Dear “Earth Talk”: Can old tires be recycled? If so, where, and what is the recycled material used for? — George, Rockville, Md. Old tires can indeed be recycled, and thanks to concerted efforts by state and provincial governments from coast to coast, as many as 80 percent of them are these days across North […]
Community & Lifestyle
Posted inArts & Culture
Earth Talk
Dear “Earth Talk”: Is it true that livestock grazing is harmful to the environment? — Paul Howe, Athol, Mass. Most scientists and environmental experts view livestock grazing as an ecological disaster. For starters, cows and sheep are indiscriminate eaters and tend to remove every piece of grass and shrubbery in sight, thus eliminating shelter and […]
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Walks in the Garden
Gardens come in many colors and sizes, each reflecting a unique personality. In the coming weeks, you will have some wonderful opportunities to be inspired by what other gardeners have accomplished. Five beautifully diverse gardens will be featured in “A Symphony of Gardens 2006,” sponsored by the Illinois Symphony Guild of Springfield, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. […]
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Last right
By the time Thomas Alan Banning got lucky, it was almost too late. His life, laid unvarnished on a single sheet of paper in big letters and plenty of spaces, reads like a country song with a steady beat and little melody: A roll call of siblings, in which Tom was the fifth of 10. […]
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Cosmetic danger
Dear “Earth Talk”: What is the “Not Too Pretty” campaign pertaining to the use of cosmetics? — Lucy Balzary, Los Angeles, Calif. The nonprofit Environmental Working Group launched the Not Too Pretty campaign in 2002 to raise awareness about the dangers of phthalates, industrial chemicals that are used as solvents in many cosmetics. Most of […]
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Things to do in June
This past weekend we were blessed with sunshine and warm temperatures. I took advantage of the lovely weather to spend a day planting impatiens, trimming oregano, and pulling weeds, weeds, and more weeds. Here are a few general tips to keeping your garden in shape this month. Inspect all plants on a regular basis for […]
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Conserve water
Dear “Earth Talk”: How could there ever be a water scarcity? Isn’t water the most plentiful thing on Earth? — Chris Carroll, Austin, Texas Seawater may cover more than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface, but thirsty human beings rely on finite supplies of fresh water to stay alive. With exploding human population growth, especially […]
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When Chatham girls go wild
Next to “like,” I believe the most overused word in the English language is “ironic.” It’s, like, you turn 12, and you learn, like, this cool word, and you suddenly realize that, like, your whole life is chockfull of irony. OK, I’ll stop with the “like.” Let’s go straight to the irony. Last Thursday was […]
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Curb appeal
Most of us are familiar with the saying “It only takes a spark to light a fire.” This year I was inspired (in part because of the Yard to Yard challenge) to create a small annual flower garden in my front yard. This garden is a combination of “Terra Cotta” Million Bells, tricolor geraniums, and […]
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Earth Talk
Dear “Earth Talk”: Can you explain the “zero waste” movement in Europe, Australia and elsewhere that goes beyond recycling to reduce waste? How can we make it happen here in the United States? — Neil Weiss, Methuen, Mass. In essence, “zero waste” is a design principle writ large, whereby products are conceived, produced, packaged, distributed, […]
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Don’t make gardening a pain
As the gardening season gets into full swing, we can be assured of a few things: Flowers will bloom, weeds will grow, and our bodies will ache. However inevitable some aches may be, though, others may be prevented. Gardening can be viewed as a workout activity, and it’s a good idea to consult your doctor […]
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Find the answer
At this time of year, gardeners are full of questions: When can I prune my lilac bush? What can I do to get rid of these weeds? I found this bug — what is it? Will it ever warm up so my tomatoes will grow? But even though garden information is everywhere — books, magazines, […]
