Costa Rica to Ban Sport Hunting

The Chicago Tribune reports that Costa Rica has provisionally approved a country-wide ban on  sport hunting making it the first Latin American country to ban hunting as a sport.

Lawmakers voting on the ban succeeded in passing the measure with an overwhelming majority of 41 in favor of the hunting ban and 5 against. 

The provision has been cited as a further measure to help preserve the amazing biodiversity of Costa Rica. The country has long been known as a ecotourism hot spot, and wildlife related tourism comprises a substantial amount of Costa Rica's economy, generating of $2.1 billion annually for the small Latin American country. Over 300,000 visitors flock to Costa Rica's National Parks every year. 

This step further elevates Costa Rica as a forward-thinking nation that is taking measures to protect the diversity of species found in this amazing region of the globe, rather than encouraging consumptive activities. Jaguars, pumas and sea turtles are among the species expected to benefit from the hunting ban as these species are often hunted or stolen as trophies.

Biolight by Philips- Cool Eco Innovation

One of the most original and innovative eco-friendly ways to light your home, is the Biolight being developed by Philips as part of their Microbial HomeProject.  This innovative project views the home as a “domestic ecosystem that challenges conventional design solutions to energy, cleaning, food preservation, lighting and human waste”.

The glass structure utilizes light-emitting bacteria, similar to the bioluminescence of fireflies and other organisms.  Designers envision the bacteria utilizing waste methane as a food source, thereby creating a perpetual source of free “green” light.

The Biolight requires no electricity, no grid and no wires.  Biological light and energy sources like this could potentially by self- energizing, self-repairing and able to adapt to changing environmental conditions.

Native Species Spotlight- Pineland Acacia

Pineland Acacia
(Acacia pinetorum)

A wonderful, hardy native shrub, the Pineland Acacia adds beauty and texture to native gardens. With it’s zig zag branches and bright yellow pom pom-like flowers, this shrub makes a great addition to borders and fence lines. Its greatest asset, however, is the fantastic fragrance the flowers exude when in bloom. A single Pineland Acacia can make your whole garden smell wonderful.

It’s usefulness is not limited to it’s aesthetics, however. It is the primary larval host plant of the nickerbean blue butterfly (Hemiargus ammon) and the foliage is utilized by the endangered key deer found in the Florida Keys. This acacia also features hardy spines which can act as an effective barrier. It is often used in fence rows to discourage unwanted guests.

Pineland Acacia is available through native plant nurseries and is also readily propagated from seeds or cuttings. It is a very drought tolerate shrub that requires no additional water once established. It flourishes best in full sun, but can tolerate partial shade.

Occupy the Rooftops! Community Solar Initiative

We all know that this nation needs to move from fossil fuels to more renewable energy sources. Here’s your chance to make it happen locally. Nov. 20th is Community Solar Day!

A lot of people, businesses and organizations would love to switch to clean solar power, but lack the up-front costs necessary to fund a solar installation. That’s where organizations like Solar Mosaic come in.

Here’s the basic idea:

Fund the up-front costs of community solar projects by crowd funding. This means that instead of the raising up-front capital themselves or going to a bank for a loan, a solar project is funded by small investments by members of the community. These small investments are paid back to the investors over time, and the extra money saved by lower energy costs, gets paid forward to help fund other solar projects. Pretty cool, huh?

This takes our energy policy out of the hands of big corporations, like ExxonMobil, Koch Industries & BP, and puts the power in the hands of the people. As Jamie Henn of 350.org put it, “When energy is in the hands of the 1%, we get the Keystone XL pipeline. When it’s in the hands of the 99% we get Solar Mosaic."

For more information, check out these links:

http://solarmosaic.com/

https://solarmosaic.com/solarday

http://solarmosaic.com/blog/why-you-should-sign-community-solar

Native Species Spotlight- Spotted Bee Balm

(Monarda punctata)

 Native FAC

If you are trying to attract pollinators to your garden, this Native Species Spotlight is for you. Spotted Bee Balm lives up to its name; this attractive plant will be buzzing with honey bees and native pollinators in no time. It is a hardy, prolific plant that can withstand drought conditions and does not require watering after establishment. Bloom colors vary from dark pink to almost white and is a show stopper when the whole plant is bedecked with blooms. Another bonus of Spotted Bee Balm that we had not anticipated when we first planted it in our wildflower garden was the amazing subtle scent that the flowers give off. Our whole wildflower garden was permeated by its sweetness. No wonder it is so attractive to bees and other pollinators.

 It’s no secret, with Colony Collapse Disorder and other factors threatening the survival of bees, that populations are in decline. Providing native food sources for bees and other native pollinators has never been more important.

 Spotted Bee Balm thrives is full sun to part shade and requires moist, well-drained sandy soils. It is a great companion plant for many garden vegetables, including tomatoes. Spotted Bee Balm is available through local native plant nurseries and grows readily from seed.

Eco Design-Earth Homes Slideshow

There are some fantastic ways to build green.  Whether constructed out of hay bales or earth bags, green design has never been cooler. Want to see a slideshow of some of the most original and creative designs out there?  Check out the link below.


Slideshow of Earth Homes

Eco Eye Candy- Outdoor Baths and Rain Gardens

What a wonderful pairing: An outdoor bath with a rain garden. Not only does this outdoor bath look like an absolute haven, but an adjacent rain garden incorporated into the design would allow for processing the grey water generated from the bath, just feet from the source. The plants from the rain garden would act as a natural biological filter, to naturally clean the water post-bath and allow for a beautifully green option for would-be outdoor bathers.

Native Species Spotlight: Dense Gayfeather (Liatris spicata)

A wonderful addition to any wildflower or butterfly garden is the Dense Gayfeather. Despite its delicate appearance up close, this species is remarkably hardy. It can withstand extreme heat and periods of drought as well as cooler temperatures and abundant rain, making it ideal for the beginning gardener. Gayfeather also is irresistible to bees and butterflies. Dense gayfeather blooms through fall and summer, sending up multiple stalks loaded with tiny purple-pink flower heads. Individual stalks can reach 3 feet in height, which makes it an ideal backdrop for native grasses and other wildflowers. It can be readily grown from seed and is easily propagated by the home gardener.

This species of liatris grows best in full sun and requires no supplemental water after establishment.

(Native- FAC)

Eco Eye Candy- Grow Your Own Bamboo Bike

EcoSRQ is always on the lookout for innovative bike designs, particularly those crafted with sustainable materials.  That’s why the Ajiro Bamboo Velobike, from student designer Alexander Vittouris, featured in the Australian Design Awards caught our eye.  The bike is constructed almost entirely out of bamboo.  Though there are a number of fantastic bamboo bikes currently on the market, this might be the first recumbent bike that boasts almost total bamboo construction. 

Organic Gardening Tip- Solarize for Summer

So as the summer heat is upon us and your garden is winding down for the season, now is the perfect time to solarize you garden beds. Many gardeners are looking for ways to reduce pests and disease without the use of chemicals and summer solarization is one of the organic gardener’s best tools.

What is solarization?

Simply put, solarization harnesses the power of sunlight to reduce many gardening problems. A clear plastic sheet is used to cover a garden bed. The heat generated from the sunlight will be trapped under the plastic. This greenhouse effect will increase soil temperatures to a degree that will dramatically reduce harmful garden pests such as nematodes, fungi and weed seeds. 30 days of soil solarization can reduce the incidence of disease and pests by up to 80% all without the use of chemicals.

How to:

Remove spent plants and weeds and till the soil gently to loosen it. Cover with clear plastic sheeting and weight edges to secure in place. (Clear plastic creates higher soil temperatures than black plastic.) To be effective, the soils must start out moist and maintain a fairly high soil moisture content. Moisture increases the heat sensitivity of many soil-borne pests. Leave plastic in place for at least 30 days. Make sure that your beds are raised slightly in the center so that water does not pool up in the center of the plastic following rains and contribute to mosquito breeding.
Solarizing is particularly effective for areas that will be planted with tomatoes as solarization is the most effective organic treatment for nematodes and other tomato pests.

Natural Swimming Pools

Love the idea of a swimming pool, but hate the idea of all those chemicals. What if you could create an environmentally-friendly swimming pool in your own back yard with zero chlorine or other harmful chemicals? You can. The concept of natural swimming pools, sometimes referred to as swimming ponds, are all the rage in Europe where over 20,000 of them have already been installed, including several fantastic public swimming pools. Sadly, the U.S. is lagging behind in this progressive idea, but it seems the idea is slowing catching on.
Natural swimming pools mimic nature, by using a biological filter (or wetland regeneration zone) to purify the water and keep the water clear. This zone is planted with aquatic plants that uptake nutrients and impurities and help keep the water clean and clear without the use of any harmful chemicals. These regeneration areas also have the added benefit of acting as much-needed wetland habitat for dragonflies, frogs and other species that need water as part of their life cycle. And to top it off, they can look like beautiful water gardens that add beauty to your home landscape.
Instead of shocking the water you swim in with so many chemicals that nothing can live in it, a natural pool creates a living, balanced aquatic system that is healthier for you and for the environment.
To learn more about natural swimming pools and how they work, check out these links.

Clear Water Revival
BioTop

Eco Kids Project Spotlight- Recycled Pallet Bat House

Today’s EcoKids project spotlight comes to us compliments of the Boudreau family. EcoSRQ is always looking for innovative ways to use shipping pallets and Alex Boudreau and his girls found a great re-use project that also benefits wildlife. Their Recycled Pallet Bat House is constructed from a shipping pallet that otherwise would be discarded and end up in a landfill.

Bat houses provide important roosts for many of Florida’s 13 fantastic bat species. Bats are the most important controller of night flying insects, including mosquitoes. A single bat can eat up to 3,000 insects a night! Sadly, many bat species are disappearing from Florida. Lack of roost sites comprises the biggest threat to bats survival worldwide. For more information on backyard bat houses, including how to build your own bat house, check out the Florida Bat Conservacy.

Thanks to Alex, his wife Donna, Bailey (13), Erin (11) and Cameron (9) for sharing their great project with us….oh and for the muscle.

If you have an EcoKids project you would like to share, contact us.

Eco Eye Candy: Vertical Green Walls at the Chelsea Flower Show

This year’s Chelsea Flower Show in London featured some very cool eye candy. An absolute favorite, is the B&Q spectacular 30 foot high vertical green wall garden tower. Those of you who have been following EcoSRQ already know about our obsession with vertical gardens. This year’s Chelsea Show featured a number of beautiful vertical garden features, as well as edible green wall gardens and roof top garden displays.