Sunday, November 8, 2009

Ice Cream Company makes a "sweet" offer to help Honey Bees

Haagen Dazs Ice Cream pledges cash for Tweets to help Honey Bees
Bee keepers know the challenges facing the honey bee population-and farmers know the importance of the bee population to crops and food production. Green Happenings H2O applauds the outreach efforts of Haggan Dazs and the company's use of Twitter to drive global awareness. 


Tweets which include the specified # message (#HelpHoneyBees) are incentivized with a -$1.00 per Tweet/up to 1000 per day) pledge from the Ice Cream maker. The campaign ends on 11/11. The awareness- to- dollars campaign pledges money which will be given to institutions researching the cause of the colony collapse crisis. 


Additionally, Haggan Dazs has set up a great site interactive and educational site.
Find out more: http://www.helpthehoneybees.com/#crisis Here are some BEE facts from the Haaggen-Daza site:
  • Over the last three winters more than 1 in 3 bee colonies has died nationwide, affecting many of our favorite nuts, fruits and berries –
Researchers believe there are many causes for the decline in the bee population including:
Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) –
Symptoms were reported by more than 35 states across the continental United States and in two provinces in Canada, Belgium and Spain Varroa Mites – Inadvertently introduced into the United States in 1987, these tiny, brown parasitic relatives of ticks feed exclusively on honey bees Viruses – Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV) is highly associated with CCD Chemical Exposure – Pollen in CCD-affected hives show levels of 45 different types of insecticides, fungicides and herbicides Lack of Nutrition – Limited supply of good pollen and nectar supplies due to drought has greatly impacted honey beesIce cream production is dependent upon honey bees for alfalfa pollination, a key ingredient in milk production. Dairy cows rely on alfalfa for feed; without the cows we would not have milk, and without milk we would not have ice cream Honey Bee and Food Supply Agriculture Facts

  • One of every three bites the average American eats is directly attributed to honey bee pollination.
  • Honey bees are responsible for the pollination of more than 100 crops, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds, providing 80 percent of the country’s pollination service
  • The honey bee is responsible for pollinating $15 billion in agricultural crops each year. The California almond crop alone uses 1.3 million colonies of bees for pollination, approximately one half of all the honey bees in the United States
  • Honey bees, the unsung heroes of food production, dance far and wide for our favorite fruits, nuts and berries
  • Honey bees are the only insect that produce food for humans, flying approximately 15 mph and visiting about 50-100 flowers in each pollination trip
  • When a honey bee returns to the hive, it gives out samples of the flower’s nectar to its hive mates.
  • The principal form of communication among honey bees is through chemicals called pheromones
  • A single bee cannot make honey, it takes a whole hive
  • An average worker bee will only make 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime
  • One honey bee colony can produce 60 to 100 pounds of honey per year
  • To produce 1 pound of honey, honey bees must visit 2 million flowers and fly 55,000 miles
The A, Bee, C’s of Honey Bees Preceding humans by millions of years, the oldest bee fossil dates back more than 100 million years.

  • Flowering plants appeared about 65 million years ago
  • Humans have been associated with honey bees since the era of cave men, and ancient societies in Egypt and Israel kept bee colonies for honey production
  • Apis mellifera, a honey bee’s scientific name, literally means “the honey-carrying bee”, but in actuality bees carry pollen on their hind legs in an area know as a pollen basket or corbicula
  • A queen bee can live for 2-5 years, a worker bee 1-4 months and a drone 40-50 days

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

A new day for the Garden State-Farmland Preservation & Open Space

The passing of Public Question 1-Farmland Preservation and Open Space- may baffle some who are acutely aware of the economic woes facing NJ. But the simple reality is that people in the Garden State do recognize the importance of preserving our biodiversity and farmland for the long term benefit of all.

Our economic woes need to be addressed-with leadership, wisdom and self restraint- among other attributes that our elected officials may or may not use to untangle the mess. Solutions won't come quickly or painlessly-but they can come-in time. And that's the key-time.

Some would have liked NJ to believe that we could have/should have deferred preserving our natural resources until we straightened out the mess we've made with out state's economy. But nature won't stand still while we focus on other-very important- issues. NJ citizens get that.
We simply can't make more land or natural resources. And we can't make a better quality of life for ourselves or our children, without them.

Thank you fellow Garden State residents-for exercising leadership, wisdom and prudence- for taking a step in the right direction for all of New Jersey-now and in the future. Your voice mattered-let's hope the vision and wisdom you've shown is reflected by our newly elected officials.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

YOUR VOICE MATTERS-Open Space and Farmland Preservation


Your voice matters Open Space&Farmland Preservation

Autumn wouldn't be the same without pumpkin picking, apples, cider (and those awesome fresh made cider donuts!). All around the Tri state, families pile the kids in the car and head to the country to enjoy hayrides, corn maze adventures, and to create great family memories that become part of a tradition.

We treasure those moments together-captured against backgrounds of magnificent autumn colors. Blue skies, vibrant colored leaves and vivid shades of green- in combinations that  can't be duplicated...but  can be preserved-through the continued funding of NJ's Open Space and Farmland Preservation efforts.
But preserving agriculture in the Garden State is about much more.

According to the NJ Department of Agriculture:
"The $82 billion food and agriculture complex is one of New Jersey’s largest industries, ranking after pharmaceuticals and tourism in the economic benefits it brings to the state."
"Retaining productive, taxpaying farmland is critically important to all New Jersey residents since agriculture is the largest single source of the scenic vistas we all enjoy throughout the year. Productive farmland covers 733,450 acres.

Farmers in the Garden State produce more than 100 different kinds of fruits and vegetables for consumers to enjoy either fresh or processed here in New Jersey and elsewhere in the Northeast, in Canada and in many countries around the world.  Nationally, New Jersey is one of the top ten producers of blueberries, cranberries, peaches, tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, snap beans, spinach, and squash.

In addition, growers also produced hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of specialty crops that added a unique flavor to the Garden State’s bounty. Vineyards, for example, are a growing segment of the industry, enabling the state’s more than 30 vintners to develop a wide variety of award-winning New Jersey wines."

On November 3 State Question #1 will offer voters a voice in insuring that those traditions, pleasures and treasures of the Garden State will be here to be enjoyed by all, for years to come. Farmland Preservation and Open Space funding has long lasting benefits-improving the quality of our water, food and lifestyle in New Jersey.

Sussex Naturally would like to remind you that your voice matters:
Vote on November 3rd-State Question #1

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Sussex...Naturally has a place of its own!

Sussex... Naturally has received such amazing response from our readers, we at Green Happenings-H20 decided to give it it's own space! 

Same great content, same fun format- new address:
www.sussexnaturally.blogspot.com

We hope you'll check continue to follow Sussex Naturally and watch for future announcements for the Sussex...Naturally web launch and online store-where you'll be able to find the best products, arts, photography and more-all produced in Sussex...Naturally!

Green Happenings H2O will continue to bring you tips, insights and info in the same casual tone-and we hope you'll join in with comments and contributions.

NJ Audubon launches njwildlifetrails.org...come explore!

You already know that Sussex Naturally is wild about all the outdoor recreation possibilities Sussex County offers. And we admit, our Green Happenings-h20 team is still discovering the best trails for wildlife watching and exploring- but now, thanks to our friends at New Jersey Audubon- we can all spend less time researching and more time exploring!

NJ Audubon has announced the launch of NJ Wildlife Trails on line! This great interactive tool allows expert or novice to discover and enjoy the best wildlife trails and viewing spots in the Skylands region and throughout the state.


 

NEVER HEARD OF New Jersey Audubon?
You've missed out! NJ Audubon is made up of people passionate about preserving and learning about New Jersey's natural treasures-it's diverse wildlife, bird population and habitats. NJA members work hard to preserve and conserve the Garden State's natural resources and to develop innovative projects to protect, preserve and utilize those resources.
NJA is staffed by experts, dedicated to their field and inspired by a passion for preserving the delicate biodiversity that we depend on. NJA members are folks just like you- who enjoy and appreciate the amazing natural world around us-whether observing nature in the wild or in your backyard.
NJA Centers are easy to access and a great place to find reference books, equipment and educational materials for young wildlife enthusiast of any age.
Check out their parent site www.njaudubon.org.

BIRDING AND WILDLIFE TRAILS  in print:


NJA has been developing the Wildlife Trail Guide series for some time. To date, three regional guides, in addition to the online site have been published. These printed guides are easy to use and full of info. They're great to toss into a backpack- whether you're on a day trip or weekend excursion. These guides have gotten outstanding reviews from our readers.
Now the folks at NJA have gone a step beyond the printed guides and has created an outstanding online application that offers regional trips and trails.  Spotting wildlife in their native habitat isn't always easy-unless you know where to look (and what to look for). NJA has included tips on both so your experience will be even more enjoyable.
Not quite up for a hike? Driving tours have been included in the online version!
How great is that!
Here's a preview of what you'll find when you visit the site:

Clearly labeled driving tours are one click away. Pick a region, click on the colored bar and up pops  everything you need to know including area highlights and wildlife and natural wonders you can anticipate seeing.  What a great resource for the casual or expert explorer or for classrooms and environmental groups!

We at Green Happenings-H2o, appreciate that this site is not overly complex and doesn't overwhelm with information-after all, who wants to spend time in front of the computer when there's so much to see and do right outside the door! The designers of www.njwildlifetrails.org have added enough tools and info to create a perfect starting point...and then created a forum for sharing personal experiences, connecting with others, or linking to more resources and info...at your own pace and pleasure!

Thanks New Jersey Audubon- for making it so easy for anyone to start exploring!









Greener Living...not a New Years Resolution

I've spent many a year planning the "fool-proof",  life- changing, long overdue New Year's resolution. A perfectly thought out plan- executed at the stroke of midnight... which usually fell apart somewhere around February! I'm sure you can relate.


About five years ago, I made one final resolution that I can say I still keep to this day...I resolved NOT to make New Year's resolutions anymore!


Instead of one hyped-up, do or die commitment, now I make small-sometimes inconspicuous changes in behavior that are almost mindlessly easy to enact.  Building on those subtle changes until, without much apparent effort (or anxiety) I have reached the intended goal. 


Evolution has replaced resolution with great success!


The same principles apply to reaching the ultimate objective of the Green Movement...a greener, healthier lifestyle. Go Green is everywhere. That's great news for you and me and the planet. With the wealth of products, services and information at our fingertips, we're better resourced than ever.


Taking small steps toward make better choices is easier than you think. And those steps do add up to a significant contribution -when we all do our little part.


Collective wisdom on our planetary health tells us that the environmental issues we  face don't belong only to a particular nation, government or industry. They belong to each of us personally-afterall, we all expend resources, make consumer decisions and participate in the production of waste by-products. 
Just as  collectively we have impacted the health of our environment,
collectively, we can make a broader and quicker positive impact on reversing that environmental impact than any legislation or industry change alone. 


The environmental challenges we face may still be part of the evening news reports for many. For others the news may be overwhelming and the problems may seem too large to imagine how they can make a difference. But even in the midsts of daily demands on time and personal resources, small steps toward healthier living have economic and personal rewards.


Green Happenings-H2O will offer suggestions and ideas that encourage, educate and facilitate small and easy changes that will help make a difference. We believe in the positive impact of collective change and we hope to encourage you to take a small step forward today.


Wherever you are in the "green spectrum" is a great starting point toward the greener, healthier lifestyle we all seek.