Green Living

Freshwater Mussels

Freshwater mussels are elusive. Rarely seen or heard, they go about their work quietly, cleaning and filtering the water in rivers and streams.  With such an important role in their environment, it is important that we do what we can to prevent their extinction. Freshwater mussels go by some interesting names; shiny pigtoes, monkeyface, pink heelsplitter, and purple wartyback, but don’t let the silliness of the name distract you from the importance of their role in rivers and streams. These freshwater mussels suck water in, filter out bits of algae, bacteria and other tiny particles, and then release it back to the river cleaner than before. A single mussel can clean a gallon of water every hour all by himself. An entire community of mussels can do wonders for water treatment. Experts on the freshwater mussels of New England claim that even just half of the population of freshwater mussels working in New Hampshire’s rivers can help to cleanse enough water for households used by 112,000 people at 11.2 million gallons of water per day. Ranked first in the world for 292 known species of freshwater mussels, the United States beat out Europe who only knows of 10 freshwater mussel species on the ...

• Bookmark :
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Stumbleupon
• Redit it

Home Remedies For Winter Colds

People tend to catch colds more often in the winter because people are less active and do not get as much fresh air and sunlight. Diets are typically made up of more baked food items and cooked food items instead of fresh fruits and vegetables because of the holiday season. Eating more baked goods means consuming lots of sugar and flour, which isn't the best for our bodies or immune systems. While we like to think that bundling up when going outside is enough to keep the common cold at bay, there are many other factors that contribute to getting sick in the winter. Fortunately, there are many at home remedies for battling a cold and staying out of the doctor's office. Licorice is a root and antiviral that has fungicidal and antioxidant compounds. It is soothing because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Licorice can aid with respiratory problems like asthma, coughing, bronchitis, and sore throats when taken as a tea. If you are battling a respiratory illness, take 3 cups of licorice tea daily. Elderberry is an anti-viral herb that warms your body temperature to aid in fighting off viruses. Elderberry contains strong anti-oxidant properties that help to support and strengthen the ...

• Bookmark :
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Stumbleupon
• Redit it

An Eco-Friendly Guide To Buying A Bike, Part I

Bicycles are by their very nature eco friendly because they do not consume fossil fuels or yield any kind of pollution into the atmosphere. They are great for exercise or leisure and even for commuting to work. The Environmental Defense Fund estimates that if people in the United States living within 5 miles of their place of work rode their bike to work one day a week, this change could save nearly 5 million tons of global warming pollution every year. When shopping for a bike, be mindful that some bikes have more eco friendly characteristics than others. Bike Frames Bikes with carbon fiber frames are not eco friendly. The process of creating and molding the frame yields toxic wastes, not to mention these frames are less durable and difficult to repair, which often leads to them being tossed out and ending up in landfills. Frames made with metals such as steel and aluminum requires a lot of energy to be made, but these frames are durable and usually can be recycled. Some bike makers have started to embrace hardwood frames and even bamboo frames. Wood and bamboo are generally biodegradable and renewable when not treated heavily with chemicals. Performance reviews for bikes with energy saving ...

• Bookmark :
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Stumbleupon
• Redit it

Genetically Engineered Salmon

The United States Food and Drug Administration very recently announced that genetically engineered salmon is safe to eat. However, the fish has not yet officially been approved for sale. The approval process for selling genetically engineered salmon could take some time if the Food and Drug Administration determines that the salmon could significantly affect the environment. In response to the announcement, legislators and activists are working on getting the genetically engineered salmon banned. 11 United States senators signed a letter addressed to the Food and Drug Administration commissioner requesting that the approval process be stopped. 29 members of the House of Representatives endorsed a similar letter. 53 food businesses and environmental groups signed both letters. A Food and Water poll discovered that 78% of Americans disagree with the approval of the genetically engineered salmon for human consumption. The company behind the genetically engineered salmon is Aquabounty. They claim that their salmon, which they have named AquAdvantage, grow twice as fast as real salmon, eat 10% less than real salmon, and are sustainable and safe. The Food and Drug Administration agrees with Aquabounty thus far. AquAdvantage salmon are sterile female Atlantic salmon. They have a growth gene from the Chinook aka king ...

• Bookmark :
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Stumbleupon
• Redit it

More Tips On Going Green On Christmas

The smallest things you change in your holiday lifestyle to help the environment go a long way. Check out some more suggestions on an eco-friendly Christmas: Gift Wrapping If you like to use a bow, use one made out of fabric instead of one made out of plastic. The fabric bows can easily be reused and are better for the environment. Be creative and use old newspaper or magazines instead of buying wrapping paper. The wrapping paper used to wrap Christmas gifts has negative effects on the environment just like greeting cards. In fact, wrapping paper has a worse effect on the environment because the decomposition of wrapping paper takes a long time to complete. During that process, the wrapping papers emit gases that are hazardous to life on the planet. Using recycled wrapping paper is a good alternative to purchasing regular wrapping paper. Also, different methods of gift-wrapping are beneficial such as fabric, gift baskets or gift bags, all of which can easily be reused. Gift bags are especially easy to use and can usually be reused over and over again. Christmas Tree Instead of purchasing the traditional fir tree as a Christmas tree, consider buying a different species of tree. It’s a ...

• Bookmark :
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Stumbleupon
• Redit it