Think About Replacing Lawns with Gardens

Posted on July 24, 2012 by Ken McMurtrie

Regular readers will be aware of the diversity of topics of interest to the author. There is some commonality, however, and that amounts to personal well-being.

What I read relates to my own well-being, what I “write” relates to  others and the hope that occasionally I contribute something towards their well-being. This can mean the truth about anything from political activities, world government, evil in action, the environment,  to direct personal issues such as health and self-sufficiency or survival.

Which brings us to this post and its source. ‘Care2’, whose motto is “make a difference” and it specializes in this latter personal well-being area.  I like this particular theme of creating self-sufficiency in food and will follow up with a second related post.  There is an assumption that a garden will use less water than a lawn. Lawns and gardens vary in their watering needs, but for sure watering a vegetable garden is a better use of water.

By Ramon Gonzalez, TreeHuggerThink About Replacing Lawns with Gardens

GeorgeWashington’s Mount Vernon was the first house in North America to incorporate a lawn into the landscape design. According to some estimates, 40 million acres of America are covered in turf grass in the 48 contiguous states, making turf grass our largest irrigated crop.

The Sobering Statistics

During the growing season, if lawns are watered and fertilized as recommended, we pour 238 gallons of water per person, per day onto all that turf during the growing season.

The EPA says that in the United States, 26 billion gallons of water are consumed on a daily basis. Approximately 7.8 billion gallons of the water consumed on a daily basis are devoted to irrigation. Your typical suburban lawn consumes 10,000 gallons of water above annual rainfall.

That is a lot of water when you consider that humans can use less than 1% of all the water on Earth.

How much water can you conserve by replacing your lawn with a garden?

A couple of years after starting my outdoor garden, the water connection to the outside broke and I never fixed it. It turned out to be a blessing, because up until then I did not realize how much water I wasted.

It wasn’t until I was watering grass with a watering can that the severity of the situation dawned on me. Little by little, I replaced the drying turf with plants until there were only a few square feet of it left.

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Welcome to the New Syria

Posted on July 24, 2012 by Ken McMurtrie

I still believe that the Syria is still arguably the most important global situation of concern to people everywhere. At the least it a clear picture of the world domination movement in action, at worst, a trigger for a major global war.

This post from ‘COTO‘ by Michael Collins tells what I believe to be the true story. Certainly truer than the public press propaganda.

“The assault on Damascus by Syrian rebels and terrorist murder of the Syrian Defense Minister occurred just as the Red Cross announced that the fighting in Syria was officially a civil war. This is an odd reward system for military action by the Free Syria Army. Commit enough acts of violence and you’re rewarded with special protections that apply in times of war. (Image)

The rebel Free Syria Army attacks cities and villages, disrupts the Syrian economy, and is in the business of suicide bombing. It has the material and diplomatic support of Saudi Arabia and the other oil oligarchies plus the big guns in NATO. So-called Syrian experts supporting the carnage are amply funded by United States sponsored nongovernment organizations.

Rebel cheerleader Hillary Clinton spans the globe demanding “regime change,” her exact words, and punishment for who disagree, China and Russia.

It’s hard to tell how the latest regime change project will come out. The real Syrian Army seems to win every engagement. China and Russia support the Assad government. At the same time, despite strong public opposition to any intervention, the Obama government is pushing hard to force Assad out of power. NATO and the Saudis seem unwavering.

Let’s take a look at what the New Syria will look like if United States government, the Saudis, and others prevail.

Widespread torture is just around the corner. It wasn’t long before the liberated Libya became the latest venue for torture as a means of settling old scores. The winners not only rewrite history, they get to set the rules. In Misrata, torturers were using foreign medical assistance to revive exhausted torture subjects thus allowing more torture.

Continue reading →

Posted in 'WAR on(of) TERROR', Atrocities, Conspiracies, Human Behaviour, MIDDLE EAST, Politics, Syria, United Nations, united states, War Crimes, World Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Future of Food – The Australian Government sets the Direction

Posted on July 24, 2012 by Ken McMurtrie

Another good post, Clare!
I think you are correct in querying the agenda of the government and where their loyalties lie.

An extract:

The Draft National Food Plan: Putting Corporate Hunger First

I highly recommend you read the paper and decide if you will join Nicolas Rose and Michael Croft develop a People’s Food Plan – one which is not solely in the control of the Government and the Big Corporations – one which is designed for Mr. and Mrs. Average Australian and workable into the foreseeable future. Also one which will benefit us all and not only the tax collectors and multinational food corporations.

 

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JustMEinT's General Blog

You know, even Blind Freddie could figure out that allowing the Government to set the direction for the future food policy – without at least having the ordinary members of the food industry involved in the process – is a bad move!

Of course it just shows once again that this Government takes no notice of the electorate or the relevant industries, and does what it wants regardless. (Think No Carbon Taxunder a Government I lead)

Foodmagazineis an ezine I receive,which keeps me moderately up to date with what is happening in the food industry in Australia.

One of the articles of interest today discusses theAustralian Government’s National Food Plan.

According to Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig, this plan “will ensure Australia has a sustainable, globally competitive, resilient food supply that supports access to nutritious and affordable food”.

Personally I would not trust the…

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Are Forests “Lungs of the Planet?”

Posted on July 23, 2012 by Ken McMurtrie

This is a sequel to the reblogged ” Big Lungs and Big Liars ” from ‘justmeint’ .

Some interesting contradictory factors are presented.

Without going into the science of plants/trees and their relative usefulness and importance, which would require research results which may or may not exist, in which case my comments could be assessed, my thoughts are as follows:

Regarding the CO2 production aspects, I believe that one will find that a tree will produce a much greater amount of CO2 to O2 conversion than any agricultural venture using the same area of soil. For example, an established  oak tree has acres (or hectares) of leaf area and is a full-time (relatively),  ‘operator’.

Regarding the need to destroy forests to create agricultural land area, this has been the case in South America and maybe a few other places, but Australia and North America were blessed with very large areas of grassland. Timber felling is more likely filling a need for timber as lumber or firewood.

Regarding the fertility of soil, any soil will fail to continuously produce edible  plant growth without either fertilizer, resting or rotational cropping. It would surprise me if rainforest soils able to grow giant, hundred(s) feet trees is incapable of efficient food growing if treated in the same manner as other soils.

Regarding the loss of rainforest trees resulting in more CO2 and therefore increased tree growth elsewhere. True, but did we need to cut down the trees in the first place, and is there ever a return to the original balance?

The argument about methane production from rainforest decaying matter is valid, but has it been shown, even given that methane is a much more potent GHG, that the net gain of CO2 absorption is offset to a meaningful degree?

Finally, does it really matter if we, nature and humans, adapt to a slightly higher atmospheric CO2 level which is better for the plants and may not matter all that much to humans.

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JustMEinT's General Blog

Since posting about therain forests yesterday,I have had my attention drawn in another direction by two independent sources. As I already wrote in that article, everyone has a bias, now it is very important to locate what that might be and report it accurately.

I do believe I was correct in stating that in years past we were taught that the Amazon Forest was named the ‘lungs of the planet’. I do believe I am also correct in reporting that many organizations are claiming the deforestation taking place is dangerous for planet Earth.

What was brought to my attention was that land which is cleared of trees and made into farmland for growing crops, is also returning oxygen to the ‘cycle’ and absorbing carbon dioxide. Of course there is always the question of methane emissions from cattle to be considered, as methane is another greenhouse gas.

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U.S. Military Purchasing Combat Equipment for Domestic Use

Posted on July 21, 2012 by Ken McMurtrie

This blog is Australian based, but I notice that our readers are predominantly from the US.
It is therefore appropriate to reblog my TIP post here where it will hopefully reach even more US readers.

Posted in 'WAR on(of) TERROR', Civil Liberties, Conspiracies, Military, New World Order, united states, War Crimes | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Rainforests the “Lungs of the the Planet”

Posted on July 21, 2012 by Ken McMurtrie

Nice post Clare.
There is a need for some detailed information on this oxygen topic and for some real interest by the authorities on the effects of deforestation.
I would like to look further into this.
In the meantime I just have in my mind that we use up about 4% of the oxygen we inhale and what we exhale includes 4% CO2.
Where our approx 20% oxygen originated, I know not, but that it needs to be replenished continuously is an important fact. Without the plant life we are doomed.

Reducing the population would reduce our total personal oxygen use, but its loss due to combustion conversion into CO2 is probably far greater a problem. I guess “their” idea of population reduction is to achieve less combustion and less deforestation.

Increased atmospheric CO2 is great for the plant life and therefore great for us.

Even better for us would be an increased oxygen level rather that its tendency to slowly reduce.
I hope your readers come up with some comments.

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JustMEinT's General Blog

As a child growing up and learning about life– partly through the wonderful instructions of my parents and partly through the education system, I learned that trees took in the carbon dioxide we breathed out, and through a process called photosynthesis – they gave off oxygen which we breath in. To Humans carbon dioxide was not beneficial for growth and survival and oxygen was necessary for life, as we know it on planet Earth. The trees needed the carbon dioxide – therefore we worked together – symbiotic! 

Whoopee- it was at that early stage in my life that I became a lover of trees.

Just how much carbon dioxide does a tree take in (absorb) in a year seems like a fairly easy question to research. In the past ten years I have heard many stories of carbon sequestration being applied, on properties where people would normally be family…

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Posted in AGW, carbon tax, climate change, ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, Planet Earth, Population, World Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Assassination attempt, in Israel, of Hillary Clinton.

Posted on July 20, 2012 by Ken McMurtrie

Two suggestions are made within the source story.

One, that Hillary Clinton may have a working relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood. This is quite possible, not just for the reasons submitted but because she/(the US), is working with the Arab League and Muslims in fomenting the Syria infiltration. But, in this regard, so is Israel. This is a tangled web of conjecture.

Two, that Hillary Clinton’s death, had it occurred, would have been attributed to Iran, so providing so-called justification of military action on Iran. This is readily believable as it would have incited the American people into supporting the “war on Iran”, as well as Israel retaliating because it was done in their territory.

Reading the source article, it is almost obvious that the attempt was orchestrated, because, as in the case of the JFK assassination, security arrangements were strangely at variance with normal procedures, and the attackers should never have been able to get near the convoy. Or, apparently, escape. Not suggesting that the outcome was orchestrated, probably she was meant to be killed. But the plot was!

Posted in 'WAR on(of) TERROR', Conspiracies, Israel, united states, World Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Australia – Action needed to prevent ‘Big Brother’ spying on us.

Posted on July 19, 2012 by Ken McMurtrie

An excercise in advocacy! Acting against this insidious government movement which interferes with the public’s freedom, privacy and civil liberties.

JustMEinT's General Blog


Not too much is being said in the main stream media about the Australian Government’sproposal to intercept, read and store all your personal data off the internet…. let alone demanding access to all of your passwords – refusal of which can incur a prison term.

 
YOU THINK I JOKE? not about something as serious as this Dear Friend!

I first heard about it with the arrival of an email notification from Australian Taxpayer’s Alliance. They asked me the following questions:

Do you trust the Gillard Government to know all your internet passwords?

Do you think they should know every website you have visited? 

Do you want them to read every email you send, monitor every Facebook post you have made, and record every Tweet you sent?

And do you want them to store all your private online data for two years?

Naturally my answer is NO WAY.

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What else did the ’97% of scientists’ say?

Posted on July 19, 2012 by Ken McMurtrie

IF this is the real story behind the “97% consensus”, the article only says it is the probable source, it is a gem of a post.
Warmists, please read it and include it in your growing list of ‘reasons’ for at least wondering whether enthusiastic support for ‘saving the planet from CO2-driven deterioration’ is justified.

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Humour – The Perfect Woman

Posted on July 18, 2012 by Ken McMurtrie

A long time since a funny email arrived here, suitable for publication yet elicited a spontaneous laugh.

A man was dining alone in a fancy restaurant and there was a gorgeous redhead sitting at the next table..He had been checking her out since he sat down, but lacked the nerve to talk with her.

Suddenly she sneezed, and her glass eye came flying out of its socket towards the man. He reflexively reached out, grabbed it out of the air, and handed it back.

‘Oh my, I am so sorry,’ the woman said, as she popped her eye back in place. ‘Let me buy your dinner to make it up to you.’

They enjoyed a wonderful dinner together, and afterwards they went to the theatre followed by drinks… They talked, they laughed, she shared her deepest dreams and he shared his. She listened to him with interest.

After paying for everything, she asked him if he would like to come to her place for a nightcap and stay for breakfast. They had a wonderful, wonderful time.

The next morning, she cooked a gourmet meal with all the trimmings. The guy was amazed. Everything had been so incredible!

‘You know,’ he said, ‘you are the perfect woman.. Are you this nice to every guy you meet?’

‘No,’ she replies. . ..

She said … …:

*

*

*

‘You just happened to catch my eye.’

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