Gene’s Recent Comments

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  composting

  I take neighbors grass clippings and a local coffee store's coffee grounds and add them to my large compost bins.  I  have the room for them.  My garbage per week is a small amount, non-smelly and consists mostly of what can't be recycled of which I'm constantly trying to reduce.   Once you see all that kitchen waste, yard waste, etc. turn into crumbly, moist chocolate like earth you'll be convince this is more fun then buying large plastic bags!  Gene On Umbra on compost and climate posted 1 year ago 13 Responses

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  filling the frig

  In one report we are told we waste food, in another we should fill our refrigerators as much as possible.  I have to work very hard to keep food from rotting in our frig.  It's way too big for our use.  I do put all my grains, flours and mixes in the frig and that helps to fill it up. JOn Umbra on being an energy-efficient renter posted 1 year, 1 month ago 15 Responses

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  plastic bags

  With so many variables, and so much information most of us will walk away with some new ideas.  I live in an apartment half of the week and in a rural area the other half.  I compost all my vegetable matter, recycle every single thing I can and my husband and I create less then a plastic grocery bag of garbage a week.  Still, I've tried lining the kitchen garbage bag with newspaper and then throwing that into a dog food bag or some bag destined for the landfill.  Lately, instead of the super thin bags I have that I use for my recycling, I scooped up a bag blowing around the road from a less then conscious neighbor.  It's much more sturdy then the large yard bags I bought that will take me a lifetime to use.  I fill it with my recyclables and empty it into the bin.  I bring it back and reuse it.  So, this is my contribution, maybe consider using a very sturdy plastic bag and emptying  it's contents into the bin and giving it a quick hosing, and long drying in the sun.  I use newspaper now for a days worth of garbage and just hoist them into the bin.  Newspaper can be recycled but it's out of the loop of plastic.  I haven't gotten my husband off the daily newspaper cycle yet...

   thanks for great commentary.  My husband also like to say when I complained...it's driving me crazy!  That's a short drive.  I have to hold myself back from grabbing the recyclables in the garbage.  On Umbra on trash bags posted 1 year, 7 months ago 21 Responses

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  bird feeders

  I thought I had something new to add but after reading all this great commentary, I doubt it.  One, I have always been fascinated with wildlife.  I love to just observe and my family never used bird feeders.  So, that could serve to assure some that people will have a natural inclination to enjoying wildlife without offering handouts.  

      Two, I have found out, recently, that feeding the typical packaged birdfeed creates invasive plant seedlings that compete with our native plants.  Offering native habitat to wildlife, having them ingest the seeds, insures that with or without your handouts they are promoting the healthy, indigenous, diet they need.  

      My last post stated there were 30 crows in my area because of my animal loving neighbor and her daily "feedings".  Now we have about 75.  No more songbirds, quail, thrashers, the crows fight hard for their territory and even chase the hawks.  GeneOn Umbra on feeding birds posted 1 year, 8 months ago 19 Responses

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  Attracting Wildlife

  I must somehow find a way for HomeDepot, Rite-Aid, WalMart and Target and many more read these wonderful accounts.  I see bags of bird seed and backyard wildlife food in great piles at these stores.  I have emailed the management and been given lipservice.  It's just too cool to see people on the right track!  I learned alot tonight catching up with all the input.  I will put off cleaning up the property till spring!  GeneOn Umbra on attracting wildlife posted 1 year, 11 months ago 14 Responses