Gardens as Bird Habitats: Bring in the Birds

As songbird populations are declining dramatically, organic gardeners can help them survive by creating a habitat in their backyards.

Each year, I eagerly anticipate the arrival of the colorful and gregarious evening grosbeak in my front courtyard garden. These robin-sized, stocky birds bring with them a sense of presence and an easygoing, light-hearted manner. Sadly, the evening grosbeak belongs to a group of 20 common backyard bird species whose populations have fallen by at least half in the past 40 years.

Birds that were once common as little as a decade ago are becoming increasingly scarce today. The evening grosbeak, in fact, has taken a drastic nosedive in numbers, plummeting by 78 percent in the past 40 years. Pesticide use, climate change, pollution, and even cats—both feral and domestic—have taken their toll, but a reduction in birds' most basic need—habitat—is critical. "Most of the decline can be attributed to habitat destruction both in North America and their wintering grounds in Central and South America," says Roger Lederer, Ph.D., professor emeritus of biological sciences at California State University in Chico and editor of Ornithology.com.

While the evening grosbeaks are becoming more of a rarity, the total avian population in my garden has soared over the years. Now I look forward to the arrival of more than 30 different bird species right outside my front door. By incorporating the right mix of plants—in addition to amenities such as feeders, birdhouses, and baths—you too can welcome birds with the essentials we all need for survival: food, water, shelter, and a place to raise a family.

Read more: http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/bring-birds

Companion Planting: 11 Herbs to Help Your Garden Grow

Maybe you’re just starting to think about gardening, getting an early start on new spring additions to your garden, or debating how to best nurture your herbs through the winter months. Perhaps you’re frustrated with how things turned out this year or worried about future threats to your healthy plants. Whatever your state of mind or the state of your garden, you may want to consider the benefits of companion planting in the future. I don’t even have a garden in my tiny apartment, and I find the concept fascinating.

Companion planting can be an efficient and natural way to protect your garden from pests and promote healthy, glowing growth in all your herbs, vegetables and flowers. Some plants benefit the soil, while others may deter specific pests and diseases or enhance the flavors of fruits and vegetables. Herbs are particularly valuable in the context of trap planting because they can both discourage pests and attract beneficial insects such as ladybugs, bees and butterflies.

Tomatoes grow alongside basil and purple-podded peas.
Photo by Cpt. Obvious/courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cpt_obvious/

When designing your garden, be sure to keep the specific needs of each plant in mind. Often, companion planting is a composition of opposites in terms of shade needs, soil nutrient absorption, depth of root growth, aroma, and speed of growth. Also know that depending on conditions and climate, the following combinations may not be entirely successful. Spacing, relative plant ratios and manner of planting can be very important, and some plants should not be grown near each other. Also, the effects of companion planting are often subtle, and a major pest problem is likely to require other methods. As most companion pairings are not scientifically supported experimentation is the only way to find the best companion herbs for your gardening needs.  Here are some general traditional guidelines to get you started.

Basil: Basil can benefit the growth petunias and the flavors of tomatoes, asparagus, peppers and oregano; it should not be planted near common rue or sage. To increase the essential oils in your basil, plant chamomile or anise.

Read more: http://www.motherearthliving.com/in-the-garden/companion-planting-herbs-to-help-your-garden-grow.aspx

More Brits than ever will be holidaying at home this Summer

Staycation is definitely here to stay (pardon the pun)

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

2014 looks like the year of the staycation with more of us than ever before shunning the sunnier holiday spots overseas to explore what Britain has to offer. A study carried out this year by OnePoll found that a whopping 74% of us Brits are planning their holidays in the UK this year, making 2014 the fifth consecutive year that the trend to take a staycation has continued to grow!

The survey found that the number of British holidaymakers preferring to take a number of city breaks, coach day trips and weekends away rather than the conventional longer holidays is rapidly increasing. The main reasons are thought to be due to the desire to spend less money and spread holidays out over the year for a calendar full of getaways to look forward to.

City breaks remain as popular as ever, but the new staycation trend seems to be for seaside holidays with a round 40% of British holidaymakers planning trips to coastal destinations such as Cornwall, Devon, Whitby, Bournemouth and Brighton this summer.

The beauty of a staycation is that whether you are staying local or traveling to explore a different part of the country, you can embrace your own heritage and culture whilst finding what the surrounding cities and towns have to offer.

Over the last couple of years staycation has become the new way of spending the vacation instead of jetting abroad to what was, for some decades, the holiday destinations of choice, such as the Costa del Sol, and others, in Spain, the Canary Islands and France.

The Great Recession and the aftermath of it is certainly a major reason for the change in vacationing from abroad to at home, whether at home at home, if you get my meaning, or at some holiday destination in this country.

Many people in the UK who used to go abroad have never seen anything of this country, not even in the local area, and this is beginning to change and we are getting back to holidaying at resources and destinations in Britain or, in fact, are staying at home and exploring the local area – or a little further afield – returning to our nest in the evening.

Local parks and open spaces have seen a serious influx of visitors during the school holidays, almost, in some case, to the extent that it once was before the cheap flights to destinations abroad. But that was also a time when traveling within the country was rather cheap, in comparison to today where it is cheaper to fly to the South of Spain than to travel by train a hundred miles into the country.

Staycation means you vacation starts the moment you get up on your first day or, in fact, even on the evening before the first day, as you do not have to pack any suitcases, and such, and do not have to rush off to the airport to be there two to three hours before the plane is due to depart because of the the security checks and such. Thus you start your vacation relaxed and it will stay that way until the day it ends.

And, in addition to all that, especially if your staycation is done from your home base you do not have costs for accommodation and thus you save money as exploring the local area does not have to b e expensive. Furthermore there you create a much smaller environmental footprint by vacationing at home that by jetting off to somewhere hot.

Fund and relaxation can definitely be guaranteed with a staycation, the weather, in the UK especially, is a different story but especially when vacationing at home there is always something that can be done indoors or semi-indoors if and when the weather is not too favorable.

© 2014

Kent plays a key role in helping local authorities, residents and businesses save money

Kent County Council and partners have developed an online tool to help local authorities better plan energy-saving initiatives and avoid waste through duplication.

The work – aimed at getting regional and local public authorities to work better together – is part of COOPENERGY - a project co-funded by the EU’s Intelligent Energy Europe Programme.

The project has published two online resources for public authorities:

• A database of 60 case studies to showcase how regional and local authorities are already collaborating effectively on sustainable energy plans and initiatives across Europe. UK examples include a case study on how Kent partners are working together to deliver energy improvements in people’s homes (through the Kent & Medway Green Deal Partnership, now known as the Kent & Medway Sustainable Energy Partnership); and

• An online guidebook to help regional and local public authorities set-up their own collaborative approaches to energy planning.

Paul Crick, Director of Environment, Planning and Enforcement at Kent County Council, said: “Sustainable Energy Action Plans at a regional and local level are often developed in isolation from each other. This can lead to duplication, wasted resources and missed opportunities to save time, money and minimise negative impacts.

“COOPENERGY is addressing this by helping regional-level public authorities share knowledge and work with local authorities in their area to develop and deliver sustainable energy action plans in partnership. Learning from the project will improve how we deliver the Kent Environment Strategy and maximise on the benefits that a joint approach can achieve”

By signing up to the www.COOPENERGY.eu website collaboration platform, local authorities can make the most of this opportunity by accessing further energy planning resources, the latest COOPENERGY project newsletters, and participate in an online discussion forum to discuss planning for sustainable energy with other regional authorities and councils from across Europe.

The online resource includes material on:

• Developing sustainable energy action plans

• Implementing joint financial mechanisms

• Implementing modelling/monitoring/planning tools

• Engaging stakeholders in energy plans

• Energy efficiency

• Renewable energy production

• Greenhouse gas reduction

• Climate adaptation

• Sustainable transport and mobility

The COOPENERGY project is a 3-year project (2013-2016), co-funded by the Intelligent Energy Europe Programme of the European Union and involving 12 partners from across Europe: European Federation of Agencies and regions for Energy and the Environment (FEDARENE); Energy Agency of the Zlin Region (EAZK), Regional Council of Rhône-Alpes (RCRA), Rhônalpénergie-Environnement (RAEE), HESPUL, Metropolitan Region Rhine-Neckar GmbH (MRN), Regional Energy Agency of Liguria (ARELIG), Bocconi University - Centre for Research on Energy and Environmental Economics and policy (UBIEFE), Malopolska Agency for Energy and Environmental Management (MAES), Basque Energy Agency (EVE), Regional Energy Agency of Norrbotten (NENET), Kent County Council (KCC).

The database of 60 case studies were selected from over 150 submissions to a European survey conducted by the COOPENERY project in summer 2013, who contacted 254 public authorities in all EU28 member states and 115 regional energy agencies, to request the best examples and models of collaboration from across Europe. The case studies are available at: http://www.coopenergy.eu/good-practice-resources.

The guidebook for public authorities on ‘multi-level governance’ will be published in two phases. Public authorities are invited to feedback on this initial version of the guidebook to shape the final version due for publication in 2015. The guidebook and feedback survey can be accessed at: http://www.coopenergy.eu/mlg.

More information on the COOPENERGY project is available on the project website: http://www.coopenergy.eu/

Best Edible Flowers

Grow them in your garden—eat them in your salad

Edible flowers add a special touch to salads. Once the salad has been tossed with dressing, pick off petals from edible flowers and toss them on top. Many flowers have a strong flavor, so use a light hand when adding them to your greens.

Nasturtium
Available in a scope of colors. Both flowers and leaves add a peppery flavor to mixed greens.

Calendula
A prolific grower, calendula blossoms grow in abundance. Sprinkle individual petals lightly on a salad.

Herb Flowers
Basil, chives, dill, fennel, and arugula flowers all add a spark of aromatic flavor and a burst of color to salads.

Read more: http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/best-edible-flowers

Replicating Nature's Systems

Toby Hemenway, permaculture teacher and author of Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture explains how nature's systems should be replicated in all aspects of our lives.

One example Toby explores is using natural systems within building. Currently, we use materials that fade, leak and degrade within nature - rain, wind and sun damage. Instead, we should have homes that flourish when it rains or the sun comes out, like a forest would do.

Read more: http://www.permaculture.co.uk/videos/replicating-natures-systems

Biogas: Supermarkt läuft mit Strom aus Lebensmitteln

Eine Supermarkt-Filiale in Großbritannien produziert mit einer Biogas-Anlage ihren eigenen Strom. Für die Energieproduktion werden nur Lebensmittelabfälle der Kette verwendet. Das Projekt ist nicht nur umweltfreundlich, sondern auch kosteneffizienter als die herkömmliche Abfallbeseitigung. Es bleibt sogar noch Strom über, der ins öffentliche Netz eingespeist wird.

Ein Lebensmittelmarkt der Kette Sainsbury’s im englischen Cannock ist laut einem BBC-Bericht das erste Lebensmittelgeschäft auf der Insel, das unabhängig vom staatlichen Stromnetz seinen Elektrizitätsbedarf in Eigenregie deckt. Möglich macht dies eine Biogas-Anlage, die in anderthalb Kilometern Entfernung zum Laden von der Firma "Biffa" betrieben wird. Das Bio-Kraftwerk wandelt organische Abfälle in einem mehrstufigen Prozess in ein gasförmiges Gemisch aus Methan und Kohlendioxid um. Dieses kann wie herkömmliches Erdgas mit Hilfe einer Dampfturbine oder eines Verbrennungsmotors in elektrische Energie umgewandelt werden. Betrieben wird die Anlage aber nicht mit Landwirtschaftsabfällen oder sogenanntem "Energiemais". Einzig und allein die Lebensmittelabfälle der im Vereinigten Königreich weitverbreiteten Supermarktkette "füttern" die Anlage in Cannock mit frischer Biomasse. "Sainsbury’s bringt seine Abfälle nicht auf die Müllkippe. Wir suchen stets nach neuen Wegen der Wiederverwertung und des Recyclings", sagte Paul Crewe, Chef der Nachhaltigkeitsabteilung des Unternehmens, der BBC. Noch haltbare Lebensmittel, die sich nicht mehr verkaufen lassen, spendet das Unternehmen an gemeinnützige Organisationen oder stellt sie Landwirten als Futtermittel zur Verfügung. Trotz solcher Maßnahmen bleiben viele Lebensmittelreste ungenutzt. In Deutschland wirft jeder Bürger im Schnitt 82 Kilogramm Nahrungsmittel und Essensreste pro Jahr in die Mülltonne.

GENUG ENERGIE FÜR 2.500 HAUSHALTE

Vom Biogas-Kraftwerk in der Grafschaft Staffordshire führt eine direkte Stromleitung zu der Sainsbury’s-Filiale. Auch mit dem nationalen Netz ist die Anlage verbunden, in dieses speist sie den zusätzlich erzeugten Strom ein. Insgesamt produziert das System genug Strom, um 2.500 Haushalte zu versorgen. Der Betrieb der Müllverwertungsanlage ist für die Lebensmittelkette sicherlich ein willkommenes PR-Projekt. Doch auch wirtschaftlich lohnt sich das Bio-Kraftwerk für den Konzern - die Umwandlung der verdorbenen Esswaren ist für Sainsbury’s in Kombination mit der Nutzung des erzeugten Stroms günstiger, als die vergammelten Speisen auf althergebrachte Weise zur Müllkippe zu fahren. In großem Stil betrieben, kann die Wiederverwertung von Lebensmittelresten zu einer deutlichen Reduktion bei der Nutzung klassischer Energieträger wie Kohle und Erdgas führen, was gut für die Umwelt ist. Und eine Biogas-Anlage vor der Haustür ist für viele Menschen sicherlich ein schönerer Anblick als einAtomkraftwerk. /cb

the happy egg co. backs Britain’s bees with wildflower garden competition

the happy egg co. is launching special limited edition “Bee Happy” egg packs offering consumers the chance to win a £5,000 wildflower garden for their local school or community.

The special edition packs, being stocked by major supermarkets nationwide and featuring distinctive black bee stripes, have been created to highlight an initiative by the ethical egg brand which will see 100 acres of wildflower meadows planted on some of its farms to benefit Britain’s bees.

the happy egg co. is inviting people to photograph and upload their wildflower drawings to a gallery at www.beehappyegg.co.uk to be automatically entered into the competition to win a wildflower garden worth £5,000 for their local community or school.

Runners up will receive special Bee Happy drawing packs and there will be daily online giveaways including wildflower seeds, activity kits and bee-themed tea towels.

Last year, the happy egg co. pledged to plant more than 80 acres of wildflower meadows across many of its farms. The meadows bring health and welfare benefits to the happy egg ‘girls’, by giving them additional ground-cover to shelter under and explore, as well as providing a variety of natural feed options, enriching their quality of life. A major advantage of the planting is that it adds to the biodiversity on and around the farms by increasing the number of pollen rich species, helping to attract bees and other insects.

Rob Newell, head of brand marketing at the happy egg co., says: "We know that British bees are in trouble so it feels good to be able to do our bit to help them. By planting meadows at our farms we’re enriching the lives of our hens but we’re also giving bees the chance to flourish in the right habitat. It’s an initiative that benefits both the birds and the bees and one we’re really pleased to be able to extend by offering one local community the chance to win their own wildflower meadow. We’d urge as many people as possible to pick up a pack next time they are in store and get drawing.”

The wildflower garden designs will be judged by the happy egg co. Producers’ Guild. “Bee Happy” packs will be available from Tesco, Morrisons, Asda, Sainsbury's and Co-op.

Britain’s urban rivers are at their cleanest in 20 years, study confirms

Britain’s urban rivers are at their cleanest for over two decades, according to scientists from Cardiff University

The 21-year study of over 2,300 rivers measured the presence of clean-river invertebrates – a yardstick for river health – which during the days of heavy industry and poor sewage treatment had declined considerably, but now appear to be making a comeback.

Although climate change has warmed British rivers by around one to two degrees over recent decades, the findings suggest that improved pollution control has managed to offset its damaging effects on river ecosystems. This indicates that society can prevent some undesirable climate change effects on the environment by improving habitat quality.

Dr Ian Vaughan and Professor Steve Ormerod from the University’s School of Biosciences analysed changes in the occurrence and spread of insects, snails and other mini-beasts from major rivers between 1991 and 2011. The researchers then asked whether water quality, temperature or river flow best explained the biological changes they observed.

Among 78 types of organisms examined, 40 have become more prevalent in English and Welsh rivers while 19 have declined. Overwhelmingly, these trends were explained by reductions in gross pollution rather than warming or changing flow caused by climate change.

Improving water quality has allowed some clean-water organisms from upland rivers to return to previously polluted lowland rivers, and may even explain some northwards movement previously attributed to climate-change.

The researchers believe these results to be very encouraging in showing how reductions in pollution can help offset the impacts of climate change. Dr Ian Vaughan said: “Our analysis showed clearly that many British river invertebrates are sensitive to climate – for example; because they require good supplies of oxygen that decline as rivers warm up.

“However, it seems that efforts over the last two to three decades to clean up pollution from sewage and other sources have allowed many of these sensitive organisms to expand their range despite one to two degre warming trends and several periods of drought.”

Prof Steve Ormerod added: “These results reveal part of a larger pattern in which organisms dependent on cleaner waters, faster flows and high oxygen concentrations have been progressively recolonising Britain’s urban rivers: Atlantic salmon, mayflies, and Dippers are prime examples. We need to protect these and other river organisms against climate change effects – and solving other problems such as pollution clearly helps.

“Away from Britain’s urban areas, some pollution problems are increasing, and our analysis shows some negative trends among sensitive organisms such as stoneflies that are typical for rural hill-streams. It’s important that our efforts to protect Britain’s rivers against pollution or climate change are extended to the farmed, rural, upland landscape.”

This article was first published by ClickGreen.org.uk

Der Weg zur Weltklasse in nachhaltigen Veränderungen

Prof. Dr. Klaus Töpfer kommt am 12.09.2014 nach Hannover. Auf Einladung der Caritas Niedersachsen wird er “in seinem Grundsatzreferat Linien der globalen Probleme und Zusammenhänge verdeutlichen und Dimensionen der Nachhaltigkeit aufzeigen”, schreibt die Hilfsorganisation in ihrer Einladung.

Sein Thema: Mehr Wohlstand statt mehr Konsum: Der Weg zur Weltklasse in nachhaltigen Veränderungen”

In der anschließenden Podiumsdiskussion wird das Caritas-Jahresthema “Weit weg ist näher, als Du denkst” vertieft.

Freitag, 12. September 2014, ab 15:00 Uhr
Katholisches Bildungszentrum St. Clemens in Hannover

Das Programm mit weiteren Details zum Herunterladen. Um Anmeldung wird gebeten bei Gudrun Hallmann, E-Mail Hallmann@caritas-dicvhildesheim.de.

Wandelwerte e.V. begleitet die Veranstaltung im Rahmen des Marktes der Möglichkeiten, der von 15:00 Uhr bis 16:45 Uhr die Besucher zu Gesprächen und Mitmachaktionen einlädt.

Wir bringen den aware & fair Aktionscontainer mit. Das Design des Containers ermöglicht ein schnelles ins Gespräch kommen über Verbräuche von Ressourcen, Lebens- und Wirtschaftsstile, Produktions- und Arbeitsbedingungen – ein  Blickfang für die Veranstaltung mit herausragenden Zukunftsthemen.

Source: http://www.wandelwerte.de/2928/der-weg-zur-weltklasse-in-nachhaltigen-veranderungen/