Viridescence - be green!

Water is a precious resource with a limited supply that must sustain a growing population. This makes creating a water-wise landscape a top priority for those living in areas where water is scarce and those living in more temperate climates that want to reduce water consumption. Conserving water not only helps the environment, it also saves money. Water-Wise Garden Techniques: Use water-conserving plants: plants that perform better with less water. Make sure to choose plants that are well adapted to your regional climate. https://plants.usda.gov/checklist.html Control weeds because they consume precious water needed by more desirable plants. Wisely group plants based on water consumption and use a separate watering system for the water thirst plants Garden Maintenance – prevent drips by tightening water faucets. Water plants when needed instead of using a calendar or schedule. Limit turf lawn – uses more water than native plants and grasses Mulch – retains water in the

Consumers can now know that the foods they purchase were farmed in a way that benefits bees. The “Bee Better Certified” program is a new certification for agricultural producers that use conservation methods that preserve crop pollinators. The program was founded by the USDA in corporation with the Xerces Society and the Oregon Tilth with a $350,000 Conservation Innovation Grant that was matched by the Xerces Society.  The Bee Better certification program focuses on the creation of flower-rich habitats for native bees, honey bees and other pollinators to eat and nest. In addition to creating habitats for bees and other pollinators, certified farms must incorporate pest management strategies that reduce or eliminate the use of pesticides harmful to bees. The Natural Resources Conservation Service helps farmers develop and implement bee beneficial conservation practices with over thirty conservation activities aimed at integrating bee habitat into working lands and wise pesticide pr

Over-consumption and surplus are two of the largest contributors to wasted resources. Most of us, in some way, waste food. According to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 1.3 billion tons of food produced gets wasted amounting to about $680 billion in industries countries (FAO, 2017). Each of us as individuals wastes an average of 209 – 253 lbs. of food per year (FAO, 2017). Let us all takes steps toward reducing waste. REDUCING WASTE ·        Saves money by buy less ·        Reduces methane from landfills ·        Conserves energy & resources WAYS TO REDUCE ·        Plan ahead ·        Make a menu for the week – buy accordingly ·        Check the refrigerator and cupboard before buying ·        Buy only what you need ·        Understand food date labels - Food Product Dating FOOD STORAGE TIPS ·        Store fruit and vegetables in different bins (if you can) ·        Store bananas, tomatoes, and apples by themselves FOOD PREP TIPS G

"Leave No Trace" is a US Forest Service principles that promotes conservation and emphasizes leaving nature the way you found it...natural, so that when others arrive they can't tell you've been there. This principle reminds us that while enjoying nature we need to keep our impact on our surroundings at a minimum to ensure the health and quality of the environment. Whether your hiking, picnicking, camping, boating, or rock-climbing remember these simple practices: 1. Plan ahead - check weather, plan meals, check skill level 2. Travel and camping * High use areas - use established campsites and trails to avoid damaging vegetation * Low use areas - avoid creating a worn path - walk the unused path and camp in new locations **Good campsites are found not created - look for a place that will need the least alteration * In both cases - minimize campsite alteration 3. Pack it in - Pack it out * Simply don't leave waste behind - carry out all waste (except human