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  February 16, 2007 1:12 AM

I think it's what you said before, Gregg.  Too many in the present administration have oil interests to protect, or they would surely see the good sense of the things you are saying. 

It's great that you are providing wildlife habitats whereever you live.  Where we live development is closing in on the wildlife we found when we first moved here almost 3 years ago.  When we came here we heard meadowlarks all the time, and saw wild rabbits every time we took a drive.  The guy who built the house we live in was a pilot and kept the field a certain way for his plane, that was also good for the wild creatures.  He wouldn't let anyone dig up the field. 

We don't own the field, and did not share his boldness with the neighbors.  He was an old timer, we were just newbies when the changes took place and didn't know who to stand up to.  Someone began discing the field, not bothering to take into account nesting times, and then subsequently did away with all the birds' and rabbit's cover.  So there are very few left in the field anymore. 

We planned from the beginning to provide some natural habitat for the wildlife, and have succeeded with some of the wild creatures.  We have as many as ten rabbits and at least one pair of killdeer on our acre.  We've had nesting house finches, kingbirds, Says Phoebes, sparrows and mocking birds and also found a killdeer nest on our very small back lawn. 

We have created a little meadow, 60 feet by 30 feet where we have encouraged native grasses and wildflowers, plus added a few new distinctly Californian arid prairie wild flowers, after researching them on the internet.  That's besides a little forest of mostly pines and cottonwoods (our sitting place) and the orchard. 

We have a Sheltie also but he is so timid and sweet, he thinks all creatures are his little friends and approaches them eagerly as a friend, so he doesn't chase cats.  We have 3 cats who adopted us, which sometimes get wild creatrues.  Actually if they didn't reduce the rat and mouse population (with a wheatfield a hundred yards away) we'd be in trouble. 

It's good you set out nesting boxes.  We haven't gotten around to that yet, with so much focus on putting in the trees, and a huge effort on my part (hundreds of hours) establishing the wildflowers, something I've always wanted to do.  LOL the favorite nesting place on our property is the silk flower garland over our front door. 

Not very many people know about using ladybugs and preying mantises for insect pest control.  We learned os many things from library books that you just don't learn in school (never mind on TV or at work).  Ordering and dispersing ladybugs was one of my kids' favroite home school memories. 

We've been doing what we can to get the word out about ladybugs, which can seem like strange pests in their pupae stage.  The other pest control insect we've used is lace wings.  Lace wings have a gorgeous adult stage, but in their larva stage they are so ugly, most people's first instinct would be to kill them, but they can eat thousands of aphids and other soft bodied sucking pests. 

There's another form of organic gas that my son always refers to, methane gas, which can be made from manure.  As anyone knows, there is plenty of excess farm manure available to make methane with.  So why aren't we doing it?  There's so much knowledge that is being withheld from the general populace that they could be using to their and all of our advantage.  It's such a shame! 
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Going and staying green February 15, 2007 6:03 AM

One thing I just don't understand is why the Federal government won't create a national program to allow taxpayers to totally deduct energy-saving home improvements like solar panels, extra insulation and weatherstripping, timers for water heaters, high-efficiency windows, etc. from their taxes. Many of these things are simple technology and can be just expensive and complicated enough that those that aren't "handy" (like like the man that built your house, Marie) can't do them for themselves. (For example, I'm partially disabled, so I can't do much installation work on things like solar panels.) If there is a Federal program, please tell me! I've missed it.

Just the energy saving aspect vs. energy imports alone seems to make a compelling argument for such a program. It would also give an economic boost to the companies that make such items, thus improving the economy and providing jobs, too.

We have always tried to make our yard a mini-wildlife refuge, where ever we live. We plant trees and flowers that are natural to the area to provide feed and cover for the local animals and insects. We rarely use herbicides or pesticides. (I vastly prefer ladybugs and mantises. Besides, they're fun to watch.) 

Luckily, our town recycles green waste into free mulch, too. We use that to keep the weeds down under the trees and in the flower beds. Many folks just don't understand why we get so many birds and butterflies...maybe it's because we try hard to make them welcome? We have nesting boxes everywhere, too. Feral cats are a major problem in this area, but our four Shelties try very hard to scare them away.

Speaking of alternatives, I saw a few articles recently about a man that started a company near where I used to live in Missouri. He has discovered a process that turns almost any biological mass into high grade oil and biofuel. He's presently using turket and chicken offal (guts, feathers, bones, etc.) to make biofuel! The offal is horrid stuff, BTW, and disposing of it is a major issue in that part of the country. He has several investors and is working on plans for a major facility to produce and sell this biofuel. This is exactly what I mean about using science to help solve our problems where appropriate. If I had the cash, I'd help back him.

Incidentally, I just read recently that the US Air Force has flown a Boeing B-52 on biofuel and reported no problems. This is a positive development for biofuel (leaving out the morality issue of flying a bomber anywhere) because aircraft are very sensitive to fuel impurities and quality. If you can use it in a B-52, you can use it anywhere. If we can produce enough of this type of fuel, maybe (we can hope) we can eliminate the need for more oil wars.
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 February 15, 2007 12:07 AM

I've made this thread show the newest posts first, because it's getting so long...  [ send green star]
 
 February 14, 2007 11:55 PM

Yes, now that you mention it, I can see how cloud cover could make solar panels unhelpful.  Where I live, in Southern California away from the coast, we get full sun all day for all but say maybe 30 days a year.  If we had solar panels, we would have energy year round. 

As for wind power, we live within tens of miles from the windyest place on earth, or I should say the place with the most windmills on earth (the windyest place is probably on some mountaintop).  So we would get a lot out of wind power too. 

But you're right about the importance of, as you put it, less sexy things like insulation.  We are so fortunate to live in a house created by a man who loved to cover all those little details.  We have fantastic insulation- so much so that with nights going down to 6 degrees we have rarely had to use any heat. 

Actually, we're not hooked up to gas right now.  We have a solar water heater, a fireplace with the reflective cover of river rock across the whole corner reflecting heat from the fireplace back into the whole living area.  We use electric for our stove and oven.  And we hang up our clothes to dry on the clothesline.  (Few rainy days here to make that a problem.) We wouldn't be half so well off without all that the previous owner did for the house.  He was one smart guy! 

We started recycling lawn waste before anyone else in our previous town.  The landlord instructed us to use a catcher bag and put the lawn clippings in the trash.  We did that for awhile, but meanwhile, we were doing a lot of reading, as part of our home school (as I said in another post, we checked out hundreds of books at a time and read them all). 

The lawn when we started renting that house was so thin you could almost count the blades of grass with dirt patches between them.  Some books and brochures we read told us that plants need their own matter decaying beneath them for food.  The landlord was telling us to buy some lawn food for the pitiful lawn he gave us.  But we decided to try the natural way. 

My husband was having a terrible time with the catcher bag on the lawnmower anyway, so one day I said, "Why not just leave it off?  The kids can spread the lawn clippings and lets see if it might actually help grow a little more grass." 

So he took the catcher bag off and never used one again.  The seed spread all over from the cut grass, and the grass clippings mulched and fed the existing grass and the new grass from seed.  We left that place 16 years later with a fantastic lawn. 

Meanwhile, we were reading about landfills.  We'd go to all kinds of places for home school field trips, some of which were nature centers, which made an effort to educate the public about our dwindling resources, including land resources.  We began to realize that beautiful natural wild land, like what we liked to take walks in, was being destroyed by filthy garbage mixed with recyclable waste which is rendered recyclable no longer by being mixed in with non recyclables. 

This was back when there was no program to collect green waste in our city.  So we began making compost piles (which we felt a need to hide when the landlord came over because he understood nothing whatever about sustainablitly and didn't appreciate anything but the conventional way of doing things.) 

Some of our branches didn't compost very well, so we were very relieved when our city finally started separating green waste.  That was nice for a few years.  Then we moved here, out in the country (though it won't be countryside for long), and they don't give you a greenwaste bin here.  We're back to square one again. 

We do compost any green waste we can, but if we composted weeds they would seed all over our property, and when you have a whole acre of weeds, well you do the math.  My husband, who enjoys math, said it would take us a lifetime to pull the weeds by hand.  And we don't want to use herbicides because they cause cancer, pollute the water supply, and toxify the earth. 

So we still have to dispose of our weeds.  Fire is an issue here.  You can't just burn what you please when you please because fires get out of control so quickly in So. Cal.  We did end up burning 350 tumbleweeds that invaded our acre from the adjacent field.  Boy was that a fire!  We kept 3 hoses in constant mist to keep the sparks from spreading. 

I don't know what else you do with 350 to possibly 400 or more tumbleweeds, full of seeds that plant as they roll.  All the neighbors burn their tumbleweeds- after taking steps to see that they can no longer tumble.  (We burned ours in a cage of fencing 6 feet tall and crushed them first by trampling them down for hours. 

As for the other weeds, my main method of weed control right now is to pick the weeds before they seed and spread wildflower seed all over the place, wherever weeds have grown to compete with them.  In this case, my working definition of wildflower seed is flowers that thrive in your own specific climate and can therefore compete with weeds.  So far, it's working.  (See my photo album of my backyard.)

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Solar and other alternatives February 14, 2007 6:48 AM

Hi Marie,

IMHO, there's several things affecting the adoption of alternative energy in the US. One is the political climate and will, of course. Many people in positions of authority (aka funding) don't believe there is enough potential in it or are protecting themselves or vested interests. This is especially true of those with connections to the petroleum industry.

It also gives lie that the market is the best way to induce change. A FREE market might be, but there really is no such thing - it's a figment of economist's imaginations. I say this because there are always powerful interests trying to prevent any change that might hurt them, rather than the far more rational approach of working to adopt and adapt before the change affects their interests. An smart oil company, for example, would be feverishly developing alternatives to oil before it runs out or becomes so expensive that it can no longer be used as a fuel.

Another problem is that in many parts of the country, solar isn't very useful. I had a solar water and supplemental air heater in Wisconsin. It was sometimes helpful (the water heater was usually helpful), but the cloud cover there made it difficult to justify on only economic grounds. Can you imagine trying to use solar panels in the rainy areas of Washington State? Still, there is a lot of sun in the US Southwest, for example. Folks there should be able to use it very easily.

A lot of things we can do aren't "sexy." Many people love the cool and neat things (not to mention obvious to the neighbors) like solar panels, but neglect the common sense things that help a lot, like extra insulation in their houses, especially older houses that were built when fuel was cheaper and before we realized that the Earth is deeply affected by what we do.

Recycling is another thing that isn't a "sexy" technique, but works wonders. We were recycling back in the 1980's in Wisconsin - It was mandatory and if you didn't seperate your recyclables properly (or at all), you were given a stiff fine. We have recycled ever since then, no matter where we lived. Perversely enough, we have to pay a little extra to recycle in West Virginia. Go figure. Even I'm guilty of forgetting to unplug my "vampire" appliances sometimes, and I try to be aware of what I do.

There are some alternative energy companies and organizations in the DC Metro area trying to reverse this disheartening trend. I've even tried to get hired by them as a technical writer to help in the debate, with no luck.

Science fiction fans coined the half-serious 11th Commandment : "Thou shalt not waste" back in the 1950's. Even then, some realized that waste is not only wrong, it's stupid.

I've sometimes wondered if the reason we haven't found intelligent life anywhere else in the universe is because so few races make it through this particular crisis. If technological societies don't find ways to live sustainably on their home worlds, they may not last long enough to communicate or venture out of their solar system "backyards." Indeed, war may not be the only reason intelligent life destroys itself. Maybe this is one of the ultimate tests that all cultures face and the penalty for failure is steep.


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 February 13, 2007 5:33 PM

Welcome, Sarah S. and Ruchi G!

Great to have you here!  Feel free to settle in for some !
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 February 13, 2007 5:15 PM

I agree with you Gregg.  What I don't get is why, with so many people aware of our world's desparate need to use alternative energy (which is what I believe our wars are about short term- long term it's about control of ALL world resources) why isn't there anyone out there making it possible for people like me who are TOTALLY CONVINCED of the need for alternative energy making that possible financially?

If I could switch my energy source completely to the sun's energy, I would do so in a heartbeat.  I simply don't have the money, period.  That's the only thing standing in my way.  I have nothing over groceries, and the house payment.  Ironically, it is my utility bills that I have to pay to keep the electricity and water on that are keeping me from putting in solar panels, a wind mill, and a well and getting completely off the grid.  Plus switching to an electric car. 

So many people are trying to CONVINCE others to even CONSIDER these kinds of lifestyle changes.  But I am ALREADY COMPLETELY CONVINCED.  But with my financial situation it is entriely impossible to do so.  I wonder how many other people are in my position? 

Why isn't there some green group somewhere out there to financially enable people like me who are already completely convinced of the need to switch completely to natural energy.  Somebody out there who has the means to do so, has missed the boat.  Can't everybody of green persuasion band together to make this incredible resource saving technology available to all? 

I agree with you that the situation is desparate on this planet and the time is NOW.  We either make the right steps over the next two decades or we could become a sinking ship like the Titanic.  We have to do the right things now or we are goners.  Unfortunately, people like me don't have the resources to stop using up resources.  Ie. since I can't afford solar cells, here I am using up fuel for electricity every single day.  We can cut back, but why oh why isn't there some way for me to go solar, dig my own well, etc.  Because I would do it in a blink. 

Why use up fossil fuels if you can use the energy from the sun??????????????
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Thanks! February 13, 2007 7:12 AM

Thanks, Marie and all!

I was a little concerned about the reception I might recieve here.  Some folks see it as a black/white issue...i.e. Either you're totally green or you're the "enemy." We really can't afford the luxury of that mindset any more. The problems are too severe (perfect examples, global warming, the crash of fishing stocks due to overfishing, habitat destruction and pollution).

I think it's possible in this case to pick and choose the best of both worlds, sustainable living and high technology. We have to stop doing shortsighted things like externalizing many of the costs of what we produce, for example, to show the true, total costs of our products and services. We no longer can dump the end of cycle costs on "somebody else," as we are running out of "somebody else's" to dump on. Welcome back to what we all should have learned in Kindergarten: If you mess it up, you clean it up (or factor in the cost of the cleanup into the prices you charge your customers). I applaud companies that take back and recycle their products at the end of their useful lives. This is EXACTLY what all businesses and governments must do if we are to survive with a rationally-based economy.

IMHO, Humankind has back itself into a deep, dark corner and may well have to accept some compromises to get out of it, like the limited use of nuclear power or fusion (if we ever figure out how to create fusion reactors).  I've seen some posts on other boards where people are predicting the crash of civilization and somehow expect to go back to some kind of agrarian-based paradise or commune lifestyle. That's not going to happen. Here's why I say that:

  • There's too many people for that to work. There would be mass starvation, which leads to my next point below.
  • If civilization started to crash in the way these people say, there won't be anything left, because the entire world will go to war over the shrinking resource base. I'm convinced that it will be a no-holds-barred, ultimately thermonuclear war that will leave our decendants about as well off as the average Neanderthal. Permanently. That's because we have expended the resource base to rebuild any kind of reasonable civilization. It's a one way trip and we can't afford to screw it up, for the sake of our posterity. Wars have always been over resources. (I include food, living room, energy, etc. in "resources.")
  • Many people forget just how brutal an agrarian existance is: I suggest that the go back and read about feudal Europe in the Dark Ages as an example. It isn't pretty.
Basically, whether we like it or not, Humanity is outgrowing the nest. (I could make the argument that we already have ouwgrown the nest, but I digress). 

We can either leave the nest by getting our collective act together now, while we still have the time and resources or we can start a one-way spiral to our own extinction. I agree with the comment that the universe isn't actively for or against humans - it's merely indifferent. The choice is ours; "ours" meaning the entire human race. If we go extinct, it will be because that's what we deserve. There is no appeal in the court of extinction.
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 February 12, 2007 10:08 PM

Marie (MM) welcome!  It's good to have you hear.  It is always so encouraging to hear about others who care about living carefully and responsibly in this world that is so threatened because of what human beings have done to it by living carelessly.  Every responsible person I hear from or meet is an encouragament to me.  Thank you for being here!    [ send green star]
 
 February 12, 2007 10:04 PM

Hi, Gregg!  Welcome!

I understand about the technology and your disollusionment with religion.  Don't worry, in my e-group I will not allow anyone to push their religion on anyone else.  I am a Christian, but almost hate to even use the word because of how horrifically the religious right (evangelical Republicans) have discredited Christianity.  I've left church behind and taken up instead with protesters (protesting war and our destruction/abuse of the environment) instead.  I still believe in God but I am exhasperated with (I know I spelled that wrong) and embarrassed by the religion I see in churches today.  What I really believe in is for human beings to care about one another and look out for one another.  So you could call that my religion- that's what I care about, as well as looking out for trees, animals, clean water, etc. across this planet. 

As for technology, you are right, we need it to get out of the mess we're in.  We just have to use it rightly, not wrongly.  I think technology is great.  I just think people are not using it wisely (and that's an understatement!)  Feel free to educate us less techie people about exactly how technology can help us get out of the mess we're in.  (I have two very techie sons so I understand techie people even though I am not one myself. 
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 February 12, 2007 12:02 PM

Hi! I'm so glad I found your group. I'm Marie M., not to be confused with Marie the host. I'll go by MM here, lol. I'm into living simply and sustainably, leaving the smallest footprint I can, reusing or recycling, eating natural foods, being mindful of use of energy and water. Its great to be here & I look forward to getting to know others of like mind. MM  [ send green star]  [ accepted]
 
Hi Everyone! February 09, 2007 8:28 AM

I'm Gregg B, interested in everything and everyone. I'm a technical writer from the aviation industry, currently out of work. (Happens to the best of us!) We live in West Virginia at the moment, but are transplanted Midwesterners.

I believe that a mix of sustainable living and technological knowledge as the long-term solution to the mess we're all in. We are going to need all the wisdom from all camps to survive the mess we've created for ourselves.

I'm active in Sheltie Rescue and animal welfare (not animal rights - that's different), human rights and caring for/repairing/preserving the environment. As a science and space enthusiast, I know all too well that good planets are hard to find. I still want to go look for them, though! Ad astra per aspera!

I am of no particular religious or spiritual belief anymore, as I think organized religion has more than discredited itself in the last several hundred years. Spirituality is a personal thing that is no one else's business, IMHO. Please don't try to force your beliefs on me and I'll do the same for you.

I'm a little concerned that some here may not want me here because of my tech bent. I support green and sustainable living wherever and however appropriate. I just don't think that it alone, is the answer because things are too dire.
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 February 08, 2007 8:23 PM

Welcome, Lorraine!  So glad to have you here.  Thanks for posting!  I look forward to conversation with you, since we have so much in common. 
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 February 08, 2007 7:46 PM

Welcome, Colleen O, Kevin P, Rebecca W, Anita L, Irena K, Lorraine E, and Gregg B!!

Glad to have y'all here!!!
 [ send green star]
 
Membership/Groups February 08, 2007 11:48 AM

Thank you Marie,

I feel that everyone who belongs to care2 is striving for a better life style, but also in dealing with any medical concerns that they may have.  Both can be accomplished here.  I am very happy to join the group, I am looking forward to learning alot from everyone that is here.

Your friend Lorraine,

 [ send green star]  [ accepted]
 
Thanks for the invite Gail S. February 08, 2007 8:48 AM

Ok what's next?

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Hello Everyone February 07, 2007 7:03 PM

I am so happy to be a part of this wonderful group. Thanks for the invite.  [ send green star]  [ accepted]
 
all are welcome ,,Good will ambassador of 63 countries who born and brought up in India February 07, 2007 12:00 AM

Thankyou Gail S for inviting me  in an important  group ,,

    From ,,

  Born and brought up in India ,,,Graduated in civil engineering in 1986 ,, Embark on global campaign ONFOOT for" Global Friendship and Peace" ,, by giving up job in 1987 . 10/30,, Traveresed through the capital of landlocked 63 countries of Asia and Europe ..covered around 80,000 kms with warm welcoming ,,before turning back to india in 15/08/2001 ,, realised missing of global feelings despite of meeting own Prime minister& others and much focused in media,,Therefore, doing road show and e campaigning as a Good will ambassador of 63 countries who born and brought up in India
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r50/globetrotter_27/untitled2.jpg";>
---------------Petition ,,Plz signed it ------------------------------------
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/647211024

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. Thanks for the intro, Roger! . February 06, 2007 11:58 PM

Welcome, Roger W, Mystical P, Star R, Vikas S, and Dolores P!

Great to have y'all here!
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hello February 06, 2007 11:16 PM

Hi all, i am Roger from Canada  [ send green star]  [ accepted]
 
 February 06, 2007 9:55 PM

Welcome, Gail S.!!   It's great to have you here-- I look forward to seeing your posts!  Go ahead and read through our discussions here and reply to whatever interests you.  [ send green star]
 
 February 06, 2007 9:49 PM

Hey, Tracy, I remember you from Tree Huggers posts.  You were fighting a huge battle against the destruction of trees, a horse ranch, and wildlife around your home.  It was so heartbreaking hearing about the destruction of the trees. 

I am one of those people who is very upset when a big tree is chopped down.  Our landlord at our last house chopped down the olive tree in our front yard (or as he would put it, the front yard of his "unit") and I was depressed for months over it. 

Now that we own, no landlord can come over and mow trees down, at least in OUR yard, but we are having the same thing happen as you did- fields and ranchland being turned into apartments and condominiums, and 100 foot trees being chopped down just for convenience. 

How did it all turn out?  I never heard the end of the story, but gathered that it was not a happy ending.  It's incredible how little the local leaders listen to anyone but big business anymore.  Glad to see you here! 
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 February 06, 2007 9:09 PM

Whoa!  It looks like I'm behind!

Welcome, Marie M, Debra L, Sylvie C, Arlen K, Earth B, and Gwen M!!!

Y'all come on in for or !


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 February 04, 2007 9:40 PM

Thank you, Shawn, for your renewed commitment and encouraging words.

Thank you, Sophia for your new thread. 

Thank you, Slavena and Craig for your frequent posts. 

Have a great day! 
 [ send green star]
 
 February 04, 2007 5:07 PM

Welcome, Jill G!

Great to have you here!

Sophia, each of us has something to give and lots to learn.
 [ send green star]
 
anonymous  February 02, 2007 5:02 AM

HI GUYS I DONT KNOW WHAT I CAN ADD BUT I CAN LEARN AND DO WHAT I CAN

THANKYOU

SOPHIA DALLE

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Thank you February 01, 2007 7:35 PM

Thank you for the kind welcome. I was excited to find this group, because how much this issue means to me. Even though I have been interested and dabbled in sustainable living practices for years, I have just recently started making significant lifestyle changes that will more reflect my inner convictions. I know I will learn and be encouraged from others with the same convictions, and hopefully I can do the same for others to. Thanks again, Shawn  [ send green star]  [ accepted]
 
 January 31, 2007 9:03 PM

Welcome, Shawn M!

Feel free to settle in here for some and write your introduction!
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 January 31, 2007 4:20 AM

Welcome, Mary M. and JM D!

Great to have you here!  Come on in, take a seat, and have some !!
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 January 29, 2007 7:41 PM

Thanks for the invite, John, sustainable living is a cause of mine, and I'm happy to meet others who feel the same way.  Hope everyone here is well, and wishing you all a wonderful week.  Peace, love, and light, Carmen.  [ send green star]  [ accepted]
 
 January 29, 2007 7:33 PM

Welcome, Carmen S!

Great to have you here!
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 January 29, 2007 2:47 PM

Welcome, Ted C, Valeria N, and Angie C!

Come on in for some !
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 January 28, 2007 6:36 PM

Welcome, Alice C, Heather Y, and Ode G! 



Great to have y'all!  Feel free to settle in for some /!
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 January 27, 2007 5:18 PM

Welcome, Debs B!    Great to have you here!



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 January 27, 2007 4:26 PM

Welcome, John D.  I'm really looking forward to you sharing your knowledge of sustainable energy and getting off the grid.  I'm currently looking for affordable ways to get off the grid.  I can't afford to drill a well just yet, but there is an underground river about a hundred feet down under my neighbor's property, and I think it also flows under mine.  I'm also waiting to be able to afford solar energy.  I'm told that nano-solar will be cheaper once it's on the market.  I'm also looking into the cost of wind power.  It sure will be good to get off the grid once I can afford it.   [ send green star]
 
 January 27, 2007 3:22 PM

Welcome, Ana M!

Come on in for some or !  [ send green star]
 
 January 27, 2007 11:55 AM

Welcome, Sandra P!


Looking forward to seeing you here!  [ send green star]
 
 January 27, 2007 11:23 AM

Welcome, Donna H, John D, and Juan U!!

Glad to have you here! John D, thanks for introducing yourself here! Julia, I hope we'll see you around here soon!
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Thanks! January 27, 2007 10:38 AM

Hello Everyone

Thanks for the nice welcome! Am looking forward to this group, and I have lots to share! Unfortunately, I am going on a business trip on Monday, so I won't get to share as much as I would like to just yet...Either way, see you guys soon!

Great weekend to everyone!


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Thank you January 27, 2007 7:10 AM

Than you JohnD for the invite to the group, i have a wide range of interests that could help the environment including ways for homes to go off grid, Or remain and resell the spear energy back to the grid, or cement that takes in co2,

Then i run a site on care2 that looks at fuels that will be safe and clean, etc.

JohnD (new member) not a co host.

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 January 27, 2007 12:11 AM

Welcome, Mark C! 





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 January 26, 2007 7:07 PM

Welcome, Patty Hawthorn and Lyn K! 

Great to have you here!


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 January 26, 2007 5:39 PM

Welcome, Vic!



Feel free to settle in for some , and post your introduction when you're ready!
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 January 26, 2007 1:13 PM

Hoşgeldiniz, Mutlu!!  [ send green star]
 
 January 26, 2007 2:51 AM

Welcome, Bruce!




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 January 25, 2007 6:15 PM

Welcome, Sarah K!
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 January 25, 2007 3:17 PM

Welcome Sarah!  Your work with Sustainable Harvest sounds so good.  I've been to two third world countries and know first hand how much difference it makes when the people learn how to do sustainable gardening.  I spent some time in the Pacific island nation of Papua New Guinea, one of the most food poor nations.  Growing food can be quite difficult in some climate areas like the jungle. 

I think it's so important that groups like Sustainable Harvest are helping these people learn methods that will serve them better and maximize the food they can harvest each year.  I look forward to your posts and would love to hear more about your work.    [ send green star]
 
Thanks for the invite January 25, 2007 8:02 AM

Thank you for the invite and creating an important group!  I have to admit that I don't have too much time to spend on the care2 boards, but this really perked my interest and will try to contribute when possible.  For an introduction to me, you should check out the organization I work for: www.sustainableharvest.org  SHI works with farming communities in Honduras, Belize, Nicaragua and Panama.  We hire local people in communities requesting assistance switching from slash-and-burn farming practices to more sustainable land-use alternatives.  I am proud to be a part of a small team here in the US raising awareness and funding about these important projects. 
I'm looking forward to taking part in this group and getting to know all of you and expanding my knowledge of sustainable living practices!
Sarah 

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anonymous Hi! January 25, 2007 5:52 AM

Thank you for inviting me, Marie! It seems to be a very interesting group!  [report anonymous abuse]  [ accepted]
 
 January 25, 2007 3:40 AM

Welcome, Stephanie S! Looking forward to seeing you around here!  [ send green star]
 
 January 25, 2007 3:28 AM

Welcome, Rhonda! Glad to have you here, and lookin forward to your introduction...  [ send green star]
 
 January 25, 2007 12:43 AM

Welcome, Marc!!  Great to have you here!  [ send green star]
 
 January 25, 2007 12:36 AM

  It's so great to see your messages here, Craig, Brianna and Mehr!

Craig, you're right-- at the rate the world and particularly the U.S. are using up natural resources, the luxuries we're used will no longer be available before long.  But the effects will be far less damaging for those who have already found ways to live sustainably.

Mehr jaanam, chetori?  Khahesh mikonam--you're very welcome...it's great to have you here!

And welcome, Slavena, Julia, and Marc!!  I look forward to seeing you around here!
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 January 24, 2007 7:35 PM

Welcome to
Slavena, Mehr, and Julia!

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 January 24, 2007 11:03 AM

Salaam Rose jaan, ahvale shoma? Motshakeram ke mara davat kardid. Hello dear Rose how are you? thanks for invitation.

Love

Mehr

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anonymous hi January 24, 2007 8:35 AM



Great to be here! Thanks for the invite and lovely welcome  [report anonymous abuse]  [ accepted]
 
 January 24, 2007 8:19 AM

Thanks Marie and J Rose its good to be here.

We all have the opportunity to voluntarily make changes in our lives in order to lower the impact of our footprint on the earth.  I have a feeling that, in the not too distant future, the freedom of choice will be removed from us through the forces of nature. 

Ok, I can see I am head off into a rant and this is, afterall, a welcome page so hey - lighten up Craig! lol

Hope to be speaking with you all in the very near future.

Cheers

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 January 23, 2007 10:50 PM

And welcome to Lori, Stephanie, and Thomas!!   [ send green star]
 
 January 23, 2007 8:50 PM

Welcome, Sophia, Craig, and Brianna!!  It's great to have you here, and I look forward to seeing your posts around here!   [ send green star]
 
 January 23, 2007 7:49 PM

Glad to be here! I've been researching sustainable living for the past two years, and I'n glad to have a group in which to both share my knowledge and glean knowledge from others on Care2. Thanks for creating this group, Marie - and for adding me on as a co-host!


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WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS! January 23, 2007 6:47 PM

WELCOME to Brianna, Sophia, and Craig. 

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