Record Cold and Record Heat

1711-msp2

Minneapolis will probably set a record cold for this week’s temperatures, and British Columbia and the Arctic might set record heat records.

When I travel, people often say, “Minnesota, it is really cold there!” This week’s cold spell during the All-Star Game is going to reinforce those beliefs.  Usually this is the hottest week of the year in Minnesota with average highs in the 80s F.

As someone who loves outdoor activity, I love cooler temperatures, but what is scary is the record heat in British Columbia and the Arctic.

From Minnesota Public Radio: As Minnesota shivers today in record July cold, western Canada is baking, and literally burning up in record heat.

This unprecedented “high amplitude” jet stream pattern is producing record cold and record heat at close range within North America.

Temperatures reached 105 degrees Sunday in parts of British Columbia. At least 20 weather stations across western Canada set high temperature records Sunday.

http://blogs.mprnews.org/updraft/    Get the entire story from Paul Huttner at MPR

And from Paul Douglas at the Minneapolis  www.Startribune.com

Climate Change for Dummies. Here’s an excerpt of an Op-Ed at the Concord Monitor: “…I distinctly remember my professor Richard Bopp, researcher at Goddard Institute for Space Studies, telling us that the only thing he knew was that you could not overload such a delicately balanced system like our atmosphere and not have something change. The idea that everything in the world would gradually and evenly rise in temperature was unlikely, but he and his colleagues could not offer an alternative at that time. Well, 25 years later, we have a better idea. Thanks to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a voluntary 2,000-member group of scientists committed to understanding climate change, we can verify that we are experiencing more severe weather and increases of ocean levels, glacial melting and average temperature…”

 

 

Business Recycling Grants Available

Duluth, MN, Business Recycling
Duluth, MN, Business Recycling

 

Hennepin County Grants,

Deadline June 15, and October 15
Apply Now!
A newly elected Minneapolis City Council is finally committed to enforcing city recycling rules. On Earth Day, April 2015, Minneapolis restaurants will be required to use recyclable/compostable take-out containers, and offer on site recycling.

Hennepin County has grants to help businesses with these changes:

Apply for these grants, or call about questions:
http://www.hennepin.us/businessrecycling
or call 612 543 1316, for composting call 612 348 5893

 

http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/260496151.html  To-go has to go!

http://www.startribune.com/local/260862031.html  Recycling bins head to work

Business Recycling in Little Rock, AK
Business Recycling in Little Rock, AK

Ban Styrofoam Cups and Containers

42nd day of my litter removal.  Lots of Styrofoam!
42nd day of my litter removal. Lots of Styrofoam!

I am encouraging Minneapolis and other city governments to ban Styrofoam.   The past 42 days I have done daily litter pick-ups on my walks in Minneapolis.  I was picking up Styrofoam along with wrappers, cans and plastic. Some of what was picked-up could be recycled, but Styrofoam, which is recyclable, is hard to find a place to recycle.  I think the Twin Cities area has one place to recycle Styrofoam which is miles from my home.

At an Earth Day pick up along the Minnehaha Creek .  I was surprised to notice how much the Styrofoam along the creek was breaking down into little pieces.  Pieces so small it was impossible to pick up.  Water and sun cause it to break up faster. The past few days I have been picking Styrofoam  out of Lake Harriet. It has broken into pieces that might never dissolve and survive in the lake for generations.  I wonder what harm this does to the birds and fish?

Banning restaurant containers is only a very small piece of this, but it is a start.  The best part of banning Styrofoam could be that it heightens awareness for individuals who never think about the consequences of Styrofoam.

Finally, I have never figured out why businesses that sell products that are so harmful to the environment are not held responsible for what they spew.  Why aren’t they at least required to offer recycling?

“People are already paying a price for allowing this packaging (styrofoam), noting the cost to remove the materials from the recycling stream, uncloging storm drains and picking up litter. You’re paying for it in so many different ways,”  Minneapolis Council Member Andrew Johnson  http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/258989321.html

The Mississippi River, Everyone’s Responsibility!

“Minneapolis, On the banks of the Minnehaha Creek!” Garrison Keillor

Materials for recycling pulled from the banks of the Minnehaha Creek
Materials for recycling pulled from the banks of the Minnehaha Creek

This blog is in response to an article on buffers along streams and rivers:

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/256920531.html

Water, Our most valuable resource! It’s everyone’s responsibility to keep our rivers, lakes and oceans clean! Living in the City of Lakes, Minneapolis, and the first major city draining streams into the Mississippi River, we take our relationship with water quality seriously. I have an easy way for those lucky enough to live along a stream, river or lake to create sustainable pollinator habitat and keep our waters clean.

The Minnehaha Creek, a few blocks from my home is often part of my walks, bird watching and litter pick up. This Creek runs through south Minneapolis, and flows into the Mississippi River. Both Minneapolis and St. Paul sit on the banks of the Mississippi River which divides them into two cities. Last weekend my neighborhood, boy scouts and high school students did a big clean up of the creek. Every piece of litter we picked up was one more piece kept out of the Mississippi River and possibly the Gulf of Mexico.

It is also important to keep pollutants from running into the creek.  Cleaning storm drains, installing rain barrels, rain gardens, and redirecting drain spouts are initiatives we promote in trying to do our best for the mighty Mississippi.

What is the problem? I was sad to read that some that farmers and others that live along water ways are not following Minnesota law to keep our rivers clean. Minnesota has a state law that requires farmers and others to create small 50 foot buffers of grasses, trees or shrubs along creeks and rivers to keep pollutants from washing into the rivers and lakes.

What can you do? An easy way to create and maintain these buffers is to plant a 50 foot strip of native plants. Why native plants in these buffer zones? Native plants have deep root structures that keep the soil in place and filter contaminants.  Planting buffers of natives would build habitat for our struggling bees and butterflies, and keep our streams and lakes nitrate and phosphorous free. It’s a win-win! Unfortunately, the buffer law isn’t enforced like it should be.  Many don’t like government regulation, well then…. Take responsibility to protect of our water from pollutants.

What are some plants to use? I would recommend seeding the buffer area with native perennials that take care of themselves.  Some of following natives would be great water filters and create bee and butterfly habitat: Golden Alexander, swamp milkweed, Culver’s root, bee balm, little blue stem, cone flowers, vervain, asters, golden rod and any native sedges.  Purchase seeds from http://www.prairiemoon.com/   Native plants are almost maintenance free once they start growing. Mowing in the spring, just once a year, would keep out trees.  Good Luck!

 

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/256920531.html  (Drainage buffers needed)

Plant Blue Flag Iris and native grasses to filter water run off.
Plant Blue Flag Iris, sedges and native grasses to filter water run off.

http://www.minneapolismn.gov/publicworks/stormwater/green/stormwater_green-initiatives_rain-barrel

http://www.prairiemoon.com/

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/restoreyourshore/pg/npc.html

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/restoreyourshore/st/bufferzone.html

Recycling, a Win-Win for Everyone

Our new one-sort barrel arrived this week.

New recycle barrel
New recycle barrel

I like what the City of Minneapolis sent to homeowners in trying to increase the amount individuals recycle:

*Recycling is one of the easiest ways to protect the environment.

*Recycling saves energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

*Recycling conserves vital natural resources such as trees and water.

*Recycling collection and recycled products manufacturing in Minnesota provide 53,000 jobs and $6.4 billion gross economic activity annually.

PLEASE RECYCLE EVERYTHING YOU CAN!

Forum on how to maximize the use of our new one-sort containers: Saturday, June 22,
9:15 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Lynnhurst Community Center in Minneapolis