Did you know that less than 2% of the Earth’s water is fresh? Why conserve it? Well, the plants and animals need it. We do not replace the fresh water that we consume as fast as it is used. When you use water wisely you save money and you save energy. Aren’t these great reasons to cut back on your usage?  

This product is great to teach youngsters to conserve water. Build these habits early on and our children will hold onto them for a life time.  Conditioning our kids to live a green life and do their small part can make a significant difference for their own future and their kids and their kids… you get it.

This device is easy to use, contains a mini hour glass and teaches young and old alike to conserve water in a fun way!  All you have to do is rotate the timer and when the sand runs out you stop your shower. After a few times, you will know exactly how long it will take to wash your hair!

Here are some websites that you can buy this item:

• http://letsgogreen.biz/pages/water.html
• http://www.kaboodle.com/reviews/shower-coach-shower-timer
• http://www.yeebiz.com/c/17/666-173/Promotion-Gifts.html
• http://www.amazon.com/ChangeForGreen-Niagara-Shower-Coach-Timer/dp/B004HEBTH8

By Dena Fritz

Recycle, reuse and reduce. That is the mantra of anyone who is environmentally conscience. There is no better way to to be eco friendly than to recycle old goods into new decor for your home. Antiques are an excellent way to reduce your carbon footprint, you know, someone’s trash can be someone’s treasures and all that…. Possibilities are endless when it comes to antiques and that shabby chic vintage look which is so “in” right now. The lovely patina (wear and tear) that antiques hold is what makes them so desirable. Shopping for antiques can be tons of fun and educational too. You can learn much from things that are old, they represent a different era, a time in history, sometimes more than 100 years old.  Craftsmanship is another reason that antiques are so alluring, made from a time when manufacturing with quality and a personal stamp on an item meant great pride. Antiques are almost always unique in their making, some handcrafted and one of a kind. Usually the more unique, the more expensive an antique is. Get started, begin small, take your time and look around. There is something out there for everyone. Good luck!

 The Nature Conservancy offers 5 practical steps to prevent nutrient pollution

Harrisburg, PA – (May 12, 2011) – Everyone needs clean, fresh water. Keeping our water clean is crucial to supporting life, for both people and nature. As spring weather spreads across North America, The Nature Conservancy wants consumers to know that the decisions they make about lawn and garden care can affect the fresh water in your local river and everything downstream – all the way to the ocean.

Hundreds of millions of people across the country rely on fresh water for drinking water and recreation, and these sources need to be protected so they can stay clean for us and for future generations. One frequent way that water becomes polluted is through excess nutrients – fertilizers, both chemical fertilizers and manure, running off farm fields and suburban lawns.

 “Every living thing needs nutrients, but overloading a freshwater system with nutrients can be disastrous,” said Jeff Opperman, a senior freshwater scientist with the Conservancy. Too many nutrients cause algae to grow in unnaturally high quantities, leading to fish kills, drinking water problems and “dead zones” in places like the Great Lakes, the Chesapeake Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico.

“Globally, agricultural chemicals are a primary source of these nutrients, but the way people manage their lawns and gardens has a real effect on the streams and lakes in your neighborhood,” Opperman said.

What can you do to make your lawn truly “green,” and not just lush?

Five Ways to ‘Green” Your Lawn and Garden Care

Use Less Fertilizer
Excess fertilizer flows off your lawn and garden and ends up in nearby rivers and lakes and eventually make its way to the sea.  If you must use fertilizer, get a soil test first. Find out what your lawn needs.    Many lawns don’t need phosphorus, for example, so phosphorus-free fertilizers might just work for you. Use only what you need, and make sure it stays on the lawn. If you spill some on the sidewalk, sweep it up. And only use it when the lawn is growing.  Remember that any kind of fertilizer, organic or chemical, can be over-used.

Slow Your Runoff
We all want to keep our properties from flooding, but when all the water washes off city streets and our rooftops and yards, it carries a lot of nutrients and sediment with it. These materials can be harmlessly processed by the soils and plants on your property, but in a lake or river they can cause real problems. To slow that water down, don’t cut your grass along a creek or drainage swale.  Better yet, replace grass with native plants that will bind the soil and slow down the water. Or maybe create a water garden, which is both functional—it holds and slows down stormwater—and an attractive landscaping feature. Or buy a rain barrel for the water coming off your roof.  The rain in the barrel can then be used to water your gardens and lower your water bill.

Create Less Waste
Grass clippings are high in nutrients so you want to keep them out of the water.  Use a compost bin or use a mulching mower or both. Often, mulching your grass clippings can help reduce the need for fertilizer. And it’s good to keep the nutrient-rich grass clippings and leaves out of storm drains and of ditches.  Cutting your lawn high (3-4 inches) also increases its vigor, shades out unwanted weeds, and requires less water.

Use Native Plants
In general, using more native plants that are right for your part of the world reduces the need for fertilizers, pesticides and watering.  Replace some of your lawn with wildflower gardens, for example.

Buy Sustainable
Although home lawn care can play a significant role in keeping fresh water clean, you can also help promote healthy land and water with your food choices: what you buy, when you buy it, and the producers you support with your purchases. You can make choices about food that support the kind of farmers who work to minimize water pollution. Organic farms, for example, don’t use chemical fertilizers and are required to demonstrate that they are protecting their watershed.

For some practical steps consumers can take to reduce the amount of excess nutrients they add to the watershed where they live, see the video “Green Choices for Lawn and Garden, by visiting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWey6JtlTEY

Read more about protecting fresh water resources at www.nature.org

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. The Conservancy and its more than 1 million members have protected nearly 120 million acres worldwide. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org/pennsylvania

Shirley and Eugene Goles and their family, from Baltimore, Md., have camped at the Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Quarryville, Pa. almost every Easter for nearly 40 years.

 ”That’s when our family starts our summer camping trips,” Shirley said, adding that the tradition started even before the 175-site campground joined the Jellystone Park chain in 1991.

“We just love the park and the area that it’s in,” Shirley said, adding that their children, grandchildren and many other family members have all grown up having their Easter egg hunts and other holiday activities at the Quarryville Jellystone Park.

Jellystone Parks are nationally famous for their family friendly activities, which take place most weekends throughout late spring, summer and fall.

But while most activities are geared toward children and teenagers, some Jellystone Parks also have Easter activities specifically for adults, including the Jellystone Park in Hagerstown, Md., which holds separate egg hunts for men and women with about 200 to 300 plastic eggs that are stuffed with coupons that can be redeemed for soda, candy, game room tickets and other assorted adult beverages.

“We have to hold these egg hunts separately. Otherwise, the men will push the women out of the way to get the eggs,” said park co-owner Vicki Vitkun.

The Quarryville Jellystone Park also offers separate Easter egg hunts for children and adults as well as an egg rolling and decorating contest, a visit by the Easter bunny, and nighttime DJ dancing with a light show.

•  Here’s a sampling of what’s being planned at Jellystone Parks in several cities east of the Rockies: Bremen, Ga.: This park’s Easter egg hunt involves hayrides with an antique tractor and real bunnies. The park is also planning train rides, Easter egg basket making and other children’s activities. www.georgiajellystone.com
• Burleson, Texas: Activities include making an Easter basket, and parents will have the option of filling them up or having Yogi Bear deliver them to their children. A big egg hunt is also planned. Additionally, a local church hosts a live Easter Pageant, and they will send their cast members – including a high priest, a blind man and Jesus – will come to the park in costume to share their experiences.

www.rusticcreekranch.com

• Canyon Lake, Texas: Activities at this park include a nighttime flashlight Easter egg hunt for the older kids with thousands of eggs and a church service on Sunday. www.jellystonehillcountry.com
• Frankenmuth, Mich.: This park mirror’s the Osterbrunnen Easter decorating traditions of Franconia, Germany, and decorates the park with thousands of eggs and ribbon. The park will also have an Easter egg hunt, Easter decorating, movies, games and crafts. www.frankenmuthjellystone.com
• Fremont, Ind.: This park will have egg dying and an egg hunt as well as other activities, including bingo, cartoons, wagon rides and free pancakes. Real baby chicks and bunnies will also be on hand. www.jellystonesbest.com
• Horn Lake, Miss.: This park is planning egg dying, an Easter egg hunt, spoon races and a coloring contest. www.memphisjellystone.com
• Nashville, Tenn.: This park’s activities include crafts, such as decorating you own Easter basket, egg games and an Easter egg hunt. www.nashvillejellystone.com

The Goles Family doesn’t limit their Jellystone camping to the Quarryville Park at Easter. They also visit the Jellystone Park in Hagerstown, though they have a tradition of closing out the camping season with a visit to the Quarryville Park in October, when the park hosts its Halloween themed weekends, with costume contests, trick or treating and campsite decorating.

“About 15 families will join us for camping for Halloween. At times we have had as many as 65 in our group,” Shirley said. For more information on activities and events at the Quarryville Jellystone, visit www.jellystonepa.com. Activities listings for the Hagerstown Jellystone is available at www.jellystonemaryland.com.

About Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park™ Camp-Resorts

Launched in 1969, the Jellystone Park system now boasts 75 campgrounds with more than 15,000 campsites in 30 states and three Canadian provinces.  Its Camp-Resorts are among the best campgrounds in the industry with a quality reputation for being fun, friendly, clean and customer service-oriented parks. Additionally, each Jellystone Park is themed with Yogi Bear elements providing instant recognition and consumer appeal.  It is truly a place “Where You Camp With Friends.”®   

Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts are franchised through Leisure Systems, Inc. (LSI), a wholly owned subsidiary of The Park River Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio. For more information, visit www.campjellystone.com.

 The EcoFlow shower head is a creation by Water Pik that is designed to save water without compromising quality. According to the EPA, showering is one of the leading uses of water in the household and the public demand for water has more than tripled between 1950 and 2000.

 Using a water-saving shower head will help conserve water, reduce energy usage and help you save money on your water and energy bills. Water Pik has expanded their EcoFlow product line to offer more options for an enhanced shower experience. With various spray modes and several key features, EcoFlow products are available at many popular retailers. EcoFlow offers fixed mount showers, hand held showers and rain showers.

On their website you can calculate your water savings buy entering the average number of showers taken in your household daily, the average length of time each shower takes, your flow rate and the flow rate of the new shower head you would consider purchasing. It will then calculate how many gallons of water you will save, how much gas savings and the amount of money you will save by using that particular shower head.

I am writing about the lavender with cardamom bar soap. I have written about products by Pangea before. This is a very soft soap; you must put it on a spiky soap dish so it drains off and dries quickly. Pangea uses whole plant essences in their products which leave you with a silky smooth and clean feeling. With a rich and soapy feel, this bar does not have a heavy fragrance. When lathering up with it, you can feel the whole wheat and grains set into it. This gives you a natural sloughing which is invigorating. Pangea offers whole soap kits with a variety of fragrances available and free shipping on orders over $75.

Aloe Vera has been empirically known as a plant with healing properties. When I was a girl, my mom always had an Aloe Vera plant around the house. If we would get sunburned, she would break off a stalk of the plant and rub the gel on our burned spots to cool, soothe and heal our over exposed skin.  Aloe is a succulent plant growing in tropical and temperate climates, it is grayish green with leaves that are spongy and can grow up to a foot high. It has little spines that run up the leaves that are not sharp to the touch. One of the easiest plants to grow in a pot, the Aloe Vera plant is low maintenance. You do not have to water it too often (only twice a month) and it is hardy in stature as well as in sustenance. Many confuse it for a cactus but it is really from the lily family. Aloe Vera has been known for centuries as the natural healer. The gel found in the leaves of this plant can be used to treat burns, skin rashes, poison ivy, eczema, fever blisters and beauty applications to the face.

You can order your very own Aloe plant online at Amazon.com. It comes in a 4” pot,is about 8” tall and it needs full sun.

Pyrenees Lavender with Cardamom         

Simply Silky!

I tried this product out this morning and was delighted by the aroma and the silky feeling that I had when my shower was over. I like it! Hours later and I can still smell the lavender on my skin. Pangea markets several products but this is the first one that I have tried. I also purchased Pangaea Italian White Sage Bar Soap (I will review that later). With no-nonsense packaging and all natural ingredients, Pangea is a good choice. An award winning company for products that they manufacture, Pangea never uses petroleum-based ingredients, sulfates or detergents, synthetic preservatives, artificial colors or fragrances.

Savings alert! Currently Pangea is offering free shipping on orders of $75 or more and through September you receive a FREE bar soap with any purchase of $30 or more.

Ever notice how the air changes in August? It takes on a crisp feel and the humidity takes a back seat. I am from the mid-atlantic region where the sun gets brighter and the leaves turn scarlet and gold. Autumn is a nice season because it isn’t too cold or too hot; it’s very pretty and makes you feel nostalgic. I am not sure why that is, but it is. I have taken this list from STORMFAX Guide to Fall Foliage. It covers most of the U.S. and offers state website links and phone numbers that will be helpful when planning your fall foliage tour. Use this guide to commune with Mother Nature and enjoy some peace.

• Mid-Atlantic Region: 

PENNSYLVANIA  Fall Foliage/Events Hotline  1-800-FALL-INPA
 NEW JERSEY  Fall Foliage/Events  1-800-VISIT-NJ
 DELAWARE | (alt) Fall Foliage/Events  1-800-441-8846
 MARYLAND | (alt) Fall Foliage/Events  1-800-LEAVES-1
 VIRGINIA | (alt) Fall Foliage/Events  1-800-434-LEAF
 WEST VIRGINIA Fall Foliage/Events  1-800-CALL-WVA
 NORTH CAROLINA | (alt) Fall Foliage/Events  1-800-VISIT-NC

• New England Region: 

CONNECTICUT Fall Vacation Hotline  1-800-CT-BOUND
 MAINE Publicity Hotline  1-800-533-9595 or 1-888-MAINE-45
 MASSACHUSETTS | (alt) Fall Foliage Hotline  1-800-227-MASS (6277)
 NEW HAMPSHIRE |Fall Color Hotline  1-800-262-6660 or 1-800-258-3608
 NEW YORK | (alt) Fall Foliage Hotline  1-800-225-5697 or 1-800-CALL-NYS
 RHODE ISLAND | (alt) Fall Vacation Hotline  1-800-556-2484
 VERMONT | (alt) Fall Foliage Hotline  1-800-VERMONT or 1-800-828-3239

• Midwest, West & South: 

ARKANSAS | (alt)  Fall Foliage  1-800-NATURAL
 CALIFORNIA | (alt)  Fall Foliage  1-800-354-4595
 COLORADO | (alt) Travel/Events Hotline  1-800-COLORADO
 GEORGIA Travel/Events Hotline  1-800-864-7275
 ILLINOIS | (alt) Travel/Events Hotline  1-800-2CONNECT
 INDIANA | (alt) | (alt) Travel/Events Hotline  1-888-ENJOY-IN
 KENTUCKY Color Connection  1-800-225-8747
 MICHIGAN Foliage Hotline  1-800-644-3255
 MINNESOTA Foliage Hotline  1-800-657-3700
 MISSOURI Fall Report  1-800-NATURAL
 MONTANA | (alt) Travel/Events Hotline  1-800-847-4868
 OHIO Foliage & Travel Hotline  1-800-282-5393
 OREGON | (alt) Foliage Hotline  1-800-547-5445
 TENNESSEE Fall Color Hotline  1-800-697-4200
 TEXAS | (alt) State Park Hotline  1-800-792-1112
 WASHINGTON | (alt) State Foliage Information  1-800-354-4595
 WISCONSIN Foliage Hotline  1-800-432-TRIP
 WYOMING | (alt) Travel Hotline  1-800-225-5996

Health is Coming Back to our Bay.

 By Dena Fritz

Pollution control efforts in the Chesapeake Bay are continuing to prove effective according to Maryland’s governor, Martin O’Malley. 2009 was the third year that demonstrated growth of all-important bay grasses. The bay grasses provide a vital habitat for fish and wildlife. Bay health can be measured by the health of the grasses and is on the incline. With a 12% increase in the abundance of bay grasses, it is the second highest level seen since 1984.   Contaminated runoff flowing into the Bay contains nutrients that can fuel algal blooms and sediments that block sunlight needed for bay grass growth.

The governor also announced earlier in the year that the Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab population has increased substantially for the second straight year. A dramatic 60% increase in population indicating that management measures in place are paying dividends. The blue crab population is at its highest level since 1997. The population boost can be directly attributed to healthy bay grasses and the more crabs that procreate, the more grasses will be needed. Relief from stringent crabbing restrictions are not in the immediate future however, it is too soon to predict that this is a long term trend.

The best news is that when we put our minds to it, we can make a difference in protecting our environment. I am a boater on the bay and I enjoy seeing the bay grasses, which look the best they have in the more than 10 years that I have spent there. I also have enjoyed eating Maryland Blues at our local establishments on the bay and I have to say that this year, the crabs are bigger and better than I have seen! As a boater, my family and I do our part to preserve the bay; we are environmentally conscious and revere the waters that we traverse with respect and amazement.