Every day is Earth Day. Let's talk about ways to make it better.

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  • Smellyman
    Smellyman Asia Posts: 4,528
    edited May 2018
    Cars and trucks are worst purchase anybody makes.  Instead of making wise purchases and getting fuel efficient/electric cars so many have giant guzzling beasts and then complain about gas prices.

    A colleague just bought a BMW after having a Lexus SUV thing of some sort.  He does not make as much money as us yet over the time we have known him (10 years) has wasted over 100,000 grand in cars.  Not to mention insurance maintenance etc.  He will also complain about gas prices and not having enough money.

    People could make wise decisions and help themselves and the environment.  win win

    edit:  My wife got in his new car and said "Nice new Camry"  pissed him off to no end.  :D
    Post edited by Smellyman on
  • DarthMaeglin
    DarthMaeglin Toronto Posts: 3,027
    I chuckle inwardly at my sister who’s been known to harangue other family members on their “non-environmental” habits. Yet they own more house than they need, and both their vehicles are gas-guzzlers. Given our cottage is literally a shack in the woods with no electricity and their other long-distance travels (coupled with inconsistent availability of charging stations in our home province) I don’t fault them for the first (non-electric/hybrid), but when they bought the second vehicle (a cute little new Beetle, lol) that was the perfect time for them to put their money where their mouth is.
    As a city dweller with access to a decent to good public transportation system, I made the conscious choice not to buy a car, despite the inevitable inconveniences (such as having to bum rides to the aforementioned cottage). Then being poor took that choice away, lol. Nothing reduces one’s carbon footprint like poverty, if we’re being honest here.
    "The world is full of idiots and I am but one of them."

    10-30-1991 Toronto, Toronto 1 & 2 2016, Toronto 2022
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,665
    Smellyman said:
    Cars and trucks are worst purchase anybody makes.  Instead of making wise purchases and getting fuel efficient/electric cars so many have giant guzzling beasts and then complain about gas prices.

    A colleague just bought a BMW after having a Lexus SUV thing of some sort.  He does not make as much money as us yet over the time we have known him (10 years) has wasted over 100,000 grand in cars.  Not to mention insurance maintenance etc.  He will also complain about gas prices and not having enough money.

    People could make wise decisions and help themselves and the environment.  win win

    edit:  My wife got in his new car and said "Nice new Camry"  pissed him off to no end.  :D
    Yep, cracks me up.  A few people have given me attitude about having a "yuppie" Prius but what they don't understand is it was not about the status.  We did a lot of research and found that car in 2008 got the best gas mileage and had the best rating for longevity. I see no reason that car won't last me a good 300,000 miles.  And over that time, the saving in gas will have saved at least $5,000 making the car quite affordable.  We also mark our "no drive days" on the calendar and ride share.  I'm not patting myself on the back, just saying, it's really not that hard to make a positive difference.
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • Smellyman
    Smellyman Asia Posts: 4,528
    edited May 2018
    brianlux said:
    Smellyman said:
    Cars and trucks are worst purchase anybody makes.  Instead of making wise purchases and getting fuel efficient/electric cars so many have giant guzzling beasts and then complain about gas prices.

    A colleague just bought a BMW after having a Lexus SUV thing of some sort.  He does not make as much money as us yet over the time we have known him (10 years) has wasted over 100,000 grand in cars.  Not to mention insurance maintenance etc.  He will also complain about gas prices and not having enough money.

    People could make wise decisions and help themselves and the environment.  win win

    edit:  My wife got in his new car and said "Nice new Camry"  pissed him off to no end.  :D
    Yep, cracks me up.  A few people have given me attitude about having a "yuppie" Prius but what they don't understand is it was not about the status.  We did a lot of research and found that car in 2008 got the best gas mileage and had the best rating for longevity. I see no reason that car won't last me a good 300,000 miles.  And over that time, the saving in gas will have saved at least $5,000 making the car quite affordable.  We also mark our "no drive days" on the calendar and ride share.  I'm not patting myself on the back, just saying, it's really not that hard to make a positive difference.
    Yup.  So easy to make a positive difference.  I cut plastic pretty much out of my life. That is an easy one everybody can do that really takes little effort.  Yet, when I do use plastic for some reason, somebody will say, 'see you use plastic you hypocrite'.  (usually republicans)  That is not the effing point.  If everybody used 50% less, guess what?  that is 50% less fucking plastic in the world.  Would also force companies to use recyclables etc.

    It's so  easy, but people are so fucking selfish.  People like Trump will be 'but China but China but China'  Be an f'ing leader for once.

    End rant

    But probably more to come LOL

    One more, start by not drinking water from plastic bottles fools
    Post edited by Smellyman on
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,665
    Smellyman said:
    brianlux said:
    Smellyman said:
    Cars and trucks are worst purchase anybody makes.  Instead of making wise purchases and getting fuel efficient/electric cars so many have giant guzzling beasts and then complain about gas prices.

    A colleague just bought a BMW after having a Lexus SUV thing of some sort.  He does not make as much money as us yet over the time we have known him (10 years) has wasted over 100,000 grand in cars.  Not to mention insurance maintenance etc.  He will also complain about gas prices and not having enough money.

    People could make wise decisions and help themselves and the environment.  win win

    edit:  My wife got in his new car and said "Nice new Camry"  pissed him off to no end.  :D
    Yep, cracks me up.  A few people have given me attitude about having a "yuppie" Prius but what they don't understand is it was not about the status.  We did a lot of research and found that car in 2008 got the best gas mileage and had the best rating for longevity. I see no reason that car won't last me a good 300,000 miles.  And over that time, the saving in gas will have saved at least $5,000 making the car quite affordable.  We also mark our "no drive days" on the calendar and ride share.  I'm not patting myself on the back, just saying, it's really not that hard to make a positive difference.
    Yup.  So easy to make a positive difference.  I cut plastic pretty much out of my life. That is an easy one everybody can do that really takes little effort.  Yet, when I do use plastic for some reason, somebody will say, 'see you use plastic you hypocrite'.  (usually republicans)  That is not the effing point.  If everybody used 50% less, guess what?  that is 50% less fucking plastic in the world.  Would also force companies to use recyclables etc.

    It's so  easy, but people are so fucking selfish.  People like Trump will be 'but China but China but China'  Be an f'ing leader for once.

    End rant

    But probably more to come LOL

    One more, start by not drinking water from plastic bottles fools
    Hey, rant on.  I can dig it!

    I never buy plastic zip lock bags for food storage.  They're everywhere.  Go to dinner at someone's house and they send you home with some string beans in a plastic zip lock bag.  OK fine, I'll eat the green beans and rinse the bag and use it over and over and over again.  A little rinsing or washing and they're good to go again and again.  There are so damn many of these things in the world no one need buy more for decades.  Something like 5 trillion of them are used each year.  At the very least, they should be recycled.  Far too often they end up in the garbage.  Not good!

    Rant on, Smellyman!  LOL!
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • Smellyman
    Smellyman Asia Posts: 4,528
    Exactly, I have had the same ziplock bags for ages.  Why do we just throw that away?  bugs me
  • eeriepadave
    eeriepadave West Chester, PA Posts: 43,328
    brianlux said:
    EVERY DAY IS EARTH RUSEV DAY! >-
    fixed :wink:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHmcIS8Rigc



    8/28/98- Camden, NJ
    10/31/09- Philly
    5/21/10- NYC
    9/2/12- Philly, PA
    7/19/13- Wrigley
    10/19/13- Brooklyn, NY
    10/21/13- Philly, PA
    10/22/13- Philly, PA
    10/27/13- Baltimore, MD
    4/28/16- Philly, PA
    4/29/16- Philly, PA
    5/1/16- NYC
    5/2/16- NYC
    9/2/18- Boston, MA
    9/4/18- Boston, MA
    9/14/22- Camden, NJ
    9/7/24- Philly, PA
    9/9/24- Philly, PA
    Tres Mts.- 3/23/11- Philly. PA
    Eddie Vedder- 6/25/11- Philly, PA
    RNDM- 3/9/16- Philly, PA
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,665
    brianlux said:
    EVERY DAY IS EARTH RUSEV DAY! >-
    fixed :wink:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHmcIS8Rigc



    Scary!  :lol:
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • vaggar99
    vaggar99 San Diego USA Posts: 3,431
    grow some food and share it with your friends.
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,665
    vaggar99 said:
    grow some food and share it with your friends.
    Right on, vaggar.  Nothing better than sharing and nothing beats fresh ripened!
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • Smellyman
    Smellyman Asia Posts: 4,528
    edited May 2018
    vaggar99 said:
    grow some food and share it with your friends.
    I don't get some things in life.  We know homes can grow food, produce their own power now, collect their own water etc.  But very few do it.  In bizarro land a certain POTUS will make it more difficult for you to do so.

    This should be celebrated and darn near mandatory

  • PJPOWER
    PJPOWER Posts: 6,499
    edited May 2018
    Smellyman said:
    vaggar99 said:
    grow some food and share it with your friends.
    I don't get some things in life.  We know homes can grow food, produce their own power now, collect their own water etc.  But very few do it.  In bizarro land a certain POTUS will make it more difficult for you to do so.

    This should be celebrated and darn near mandatory

    Any of you compost?  I’ve always recycled and grown most of the the food I eat, but am finally getting a good compost setup.  It is amazing how much useable organic matter goes to the landfill!  Excited to use the fresh compost on the garden.  Going to grow some hella tomatoes this year, lol
    Post edited by PJPOWER on
  • Smellyman
    Smellyman Asia Posts: 4,528
    PJPOWER said:
    Smellyman said:
    vaggar99 said:
    grow some food and share it with your friends.
    I don't get some things in life.  We know homes can grow food, produce their own power now, collect their own water etc.  But very few do it.  In bizarro land a certain POTUS will make it more difficult for you to do so.

    This should be celebrated and darn near mandatory

    Any of you compost?  I’ve always recycled and grown most of the the food I eat, but am finally getting a good compost setup.  It is amazing how much useable organic matter goes to the landfill!  Excited to use the fresh compost on the garden.  Going to grow some hella tomatoes this year, lol
    Have you seen this?  Pretty amazing.  Takes composting to another level.




  • PJPOWER
    PJPOWER Posts: 6,499
    Smellyman said:
    PJPOWER said:
    Smellyman said:
    vaggar99 said:
    grow some food and share it with your friends.
    I don't get some things in life.  We know homes can grow food, produce their own power now, collect their own water etc.  But very few do it.  In bizarro land a certain POTUS will make it more difficult for you to do so.

    This should be celebrated and darn near mandatory

    Any of you compost?  I’ve always recycled and grown most of the the food I eat, but am finally getting a good compost setup.  It is amazing how much useable organic matter goes to the landfill!  Excited to use the fresh compost on the garden.  Going to grow some hella tomatoes this year, lol
    Have you seen this?  Pretty amazing.  Takes composting to another level.




    I have seen that, “extreme composting”, ha
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,665
    PJPOWER said:
    Smellyman said:
    vaggar99 said:
    grow some food and share it with your friends.
    I don't get some things in life.  We know homes can grow food, produce their own power now, collect their own water etc.  But very few do it.  In bizarro land a certain POTUS will make it more difficult for you to do so.

    This should be celebrated and darn near mandatory

    Any of you compost?  I’ve always recycled and grown most of the the food I eat, but am finally getting a good compost setup.  It is amazing how much useable organic matter goes to the landfill!  Excited to use the fresh compost on the garden.  Going to grow some hella tomatoes this year, lol
    We just have a basic compost bin in the yard but it works well enough to make some decent compost mulch for the garden.  We have a little section on yard that is our native plant garden and a few years ago threw some compost around on it and before long all kinds of stuff started coming up- not native plants but we let them grow any way and got some nice tomatoes and small melons off of them.  We called it our "surprise garden". 

    My wife has an avocado tree that grew out of the compost bin.  It somehow survived last winter by keeping it close to the house in a big pot but I don't see that working too many years here at 2,000 ft elevation.  We're not in an avocado growing terrain! But it's fun to give it a go any way.
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • rgambs
    rgambs Posts: 13,576
    Compost is amazing and the process that produces it is too.
    I have a 6x4 pile contained in some old pallets nailed together.  I make about 2 pickup loads worth per year.
    In spring the ready compost goes into the garden, and the droppings pit opens up and the chicky poo falls onto collection boards under the coop and gets scraped directly into the now mostly empty bin.  I add carbons through the summer and that batch goes onto the garden in the fall when the harvest is done.  Then the following spring's batch is started with the garden debris, but it doesn't cook through the winter because it freezes up.  In midwinter and then late spring I muck the coop and by planting time it's cooked enough for planting.  Then I start over, obviously. 
    I make sure each plant gets a handful around it's roots at planting time, and in that way I directly link myself into the food chain without having to die and decompose lol
    Pretty much anything organic is compostable, and that includes body fluids and wastes.  Fingernails, urine, and beard trimmings go in and disappear into black gold, and I just love emptying the vacuum cannister into the compost and seeing all that skin and hair dust get out to use.   
    I don't compost feces though, that changes your setup enough that it isn't worth bothering.
    Monkey Driven, Call this Living?
  • PJPOWER
    PJPOWER Posts: 6,499
    rgambs said:
    Compost is amazing and the process that produces it is too.
    I have a 6x4 pile contained in some old pallets nailed together.  I make about 2 pickup loads worth per year.
    In spring the ready compost goes into the garden, and the droppings pit opens up and the chicky poo falls onto collection boards under the coop and gets scraped directly into the now mostly empty bin.  I add carbons through the summer and that batch goes onto the garden in the fall when the harvest is done.  Then the following spring's batch is started with the garden debris, but it doesn't cook through the winter because it freezes up.  In midwinter and then late spring I muck the coop and by planting time it's cooked enough for planting.  Then I start over, obviously. 
    I make sure each plant gets a handful around it's roots at planting time, and in that way I directly link myself into the food chain without having to die and decompose lol
    Pretty much anything organic is compostable, and that includes body fluids and wastes.  Fingernails, urine, and beard trimmings go in and disappear into black gold, and I just love emptying the vacuum cannister into the compost and seeing all that skin and hair dust get out to use.   
    I don't compost feces though, that changes your setup enough that it isn't worth bothering.
    Wow, I didn’t even think about hair and vacuum canisters.  Again, bit of a rookie to the process, so any advice is welcome :). I am doing one of the plastic bins with an open bottom and earthworms.  Any issues with pests if I should set it up next to my garden?
  • rgambs
    rgambs Posts: 13,576
    PJPOWER said:
    rgambs said:
    Compost is amazing and the process that produces it is too.
    I have a 6x4 pile contained in some old pallets nailed together.  I make about 2 pickup loads worth per year.
    In spring the ready compost goes into the garden, and the droppings pit opens up and the chicky poo falls onto collection boards under the coop and gets scraped directly into the now mostly empty bin.  I add carbons through the summer and that batch goes onto the garden in the fall when the harvest is done.  Then the following spring's batch is started with the garden debris, but it doesn't cook through the winter because it freezes up.  In midwinter and then late spring I muck the coop and by planting time it's cooked enough for planting.  Then I start over, obviously. 
    I make sure each plant gets a handful around it's roots at planting time, and in that way I directly link myself into the food chain without having to die and decompose lol
    Pretty much anything organic is compostable, and that includes body fluids and wastes.  Fingernails, urine, and beard trimmings go in and disappear into black gold, and I just love emptying the vacuum cannister into the compost and seeing all that skin and hair dust get out to use.   
    I don't compost feces though, that changes your setup enough that it isn't worth bothering.
    Wow, I didn’t even think about hair and vacuum canisters.  Again, bit of a rookie to the process, so any advice is welcome :). I am doing one of the plastic bins with an open bottom and earthworms.  Any issues with pests if I should set it up next to my garden?
    Are you in town? 
    I have an open pile and it does draw critters.  Possum, coon, rabbit and skunk will occasionally dig in and eat up the egg shells and any other goodies they can find.
    I don't really mind, it all happens at night and they are around anyways, but I wouldn't want to draw them in if I lived in town.  Townie critters are organized and efficient and ruthless lol 
    A pack of coons in town is like a street gang robbing the neighborhood and out here the odd one that braves the yard is like a fella passing by picking an apple from a tree that isn't his.
    Monkey Driven, Call this Living?
  • PJPOWER
    PJPOWER Posts: 6,499
    rgambs said:
    PJPOWER said:
    rgambs said:
    Compost is amazing and the process that produces it is too.
    I have a 6x4 pile contained in some old pallets nailed together.  I make about 2 pickup loads worth per year.
    In spring the ready compost goes into the garden, and the droppings pit opens up and the chicky poo falls onto collection boards under the coop and gets scraped directly into the now mostly empty bin.  I add carbons through the summer and that batch goes onto the garden in the fall when the harvest is done.  Then the following spring's batch is started with the garden debris, but it doesn't cook through the winter because it freezes up.  In midwinter and then late spring I muck the coop and by planting time it's cooked enough for planting.  Then I start over, obviously. 
    I make sure each plant gets a handful around it's roots at planting time, and in that way I directly link myself into the food chain without having to die and decompose lol
    Pretty much anything organic is compostable, and that includes body fluids and wastes.  Fingernails, urine, and beard trimmings go in and disappear into black gold, and I just love emptying the vacuum cannister into the compost and seeing all that skin and hair dust get out to use.   
    I don't compost feces though, that changes your setup enough that it isn't worth bothering.
    Wow, I didn’t even think about hair and vacuum canisters.  Again, bit of a rookie to the process, so any advice is welcome :). I am doing one of the plastic bins with an open bottom and earthworms.  Any issues with pests if I should set it up next to my garden?
    Are you in town? 
    I have an open pile and it does draw critters.  Possum, coon, rabbit and skunk will occasionally dig in and eat up the egg shells and any other goodies they can find.
    I don't really mind, it all happens at night and they are around anyways, but I wouldn't want to draw them in if I lived in town.  Townie critters are organized and efficient and ruthless lol 
    A pack of coons in town is like a street gang robbing the neighborhood and out here the odd one that braves the yard is like a fella passing by picking an apple from a tree that isn't his.
    Lol, good points.  It is a closed container, but I don’t want to draw in critters that would say “oh, look, strawberries” once they got there :)
  • Meltdown99
    Meltdown99 None Of Your Business... Posts: 10,739
    5 countries dump more plastic into the oceans than the rest of the world combined

    https://www.pri.org/stories/2016-01-13/5-countries-dump-more-plastic-oceans-rest-world-combined
    Give Peas A Chance…