Hurricane Irene toppled or took limbs from more than 2,900 trees when it blew through Baltimore a few weeks ago. But the city's Recreation and Parks Department has turned that ecological tragedy into gardening gold.

Crews have ground up the fallen giants, amassing huge mounds of wood chips.  Now the city's making it available for free to any resident who wants to mulch around house or garden. 

Starting Saturday (Sept. 17), the mulch can be picked up at nine locations, which are open from dawn to dusk, seven days a week.  The chips are coarse, of the type commonly used for flower beds, underneath shrubs, around the base of trees and for walking paths.

The locations:

- Camp Small: immediately west of Jones Falls Expressway and north of Coldspring Lane.

- Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park: parking lot at Eagle Drive and Windsor Mill Road

- Carroll Park: parking lot inside Carroll Park. Enter from Washington Boulevard and drive straight to back off park.

- Middle Branch Park: end of parking lot in front of Rowing Club. Enter from Waterview Avenue.

- Cimaglia Park (Fort Holabird): parking lot. Enter from Pine Avenue off Dundalk Avenue.

- Clifton Park: west side of St. Lo Drive, 250 yards north of Sinclair Lane, north of railroad viaduct.

- Herring Run Park: Parkside Drive just southeast of Sinclair Lane.

- Mount Pleasant Ice Arena: Northern Parkway and Hillen Road at back of parking lot.

- Northwest Park: in parking lot between old gym and red house. Enter off West Rodgers Avenue at South Bend Road.

There's no limit on how much you can take, but no commercial vehicles or uses are allowed. Residents should bring their own boxes, bags or other containers for hauling it away. 

As they say in the late-night TV commercials, act now, while supplies last!

(Photo courtesy Baltimore Department of Recreation and Parks)

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 5:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
        

Maryland's ocean and Chesapeake Bay beaches ranked 16th cleanest for swimming and wading in the latest nationwide survey by the Natural Resources Defense Council. Delaware's Rehoboth and Dewey beaches, though, earned "superstar" ratings for the quality of their water and their monitoring.

Overall, seven percent of the water samples taken last year at the state's 70 coastal beaches exceeded health standards for bacteria that could make bathers sick, the national environmental group reported in "Testing the Waters," its 21st annual report on beach water quality.

Tolchester Beach Estates in Kent County was the worst, with 43 percent of samples registering unsafe bacteria levels, followed by Elk Neck State Park in Cecil County (26 percent) and the YMCA's Camp Tockwogh, a youth camp in Kent County.

The NRDC rated Ocean City's beach in the top tier of water quality, with just 3 percent of the weekly water samples there showing high bacteria counts. But NRDC noted that its "superstar" beaches like Rehoboth and Dewey had tallied zero bacteria exceedences in the past three years.

In the Baltimore area, unsafe bacteria levels were detected in 7 percent of the samples taken at Anne Arundel County beaches, and in just 2 percent of tests done at Baltimore County's beaches - though one beach there, in the Hammerman area of Gunpowder State Park, had swimming advisories in effect for 24 days.

The 7 percent of high bacteria measurements at Maryland's beaches last year represented an increase over 2009, the NRDC reports, when just 3 percent of samples exceeded daily maximum bacteria standards.

Maryland's beaches generally rated a little cleaner than the national average, according to the NRDC report, which found that 8 percent of samples exceeded health standards.

But beach closings and swim warnings nationwide shot up last year, the NRDC said, to its second highest level in the 21 years the group has been collecting beach water quality data. It said there were a variety of reasons for the increase, including heavy rains in Hawaii, the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and unknown sources of contamination along the California coast.

While the offshore drilling rig blowout forced beach closures in the Gulf, the main sources of contamination nationwide are storm-water runoff and weather-related sewage overflows, the NRDC says. It urged the federal government and states to do more to curb runoff, including requiring the use of porous pavement and installation of rain gardens and green roofs to soak up rainfall, rather than letting it wash pollutants into nearby streams.

"We still have a lot to do to clean up America’s beaches," said David Beckman, the NRDC's director of water programs. "A day at the beach doesn’t have to mean getting skin rash or dysentery as a souvenir of your vacation."

To see the entire report and a state-by-state breakdown, go here.

(Ocean City, Baltimore Sun photo by Gene Sweeney Jr.)

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 10:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)
        

Homeowners, if you've ever thought about ditching your messy, polluting gasoline-powered lawnmower, here's your chance: Swap it for a cleaner, deeply discounted new battery-powered job.

On Saturday (6/11), consumers can turn in their old gas-powered mowers for a marked-down rechargeable Black & Decker mower.  Buyers get 31 percent off the $379 sticker price for an 18-inch, 36-volt model and 33 percent off the $429 ticket for one with a 19-inch blade and a removable battery.

The swap will take place from noon to 4 p.m. at Cardinal Shehan School, 5407 Loch Raven Boulevard. But don't procrastinate - only 200 mowers will be on hand to sell.

Why go to the trouble? Because more than 17 million gallons of gas get spilled each year nationwide refueling lawn and garden equipment. Some of that winds up in the nearest water way, and some gets into the air, adding to our region's choking summer smog.  Even the gas that gets in the tank pollutes: a single 3.5-horsepower gas mower emits as much smog-forming exhaust as a new car driven 340 miles.

And if you let the mulching mower mulch and leave off bagging the grass clippings, you can have a healthy lawn without needing to fertilize as much - another help for stressed local streams and the Chesapeake Bay. That's why the city of Baltimore and the local watershed group Blue Water Baltimore have teamed up to co-sponsor B&D's mower swap. For more, go here.

(Old mowers being turned in for new electric ones. 2010 Baltimore Sun photo by Kim Hairston)

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 8:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Capt. John Smith, the early English explorer, inspired waves of European settlement and centuries of human use of the Chesapeake Bay when he described its shores in 1606 as a "fruitfull and delightsome land." How abundant is the bay today, and what lessons are there in looking back?

On Wednesday, June 8, from 7 - 9 p.m. at the Village Learning Place in downtown Baltimore, Henry Miller of the Maryland Humanities Council will discuss the history of the Bay's use by humans. Miller is director of research for Maryland's state museum at St. Mary's City, the state's first English colony and seventeenth-century capital.

Miller's overview of human consumption of the bay is free and open to the public, and light food and refreshments will be served. The Village Learning Place is at 2521 St. Paul St. For more, go here.

(17th century-style shallop off Annapolis as it reenacts 1608 bay exploration of Capt. John Smith, 2007 Baltimore Sun photo by Kim Hairston) 

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 10:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

With turf grass arguably Maryland's largest crop these days, there are growing calls for city and suburban dwellers to do their part to help restore the Chesapeake Bay by cutting back on fertilizing their lawns.

Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin, D-Md, joined environmental activists and the head of Baltimore's Waterfront Partnership at the harbor's edge in Fells Point today to push for passage of state and federal government action to reduce pollution from urban and suburban fertilizer.

"All of us can do a better job in how we manage our particular lawns," Cardin said during the press conference, which was staged next to a rectangular patch of grass jutting out into the harbor.  But Cardin added that government has a role to play in helping citizens and communities do what they need to do.

Noting that Maryland has 1.3 million acres of turf grass, Megan Cronin of Environment Maryland urged the state Senate to approve legislation that would regulate the nutrient content of lawn fertilizer and how it is to be applied.  The group released a report on lawn fertilizer, which you can read here.

More than a fifth of Maryland's land in the bay watershed is covered in grass, and in metro areas it's even more.  About a third of Anne Arundel County is turf, according to Chris Trumbauer, a county councilman and the West/Rhode Riverkeeper.

In Baltimore, the business-led Waterfront Partnership is pledging to do its part for cleaning up the Inner Harbor by changing how it tends the patches of green stretching from Fells Point around to Federal Hill. The group plans to limit the amount of nitrogen put down to green up those urban lawns, for instance, and cut back on fertilizing at all in sensitive areas closest to the water, said Laurie Schwartz, the group's executive director.

While supporting state and local action, Cardin also said he hoped his fellow senators would join him in opposing cuts in federal funding for the Environmental Protection Agency to enforce its "pollution diet' for the bay. 

The House cuts in federal spending this year "would be devastating to the Chesapeake Bay," Cardin said of the rider adopted at the behest of a Virginia congressman to keep EPA from going forward with its diet, or total maximum daily load, for nutrients polluting the bay.

The Maryland senator pointed out that the bay reauthorization bill he sponsored, which failed to pass last year, would have provided extra federal funds to help communities deal with runoff of fertilizer and other pollutants.  Cardin said with the GOP in control of the House and seemingly intent on blocking EPA action on the bay and a number of other environmental regulations, "It's going to be tough to pass anything."

Continue reading "Going less green on lawns to help the Bay" »

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 4:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Old medicines sitting around the house are a health and safety hazard, and flushing them or tossing them in the trash is bad for the environment.

What to do? Take your unused or expired pills to one of 1,700 dropoff sites on Saturday that are primed to take prescription or over-the-counter medications and properly dispose of them.  No liquid meds, just pills or powders.

Getting rid of unused medications prevents intentional misuse or abuse, and it also guards against accidental poisoning of children and pets who may get into them.  Flushing them down the sink or toilet, or throwing them away, merely transfers the risk to the environment, as they may get into streams from wastewater treatment plants or seep out of landfills into ground water.  For more on how pharmaceuticals are showing up in the environment, go here.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency is sponsoring the drug take-back, to be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Most, if not all, of the drop-off sites are police stations.  There are plenty throughout the Baltimore-Washington area.  For one near you, go here and enter your ZIP code (the city-state menu doesn't seem to be working).

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 10:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

If you can get to Washington in the next few days, you'll get a chance to catch a striking photo exhibit on Capitol Hill depicting the Chesapeake Bay' s bounty and its troubles.

The International League of Conservation Photographers, in collaboration with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, staged a RAVE this summer (Rapid Assessment Visual Expedition), dispatching nine of its members across the bay watershed. A selection of their work - just 30 of the many pictures taken - are on display through Friday (Sept. 24).

The exhibit is free and open to the public, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., in the Rotunda of the Russell Senate office building, at Constitution Avenue and 1st Street Northeast.  For those who can't get there, a portion of the exhibit can be seen on the CBF website.

(Photo courtesy Krista Schlyer)

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 1:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

If you're fascinated by - or even slightly curious about - snakes, turtles, and frogs, then slither, plod or jump on over to the Fairgrounds in Timonium this weekend to check out the Mid-Atlantic Reptile Show. 

Launched by reptile lover Tim Hoen - whose day job is as a lab technician at Johns Hopkins - the show put on by the MARS Preservation Fund is in its 18th year.  Proceeds go to purchase threatened rain forest in Costa Rica.  The website says nearly 3,000 acres have been bought so far.

There's a reception tonight (Friday), sponsored by Reptile Magazine, plus free lectures afterward.  Then, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.,, captive-born reptiles and amphibians will be on display and for sale.  There'll also be books, souvenirs, supplies, educational exhibits, door prizes, raffles, artwork and facepainting.  And there'll be an auction Saturday to benefit Rainforest Conservation.

It's $9 for adults and $7 for their elders and children 6-12.  Kids under 5 are free (No mention of 5-year-olds - huh?)  For the true fan, there's a $13 weekend pass. And on Sunday, every kid accompanied by an adult get in free.  For more, go here.

(Asian Burmese Mountain Tortoise eating its greens; 2004 Baltimore Sun photo by Monica Lopossay)

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 9:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

You won't get them here, but you will if you hustle over to a "growshop" in Baltimore this evening (Sept. 13).

Halle Van der Gaag, director of the Jones Falls Watershed Association and Celeste Amato, director of Baltimore city's Cleaner Greener initiative, will talk about storm-water management and provide the aforementioned top 10 tips on making our streams, harbor and Bay cleaner.

The session, from 6 - 8 p.m., is at Puffs & Pastries, 830 W. 36th St. 21211. It's put on by Baltimore Green Works, Parks & People Foundation and the city's Department of Recreation and Parks.   (And thanks to Urbanite for the reminder to this forgetful blogger!)

For more information or to RSVP, contact Abby Cocke at 410.448.5663 x122 or abby.cocke@parksandpeople.org

(Rain barrel installation at St. John's College, Annapolis, 2009 Baltimore Sun photo by Algerina Perna)

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Chesapeake Bay, DIY, Events, News, Tips, Urban Issues, Volunteer
        

Want to know the latest green news as soon as it happens?  Why not sign up for text alerts from The Baltimore Sun?

Breaking news text alerts will keep you abreast of the latest environmental developments. Weather text alerts can keep you posted on heat and air-quality advisories. And there's even a beach forecast alert every Friday through the season.

If you act before midnight Sunday (Aug. 15), you can enter to win a Droid X when you sign up.  But if you miss that deadline, you can still stay in the know by signing up here.

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 7:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Maryland health officials are warning people to take precautions if they swim or fish in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, saying that the summer's heat and the bay's pollution have made water conditions ripe for growth of dangerous vibrio bacteria.

Naturally occurring, vibrio can cause gastrointestinal distress and nasty skin infections — and they can be deadly for people with compromised immune systems, including those with cancer or diabetes.  The bacteria thrive in warmer waters, which we've had with this record-hot summer, and in waters enriched by nutrients, as the Bay is.

There've been 24 cases of vibrio reported in Maryland so far this year. close to the average annual count of 30.  Though none of the cases this year has been fatal, there have been eight hospitalizations, and there've been seven deaths attributed to vibrio since 2007.  Officials note that the season this year is far from over and many cases likely go unreported.

The state health alert was issued this week after the Patuxent Riverkeeper, Fred Tutman, drew media attention to a handfull of cases in Calvert County.  Those cases were first reported by Rona Kobell, a former Sun reporter, on a new blog produced by The Bay Journal.  (Quite a splash for a  new blog!)  The county health officer, who initially pooh-poohed the number of cases there, now apparently plans to post warnings at local beaches.

Continue reading "Heat, pollution make Bay ripe for dangerous bacteria" »

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Good news (for a change). It seems phosphate-free dishwasher detergents are getting better at removing food stuck on plates, dishes and glasses.

Just in time, too, since the old standby dish soaps containing phosphorus have been banned in Maryland and 15 other states, as of July 1.  Phosphorus is out because it stimulates algae growth in water, a major problem in the Chesapeake Bay.

Problem is, though, phosphorus also is a proven dish grime fighter.  When Consumer Reports checked last year, before the bans took effect, phosphate-free detergents tended to do worse than brands containing phosphorus.

In the September issue, the consumer mag still didn't find any phosphate-free brands that did an excellent job overall of cleaning dishes.  But after testing them against food smeared and then microwaved on dishes, the staff did rate seven "very good," which is an improvement over its last evaluation.

Finish had the two highest-rated products this time, with two from Cascade right behind.  But when looking for the best phos-free dish soaps, CR cautions not to shop solely by brand name, as products vary in performance.

You'll have to get the mag to see the full analysis, but here are a few tips:  Bleaches don't seem to matter, though enzymes and the product's physical form do.  The best cleaners were tablets or pacs, while gels trailed in the ratings. 

(Images courtesy Consumer Reports)

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 6:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Tired of your gas-hog lawn mower? If you move fast, you can trade it in next weekend at Camden Yards for a battery-powered electric grass cutter.

In a "special arrangement" with the Maryland Department of the Environment and Clean Air Partners, Marylanders can buy a deeply discounted Neuton lawn mower.  You could save up to $324 on a 19-inch bagger-mulcher job that lists for $499.

If you bite, you'll do your small bit to reduce summer smog, as the old mowers get scrapped and recycled.  Gas mowers account for 5 percent of all air pollution in the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates.  And an hour of mowing with one produces as much smog-forming pollution as driving 350 miles. 

This green mower may not appeal to all lawn lickers, though.  The Neuton CE 6.4 got a so-so review from Consumer Reports.  Ease of use and handling were pluses, but bagging and mulching "only fair."  CR also found the battery on its tested model only lasted 45 minutes - not suitable for a big yard.  There are other cordless electric mowers CR rated more highly, made by the usual major mower manufacturers.  But then again, you probably won't be able to find one new at the prices offered under this deal.

To get in on the "great mower exchange," participants need to register online, then bring their old gas mower (and the $$) to Camden Yards Lot C on Saturday, Aug. 14 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.  The company's only selling 1,000 of its mowers, so it's first come first served. 

(Neuton photo) 

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 6:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

For a different way to spend a summer Sunday - or something to do while waiting for the Ocean City traffic to clear - how about a leisurely tour of the scenic farms, parks, preserves and historic homes of the Eastern Shore?

The Eastern Shore Land Conservancy - celebrating its 20th anniversary this year - kicks off its summer tour series this Sunday (June 20) by providing directions to some choice spots in Talbot County - including ones rarely if ever open to the public. Don't know if the itinerary takes you to picturesque Neavitt (harbor seen at left), but there's a mix of historic homes and at least one park, all preserved through the conservancy's work.

"It’s a great opportunity to look past all of the development on the Eastern Shore and appreciate the rural areas that are thriving,” Rob Etgen, ESLC Executive Director, says on the group's website.

It's also a bit of a fund-raiser. The $25 ticket price covers all five tours, though, which are offered through the summer and into the fall.  Sites to be visited are open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Tours are self-guided, and tickets must be purchased before maps and directions are provided. To join the tour this Sunday, contact Jennifer Pollard at 443-480-0282. For later tours of Cecil, Queen Annes and Caroline, Dorchester and Kent counties, reach her at 410-827-9756 ext. 155 or go here.

(2007 Baltimore Sun photo, Neavitt MD by Barbara Haddock Taylor) 

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 1:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

The summer travel season is upon us, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency wants you to go green while on the road.

The federal agency says when you travel you should make an effort to stay in Energy Star labeled hotels and then pay attention to your own behavior once you're there.  

The hotels are independently verified to meet energy efficiency performance levels set by EPA. They perform in the top 25 percent of hotels nationwide, use at least 35 percent less energy and emit at least 35 percent less greenhouse gas emissions than their peers.

And when you get to the hotel, there are still more things you can do to save energy. Here's EPA's quick list:

+turn off the lights and TV when leaving the hotel room;
+adjust the thermostat to an energy-saving setting so it doesn’t heat or cool the room while empty;
+unplug electronics such as cell phones chargers and laptops when not in use;
+open curtains to take advantage of daylight when possible;
+and re-use linens to save both water and energy.
 
EPA says the lodging industry spends more than $7.5 billion on energy a year. A 10 percent reduction would save $750 million and reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 6 million tons.

To find an Energy Star hotel, go to here and to get more information on the Energy Star label and the lodging industry, click here.

Baltimore Sun file photo of the Fairfield Inn on President Street, Baltimore's first green certified hotel/Jed Kirschbaum

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 10:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Tips
        

My colleague Kelly Brewington has a thoughtful piece in the Baltimore Sun today on the dilemma people face, especially parents, in sorting through the confusing information and advice about the health hazards posed by the many chemicals used to make a panoply of consumer products.

The President's Cancer Panel recently issued a 240-page report warning that "the true burden of environmentally induced cancers has been grossly underestimated" and urging steps be taken to reduce people's broad exposure to carcinogens. 

The panel's assertion has been disputed by the American Cancer Society, which argues that lifestyle factors like smoking and diet are the main causes of cancer, and environmental exposures are involved in only a small share of cases.

It's hard to know what to do when even health experts can't agree.  But as Kelly's story points out, some suggest people can and should look for all ways to reduce cancer, stopping or shying away from smoking, eating right and avoiding products with toxic or potentially toxic ingredients.  It can be overwhelming, though, when you consider all the things that are or might be hazardous. 

I felt that way recently after skimming through National Geographic's Green Guide Families, an encyclopedic 400-page rundown on virtually everything about which concerns have been raised, from cell phones to vaccines.  Not one thing did they advise you not to worry about, it seemed, no matter how thin or discounted the evidence of potential harm.  I finished wishing the authors or someone could provide the average person a little triage, at least a ranking of what to avoid or worry about most to least.

On some things, though, many on both sides of the environment/lifestyle cancer debate seem to agree.  More study is needed of toxic substances, and government oversight needs to be tightened to assure the safety of what's in the products we all consume, young and old.  Meanwhile, they suggest at least a little prudent avoidance.

What products do you avoid and why?  Please share if you have any tips for parents ore the rest of us about how to navigate the confusing and conflicting advice about what causes cancer and how to prevent it.

(Baltimore Sun photo by Amy Davis)

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

Got a good looking garden or landscape that is also easy on the planet? The Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council wants to see it.

The group, which promotes conservation-based gardening in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, is sponsoring a contest that opens for applications June 1 and closes in September. Winners announced in November (not sure of the prizes yet.)

"This is a chance to showcase gardens and landscapes that please the environment as well as the eye. Novice gardeners, students, schools, businesses and professionals are all welcome to enter," according to the group.

Click here for more information.

And in the meantime, if you want to create such a conservation-oriented garden or landscape, the group has some tips:

Continue reading "Have or want an eye-catching, eco-friendly garden?" »

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Contests, Tips
        

What better way to spend a May weekend than outdoors, exploring one of the largest urban woodland parks on the East Coast?

On Saturday, CampFire USA Baltimore is offering guided hikes in Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park, followed by music and refreshments.  If you haven't been there before, it's a sylvan, streamside retreat on the city's West Side, with stone dwellings and other remnants of Baltimore's history tucked away amid the trees.

It's for a good cause - or causes, actually.  Proceeds from the Urban Hike benefit CampFire USA Baltimore, which provides after-school programs for city kids that are meant to help kids learn about the environment, work together and manage conflicts.  It'll also help your kids connect with nature - something studies show they're not getting enough of, and are poorer for it.  

Admission is $15 for adults, free for kids under 12. The hiking begins at 9 a.m., at the Winans Meadow trailhead, with celebration lasting until noon at the Cardin Pavilion.  Go here for tickets, directions or other details.  For more info, email info@discovercfusa.org or call 443-524-2591.

(2002 Baltimore Sun photo Gwynns Falls Trail by Jerry Jackson)

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 8:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

With Baltimore's cruise business growing, here's a sobering report card for green travelers.

Friends of the Earth, in its second annual assessment of the environmental performance of cruise lines, finds many of those "love boats" still pollute the air and water more than they need to, fouling the very places they're taking vacationers to see.

"For the second year in a row, we've found that cruise lines are doing less than they can to limit the environmental impact of their ships," Marcie Keever, the group's Clean Vessels Campaign director, said in a release accompanying the report.

Only a few cruise lines, for example, have retrofitted their ships to plug into available portside electricity when docked, reducing their air pollution. About a third apparently still dump raw or minimally treated sewage overboard.  And only about a third make it easy for prospective customers to learn online about the cruise lines' environmental practices and performance. 

Cruise Lines International Association, an industry group, says on its website that recent pollution violations by cruise ships have served as a wake-up call to member companies to redouble their efforts to improve their environmental performance.

Not much has changed from last year's report card, though. Disney and Royal Caribbean improved their grades, while Holland America and Princess lost groud. 

Of the three rated cruise lines that serve Baltimore, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean got a D-plus, and Carnival a D-minus.   American Cruise Lines, which sails the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic coast from Baltimore, wasn't rated.

To see the ratings, go here.

UPDATE:  The Cruise Lines Industry Association, which disputed the Friends' earlier report card, issued a statement saying this one was flawed and arbitrary as well. The industry group says its ships treat all "blackwater" aka sewage before discharging it, and it contends its members "meet and often exceed all applicable international and federal environmental standards."  For more, go here.

(2009 Baltimore Sun photo by Algerina Perna)

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 10:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Maryland Public Television is focusing on the Chesapeake Bay all week, starting tonight (April 18), with a series of documentaries and other programs delving into and soaring over North America's largest estuary.

There'll be looks at skipjacks and watermen, farmers and food, plus an aerial tour of the bay. And it'll be capped off on April 25 with a "volunteer-a-thon," encouraging viewers for a change to give of their time and energy, not just their money.  With the 40th anniversary of Earth Day this week, there'll also be some other green programming sprinkled in, including a look at the life of Rachel Carson.

At MPT's Chesapeake Bay Week website, you can also share your own bay memories, pick up conservation tips and more.  For the complete Chesapeake Bay Week lineup, go here.

(2002 photo of Labor Day skipjack race from Deal Island, by Doug Kapustin for The Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 9:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Want to know how to get from Here to There on a bike? Google has partnered with the Rails-to- Trails Conservancy people to map it all out for you.

If you go to maps.google.com, click on directions and choose "bicycling." You can also get directions for walking, public transportation or by car.

It's a pretty nifty feature. You get line by line directions and a map, as well as estimated mileage and time spent on each leg.

If you want more info on trails, go to www.traillink.com, a conservancy site that is interactive. You can add trails and pictures.

The conservancy is the group that works to turn old railroad lines into hiking and biking trails, and has offered Google access to its database of 15,000 miles of trails.

Someone give it a go and let us know how it works.

Google sample map

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 12:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Tips
        

If you're truly green, it isn't something you trot out just for Earth Day. So with the card-makers' and florists' favorite holiday bearing down on us, here are a few tips we've seen recently for showing your love for Mother Nature as well as your sweetheart on Valentine's Day.

Make a fancy dinner at home. Instead of dining out, cook your own Valentine's feast, suggests Jessica Harlan at RecycleBank. Or break with tradition, she says, and give your true love a potted plant instead of a dozen red roses, with all the environmental baggage they may carry.

Rather than rush to the store for a big heart-shaped box of sweets for your sweet, Harlan advises, why not make your own truffles? She links to a few recipes here. If you're cooking-challenged (guys), she strongly suggests you shop for organic, fair-trade chocolates. Here's a rundown of brands, courtesy of Mother Earth News.

In the DIY tradition, Harlan also urges the truly green make their own jewelry and cards, rather than buy them. And if you simply must say it with diamonds, she instructs you to insist on conflict-free stones. For those more inclined to fashion gifts, she also advises where to find eco-friendly lingerie, made of bamboo (!), organic cotton, hemp and silk.

Finally, the truly committed earth lover could always skip the conventional gift- and card-giving altogether and make a green statement in his or her true love's honor. One heart-fluttering option - adopt a fin or humpback whale.

For as little as $40 per whale ($50 for a mother and calf pair), your adoption would support the College of the Atlantic's research on cetaceans. Your intended wouldn't be empty-handed, either. He or she would get a photograph of "an individually identfied whale", a personalized adoption certificate and a handy waterproof field guide to whales.

Sadly, the opportunity for this unusually green expression of love has already past - orders had to be placed by Feb. 10. But if you think it's neat anyway, here's the link.

Of course, many of these green alternatives for Valentine's Day take a little extra time and effort.  If you don't have any of those to spare, you can always take comfort as you crowd the card and candy counters in thinking about how you're stimulating our lagging economy.   And remember, it's the thought that counts.

For more to do (and buy) on Valentine's Day, check out this site at baltimoresun.com

(Valentine: AP Photo/The Rawlins Daily Times, Kathy Johnson; Whale: 2006 AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 4:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

We've posted about this before, but we've been getting fresh warnings about using lawn fertilizer to melt ice.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Maryland Department of Agriculture, the Maryland Cooperative Extension and others ask that people don't use fertilizers the nitrogen and phosphorus are harmful to the bay.

The Bay Foundation says the fertilzers "stimulate large algae blooms which ultimate result in dramatically reduced oxygen levels. If applied to hard surfaces, fertilizer ultimately washes off into nearby creeks and rivers, and increases pollution."

In addition, be careful with deicers that contain urea. It's also harmful to the environment.

Further, overuse of deicers can also ruin concrete sidewalks, metal on cars and siding on houses, the extension service says.

The service recommends mixing deicer with water, wet sand or ashes, so you use less.

Or, deice with no chemicals. Use some warm water mixed with some table salt instead. You can use sand, ashes or plain kitty litter for traction, though not melting.

You can put down a tarp on dry sidewalks or stairs before an ice storm. Or, just use a little muscle like the guy in this picture and chip it away.

Baltimore Sun photo/Amy Davis

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 2:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Chesapeake Bay, Tips
        

The below normal temps are going to hang around for now and there might even be more snow. (Click here for the forecast.) So, it seems like a good time to remind everyone that this kind of weather can be dangerous. Some tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are posted on the Sun's health blog that might be of use now.

Most are common sense, but they are worth repeating: Wear layers in the cold, be on the lookout for frostbite and hyprothermia, don't use the oven or candles or dangerous alternative-fuel generators inside for warmth and remember to take a winter weather kit in a car including flashlights with batteries, water, blankets and first-aid supplies.

Baltimore Sun file photo/Amy Davis

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 10:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Tips
        

I wrote a story today about how some people are trying to mind the earth a little more this Christmas by taking steps to reduce waste.

They are doing things like making gifts or buying local, recycling the tree, using LED lights, sending e-cards instead of paper and giving to charity instead of gift giving.

Little steps can mean a lot. An extra five million tons of waste is generated each Christmas and most of it is wrapping paper, according to the Clean Air Council -- which I read on the Nature Conservancy's blog about making the holidays a little greener.

The blog offers these tips, including: giving non-matieral gifts such as concert tickets, organizing a media swap of cds and movies, giving to charity instead of gift giving, ditching the wrapping paper or using Sunday comics (from The Sun!), send e-cards, eat seasonal produce instead of cookies and choose LED Christmas lights.

So, other ideas for reducing holiday waste -- or reducing waste the rest of the year?

Los Angeles Times photo of wrapping from scraps

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 2:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Tips
        

Feeling a little overwhelmed by the season? Maybe you need a little outdoor time. This from the folks at the National Wildlife Federation.

They say nature is a great antidote for all the craziness of this time of year. It can "lower the stress level, revive the spirits, and add to the enchantment of the season." They've launched a "Be Out There" campaign that encourages:

-Outdoor tree-trimming. They say adopt a tree in your yard or neighborhood. Then, find out what kind it is and visit it at least once every season, decorate it with things birds like to eat. Take a look at ideas at www.greenhour.org/birdcafe.
 
-Scavenger Hunts. Make up a list for the kids of natural objects to find in the yard or neighborhood including pinecones, acorns and different shape leaves. The first to find everything win.
 
-Decorating with Mother Nature. Use the items the kids find to create holiday centerpieces, wreaths or other holiday décor.
 
-Christmas bird counting. Learn about the birds and help scientists monitor their health and well-being. Find out about this at www.audubon.org/Bird/cbc. 

Continue reading "Go play outside to reduce holiday stress" »

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Tips
        

Here's the latest from Gov. Martin O’Malley and the state Department of Natural Resources: Celebrate the holiday season by going green: 
  
• Use low energy lights and timers.  The officials say LED lights use 90 percent less energy than conventional lights and can save up to $50 in energy bills.  Using timers on holiday lights so they aren't on during the day can also cut the power bill.  
 
• Buy local. Buying gifts and food at local businesses helps support the local owners, the local economy and the environment. There's less packing, shipping and carbon emissions. There's a buy local challenge you can read about here. You can read about main street shopping here.

• Travel wisely. Taking fewer things will save gas and save on luggage fees, the officials say. Driving conservatively, and avoiding congestion, can increase your fuel efficiency by 33 percent. Make sure to pump up your tires as well. Or even better, take public transportation or carpool to the mall.
 
• Cut a tree, plant a tree. This is self explanatory. But the state wants you to register that new tree at www.trees.maryland.gov. You can also give the Gift of Trees through the Tree-Mendous Maryland program at www.shopdnr.com. 

Continue reading "The Gov says go green this holiday season" »

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Tips
        

We're not really slated to get much more than an inch of snow, and may not see a single flake, but Baltimore Public Works says it's a good time to ask for some help with winter-weather chores. The officials would like you to clear snow and ice from around fire hydrants and from around your area storm drains.

If the drains get clogged, intersections, and your basement, could flood as snow melts, they said.

They also want everyone to pay attention to the radio and TV for updates on trash and recycling pickup. You can also call 311 in the city if you have a question. If it's dangerous outside, the truck drivers won't be out. And, really, we shouldn't be either.

Baltimore Sun file photo of folks clearing snow from near a storm drain/Kim Hairston

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 5:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Tips
        

Conservation and art take wing together this weekend at the 39th annual Waterfowl Festival in Easton, for a three-day extravaganza celebrating the Chesapeake Bay's wildlife and outdoors heritage.

Starting Friday, Nov. 13, there'll be antique and contemporary decoys to view (and buy), plus paintings, photos and other arts and crafts, fly-fishing and retriever dog demonstrations as well as goose- and duck-calling contests. Besides the arts and crafts, there'll be food and music, plus outdoor gear for shoppers.

The event has raised more than $5 million in donations for wildlife conservation projects. Besides the good cause, it's quite a scene. Festivities begin at 10 a.m., and admission is $10 for all three days, with kids under $12 free.

For tickets or information, go here or call 410-822-4567.

(2004 Associated Press photo)

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Buy local, Chesapeake Bay, Events, Shopping, Tips
        

We B'More Green bloggers got this message below from reader Deanna. Anyone have ideas?

Now that my attention has turned to Thanksgiving and Christmas, I started taking inventory of my current stock of items. I have been storing away old Xmas cards for 10 years now. Online search consistently show St. Judes Ranch as a place to donate these cards. I would rather donate them to a local charity if at all possible. Do you know of any who can use them?

Fellow B'More Green blogger Christy Zuccarini offered this:

You might consider donating your cards to Art With a Heart -- they're a local nonprofit that provides interactive, hands-on activities to disadvantaged families and children, and to people with developmental and physical challenges. Many of the arts and crafts they make they end up selling for profit. You can email them at info@artwithaheart.net.

Anyone else know of a local charity?

Shutterfly launches 'support a cause' holiday cards/Associated Press

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 4:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Tips
        

In case you don't watch much TV, you might not have heard - a new Ken Burns epic debuts this weekend - "The National Parks, America's Best Idea."

If you love parks, the outdoors or history, you'll probably want to check it out. Burns, who's filmed histories of the Civil War, baseball, jazz, the West, the Second World War and more, spent six years compiling footage and stories from national parks in every corner of the land - Acadia, Alaska, the Everglades, the Grand Canyon and Yosemite, to name just some.

It airs on PBS over six nights, starting Sunday Sept. 27 at 8 p.m. If you can't wait, or want to know more, go here for a preview and here to get a snapshot of the parks' history.

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 9:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Tips
        

There's a newly green dry cleaner in town: the Glyndon Lord Baltimore Cleaners.  The shop uses GreenEarth Cleaning, a solicone-based solution, which is like sand, instead of perchloroethylene. Perc is used by most dry cleaners and is considered a health and environmental hazard by the Environmental Protection Agency.

A few options for greener cleaning have cropped up in recent years, and experts don't agree that they are all perfect alternatives.

Here's what the Union of Concerned Scientists says about the silicone method: "Silicone cleaning is a proprietary technology that employs a silicone-based solvent to clean clothes. The solvent itself is currently considered safe for the environment because it degrades to sand, water, and carbon dioxide, but it has caused cancer in lab animals in EPA studies. In addition, it is manufactured using chlorine, which can generate harmful dioxin emissions."

The group points to other methods, including wet cleaning, which uses water and special computer-controlled washers and dryers and mild detergent. The EPA considers this among the safest pro cleaning methods. There is also carbon dioxide cleaning that uses liquid CO2 captured as a by-product of industrial processes. It the same stuff used to carbonate soda.

You fashionistas could consider not dry cleaning at all. Some stuff can go in the gentle cycle or be hand washed. You could try that special stuff meant to be used in the dryer in a bag. Or you could try not buying stuff labelled "dry clean only."

For its part, Glyndon Lord Baltimore Cleaners says it continues to research the best methods. In the meantime, operators also recycle hangers and containers, use earth-friendly soaps to clean most wet-cleaned clothes, drive high-mileage diesel vans and supply reusable bags to customers.

Anyone use Glyndon? Other dry cleaners. Or have you found alternative methods that are eco-conscious and actually clean?

Photo courtesy of außerirdische sind gesund via flickr

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 2:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Air Pollution, Fashion, Going Green, Products, Tips
        

CDs, DVDs, and computer discs can contribute to household clutter. Sometimes you have to take a hard look and be honest: How often do you really watch "Almost Famous"? And if the songs are not on your MP3 player, will you really miss those CDs? You can always donate them to the library or thrift shops or try to sell them. But here are some other ways to help thin out those piles:

• Coasters: eHow, Scrapdash and design*sponge are just a few of the many tutorials out there.

• Relfectors: Many sites suggest using the CDs as reflectors on your bike or mailbox. They can also be used in the garden to scare away birds.

 • Art: Break up the CDs to create mosaics or this cool light catcher by Planet Green

• More: Interbent has 22 ways to reuse CDs, including an iPod doc and disco ball.

 Now it's your turn. Have done anything cools with old CDs? Leave a comment below. (AP photo)

Posted by baltimoresun.com at 6:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: DIY, Reuse Me, Tips
        

A bike commuter resource guide is now available from the Baltimore Metropolitan Council.

It talks about getting your bike ready and laws and offers maps and routes, as well. 

There's also information about combining your biking with other forms of public transportation. You may not know, but you are allowed to bring your bike on light rail and the subway in Baltimore, and the public buses now also have racks. 

There certainly has been a lot of talk about safety and security when it comes to biking in the city. But the council and area officials say they're are working on the issues.

They're adding more bike lanes and racks. More than 100 racks have been added in the region this year, and you can request a rack in your area here.

Further new bike routes are being planned for Bolton Hill, Reservoir Hill and Lake Avenue. They'll either connect existing routes or planned routes.

Hopefully, the number of accidents and thefts can be reduced.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: News, Tips, Urban Issues
        

The Eco-Dentistry Association wants everyone to turn off the tap while they brush their teeth, and it's pressing the message with a Healthcare Environmental Awareness Week from Sept. 13-19.

The group, whose members are dental professionals who encourage eco-friendly practices, says the typical person wastes about 90 glasses of water every day by running the water while they brush.

That means Americans pour some 27 billion glasses of drinking water down the drain every day. That's a big deal, especially considering that the World Water Council estimates that one out of six people around the globe live without clean drinking water.

They've named the campaign “Save 90-A-Day.”

Not sure I need to pass on the specifics, but the group recommends: Wetting your toothbrush under the water, turning off the tap, applying toothpaste, brushing your teeth for 2 minutes, filling a small glass with water, rinsing and swishing with water from the glass and telling a friend or family member to do the same.

Image courtesy of the Eco-Dentisty Association

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 6:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Tips
        

B'More Green reader Lori passed on this nifty little list she found on a site called re-nest, which is design stuff for green homes. It's 10 things you didn't know you could recycle.

There are some good ones like CD cases (www.greendisk.com) , packing peanuts (www.loosefillpackaging.com) and potato chip bags (www.terracycle.net).

Maybe someone out there will test these out and let us know how it goes?

Associated Press file photo

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Tips
        

Want to enjoy some tasty seafood, prepared sustainably, and learn how to do it yourself? The National Aquarium has scheduled a dining series this fall and winter, featuring chefs from three local restaurants.

Dubbed "Fresh Thoughts," the series begins Sept. 22 with Chef Galen Sampson of the Dogwood offering a cooking demonstration as well as a three-course meal featuring oysters (from a sustainable source, of course). The Dogwood ought to know from sustainability - the Hampden eatery was named best sustainable restaurant by Baltimore Magazine in 2008.

The second dinner Nov. 3 features trout prepared by Chef John Shields of Gertrude's, and the last of the series will be in January, featuring a chef from Roy's. The events all include cooking demonstrations, plus an opportunity to stroll through the aquarium after dinner. Participants will be given recipes and information about where to buy sustainable local seafood.

Cost is $79 for aquarium members, $89 for non-members. Reservations are required. For more info, go here.

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 8:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Tips
        

Want to save water and energy? Want to reduce your impact on the environment around you? Don't know where to start? 

The Green Building Institute, a Jessup-based nonprofit that promotes sustainable building, is planning a 10-part series of classes for homeowners, beginning Sept. 15, on going green.

There will be all kinds of topics covered from saving on your utility bill and tax incentives to water management and landscaping. Officials at the institute hope to help cut through the red tape and confusion about steps people can take to save money and the planet at the same time.

The classes are offered around Maryland and Northern Virginia and run in the evenings from 7 p.m.-9 p.m. They are $55 for adults unless you're a member.

I'm going to try and go to one of the early classes, so I'll report back.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 10:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: DIY, Going Green, Tips
        

I'm just back from a few days off to move to my new house in South Baltimore. We're talking about ways to clean green and we're talking about getting a rain barrel. But more immediately,  we're looking for tips on what to do with all the stuff we don't want.

We've gone to Goodwill with clothes and kitchen stuff, to the Book Escape with books (there's also the Book Thing that gives away books), Sound Garden with CDs and Second Chance for a little give and take. And we plan to take our old running shoes to Falls Road Running Store or Holabird Sports.

We're also recycling a lot of cardboard!

But what do we do with the foam peanuts used in packaging? What about compact disk cases? VHS tapes? Old wood and metal? Suggestions welcome.

AP photo of cardboard being recycled

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 1:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: Tips
        

On a typical summer evening, I sit on my front porch with a cool drink and watch the world go by. It’s a blissful way to unwind after a long day at work. Unfortunately this quiet, daily ritual is almost always interrupted by mosquitoes, who cunningly light and sting me on the arm or ankle before I can stop them. And of course, while I’m tending to the first bite, I get bitten again.

In an effort to preserve my peace, I recently purchased some odorless OFF bug repellant which works well, but smells like chemicals and makes me sneeze. So, off with the OFF. Instead, I found a recipe for organic bug repellent at www.diylife.com. Though it isn’t waterproof and needs to be re-applied regularly, this all-natural repellent has a pleasant smell and is just as effective as OFF at deterring mosquitoes. Enjoy!

Materials and Tools:

•1/3 cup of apple cider vinegar
•1/3 cup witch hazel (or cheap vodka)
•5 drops of citronella or eucalyptus essential oil
•Spray bottle
•Funnel

Directions:
•Using the funnel, pour all the liquid ingredients into the spray bottle.
•Shake the bottle to mix the liquids.

Image courtesy of naturegirl78

Posted by Christy Zuccarini at 2:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: DIY, Tips
        

Looking for a "green" college to attend (or to send your pride & joy)? The Princeton Review, the college prep outfit, has named 15 schools to its "2010 Green Rating Honor Roll."

It doesn't garner as much media attention as the annual ranking of top party schools, but it's worth a look for those who want something besides a hangover with that oh-so-expensive diploma.

None of the greenest schools is in Maryland - the closest to Baltimore would be Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA. Harvard and Yale make the green grade, but so do Georgia Tech and a number of less posh institutions. One curious note - East Coast schools dominate the honor roll; I would have thought there'd be more out West.

The ranking, prepared in conjunction with ecoAmerica, a nonprofit environmental group, features eight private and seven public schools.

Here's the full list, in alphabetical order:

Arizona State University, Tempe AZ

Bates College, Lewiston ME

Binghamton University (State University of New York at Binghamton)

College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor ME

Colorado College, Colorado Springs CO

Dickinson College, Carlisle PA

Evergreen State College, Olympia WA

Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta GA

Harvard College, Cambridge MA

Middlebury College, Middlebury VT

Northeastern University, Boston MA

University of California, Berkeley CA

University of New Hampshire, Durham NH

University of Washington, Seattle WA

Yale Univeristy, New Haven CT

Schools were rated on campus living, their curriculum and overall institutional commitment to sustainability. Scoring looked at a school's energy use, recycling, food, buildings and transportation, environmental studies degrees and course offerings and campus commitment to greenhouse gas reduction.

And here's a tip if you or your offspring want to have a good time while going green -- Arizona State, which boasts the first-in-the-nation School of Sustainability, also made the top party schools list, at No. 20.  For profiles of the green campuses, go here.

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 11:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Tips
        

With Baltimore's historic switch this week to once-a-week trash pickup, from twice a week, the biggest worry seems to be that there will be more piles of trash on the corners. And conversely, if the city starts enforcing the laws concerning trash, mostly law-abiding and tax-paying residents fear they will get the tickets.

Everyone may be tired of this trashy subject by now, but I had a change to talk to the head of code enforcement and he gave me the run down on what residents are most likely to get cited for doing. Thought I'd pass on the info.

Officially, Baltimore City law says you need to put your trash out no earlier than 6 p.m. the night before your scheduled pick up. Trash needs to be in a can with a lid. Households are allowed 96 gallons of trash, or about three cans. Those can need to be returned to your property, not left on the sidewalk, even if you have to drag it through your house to your backyard.

But, much of this isn't likely to get you cited, according to Eric Booker, assistant commissioner of code enforcement inspection at the Baltimore Housing Authority.

Continue reading "A can without a lid is not the biggest offense" »

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Tips
        

 I did a post a little while back about donating your shoes for a good cause, instead of throwing them away. From the response, I thought it was worth letting everyone know that there's a drive going on now.

Holabird Sports, Comfort One Shoes and Finish Line are all participating in a Souls4Souls event to collect gently used shoes and donations. The shoes will go to victims of natural disasters and those living in extreme poverty.

The group estimates that some 1.5 billion unused shoes are just sitting in people's closets.

So, dig them out and get to Holabird at 9220 Pulaski Highway, or at the area Comfort One Shoes or Finish Line shops. Here's a list of all area places to drop off shoes. 

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 3:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Tips
        

The new once-a-week trash and recycling schedules begin Tuesday, July 14, and Baltimore officials are trying to get the word out.

This is the biggest change to collections in decades, and Public Works Director David E. Scott said workers are going door-to-door, making calls and sending out postcards to every address in Baltimore City to remind people about One Plus One, the new program.

The city has provided a map for residents to look up their new recycling and trash days. You can type your address in the top right-hand corner.

And just as another reminder, trash must be in a can with a lid. The fine is $50 for putting your garbage out in just a bag. And recycling can be put out in a city tub or any clearly marked plastic bin, cardboard box or paper bag. No plastic bags.

Baltimore Sun file photo of Mayor Dixon taking up the trash/Amy Davis

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 5:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (25)
Categories: Tips
        

It's summer party time, and event planner Nadia Digilov of Celebrating in Style has some tips for making it fancy and eco-friendly:

--Skip regular charcoal and use Coconut Shell Briquette Charcoal made from, what else, coconut shells. It has no chemicals inside and makes no smoke. It's cleaner burning, hotter and longer burning. 

--Don't use throw-away plastic and paper plates. For a greener option, use recycled, toxin free, biodegradable products from Verterra.  The company says it's made from fallen leaves that are steamed and pressed. They will naturally compost in two months.

--Buy locally grown and organic foods for the table. They didn't waste fuel traveling far and they didn't require lots of chemicals and fertilizers.

--Use soy candles instead of electric lights or paraffin candles. They come from sustainable and renewable resources and burn longer and pollute less.

Got any other good tips?

Photo courtesy of Celebrate in Style

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Tips
        

I ran in a race this past weekend, and it had me thinking about all the trampling on the planet we runners are doing.

Take running shoes. Most of us go through at least two pairs a year. And what can we do with them? Running shops often will take them back and make sure they get reused if they still have life left in them or recycled.

A couple local shops that do are Falls Road Running Store and Charm City Run.  Ask your shop if they do. There are also groups, including the Perpetual Prosperity Pumps Foundation, with local contacts. There's also Goodwill, which will take them and sell them if they are in good shape.

Anyone know of others?

Another less easy problem to solve are all those water cups and water bottles handed out during and after races.

Certainly, putting on one of these big events is a logistical nightmare. Organizers have a limited amount of time they are allowed to close streets, run a race and clean up. It's quite a dance, if you've never watched it -- so I don't want to knock anyone.

Still, I've seen some organizers put out cardboard recycling boxes for the water bottles handed out after races, but not at this one. I'm not sure what the best answer is for handing out water along the race course. Anyone have an idea or seen a good method?

Baltimore Sun Photo of a recycling event in Columbia 2006/Algerina Perna 

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Tips
        

When my husband and I travel, we often go for a run or a bike ride so we can explore more of our destination without getting in a car or bus.

I found recently that a lot of people have this idea. Or they just can't leave the running shoes and exercise clothes at home.

At the beach, running, biking and swimming allow you to see the uncrowded areas, like the parks. Many local groups and shops are happy to provide maps. We like to sign up for races while we're at the beach, so we can meet like-minded people and, maybe get a little inspiration to go farther.

I wrote a story about merging beach-going with exercising. There's a link with some suggested workouts and races on the Maryland-Delaware shore and places to get more information. The landscape is beautiful and the ground is nice and flat.

Baltimore Sun photo/Kim Hairston

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 11:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Tips
        

The Sun plans some more coverage on this topic, but here's some ready info on the switch to digital TV -- which happens Friday -- and what to do with your old sets.

If you're like me, you don't have cable or satellite TV. (If you do, you don’t need to do anything. But if you get TV over the air and your set is a little older, you need a digital converter box. For information, call 1-888-DTV-2009 or click here.)

And if you're like me, you have a TV that just isn't going to cut it in the new world. But don't stick in the trash. There are all kinds of bad things in there. Recycle it. 

Baltimore City offer recycling for residents Monday through Saturday at its drop off sites. The city will take TVs, as well as computer monitors, computers, cell phones, printers and other electronic equipment.

Find Baltimore County sites here.

Find Anne Arundel sites here.

And Howard County sites here.

Baltimore Sun file photo/Lloyd Fox

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Tips
        

The city plans to switch to once-a-week trash and recyling pick-up July 14, so it seems like a good time to talk about what is okay and what is NOT okay to put in your recyling bin.

I spoke recently to Tonya Simmon, Baltimore City's recycling coordinator, and she says more city residents are recycling since Baltimore launched single stream, curbside pickup. She guesstimates that 30-40 percent of residents are now participating.

The city offers details on its Web site about what is acceptable. These items include: paper such as magazines, The Baltimore Sun and junk mail. Also okay are books, cardboard, metal food containers (please rinse), glass containers, aluminum foil and pie tins and clean milk cartons.

But she said there are still some items showing up in the tubs that shouldn't be there. No. 1 is plastic bags. While the city used to require residents put recycling in blue plastic bags, the city NO LONGER ACCEPTS THEM. They are mucking up the automated process that Waste Management Inc. uses. The machines use optical scanners to sort materials, and when trash is present, a person has to pluck it out.

Many grocery stores now take the bags back. Safeway and Giant do.  They also sell reusable bags, which are an even better alternative. Whole Foods annouced last year it would eliminate plastic bags altogether and said recently that reusable bag use has tripled since then.

For curbside pick-up, residents should use paper bags, cardboard boxes or a tub marked "recycling" -- you do NOT have to use the yellow ones sold by the city, but you can still get one if you want. 

Another big offending material is Styrofoam. The city does NOT accept any of this. The list of no-nos also includes wire hangers and soiled containers and aerosol can that are not empty. Empties are okay.

The city is now accepting plastics labelled 1-7 on the bottm, but not all of it. They take narrow and wide mouth containers, which includes cottage cheese and yogurt containers and prescription bottles. No need to remove tops. Those plastic containers that sandwiches and some lettuce comes in are NOT okay. Those plastic things that hold beer cans together are also NOT acceptable.

All of this stuff can also be taken to one of Baltimore's eight drop-off sites.

Hard plastic toys, lawn chairs, laundry baskets, buckets and milk crates can NOT go into the curbside bin, but can be dropped off at the first five drop-off sites on the list, which also take electronics, such as old TVs and computers.

Did I cover it all?

Photo courtesy of Balimore Public Works

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Tips
        

Looking for a little offbeat action at the beach this weekend? It's not too late to catch the annual spring orgy of horseshoe crabs. If you haven't witnessed it before, it's quite a sight, I can tell you.

Like clockwork, these helmet-shaped creatures with the spiky tails haul themselves out of the the water from mid-May to mid-June to couple. You can see them day or night during that time, but mating peaks during the full and new moon cycles, with the highest numbers flocking to the shore during the evening high tides.

It's GP-rated sex, for those worried about what the kids will see. The females trundle to the edge of the lapping waves, often with one or more smaller males hanging on for dear life, and proceed to burrow into the sand to lay their eggs. Males surround the females and fertilize the eggs.

This is a great opportunity to see nature in action and observe how interconnected the web of life is. Horseshoe crabs (scientific name Limulus polyphemus) are some of the world's oldest creatures, tracing their lineage back 300 million years - long before dinosaurs roamed the earth.

Here along the mid-Atlantic coast, the crabs' mating frenzy helps sustain flocks of shorebirds, such as sandpipers and red knots, which stop off to rest and feast on the crabs' eggs as they fly from South America to northern Canada and the Arctic.

The crabs' comings and goings have become a topic of intense interest among biologists and conservationists, because many think their fate is linked to that of the shorebirds that depend on them for food at a crucial stage in their annual migration.  Red knots, in particular, have been in decline, which has led to restrictions on commercial harvest of the horseshoe crabs. The crabs aren't a table treat for people, but they've long been collected by fishermen to be used as bait to catch eels and other fish.

You can see the crabs coming to shore on quiet beaches along Chesapeake Bay at Sandy Point State Park or Eastern Neck Wildlife Refuge.  The best places to see the most crabs, though, are along the Delaware Bay shore, at places like Bowers, Fowler and Slaughter beaches.   My wife and I visited Slaughter Beach last weekend on a moonless evening and saw clumps of crabs all along the water's edge, like the one I photographed above.

To learn more about the crabs, and where to see them, go here.

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Tips
        

Pesticides can damage human health, so minimizing the amount we eat is important, says the Environmental Working Group, which has put out a list of foods the experts there say we should buy organic.

Washing and peeling help but don't fully rid fruits and vegetables of the stuff. 

The EWG took a look at the residue left behind during tests by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration and the complete list is here, but here are the top bunch that they recommend buying organic:

Peaches, apples, bell peppers, celery, bell peppers, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, kale, lettuce, imported grapes, carrots and pears.

Here's the list that has the lowest levels of pesticides, if you can't find organic or would like to mix in some non-organic -- and cheaper -- produce:

Onions, avocadoes, sweet corn, pineapples, mangoes, asparagus, sweet peas kiwi, cabbage, eggplant, papaya, watermelons, broccoli, tomatoes, sweet potatoes.

Got tips for buying or eating organic? Tell us about them.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
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The farmers' markets are open and they have strawberries -- big, juicy strawberries.

This time of year, there also are asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, salad greens and spinach. But one of the big attraction in spring is always the berries.

When selecting sweet local strawberries, the state Department of Agriculture recommends that consumers look for "a full, red color, bright luster and firm, plump flesh." The fruit does not ripen after being picked, so consumers should look for the fully ripe berries with caps that are bright green, fresh looking and fully attached.

The agency reports that Maryland farms harvested about 440 acres of strawberries, valued at $2.3 million, in 2007. The season generally runs from the third week in May through mid-June.

Find the Maryland Farmers' Market Directory here, or go to marylandsbest.net for information on all kinds of products from local farmers. 

There also are new markets opening all the time that aren't on the list, such as one at the Museum of Industry. It starts 9 a.m. June 6. For a map, recipes and other market information see our markets page at Baltimoresun.com.

Baltimore Sun file photo of a strawberry pot sold at a farmers' market.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Tips
        

Sun reporter Jill Rosen has a story today with tons of tips on how to reduce your "cookprint."

There are some pretty easy ways to make meals in an environmental way -- turning off the burners a little early, using less water, avoiding plastic bags and composting instead of throwing away table sraps.

Got any other idea to share?

Here are some from reader Dahlink:

I love to roast food, but I do it in my dual-fuel oven. I generally roast several things at once on the convection setting (planning ahead for future meals) and I turn off the oven well before the food is done, as my oven retains the heat for a long time.

My favorite appliance is my warming drawer. My husband works long hours, but I can keep food ready to eat as soon as he walks in the door without overcooking it.

I have also started using those microwavable bags of rice, lentils, etc. They generally microwave in 90 seconds, rather than needing 40 minutes on the stove (as is the case for brown rice made from scratch, for example).

ISTOCK photo

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 12:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Tips