Brummet's Conscious Blog

The Recommended Resources series has been published on this blog since we transferred it from the Brummet's Muse biweekly newsletter that ran for 6 years or so, many years ago. When we closed it down, we decided that we just had to continue this series here on this blog and have been doing so now for nearly 2 decades. With this series, Dave and I have the pleasure of sharing some great resources which can include  - positive impact organizations and events - citizen science projects  - links to helpful articles, amazing resources & exciting interviews It would, of course, be fantastic if you see a way to connect with them, thank them for their work, network with them, share the sites or get involved in some way. ** Want to see a non-profit listed here? - Send us a  FaceBook   or  LinkedIn  message. Polar Bears International  study the habits, ecology and threats to the polar bears. This is the only conservation dedicated solely to wild polar bears....

Pollinators With the recent fire epidemic in the US a lot of smoke was produced for everyone. You may have been in one of the communities affected where air quality warnings were issued. Perhaps you had to shut your windows because the smell bothered you, or it was bad enough to avoid being outside at all. If you were in the epicentre you probably had breathing gear on.  Have you ever stopped to wonder what happens to bees and other wildlife? They are my first thought. The innocents. The animals, the precious flora and fauna, the delicate butterflies, the eggs in nests, the young ones, the ones that can't run or fly away.... Tragic. Just tragic . Not to mention the forests themselves. The diversity. The environmental impacts to come.  Thankfully there are thousands of organizations out there that work for pollinators, bee and butterfly organizations, bird and wildlife rehabilitation centres, tree planting and native seed supply organizations. Numerous organizations also suppor...

Greener Lawn Maintenance Were you aware that old, defunct lawn mowers, even those that are not operating, still have some value? Remove the blade, motor, cords, wires and gas tank, leaving the four-wheeled caddy and its push handle. Secure a strong box to this and voila! – you now have a wheeled cart that is perfect for harvesting or toting material, cords or tools around the property. The metal frame of most lawn mowers is recyclable. The wheels are a treasure to those that are handy around the workshop who can turn benches, tables, gates, chairs or shelving into movable, wheeled items. The motor and remaining parts might also be appreciated at a repair shop where they could be reused or potentially recycled. There are alternatives to traditional lawns too - from wildflower mixes to low-growing ground covers that rarely need mowing. Landscaping a portion or the entire area with drought tolerant, wildlife supporting plants is a very environmentally ac...

"Green" Lawns? Ahh. Spring arrives with the beautiful twittering of birds preparing their nests for the unborn. What - can't hear them? The low rumble of lawn mowers, leaf blowers, trimmers, rototillers and air compressors not only drowns out natures' symphony, but also disturbs skittish wildlife and sleepy neighbours. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, operating older gas-powered lawn mowers for just 1 hour will produce as much air pollution as a new car does in 11 hours. Lawn mowers newer than 1996 have to comply to new exhaust emission standards, which is a fantastic place to begin. Many home-maintenance machines offer 4-stroke engines options and while less polluting than 2-stroke, they still produce emissions. http://BrummetMedia.ca Gasoline-powered mowers cut the lawn in such a way that the lawn will experience even greater water loss and increased disease problems in lawns. Too often the blades become d...

Fuel & Emissions www.BrummetMedia.ca All over the world people are experiencing air quality changes due to vehicle emissions. Particularly in the peak of summer, cities have worsening air quality to the point where it has become "normal" to hear air quality warnings. In some regions of the world vehicle emissions are responsible for 90% of their air quality issues. Traffic congestion is one part of the issue, as it is responsible for wasting 7.3 million gallons of fuel annually while cars sit idling in gridlock. Some feel the solution is to build more roads, while others feel enough land is already devoted to roads and parking lots. Blacktop contributes to global warming as it traps the sun’s heat and causes the area around it to become blazing hot and dry. In some areas, tollbooths have been used as a powerful persuader for people to opt for alternative transit and car-pooling. Increasing taxes on pollution causing items and decreasing those that ...

Recommended Resources Yup, it is time for another set of great resources for you to check out when you have the time... today's resources focus on environmental law: - Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) works to protect human health and our environment by seeking justice for those harmed by pollution and by working to change policies to prevent such problems in the first place. http://www.cela.ca - Eco-Justice, once known as the Sierra Legal Defence Fund, this organization goes to court and uses the power of the law to defend nature, combat climate change and fight for a healthy environment. https://www.ecojustice.ca - Environmental Defence Canada   - " Canada’s most effective environmental action organization " challenges and inspires change in government, business and people to ensure a greener, healthier and prosperous life for all. https://environmentaldefence.ca - ~~ Visit the Brummet's @:  http://BrummetMedia.ca...