Environment/Green – Todd Bennetar

February 2, 2016

Groundhog Day 2016

Today is Groundhog Day. If this furry little varmint sees his shadow, then we are doomed to six more weeks of winter. If he does not, then Spring is just around the corner – 6 weeks or less. I personally don’t see the logic in this. If you don’t see your shadow, it’s because the sun is behind a bunch of clouds. What does that have to do with foretelling the speed of spring’s approach? Spring will get here in her own good time.

In these parts, spring does not come in February, no matter what shadows lurk around groundhog holes, although yesterday we did enjoy warm temps – it hit 60 degrees and felt great when I took the dogs out for their walk. So February takes up 4 weeks of winter, regardless of the shadow seeing moment. The question then becomes, how far into March do we have cold weather? Does a quick spring conflict with the other old saying, “If March comes in like a lion then it goes out like a lamb”? I say, welcome the lion and forget the groundhog!

January 24, 2016

Used Parts are Good for the Environment

As someone that likes to take in consideration the environment when ever possible or able to do, I like to use used parts for things that are in need of repair. Used car parts are a great in many ways, availability, cost effective, and good for the environment as well.

The days are gone that you have to go roaming through several distant junk yards in an effort to locate your desperately needed used car parts for your vehicles, what a difference the computer and the Internet have made in the used car parts business. Now you can go online and locate most parts for any type of vehicle with just a few key strokes,

Not only can you locate used parts for cars, but SUV’s, pick ups, and vans as well as gear boxes, engines and so much more, by taking a few minutes and filling out the few short questions with your relevant vehicle information for their Free Instant Online Quote.

Good news articles to read also. Interesting to read what is happening on the roads on the other side of the ocean in the U.K., no issues with a language barrier to deal with here.

January 12, 2016

No Snow Could Mean Possible Early Drought Like Conditions Around Here

In many ways we have been extremely lucky this winter with the small amount of snow that we have had to deal with last week. Other than that one time we haven’t had squat, which has made this winter a much easier one to get a handle on since I haven’t had to be out and about getting about the business around here at the farm under control when we get snow. Other places haven’t been all that lucky and have had to deal with severe snowstorms all winter. It is only in my area that the snow removal companies aren’t making any money and the kids are still going to school, but who knows when this blessing will come to end.

The only good thing about getting snow is being able to enjoy it with a child for a few days and the fact that our grounds aren’t getting the soaking that they are used to getting each winter, so we may have drought conditions even earlier in the year this summer. That wouldn’t be a good thing for farmers such as myself and all kinds of other people that depend on the earth’s harvests that we rely on for food and other products. Well we still have another month or so to go before spring arrives, so if it is going to snow I just wish that it would get on with it and get her done. I have lots of animals that don’t appreciate the snow storms either, but I’m ready for it when the time comes, it could be very well a real dozy.

November 30, 2015

Green Wine Info

You would have to live under a rock some where out in the middle of No Man’s Land not to have heard about the green movement that is going on so strongly these days. I find it interesting how many industries and companies are trying so hard to do their part in this very important movement, even today’s wine makers are getting into the act.

I found a very interesting website that talks about the ways that wine makers are going green and I wanted to share it here because I feel very strongly about these important green issues. So please take a moment and check out what they are saying at wine.com.

November 24, 2015

Christmas Trees

Well today is the day I’ll be cutting my Christmas tree. I’m one of the lucky folks who has the ability to just walk out to the “back forty” and cut down a tree off of my own property. Just one of the benefits of having a farm, I guess! You can plan your own Christmas tree needs and take care of that with very little trouble. I was noticing that the live Christmas vendors are selling live trees for $60 and up this year! I think that is a pretty steep price! And a lot of the live Christmas trees that consumers buy off of tree lots (and some farms) are covered with chemicals used to control pests.

I don’t spray my trees, so I’m confident that whatever tree I bring into the house is chemical free. And for every tree that I cut down, I plant three in its place so I don’t feel too bad about wreaking havoc on the environment by cutting down a tree on my own farm. I think that if I didn’t have that option of cutting down my own tree on my own farm that I’d probably buy an artificial one – they don’t cost that much anymore and are easy to care for. The only problem with them, as far as I’m concerned is where to store them in the “off season!”

fresh cut — Can’t Get Any Fresher Than This

September 25, 2015

Daylight Savings Time Ends at 2:00 a.m.

Tonight is a night that I look forward to all year long, each and every year. At 2:00 a.m. we are all supposed to set our clocks back one hour and to let Daylight Savings Time end for the year 2015. This is not my favorite “holiday” life is so much better when it stays lighter out for longer periods of time.

Right in the middle of summer is actually stays light until after 9:00 p.m., which is so awesome. Since I spend so much of my time outside in the yard and the garden that time of the year and I tend to wait for the sun to go down and it becomes dark to to in the house to start to fix,cook, and eat dinner, some of the summer time my dinners aren’t until almost 11 o’clock, sometimes midnight!

Anyway, don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour tonight folks.

August 1, 2015

What Are Green Wines?

Any one who knows me or reads my blog knows that I am totally into the “Green” movement. So when I heard that many a winery are going Green I was thrilled and wanted to learn more about their efforts. I found this Infographic online today and wanted to share it with my readers who are into wine and all things Green.

I usually prefer beer but now and then I can appreciate a nice glass of wine and I really enjoy tasting wines from our local wineries. If any of the local wineries are going Green that I will certainly be buying more wine from them to show my support for their efforts.

what are green wines infographic wine.com
Presented By Wine.com, Purveyors of fine green Wine

July 20, 2015

Birdhouses and Feeders

My parents used to love putting up birdhouses, they really enjoyed finding interesting birdhouses and feeders here and there and the back part of the yard is filled with numerous varieties of them that are still hanging about. Some are really old and in bad shape, so I’ve been contemplating taking some of those down and trashing them and looking for some new ones to replace them with that would fill in the gaps that will be left.

My father made some of them that are out there himself and I hate to toss any of those out, guess I’ll have to take all things in consideration when I take on this task. Dad was a very handy man and made so many things that I have to decide upon what to do with at some point, not a cheerful chore to even to think about.

This one is my all time favorite. I have no clue where he came up with this one, but it has always fascinated me. I don’t know if he made it or if he bought it or was given to him. Too bad I’ll never know the story behind it.

June 24, 2015

Raincoats, a Necessity

A good quality warm raincoat is what I’m currently looking for now that I have spent the last few months out in the wet and cold every morning, afternoon and night doing what needs to be done around the farm and all of the out buildings. The Internet is making this necessary search so much easier, I really like not having to drive town to town, for hours on end, looking for the best possible deal and fit, just sitting by the fire, keeping warm and dry, with my laptop, looking online is definitely the way to go for me.

June 12, 2015

Insects

I hate black flies, wasps, yellow jackets, horse flies, ticks, fleas, hornets, and mosquitoes. I spend a fortune on insect killing sprays to get rid of as many of them as I can. I don’t like how the mosquitoes come out during the twilight hours and cut short the outdoor fun. I enjoy sitting outside in the cool of the evening. But the mosquitoes usually drive me inside fairly quickly.

They used to be simply annoying, but now that I’ve learned that they spread the West Nile Virus, I don’t want to risk getting sick from them. I’d really love to buy one of those mosquito trap machines that attract the mosquitoes and keeps them from getting to you. That would make life in our yard much more enjoyable, and extend the amount of time I spend outside.