organic food, and use re-useable plates and silverware.  But here's what I suggest for a REALLY patriotic 4th:   

1. choose an environmental issue that’s near and dear to your heart
2. find a 15 minute slot of time
3. write a letter or e-mail to your local, state, or federal representative, telling them your opinion about the environmental issue
4. head out and enjoy the festivities, knowing you’ve participated in a truly patriotic 4th of July!

Have a fun and green 4th of July!