Garden Detective

Oh-oh. Yet another it's-too-good-to-be-true green dilemma crossed my desk today. (Read my previous post, Going green isn't black and white for background info.)

With the big push -- and looming legal deadline -- for everyone to start using those spiral "eco-friendly" CFL bulbs, one would think it's pretty safe to assume they're a no-brainer when it comes to the environment. They save a ton of energy and last way longer than standard incandescents. Right?

Not so fast, Kemo Sabe. Those CFLs contain mercury. The same mercury that was used for cavity fillings on people of a certain age, and then blamed for health problems later on. The same mercury that filled glass thermometers that heaven forbid you should bite down on by mistake. And did you ever break one of those things? The mercury separated into little balls and scattered all over the place, forcing you to hold your breath while you tried to pick them up without actually letting them touch your skin.

Aren't light bulbs a lot more delicate than thermometers? In an era when we're trying to phase out the toxic substances, what is it doing in light bulbs?

For the full story -- including instructions for the proper disposal of CFL bulbs, check out New Bulbs Have One Hitch.

I won't be blogging for about a week -- heading to Florida for some much needed R&R. My timing couldn't be worse, though: After spending a ridiculous amount of blood, sweat and tears -- not to mention money -- last fall planting 750 bulbs, I think I might be in danger of missing my newly planted spring garden's peak.

While I'm sure I won't miss the whole show, I'll miss the pleasure of rushing home every day and walking around the garden, looking for subtle changes, as I've been doing for a few weeks now. In any event, I've instructed my friend and neighbor to take photos in case I miss anything.

Please keep sending your questions and comments -- I'll read them when I get back.

Happy Passover! Happy spring! Happy weeding! HAPPY EARTH DAY!

In the shadow of an ever-growing marketing blitz for "green" everything, an article in today's issue of Advertising Age asks the eyebrow-raising question, "Is Earth Day the new Christmas?"

It might be, with overzealous retailers cashing in and overshadowing the actual reason for the holiday. Do we really need to be wearing slogan t-shirts, or should we be busy composting?

With everyone jumping on the bandwagon, I'm becoming suspicious of a mob mentality. How many people actually are walking the walk? I'm sure there are some like actor Ed Begley, Jr., whose new book "Living Like Ed" is a great read. I picked it up last week at Barnes & Noble, where it was one of at least 30 or 40 titles on the "Green Table." But have all the authors of those other books been recycling and doing without creature-comfort conveniences since the 1970s, as Begley has -- or are they merely cashing in on the newest pet rock?

Commercialism managed to put a damper on punk rock in the early 1970s, leaving its original, hard-core fans disillusioned, and it continues to do so today every time an underground band, movie or movement goes mainstream. But, as concerned citizens of the planet, should we be a jealous lot?

Don't we need everyone on board in order to make a difference and clean things up? Absolutely. I just wonder whether the GO GREEN mantra will get played out and be remembered in 20 years as a crazy time when everyone went berserk and some shrewd entrepreneurs made a ton of money. Or will it penetrate deeper? Because, frankly, it's a shame about Christmas.

I've heard of "Green Tambourine," in fact I'm humming it now. But Green Gasoline?

Apparently, it isn't the oxymoron it seems to be. According to this week's issue of Chemistry & Sustainability, Energy & Materials, a University of Massachusetts-Amhurst professor and 2 graduate students have discovered a way to convert plant cellulose into gasoline components. The new fuel is reportedly exactly the same as the gasoline we're using today, but it's made from switchgrass and poplar trees instead of oil.

With Earth Day quickly approaching, why not plant some poplar trees? You can order some free from the Arbor Day foundation. Who knows, you might be able to ride them to work some day.

About a year ago, while at a supermarket -- can't remember which -- I read a thought-provoking sign that was posted at the check-out counter. In essence, it said the store was using only plastic bags.

On the surface, that seemed to be very environmentally unfriendly. But the sign went on to explain a rationale that hadn't occurred to me until then, asserting that the energy and exhaust fumes expelled to transport the same number of paper bags outweighed the fact that plastic wasn't biodegradable. Paper bags take up more space and require more trucks for transport, so the store believed it was lessening its carbon footprint by using plastic.

It got me thinking, so I looked into it a bit further. According to the Society of Plastics Industry, it requires 400 percent more energy to manufacture a paper bag than a plastic one. And while paper bags are compostable and biodegradable, they also cost the world trees, potentially increasing greenhouse gasses. (I say 'potentially' because if the trees used are from paper farms and were planted only for the purpose of being cut down, then those wouldn't factor in here.)

I suppose we could end the discussion by simply purchasing those canvas grocery bags that are showing up in supermarkets everywhere. But what sort of impact does their production have on the environment?

I'm just saying there are no easy answers. And you know what they say about the road to hell and good intentions. I was talking about this last night with my husband John, who had probably the best suggestion of all. Why not ask for plastic and bring your used plastic bags each time you visit the grocery store? If you use them 5 or 6 times, or until they start to fall apart, you've really done a good thing, haven't you? You can also use them to line your small wastebaskets, instead of purchasing plastic trash bags.

There's another environmental dilemma I've been struggling with, too. We use quite a bit of paper plates in my house. I'm not going to defend it, because I know all about landfills and deforestation and any other argument you could throw my way. But I also know a thing or two about the need for convenience and necessary evils. But are paper plates really evil? I don't know. Doesn't the energy used to run the dishwasher and the chemicals from the dishwashing detergent that eventually enter the water table count for anything? That might be even worse.

Which do you consider more eco-friendly? (Hit BACK to return to this page from polls)

When I was a kid, I loved blackouts. I remember a really big one that knocked power out to all of New York City. Every person from every house in the neighborhood came out into the street. I remember one neighbor cutting up a watermelon and handing it out to all the kids. It was so cool to feel like we were part of a tightknit community (we weren't), making like we lived in a small town. We played hopscotch by flashlight.

I couldn't have been more than 4, but I remember it vividly. To this day, I love it when the power goes out. It forces my family to reconnect. No TV, no computers, no distractions. Some of my fondest memories spent with my kids are from the few times the power went out, playing charades by candlelight.

So I got pretty excited when I heard about Earth Hour, an event created last year by the World Wildlife Fund in Syndey, Australia, when lots of folks turned out their lights for an hour. This year, they're getting pretty ambitious, hoping it will spread across the planet.

And why not? Tonight at 8 p.m., I'll be joining the (hopefully) millions of people around the world in making a statement about climate change by turning off my lights for an hour. And I'm going a step further -- turning off all the distractions. I'm planing to play charades. Heck, I might even eat some watermelon.

How much do you polute? Find out your carbon footprint with this handy calculator.

PS -- Check out Google's homepage today -- it's pretty cool! I wish I could do that on my blog.

Here's a great resource for those of us who'd like to put our votes where the green is.

Grist.org has put together a chart that allows us to see at a glance where the current presidential contenders stand on climate and energy issues.

How important is climate, energy and the environment to you when you enter the polling booth?

Three of my favorite member-submitted designs from the first Onusgear.com contest, from left: "Galaxy," "Flower Power," and "Chinese Lantern Trees"

I just got off the phone with Greg Burrington, a nice guy from Ohio who recently started a new environmentally conscious website. As a gardener and a citizen of our planet, his concerns are close to my heart. He put the onus on me to spread the word about his endeavor.

"We were inspired by the fact that Americans use about 500 billion plastic bags a year," he said, explaining that when he heard the statistics, he worked to "come up with a fun way to reduce that number."

That fun way turned out to be Onusgear.com, a member-based effort to promote the use of canvas shopping bags to reduce our footprints on landfills, and in turn, the earth.

Visitors have to register (membership is free) to submit original designs to the website. Each month, three designs are chosen by member-submitted votes and printed on canvas bags, which then are sold on the site for $21 apiece. Winners get 2 free bags bearing their designs and initials, plus -- depending on the strength of sales for their bags -- anywhere from $50 to $500.

The first monthly contest is underway, so here's a chance to be on Onusgear's inaugural bags.

Aerial view of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault | Photo courtesy Cary Fowler/Global Crop Diversity Trust

When I start seeds indoors for my vegetable garden every spring, invariably some don't grow. Last year, I sowed an entire package of carrots and didn't get one viable plant.

What if those were the only seeds I had -- and there were no grocery stores? I'd be up a creek, I'm afraid, without the proverbial paddle.

To avert such a calamity should disaster strike, Norway has created a "Doomsday Vault," and placed within it 4.5 million seed samples from around the world. At a cost of $9.1 million, the concrete vault dug into the side of a mountain was built to withstand climate change, wars, natural disasters such as earthquakes, and nuclear attacks in order to protect those seeds, and will reside deep in the permafrost of an Arctic mountain. Its steel airlock doors ensure a tight seal.

Its aim? To make it possible to re-establish crops should they be obliterated or become extinct.

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault will be officially inaugurated officially tomorrow, less than a year after crews started drilling for it in Norway's Svalbard archipelago.

Photo at left (courtesy Mari Tefre/Global Crop Diversity Trust) shows the inside of the Doomsday Vault.

But this isn't the first time anyone has thought of such a thing. There are some 1,400 other seed banks in the world. Svalbard is a Plan B of sorts, in case those others don't make it. A few have already bitten the dust: Seed banks in Iraq and Afghanistan have been destroyed by war, another in the Philippines was wiped out in a 2006 typhoon.

Though Norway owns the vault, each country that 'deposits' seeds will continue to own their contributions.

Armed guards protect against polar bears, but threats such as war aren't a likelihood in the isolated region, some 600 miles from the North Pole.

The vault is expected to last at least as long as Egypt's ancient pyramids.

It's good to know my carrots will have a backup.

Click the photo to launch the slide show.

I recently wrote about new trends in houseplants. As much as I love plants, I don't have many inside my home. It's just too much responsibility. I'm more concerned with feeding my kids, feeding my husband, feeding my dog. I just can't add any more to my plate. So, as you might guess, the few houseplants I do have are rather mangy looking. Outdoor plants are another story altogether. And when the season gets underway, well, let's just say my family goes hungry.

An interesting topic of concern to many these days, what with the whole 'Green' movement, is that houseplants actually can clean the air in your home. Research conducted by NASA scientist B.C. Wolverton has shown plants are the most efficient and cost-effective method of "indoor air pollution abatement." In other words, growing houseplants in your home will result in cleaner air in your home. And commercial properties have incorporated the idea in hopes of avoiding the so-called 'sick building syndrome.' Ever notice that hotels, office buildings and restaurants always seem to have a lot of plants scattered about?

Here are some common household toxins and the plants associated with removing them from the air you breathe.

It amazes me how much junk mail I get these days. Going to the mailbox no longer is the anticipation-filled happy trip it used to be. Now, as I walk the 10 steps to my postal receptacle, I'm usually filled with dread, as a big job sifting through the junk invariably follows.

And you can't just toss everything, either. Credit card offers need to be shredded, and the unmarked envelopes of sneaky marketers need to be opened, just in case there's something of value in there.

I resent the imposition on my valuable time. But even more so, I resent the process that makes me an unwilling party to filling a landfill. What's more, there are a few catalog companies that send me not one, but several copies of each issue. I'll never understand that one.

Well, whether you care about the environment, or you just want to cut down on the time required to sift through the day's offerings, there's a new website that can help. Catalogchoice.org is a free service that, in its short 3-month life, has already helped nearly 400,000 people to opt out of receiving more than 5 million unwanted catalogs. The site's owners say that's about 60 million catalogs in a year.

So today, catalogchoice.org gets the Garden Detective prize for saving the environment -- and my sanity.

Instead of spraying chemicals on your plants next spring, how about being a little proactive and rocking the boat for those pests now, before they get out of control.

It's not too late to get out there and till the soil. It might be a bit hard, but today's wet weather and above-freezing temps are sure to have softened it just enough.

Tilling now will disrupt the life cycles of many insects that can damage your plants next season. Breaking up the soil will expose larvae and pupae to the cold, harsh elements and make them vulnerable to, well, death, reducing their population next year.

This also will disrupt weed seeds that have settled in the bed. And that's a double-whammy. Insects that overwinter in your garden beds survive on weeds that sprout up before your perennials or vegetable plants take their places.

And be sure to clean up debris and dead plants, if you haven't already; they provide shelter and food for those overwintering pests.

Next, cover the area with mulch or leaves to keep it from eroding and to keep remaining weed seeds from germinating in spring.

Sesame Street's Kermit the Frog laments his lot in life in his song, "It's not easy being green." But practice makes perfect.

I admit it: I'm an imperfect environmentalist. I talk the talk and try to walk the walk, but every now and then I falter.

I compost (usually), (try to) use mostly renewable or at least biodegradable products and never, ever use pesticides in my garden. But it's the 'usuallys' and the 'try tos' that I want to talk about. Or rather the times when it doesn't work according to plan. Like the other day, when I secretly put a can in with the regular trash because the recyclables had just been taken out and I didn't want to have to put my coat and shoes on and walk to the curb with it. Or the times when my counter-top compost crock is full and so I just throw all those beautiful food scraps into the garbage because I'm too busy to take the crock outside and empty it into the composter. This usually happens when the weather is bad, which it is, generally, from November through April.

It all reminds me of the old Steve Martin joke: "Always carry a litter bag in your car. It doesn't take up much room, and if it gets too full you can always toss it out the window."

On the bright side, I've made a New Year's resolution to try harder. This was spurred by a little surprise I found in the stocking hanging from my fireplace mantle on Christmas morning. Though my husband insists it was a hint from Santa, I'm pretty sure he's behind the conspiracy. John, who works as a commercial real estate property manager, is on a renewed environmental frenzy. He has even completed courses for a "green buildings" certification. And he tossed a sideways glance at me just last night when I threw a tin foil ball in the trash.

The stocking surprise was a desk-sized calendar titled, fittingly, "The Lazy Environmentalist" and it contains "366 days of great tips for easy, stylish green living." I'm really excited about implementing the daily tips, offered one to a page, if for no other reason than I currently have only 365 days in a year. If the calendar lives up to its title, I might save a whole day by meticulously following its advice.

Today's tidbit (It's Islamic New Year, I've learned) is about Eco-Vacationing. It touts adventurecollection.com, a travel company that can customize high-end phenomenal experiences while practicing eco-conservatism and "responsible tourism."

OK. I can't take any time off right now, and even if I could, I certainly couldn't afford to "visit Europe's castles and reach out and touch the spires and turrets from...a hot-air balloon." Nor do I have the physical endurance to "scale the east face of Mount Everest." So I might have to pass on this tip and settle for the Disney World vacation I have planned to celebrate my daughter's 16th birthday this spring.

Yesterday's tip, however, hits closer to home: "For taking out the trash, use bags that are biodegradable so they won't still be here long after you're not. BioBags are made from next-generation plastic derived from corn -- as in corn on the cob." I really like that one. Check out biobagusa.com.

Are you a lazy environmentalist? Confess your sins below and pledge a fresh start.

Sesame Street's Kermit the Frog laments his lot in life in his song, "It's not easy being green."

1. Plant, Plant, Plant!

One of the simplest ways to give back to the planet without breaking your budget is to plant something. “Just plant something, anything," McCoy implores. "A single tree, shrub, bush or container will help the environment... Imagine if we all planted jut one new plant every year!” Trees and other plants remove CO2 from the air during photosynthesis, which cleans and oxygenates the environment. Plants also help prevent soil erosion, control water cycles, and moderate temperatures.

2. Start with Healthy Soil

Pesticides and fungicides aren’t safe for people, pets or even the planet. Eliminate the need for harmful garden chemicals by pampering ur plants with healthy, nutrient-rich soil from the get go. “Healthy soil, rich in minerals, nutrients and ’good bugs,' maximizes a plant’s own healthy immune system to let it naturally resist pests and diseases,” says McCoy. If you don't compost your own, look for organic potting soils like Organic Mechanics, available at Whole Foods stores this spring.

3. Reduce Fertilizer Use

Overfeeding isn't healthy for your plants, and all those extra nutrients end up polluting streams, bays, rivers and other watersheds. “Plants can only absorb so much fertilizer before the excess nutrients runoff into the groundwater,” says McCoy. Fertilizer runoff contaminates drinking water, kills fish and other sea creatures and causes problems like Red Tide. Reduce overfeeding by using environmentally responsible feeding practices, like the new slow-release fertilizer Dynamite. The 9-month plant food releases nutrients to the plant when the plant needs it most, and doesn't over- or under-feed, so they're maximum benefit and minimal wate and runoff. Plus, it’s low in phosphate, which makes it a nutritious, yet earth-friendly, plant food option.

4. Water Responsibly

If you don’t need to water your plants as often, you’ll save gallons of time and money, plus you'll conserve water. “Substitute older cultivars with new and improved varieties bred 'to drink responsibly',” advises McCoy. “Updated versions of classic plants like Knock Out® shrub roses require much less water than older cultivars."

5. Be Grass Green

“Most gardens have lawns, and in some cases the lawn IS the garden,” notes Ethne Clarke, garden editor of Traditional Home. She suggests mowing less frequently and cutting the grass longer so the top growth protects the roots, and watering less frequently to force the roots to grow deeper, which keeps them cooler and less susceptible to drought damage. She recommends using cornmeal or diatomaceous earth as an insecticide and pulling weeds before they set seed. For tough lawns, use a soil conditioner with good micro-organisms and aerate to encourage soil health.

6. Be Kind to Flora and Fauna

After pouring blood, sweat and tears into your garden, you don't want to wake up one morning to find that nocturnal visitors have made a midnight snack of your plants. All-natural repellents such as Deer Stopper reportedly are just as effective as their synthetic counterparts. To safeguard our children, pets and water supply, McCoy suggests organic and all-natural animal repellants such as DeerStopper from Messina Wild Life. Other products offered by the manufacturer of 100 % organic repellents work to keep geese, groundhogs, moles, mosquitos, rabbits and squirrels away.

Invasive weeds are non-native plants that somehow get into our environment and grow like crazy until they take over and, often, choke out our own native vegetation. This is bad, not only because plants that rightfully belong here have to fight a losing battle for survival, but also because of the trickle-down effect invasives have on insects and wildlife, which end up losing their valuable food sources.

Many invasive weeds have been brought over from Europe and Asia, either deliberately or accidentally. Deliberate introductions occur when immigrants or American tourists bring plants from other countries. These plants might have been courteous in their home countries, but in our environment they go berserk. Sometimes seeds inadvertently hitch a ride on cargo imported from overseas.

According to The Invasive Plant Council of New York State, invasive plants "pose one of the greatest threats to the conservation of biological diversity, and are a significant problem for land managers across New York State."

As a home gardener, you can do your part by diligently removing invasive weeds, refusing to purchase invasive species (yes, many invasive perennials are sold in local nurseries and by mail order,) and planting native alternatives instead.

Check with these local nurseries for native plants:

The Invasive Plant Council of New York State is currently targeting six invasive plants. Keep an eye out for these local offenders:

Diagrams courtesy The Invasive Plant Council of New York State