Thinking Green Thursday #2

Yes, I am posting a second time this week - simply because I have just read a post by Gord Harrison, on his blog, It Strikes Me Funny.

Blogger won't let me put up the Think Green logo for this one, for some reason.


Gord has been talking about climate change. He is reading a book called Climate Wars, by a gentleman named Gwynne Dyer. Please go to Gord's post of February 3rd, and follow the links. I have not read this book, but do intend to now that I have had a taste. It is a startling and sobering subject.

While you're at it, take a look at some of his previous posts. I'm sure you will find them enjoyable and/or thought provoking.

Thinking Green Thursday

Thinking Green Thursday is brought to us each week by Michellle, who writes the most wonderful posts, accompanied by wonderful photos.

My post this week is the result of my own daydreaming. As most of my readers know, my youngest daughter has lived in Monterey County, California for several years. I have visited out there many times, and I think it is the next best thing to heaven. I had intended moving to the area when I retired, but that never happened, for several reasons. I suppose it's for the best, considering the present cost of living in Monterey. But I can dream, can't I?

All pictures in this post come from my daughter, Kathryn. She spent some time last week in Big Sur country.



It's beauty is breath-taking - in sunshine -









and in the fog that often hangs low over the coastline.









There are several places in the county which are destinations for monarch butterflies to spend the winter. This was one of them, and Kathryn captured some lovely photos of a monarch on an echium plant.






Do I even have to ask if this world is worth saving? Every part of our Planet Earth offers such wonders. How do we dare to despoil it?






How do we dare to ignore any opportunity to do whatever we can to help to preserve all of this for our children?




This is my grandson, busy planting peas in the raised bed his father has just finished creating.


He deserves a beautiful, clean, healthy world to enjoy.




The children of Haiti also deserve that kind of world. Please go to Michelle's post to find where you can make contribution toward helping them in the terrible disaster they have suffered.
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Thinking Green Thursday

It is Thinking Green Thursday once again. Visit Michelle, and please do add your thoughts about keeping our world green.


Tootie, of Turtle Talk With Tootie, has posted for the first time this year, and she has some interesting news. It seems that on Monday, and again on Tuesday of this week, Florida shores were visited by an endangered loggerhead turtle. The adult female weighed in at about 600 pounds. She wore a metal tag, indicating that she probably swam here from Costa Rica. She was found on Big Hickory Island in a State Park, and may or may not have nested, which would have been unusual for this time of year. She seemed to be disoriented. On the second day she was picked up by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.


Tootie's blog post contains links to the naplesnews.com site, where you can find further details, pictures and a video. The pictures shown here are from that site.


During the season, Tootie helps patrol the beach near her home, attempting to protect the nests of these and other endangered turtles. She often shows us some beautiful videos on her posts.

Incidentally, yesterday's Sea Notes also dealt with sea turtles, if you're interested.
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Last minute update -

In yesterday's post, Tootie has an updated report on the turtle. (They've named her Lizzie.) It has been determined that she weighs - are you ready for this? - 787 pounds! She is about 40 years old, and was actually tagged in Columbia, South America. Do follow the link to get more details.

Think(ing) Green Thursday

Michelle is once again hosting Think(ing) Green Thursday for us. Thanks to her for her dedication and her wonderful posts.


Are you familiar with All Green Things? It's a great site, offering all kinds of good things. (Incidentally, they have gift cards.)


It also offers a blog. When I went there today, I found another great idea and another great site: PaperlessPost.com.


I must admit, I still feel that there is nothing like a handwritten thank you note or sympathy note. But for most of our every day needs, the Paperless Post offers another way to conserve when it comes to stationery needs, with personalized invitations and announcements and greeting cards. Have you mailed your holiday cards yet or do you still have last minute ones to send?


Sign up is free, quick and easy. Cost to email your friends is less than postage.

Take a look. I do believe you will be pleased with what you see.

Think(ing) Green Thursday

Think(ing) Green Thursday is hosted by Michelle at Rambling Woods Green.

This is an area near my home called Bennett's Bog. I have enjoyed many hours wandering through the bog. There are a few trails through the woods and around the open space. Lots of birds and other creatures. And if you know where to look, there are some very rare tiny orchids and other wild flowers.

This time of year it isn't really possible to enter. We have had a great deal of rain, and you would probably find yourself sinking below the surface.










There are such places near most of our homes, unless we live in the center of a big city. Even in Metropolis, parks offer us some place to spend a little peaceful time for relaxation where we can commune with Nature and escape from our busy, hectic daily life.

Think Green Thursday

On Thursdays here in Blogland, we start Thinking Green, and Michelle hosts our meme for us.

Today my post will be short and sweet. I just want to remind everyone who finds themselves on the shore or a pier, sailing or in a fishing boat, do NOT be tempted to dispose of even the smallest piece of trash - not even a bottle cap or a cigarette - by tossing it into the water. Sea birds and other animals will injest it, and it can be fatal to them.


This is a photo of Makana. She is an albatross who lives at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. "Makana" means "gift" in Hawaiian, and the staff does consider her a gift. She was found injured, and could not be returned to the wild, so she is a permanent resident of the aquarium. She is one of the lucky ones. Her photo and the one following are from the Sea Notes blog.


This second photo is of a plastic tube containing all the contents of the stomach of just one albatross, found dead. I believe that is enough said.

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Meantime, if you'd like to view a great video on the great white shark (a desperately endangered species), as it appeared on TV, visit this link to the Monterey Bay Aquarium blog, Sea Notes, and read their post of November 23rd, titled White Peacock.

Think(ing) Green Thursday

Once again, thank you, Michelle, for hosting Think(ing) Green Thursday.

Just a few reasons why I care so much about a healthy environment.



























































And mostly because I want my little grandson, and all of the children who come after him to experience the beauty of nature. I don't want them to have to read about it in books. I want them to breathe clean air and drink clean water, and to know the joy that I have experienced on this green earth.

Think(ing) Green Thursday

Our friend Michelle is once again hosting Think(ing) Green Thursday for us, and I hope that many of you will consider joining us.

I have been in love with the sea ever since I was a child, and read Elizabeth Enright's "The Sea Is All Around". I have lived near the sea for the past fifty-three years, and would never wish it otherwise. I'm sure we are all aware of how dire the situation is these days for the waters that comprise such a large share of our planet.

I am turning once again to Sea Notes, the blog of Monterey Bay Aquarium in California, for my post today.

Along with so many important considerations that President Obama is undertaking these days, is an Ocean Policy Taskforce. He would like to create a National Ocean Agenda and Policy for United States oceans. Obviously, to accomplish anything in this direction, we need cooperation and collaboration of other nations. For instance, Cuba and Mexico must cooperate with the United States in order to restore health and oversee the declining populations of sharks and sea turtles, and design a management plan, in the Gulf of Mexico. It is hoped that our efforts will inspire cooperation in this direction all around the world.

Also, on November 3rd, Sea Notes reported in an article titled "In Over Our Heads", about an on-going program which interested me very much. It seems that there is also climate change in the sea and that what we do far above, affects what goes on among the sea animals down on the ocean floor. This may be hard for us to imagine, but it is true.

Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) has recently reported that food supplies to 60% of the ocean floor are affected by the amount of carbon captured and held there. MBARI employs a robot they call the Benthic Rover (see picture) programmed to travel along the ocean floor to measure the impact of climate change below the surface.

I am one of so many of us who often grumble about modern technology. But I find this sort of thing truly amazing, and am so grateful that there are people out there using this technology to help restore the health of our environment - land, sea and air.


All pictures in this post from Monterey Bay Aquarium

Think(ing) Green Thursday

Be sure to check out our host, Michelle's Think Green today. It's a real winner for Halloween!





I apologize for posting rather late today. The rain this week prevented me from making the visit to the place I wanted to post about. It is the "Green Cemetery" at Steelmantown that I posted about last week. I really wanted to see it for myself and take some pictures. This morning my friend, Lisa, and I drove out there, and this is the result.

As always, click to enlarge photos,



I believe we both enjoyed the visit very much. It is a lovely place, and very interesting. There is history to be discovered there, since it was established in the 1700's. As Edward Bixby, the owner, has stated, "The ways of the past are the way of the future."



There are nature trails to be explored as well. I did take my "Hugo" walker, but did not venture far on the trails, except for 100 feet or so, but Lisa did enjoy them.





As I told you last week, Green Burial means that embalmed bodies are not permitted in the cemetery, so as not to pollute the earth. Many markers are only wooden crosses. Most are natural stone, many of which have the names of those buried there crudely carved by untrained hands.




I am sorry the chapel was locked at the time of our visit. I would have liked to see what it is like inside. But it did look lovely. You can see a bit of the inside if you go to the website at: http://www.steelmantowncemetery.com/. There is a video on the site, showing the cemetery in all seasons.




The grave markers are fascinating. Some are now unreadable and moss covered. 800 years is a very long time.


We saw many birds while we were there, including a hawk soaring over us. Wildlife abounds in the surrounding woods. There are nine acres of pineland forest.


I'm sure that other Green Cemeteries must be as beautiful. Perhaps worth your while to explore.

Think Green Thursday

Michelle hosts Think Green Thursday for us each week. Thank you, Michelle. It is a really worthwhile project.

My post today is a little unusual. It deals with a subject that many may not care to deal with, and may not appeal to many readers. I never realized it was even a possibility, until I read an article in one of our local papers over the weekend. I like the idea very much myself.

In Steelmantown, NJ, two miles past Woodbine off of Route 557, is located an historic old cemetery, first established in the 1700's. This lovely, rustic old place is what is known as a green cemetery. No embalmed bodies are permitted to be buried there. Contrary to popular belief, there is no law requiring the embalming of bodies, so long as burial takes place in a timely manner. That means that there are no poisonous chemicals to pollute the earth. Burial may take place with the body wrapped in a blanket or other wrapping so long as it is of a natural material, or in a wicker coffin. There are no vaults. Headstones are usually large natural stones. In the oldest part of the cemetery, markers are cedar planks, and over the years the carving has worn away.

Embalming of bodies became popular after the Civil War, when bodies of soldiers killed in the conflict were returned to their families, and it was necessary that they be preserved for the trip. Until that time, it was not considered necessary.

There is a small non-denominational chapel on the property, built in 1910 of all recycled materials.

The newspaper photographs show a lovely, peaceful wooded place. I wish that they were suitable for reproduction here, but they are not, and I do not live close enough to have made the trip to take pictures of my own in the past few days. I have attempted the clearest one from the paper, of the chapel, here. The photo of the trail in the cemetery is from their website. Steelmantown Cemetery may be contacted at 609-628-2297. Edward Bixby II, Prop.

Other green cemeteries do exist, but the closest to our region would be in Ithaca, New York, and in Ramsey Creek, South Carolina. There are some others scatttered over the United States. You can find their locations here. There is a movement at present to establish natural burial cemeteries in Canada as well. At the same link you can look into such places in the UK and Europe.