People often like taking care of plants for various reasons. Take me and my army of plants for example. They make my room more vibrant and I assume the responsibility of taking care of them. Others may have plants instead of pets. Then there are other that may say they do not have a “green thumb” or are just not cut out for having plants, but that is not true. Anyone can have a healthy plant if they do a little bit of research first and are willing to water them.
Choosing an indoor plant
When choosing an indoor plant, there are a few basic things to take into consideration:
How much water does this plant need?
How much sunlight does this plant need?
What is the average temperature this plant thrives in?
Is the plant poisonous to pets?
These are the main four components I always reference when choosing a plant. To go into more detail about each label, here is a picture to show the differences in the types of sunlight a plant needs and what I do for watering. If you feel confident about this part, feel free to skip to the next section.
Different amount of sunlight for indoor plants. Shows direct sunlight, indirect sunlight, medium light, and low light.
Determining the amount of water
This part can be confusing as it is sometimes hard to know the exact amount of water a plant needs. It can also be difficult to always give a plant the same amount of water. I personally use ice cubes as a way to measure the amount of water I am giving to a plant. If a plant shows sign of underwatering, add another ice cube next time it is watered. If a plant shows signs of overwatering, decrease the number of ice cubes. It is important to say that a plant will not die immediately from overwatering it or underwatering as long as the amount of water is adjusted.
Signs of overwatering or underwatering
Overwatering
Leaves will turn a yellow or whitish color and some leaves may fall off the plant. The leaves will not shrivel up before falling off.
Underwatering
Leaves will turn a yellow or whitish color and some leaves may also fall off the plant. These leaves DO shrivel up before falling off. By shriveling up, I mean the leaves will get extremely brittle and/or they may turn brown or lose their color.
Two Madagascar palms. The one on the left received direct sunlight while the one on the right received indirect sunlight.
Last minute takeaways on sunlight and water
Make sure you have the right conditions for a plant to live it. It may take trial and error.
If a plant is not receiving enough sunlight, the leaves may also fall off the plant, so move it to a brighter place.
If a plant is receiving too much sunlight, the leaves may turn white at the tips, so move it to a shadier place.
Types of Plants to Choose
This is the best part about having plant- getting the choose one!
Home Depot and Lowes often have a good selection of plants. They are fairly healthy and most are fairly easy to grow. I have found most ivy, bamboo, and basic ferns are easy beginner plants. For a list of other plants for beginners, check out these two websites:
If you have any pets, make sure to check if the plant is pet friendly and are not poisonous to pets if ingested. From my experience, some animals (especially cats) enjoy biting leaves.
For beginners, I recommend avoiding orchids and venus fly traps as they are often hard to keep alive.
With over 60% of 18+ Americans drinking coffee everyday, it is important that we consume in an ethical and sustainable manner. My own personal coffee recipe is an iced coffee with oat milk, brown sugar, and cinnamon. There are some very easy swaps that can be made in order to make your daily coffee more sustainable!
First the basics: Avoid single use plastics.
On the go:
It can be very convenient to pick up a Starbucks drink, and throw the cup out, but bringing a reusable cup is one easy way to reduce waste at Starbucks. To go coffee cups don’t have to be fancy and expensive either, an old mason jar is a great transport option, as are your daily use cups if you don’t mind not having a lid!
Buying coffee on the go can often mean bottled drinks. If you must choose these as your drink, try to choose a glass or aluminium container as they are more recyclable.
To avoid even more environmental impacts, make your coffee at home, and you won’t have to buy a fancy new coffee cup or generate waste.
At Home:
One major thing to avoid when making your coffee at home are disposable K-Cups. Tens of billions of these plastic cups have ended up in our landfills. The convenience of a single cup coffee brewer is undeniable, so making the swap to a reusable cup is an easy way to dramatically reduce the waste that you are producing. Another single cup brewing option that is low waste is a reusable pour over. Mine is made of stainless steel and does not require a filter, but others can be ceramic or glass and some need a paper filter. A benefit of this coffee brewing method is that the only waste produced can be composted. If you are a heavy coffee drinker and one cup is not enough, making one large pot of coffee is more sustainable (and convenient). A French press is a great way to make a pot of coffee with little waste, and traditional coffee pots are a classic as well. There are many low waste methods of brewing coffee that you can tailor to your lifestyle.
The Beans:
Choosing the coffee itself can feel like a total crapshoot, there are so many options and so many different labels claiming different things.
At the grocery store, look for fair trade certifications. Many large grocery stores carry local roasting companies and finding woman-owned or black-owned coffee options is becoming easier and easier. Supporting small companies is preferable to choosing a Foldgers, Starbucks, or Dunkin Donuts blend, even though the name is more familiar.
One way that I ensure I am getting sustainable coffee is to buy beans from my favorite local coffee shops. Many sell the same beans that they use to make their drinks, and baristas can give you plenty of information on it. Independently owned cafés also often have specifically chosen roasting companies that they buy beans from, meaning that more information on the brand should be available. This ensures a delicious cup of coffee, and you are supporting local businesses.
The Creamer:
Since black coffee is undeniably an acquired taste, most people opt to add a creamer. Choosing a plant milk over cow’s milk dramatically decreases the environmental impact of one cup of coffee. Flavored coffee creamers are a popular favorite, but tend to be made with unsustainably harvested ingredients like palm oil. An easy way to replace these flavored creamers is to make your own. Infused syrup recipes are all over the internet and can be added to a plant milk of your choice.
This past weekend, I decided to do an art project by building a plant stand from scratch with my uncle Kirk. The process took a grand total of four days to complete, but it was well worth it to have a new piece of furniture. After designing the plant stand, we both decided to use reclaimed wood that Kirk had gathered over the past couple of years. Using the reclaimed wood was seen as a way to decrease deforestation and reduce landfill waste that had accumulated over time (Elemental Green).
The reclaimed wood we used does not contain as many harmful toxins that can enter the atmosphere as normal store-bought wood. Similarly, reclaimed wood is more durable in accordance to the Janka hardness scale than regular wood because it is used from older grown trees instead of more recently grown trees (Elemental Green). Another benefit of using reclaimed wood is that the wood looks aged, which is a bonus for someone, such as myself, who likes the antique aesthetic!
After the plant stand was cut into each of its separate pieces, Kirk and I stained the wood and let it dry for about 24 hours. The stain color I used was called espresso, which is a dark brown color. To also reduce the use of emitting toxic chemicals such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), we used an environmentally friendly brand called ECOS Paints. Their paint stains use non-toxic chemicals so that people with health problems can be physically and environmentally safe. VOCs are similar to what is typically in paint stains that cause health problems and emission of petroleum air pollution, so using ECOS Paints was more sustainable to use on the reclaimed wood (ECOS Paints).
The most tedious process of making the plant stand was coating the stained wood four times with water based polyurethane, which is a more environmentally safe way to make the plant stand waterproof and have a shiny appearance. Water based polyurethane is better than oil based polyurethane because it does not emit high amounts of VOCs either. The oil based substance releases petroleum based carcinogens into the atmosphere, which yet again, causes severe health defects (Gemini Floor Services). On the other hand, oil based polyurethane is a very flammable substance, hence why the water based polyurethane is a better route to making a sufficiently waterproof plant stand. The water based polyurethane is a more durable substance because its compound has a “greater resistance to abrasion” (Gemini Floor Services). The water based polyurethane also dries faster than the oil based polyurethane because using more layers of thin coats is a more efficient way to assemble any piece of furniture quicker while releasing less chemicals into the air. Overall, the process of creating the plant stand with my uncle was a very enjoyable process while also being sustainable!
“Today, zip code is still the most potent predictor of an individual’s health and well-being” (Environmental Health News). In the 1900s, white people discriminated against BIPOC from purchasing houses in their white neighborhoods. This led to segregated neighborhoods. Landfills and highways directly through these neighborhoods, homeless shelters leading to increased pollution in groundwater and low air quality resulting in poor school systems and healthcare systems. This is an example of environmental injustice.
What is environmental justice? How can the environment be just or unjust?
Environmental injustice is when some communities have a higher level of environmental risk than other communities in society. Environmental injustice occurs when some communities have more environmental burdens due to racial and socioeconomic injustices. BIPOC neighborhoods faced increased risk of poor health from the polluted air and water resulting in a greater risk of environmental injustice. According to Scientific America, “environmental justice concerns are more prominent along race/ethnicity lines, rather than measures of poverty.” Environmental justice is still a huge problem because people of color are disproportionately affected by increased exposure to toxic chemicals, lead poisoning, unsafe workplaces, water contamination and climate change. This is expanded by not having access to healthcare, lack of good jobs, and increased crime.
In BIPOC neighborhoods, health is drastically affected due to environmental hazards. There is a great example of this from the movie Erin Brockovich (highly recommend watching this!) based on a real life story where a small town lived near a plant and they used a hazardous chemical, Chromium 6 that seeped into the town’s groundwater. This BIPOC community began having major health problems and took years to find out that it was related to the plant’s use of chromium 6 and years to get compensation. This is an example of the environmental injustice this BIPOC community faced from a big corporation that would have not happened in a big city full of wealthy residents.
Environmental injustice is relevant inside and outside of the United States. I recently learned that at the end of World War II, the industrial age ramped up and we began producing more waste and we needed someplace to ship it off too. Most of the waste ended up being shipped off to South America, Southeast Asia, and Africa. Third World nations accept the waste in exchange of money. This has been deemed “garbage imperialism” or “toxic colonialism.” This leaves these nations having a larger environmental risk, environmental injustice, due to waste polluting groundwater, and having a toxic environment.
What can I do to combat environmental injustice?
In environmental activism, we need to focus climate justice and racial equity at the center of our discussion. We need to bring those most affected by environmental injustice into these discussions. Lastly, we need to vote for politicians and policies that will advocate for environmental justice for all.
Citations
Environmental Justice Organisations, Liabilities and Trade.” Environmental Justice Organisations Liabilities and Trade, www.ejolt.org/2013/02/environmental-injustice/.
“A Look at Environmental Justice in U.S.A. Today.” Scientific American, Scientific American, 20 Jan. 2014, www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-look-at-environmental-justice-in-usa-today/.
“5 Ways Businesses Can Take Action to Reduce Environmental Racism.” Greenbiz, www.greenbiz.com/article/5-ways-businesses-can-take-action-reduce-environmental-racism.
Ranniger, Gwen. “The Father of Environmental Justice.” EHN, EHN, 26 Feb. 2021, www.ehn.org/environmental-justice-2646185608/the-father-of-environmental-justice.
As I make my way toward the “Pure in Balance” section in the Dining Hall, I’m magnetically drawn to a tempting beef taco casserole and saucy barbeque meatballs. Then, to my surprise, I look at the menu and realize that they’re made with plant-based meat! When I first saw this at the DH last semester, I was a bit skeptical. Sure, I’d had an Impossible burger before, but could the Furman Dining Hall really pull off cooking plant-based meat at a large scale? I decided I’d give it a try, and as I took my first bite of a meatball, I was pleasantly surprised with its likeness to meat. It had the same texture, smokiness, and overall flavor as an animal-based meatball. Coincidentally, a few days later, my mom sent me a podcast on cell-based meat (also known as “clean” meat), which is a new protein alternative currently in the works. I was infatuated with this idea that meat can be created in a lab using animal cells as a more sustainable, cruelty-free alternative to traditional meat. From that point on, I’ve continued to order the plant-based meat at the DH… and wondered if cell-based meat could become as widespread as plant-based meat, or even plant-based milks.
Will cell-based meat become as widespread as plant-based meat? (Shutterstock)
I was still puzzled, and a bit skeptical, about how this “meat clone” could be grown from cells in a lab; it almost sounds like a concept from a sci-fi movie. I learned that cell-based meat is created by producing commodities from muscle or fat cells of animal donors rather than whole organisms. Initial sources of cells are produced by animal donors who are anesthetized while a small section of tissue is removed. In this way, these cells are immortalized and are able to continuously proliferate – in much the same way plants are propagated – so that animal donors don’t have to continue being used. Though plant-based meat (produced from ingredients such as soy, beets, beans, and other grains and vegetables) are already a relatively popular alternative to animal meat, there are notable differences between this iteration and its cell-based sibling. Plant-based meat retains much of the functionality and nutrition of animal protein, but has an altogether different composition than meat, so is less able to mimic flavors and texture. In contrast, cell-based meat is more indistinguishable from traditional meat, as it has been “grown” from the cells of animals and therefore preserves the same composition as animal-based meat (Rubio et al. 2).
Key differences between CBM and PBM (Rubio et al. 5)
In researching more about cell-based meat, I was amazed to discover its sustainability as an alternative to animal – or even plant-based – meat. Throughout my time at Furman, whether through Eco Reps or a sustainability class, I’ve learned how detrimental animal farming is to the planet, as well as to animal and human health. One of the most destructive aspects of the livestock industry is the amount of greenhouse gas it produces. Methane, a dangerous greenhouse gas with high global warming potential, is produced by livestock – specifically cattle that consume grain-based foods (Garnett et al. 71). The livestock sector is also a major contributor to the production of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas that makes up 30% of the ruminant emissions total (Garnett et al. 72). But global warming due to excess greenhouse gas emissions isn’t the only issue linked to animal farming. This industry is responsible for the spread of foodborne illnesses to humans, as well as infectious and zoonotic diseases, like COVID-19. Such pathogens spread through factory farms and meatpacking plants, due to the fact that animals are processed as raw material input for meat production in notoriously unsanitary conditions (Rubio et al. 1). There’s also a conspicuous animal welfare issue within the livestock industry, with billions of animals killed or suffering due to our appetite for animal meat (Rubio et al. 2). However, cell-based meat will eliminate almost all of these issues. According to the journal article “Plant-based and cell-based approaches to meat production” published by Rubio et al., “The first relevant LCA published in 2011 estimated CBM would involve lower energy consumption (7–45%), greenhouse gas emissions (78–96%), land use (99%), and water use (82–96%) compared to ABM” (Rubio et al. 7). Moreover, with cell-based meat production, it’s almost impossible to spread foodborne illnesses or diseases because cell proliferation requires extremely sterile conditions, preventing contamination of pathogens (Rubio et al. 6). And, since the cells of the animal donors are able to be genetically immortalized, there’s no need for widespread slaughter. Cell-based meat will nearly eliminate the animal suffering, spread of foodborne and zoonotic disease, and most of the environmental issues caused by animal-based meat.
Comparison of sustainability of ABM, CBM, and PBM (Rubio et al. 6)
It’s theorized that cell-based meat could reach a larger scale of animal-based meat-eaters than plant-based meat has, since the taste and texture of cell-based meat is extremely similar to that of animal-based meat; there simply wouldn’t be as much for meat-eaters to “give up” in terms of what they enjoy about meat. In fact, studies show that even if cell-based meat was quite a bit more expensive than animal-based meat, there’d still be a relatively large market for it. Recently, a Netherlands consumer acceptance survey was conducted, showing that 58% of interviewees were willing to pay 37% more for cell-based beef compared to animal-based beef (Rubio et al. 3). If this is the case, how close are we to commercializing cell-based meat and producing it at large-scale? Currently, a ramped-up supply of cell-based meat is disrupted by high production costs and a lack of fundamental knowledge on the costs, nutritional value, and sensory properties of these cell-cultured tissues (Rubio et al. 9). Despite these hurdles, there has been some movement toward getting cell-based meat into production. It’s been decided that in the U.S., cell-based meat will be regulated by the FDA, which will regulate cell storage, isolation, and growth, and the USDA, which will oversee these products for the rest of the commercialization process (Rubio et al. 4). In its push for cell-based meat to become a wide scale protein alternative, The Good Food Institute operates as an international nonprofit sharing knowledge and research with the public and working across the supply chain and within public and private sectors to further a mission of promoting alternative proteins. They focus on the science of PBM and CBM, advocate fair policy and public funding to offer solutions to government issues, and find market opportunities and tailored guidance for producing and selling these plant-based and cell-based products (The Good Food Institute). With organizations like GFI and its mobilization of some of the nation’s leading meat producers to reimagine and retool, it’s possible that we could see cell-based protein alternatives being pushed into markets, perhaps becoming as widespread as plant-based meat, in the very near future.
Cell-based meat is a demonstrably sustainable alternative to animal-based meat in that it will decrease environmental, human health, and animal welfare issues. But what is equally exciting is the promise that it could crack open a brand new field requiring the emergence of innovative companies (think meat “breweries”!) and related career opportunities across the world (The Good Food Institute). Cell-based meat may not completely eliminate animal-based meat production. However, the demand for factory-farmed, lower quality meat could be filled by cell-based meat, while animal-based meat made sustainably on a small-scale could become the core of the demand for higher quality meat (Rubio et al. 9). So, rather than wiping out animal-based meat completely, cell-based meat could be offered in tandem with its traditional brethren, satisfying both vegans and carnivores alike.
Sources:
Garnett, Tara, and Cecile Godde. “Grazed and Confused?” Food Climate Research Network, Environmental Change Institute, 2017.
Rubio, N. R., Xiang, N., & Kaplan, D. L. (2020). Plant-based and cell-based approaches to meat production. Nature Communications, 11(1), 1-11. doi:10.1038/s41467-020-20061-y
The Good Food Institute. (2021, February 16). Retrieved March 02, 2021, from https://gfi.org/
The cabin reaped the benefits of last fall’s harvest on the Furman Farm: from pesto, to salads, to tacos, to roasted veggie sides, the fresh, organic produce was a luxury. Oftentimes, organic foods are seen as too pricey, unnecessary, or a marketing ploy. While words suggesting the food is “natural” are often used to enthrall the consumer, I can attest to the higher quality of organic produce, as can the surrounding environment.
Kale from the garden!Pesto made with Furman Farm basilTacos featuring lettuce from the farm
Some background – I am a biology major currently taking my research/writing intensive class. For class, we have to pick a research topic, and mine currently has to do with how more sustainable agricultural practices contribute to biodiversity of the ecosystem of which the farm is a part. Loss of species is happening at an accelerated rate. Since all life on Earth is connected in some way or another, this affects everything in some way, including humans. For example, the increasing extinction rates in biologically diverse ecosystems, such as rainforests, lead to increasing costs to maintain agricultural production, clean air and water, and even human health (libretexts). Although modern society and technology have given the illusion that humans are removed from ecosystems and nature, we still rely on plants for everything – food, medicine, clothes, clean air, and clean water – just to name a few.
Organic farming supports biodiversity and environmental health literally from the ground up. The lack of pesticide, herbicide, and fungicide use all support the life of microorganisms and other important species, like insects, that call the soil home. These species contribute to the nutrient content of the soil, via waste. Microorganisms help decompose organic matter, releasing excess nutrients into the system for use by plants (“Soil Biological Fertility”). Many organic farms allow underlying vegetation to grow, which creates habitats for wildlife (Myers et al., 2019). This contributes to biodiversity on a larger scale. Organic practices also help keep water clean by eliminating use of toxic chemicals (“Environmental Benefits of Organic”). Organic farming even actively fights climate change by sequestering carbon (“Environmental Benefits of Organic”)! As organic carbon matter decomposes, it gets converted to carbon dioxide through respiration, but practices commonly found on organic farms, like conservation tillage, cover cropping, and crop rotation, increase the amount of carbon (organic matter) stored in the soil (**sourced from my mom who works for NRCS).
Vegetation left relatively undisturbed to create habitats and contribute to soil health!
Composting, which is integral to organic farms’ practices like Furman’s, has a plethora of environmental benefits – biodiversity among them. Microorganisms love compost and quicken its decay (“The Top Benefits of Composting”). These microorganisms also assist in aerating the soil, which helps ensure that micronutrients are readily available in their most usable state (“The Top Benefits of Composting”). Composting benefits all aspects of farming, as composted soil is nutrient rich and aids in plant growth, and the soil attracts microorganisms and insects, which further enrich the soil and boost plant growth.
Site for collection of residential compost on the farmHomogenized compost at the Furman FarmMore decomposing organic matter!
Research suggests that organic farming practices support biodiversity. Tuck et al. found that species richness on organic farms is, on average, 34% richer than on conventional farms. They also found that plants and microbes are among the taxonomic groups that benefit the most from organic farming practices, which makes sense, considering all we have learned about composting and other organic practices (Tuck et al., 2014). The findings from this study suggest that the benefits of organic farming are “robust across sampling sizes” (Tuck et al., 2014). Despite the fact that the Furman Farm is a small one, its positive environmental impacts are substantial. However, they also found that biodiversity increased as the percentage of the landscape consisting of arable land (farmland) increased, so larger organic farms have a greater impact on biodiversity (Tuck et al., 2014). Another study used acoustic indices to compare the abundance and diversity of birds on organic versus conventional farms. Bird-prevalence was used as a marker of biodiversity, and the study found that organic farms had much more diverse sounds and a greater abundance of sounds stemming from animals and other life, which are key to biodiversity (Myers et al., 2019).
One still heavily-contested drawback of organic farming is that it produces significantly smaller yields than conventional agriculture, which is key to feeding the world, especially one with such a rapidly growing population. However, one alternative suggested by Tuck et al. is to combine organic practices with conventional agriculture, or even just have a small portion of a conventional farm operated organically in order to support wildlife and biodiversity more in the area. This issue definitely isn’t going away any time soon, so it is increasingly important that humans develop new (or return to old!) agricultural practices as the population and climate develops and changes.
Work Cited:
“Environmental Benefits of Organic.” OTA, ota.com/organic-101/environmental-benefits-organic#:~:text=Instead%20of%20relying%20on%20synthetic,cover%20cropping%2C%20and%20crop%20rotation.
Libretexts. “21.1: Importance of Biodiversity.” Biology LibreTexts, Libretexts, 15 Aug. 2020, bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_and_General_Biology/Book%3A_Concepts_in_Biology_(OpenStax)/21%3A_Conservation_and_Biodiversity/21.1%3A_Importance_of_Biodiversity.
Myers, David, Håkan Berg, and Giorgos Maneas. “Comparing the soundscapes of organic and conventional olive groves: A potential method for bird diversity monitoring.” Ecological indicators 103 (2019): 642-649.
Pollinator Bees Need to be Protected if We Want Our Planet to Survive
Bees may seem small, but the impact they have on the ecosystem is enormous. Bees account for the survival of 80% of all plants on Earth. Their pollinating skills are what allow plants to repopulate in such efficient ways that cover vast swaths of land. Bees support the agricultural system greatly by pollinating crops such as nuts, fruits, and vegetables. The pollination process plays a significant role in the survival of 100 types of crops. The pollination process is demonstrated in the diagram below.
Without the help of the bee’s crops and livestock would suffer and die out slowly. This means that we humans would not have our main source of meat or vegetables. Bees are responsible for increasing the crop yield of around 90 crops by at least 30%. Without this abundance of food, the number of accessible crops would decrease causing the prices of the crops left to skyrocket.
If bees became extinct, the human race would soon follow. Bees have been declared the most invaluable species by the annual Earthwatch debate in 2008. Without bees, the majority of human food sources would die out. Our access to many necessary medicines would also become limited as the plants that are used as ingredients start to become endangered. We also use cotton, one of the main crops that benefitted from bee pollination, in many aspects of our lives including bandages and clothing. The loss of bees would throw the whole ecosystem out of balance resulting in many species of plants and animals becoming extinct. Carnivores and Omnivores alike would starve resulting in a mass extinction event. While there are other pollinators, bees make up the majority of the work because there are over 20,000 species of bees working at pollinating the world.
There are many threats to the survival of bees, but the most prevalent are pesticides, parasites, habitat loss, and lack of genetic diversity. To begin, Bees are typically kept in captivity on farmland. This land is heavily coated in pesticides containing harsh chemicals that are harmful to the life of the bees. Bees are especially affected because they travel from plant to plant to pollinate which exposes them to pesticides. Secondly, bees are vulnerable to habitat loss due to climate change, deforestation, and farmers deciding to stop taking care of bees. Bees construct an elaborate hive that is designed to benefit a bee’s lifestyle. Losing these homes causes bees to become vulnerable to outside threats that they would typically be protected from inside a hive.
The next threat bees face is the lack of genetic diversity. Bees in the wild are able to intermingle and create subspecies, but bees in captivity are all very genetically similar. Due to the high levels of bee populations living in captivity, many hives have been interbreeding for years which results in a high genetic similarity amongst the bees. This is a threat to their survival because if a disease comes through, the genetically similar bees will all have the same level of vulnerability where the genetically diverse hives will have a higher chance of survival. Finally, bees are susceptible to parasites, especially one known as a Varroa Destructor. This parasite is depicted in the diagram below. The parasite attaches itself to the larvae of the bee before the larvae’s cove is sealed over with beeswax. The parasite lays eggs and feeds on the larvae until the larvae becomes a pupa and breaks through the seal. This pupa is now a bee that is infected with the Varroa Destructor and soon dies. The destructor continues this cycle until the whole hive is suffering and on the brink of death.
While bees face many threats, there are ways that we can combat their endangerment. One easy way to help out bees is by building a garden full of pollinator plants. This will provide a safe space for the bees to pollinate and live. These gardens will provide an abundance of nutritious food sources for the bees. If you want to be even more involved in providing a safe space for bees, you could add a little bee house to your garden. A few types of bee homes are pictured below. The main qualification for a bee house is to have small tube-like structures for a bee to make their home in. These structures are typically made out of wood. A second way to help out the bees is by actively reducing chemical uses while landscaping and gardening. An uncontaminated ecosystem will thrive without the threat of dying from chemicals. The biodiversity will increase which will, in turn, allow more pollination to happen. Finally, you can create a bee bath for the bees to land in and drink after a hard day’s work of pollinating. To do so you can fill a birdbath or bowl with a shallow amount of water. You will need to place pebbles or rocks in the water for the bees to land on so they will not drown. If you want to spice it up a bit you could add some sugar to the water to energize the bees, but this may also attract unwanted visitors like ants or flies.
Bees are an essential cog in the ecosystem. They are often overlooked and forgotten, but we need to work toward helping them survive. The only way we are going to have a planet to live on is if we keep the bees alive. Practicing sustainable gardening will help to create a safe environment for bees to do their work in. These small chubby bugs may not look like much, but they are necessary to the survival of the majority of the Earth’s living creatures.
Sources Used:
10 Ways to Save the Bees. 2 Dec. 2020, thebeeconservancy.org/10-ways-to-save-the-bees/.
University of Pittsburgh. “The business of bees: The economic value of insect pollination services is much higher than previously thought in the US.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 3 February 2021. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/02/210203144555.htm>.
“Why Bees Are the Most Invaluable Species.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 21 Nov. 2008, www.theguardian.com/environment/blog/2008/nov/21/wildlife-endangeredspecies.
This semester I’m working as the Student Podcast Fellow for the Shi Institute’s Podcast: “Upstate Anecdotes”. I’ve never done anything with podcasting, so I’m super excited to learn the ins and outs of audio storytelling while delivering stories about lesser known sociological and ecological issues around Greenville.
The first project topic I will be researching is the development of Unity Park in Greenville. Unity Park is a 60 ace park being developed west of downtown Greenville, encompassing Mayberry Park and the former Meadowbrook Park. The park is part of the city’s strategic mission to balance Greenville’s downtown development with ample green space, which includes a comprehensive environmental management plan to ensure the park does not interfere with biodiversity and ecosystem processes of the area.
The major environmental initiatives contacts and other stakeholders are pursing involves river restoration and tree planting. Harper General Contractors, the major constructing firm involved in the park’s development, are removing invasive tree species from Reedy River Bank and replacing with native vegetation. Trees on the bank of the Reedy river currently are mostly non-native species- distributed by birds and other animals involved in distributing their seeds. These non-native tees are preventing natural tees, like oaks, magnolias, cede, and sycamore trees, from prospering and participating in regulating the natural riparian ecosystem. The city has also made a commitment that for every tree removed, two or three will be planted. Having more trees along the bank will also prevent the possibility of bank failure, helping to maintain the aesthetic of the park while protecting species that live in the river.
Some environmental enhancements are also being built for practical purposes of storm protection. Designers are creating a drainage system to reduce floodwaters in the park and surrounding neighborhood of Southernside. The city is constructing landscaped depressions that will be filled with sandy soil and plants to filter runoff before it reaches the river in order to reduce the bank from eroding, improve water quality, and overall recharges the water table. Benches built around the riverbank will also create more surface area for water flow during flood events. The park is also developing the Swamp Rabbit Tail to extend its connectivity throughout the park to provide access from the park into downtown area and back.
The park is set to open in spring of 2022, and I know that I am excited for what the park will be. I love exploring the natural areas around Greenville, maybe this park will add to my inventory of favorite spots!
Background: The CDC states that COVID-19 spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets (e.g. cough, sneeze, talk). Masks provide a simple barrier to these droplets. Despite the initial aversions/debate to wearing a mask, many states have now implemented mask mandates that require a face covering when leaving one’s residence. Masks are most effective when everyone wears one.
From an article by Mayuri Wijayasundara, she states how face masks may consist of one or more layers, each with different functions:
an outermost layer, designed to repel liquids such as water
the innermost layer, which absorbs moisture and allows comfort and breathability
a non-absorbent middle layer, to filter particles
Trends: Imagine one disposable mask a day per every person in your house. Now think of your place of work or school. Can you imagine the number of masks needed for your state? How about all the masks needed in the country? Finally, the world. That’s just one day of masks. But they all are thrown away and the cycle repeats. All of these masks are discarded from each person’s hands, but they still exist. Whether that be sitting in a landfill or swimming with the fishes or peeking out of the sand like a clue to a treasure.
Increased demand of personal protective equipment (PPE) has been a driver of increases plastic pollution. “According to a study published in Environmental Science and Technology journal, an estimated 194 billion disposable masks and gloves are being used globally every month as a result of the coronavirus pandemic” (Disposable Face Masks are Damaging the Environment 2020).
Additionally, masks have become a fashion statement and diversified to become another necessary piece of apparel. Masks are a way for companies to market and promote their support for masks. The rising trend has also increased sales for homemade masks. I have seen masks that cost 3$ all the way to $50. While masks are becoming normalized, another sector shifting is individual consumption to more take-out and online ordering. “The global plastic packaging market size is projected to grow from USD 909.2 billion in 2019 to 1012.6 billion by 2021 due to pandemic response” (Adyel 2020). What does this projection mean for the environment?
Environmental Impact: Most of the masks in the U.S. are made out of polypropylene-based plastic-or related forms of plastic such as polystyrene, polycarbonate, or polyethylene. “These synthetic fibers are designed to resist liquids and do not biodegrade in the environment once discarded” (From the Editors of E). They instead break down into microplastics or extremely small pieces of plastic. This can also be applied to reusable masks. Despite the longer life span, most reusable masks are made from synthetic fibers like nylon or polyester which also do not biodegrade. “Disposable plastic masks that end up in the oceans could take up to 450 years to decompose (Written by Reuters Staff 2020).
Potential solutions: The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) encourages people to “snip the straps” after use of a disposable mask to prevent animals getting tangled up in them (Parkinson 2020). It is important to note your purchase has an impact. It can be overwhelming the amount of choices when searching for a mask. It is understandable how buying a box of 50 disposable masks can be the simplest and least stressful. There are biodegradable masks that are made from cotton, bamboo, or hemp that can work as alternatives to single-use plastic ones for those not in the healthcare industry. Images below taken from The Good Trade website are three different companies that source responsibly. Some companies also donate masks with each purchase. If this latter option is viable, I urge the investment in a sustainably made mask. While they might be more costly, in the long term, they will do more help than harm.
Conclusion: This is an example of how one action can have a huge effect when you add everything up. COVID-19 has changed everyone’s life. As we adapt to this, it is essential we make choices for those who cannot. Nature and wildlife play a huge role in Earth’s services and on an individual level, what type of mask you get and how you dispose of your mask can make a positive (or negative) difference. This article is not saying risk your health and others. However, hopefully it has brought awareness to alternatives for those not in healthcare and able to afford a more sustainable option.
Works Cited
Adyel, Tanveer M. “Accumulation of Plastic Waste during COVID-19.” Science, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 11 Sept. 2020, science.sciencemag.org/content/369/6509/1314.
Covid-19: Considerations for Wearing Masks. www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-guidance.html.
Disposable Face Masks Are Damaging the Environment. It’s Time to Kiss Them Goodbye, Once and for All. 13 Nov. 2020, www.independent.co.uk/life-style/face-masks-coronavirus-environment-climate-change-b1721922.html.
From the Editors of E – The Environmental Magazine. “EarthTalk: What’s the Environmental Impact of Single-Use Masks, Gloves Now in Use Because of COVID-19?” Mail, 25 Oct. 2020, www.wvgazettemail.com/earthtalk-whats-the-environmental-impact-of-single-use-masks-gloves-now-in-use-because-of/article_2634bcfc-6567-5995-a65b-c73ee11eeffe.html.
“15 Sustainable Brands Making Face Masks For Social Distancing.” The Good Trade, The Good Trade, 13 Jan. 2021, www.thegoodtrade.com/features/reusable-face-masks.
Parkinson, Justin. “Coronavirus: Disposable Masks ‘Causing Enormous Plastic Waste’.” BBC
Wijayasundara, Mayuri. “Millions of Face Masks Are Being Thrown Away during COVID-19. Here’s How to Choose the Best One for the Planet.” The Conversation, 14 Jan. 2021, theconversation.com/millions-of-face-masks-are-being-thrown-away-during-covid-19-heres-how-to-choose-the-best-one-for-the-planet-147787.
Written by Reuters Staff. “This French Firm Is Making Biodegradable Face Masks Using Hemp.” World Economic Forum, 18 Sep 2020. www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/09/hemp-france-face-masks-coronavirus-covid-pandemic/.
A lot of people believe that animal agriculture is bad for the environment, so they urge people to be vegetarians. But meat is not the only thing, that can destroy generational resources. Avocados are included.
These delicious looking fruits, which contain 73% water, 15% fat, 8.5% carbohydrates, mostly fibres and 2% protein, are one of the highest demanding products in our world. Due to the demands, it becomes multibillion-dollar industrial products.
The fruit is harvested in Chile, Mexico, and California. The profits from these fruits have made many industries, business corporations, and investors to go to the extreme of producing and selling them on a large market scale. And the consequences are the suffering of carbon footprint, deforestation, droughts, business instability and many more.
In Mexico and Chile, many lands are used to grow and produce avocado. The water used to maintain the good quality of these fruits is also intense. It takes 18 gallons of water to produce one avocado. Two small avocados in a packet have a CO2 footprint of 846.36 grams (almost twice the amount of a kilo of bananas). The energy used to preserve the avocados during shipping is highly intense.The increase in avocado production has had negative impacts on local food security as the global demand is causing prices to rise, which makes it hard for some people to purchase.
Since avocado is made up of 73% water and requires a lot of water to grow,the water exported within the fruit is lost to the local ecosystem where the fruit is grown. With the global temperature rising and water becoming limited, this has impacted the local communities who do not have access or authority on the use of water.
Avocado production has also started violence in the region where the fruit is grown, as the profits for these fruits are very high. There are a lot of incidents, where farmers are kidnapped, threatened, asked to give profits made from avocado production in Mexico.
In conclusion, although Avocado is a healthy and sustainability superfood compared to meat, it has serious environmental consequences. Fruit, meat, or vegetable, whatever it may be, it is very important to understand that going to the extreme always have high risks. When it is good to eat avocados, it is again important to remember the impacts it has on humanity.
These delicious looking fruits, which contain 73% water, 15% fat, 8.5% carbohydrates, mostly fibres and 2% protein, are one of the highest demanding products in our world. Due to the demands, it becomes multibillion-dollar industrial products.
The fruit is harvested in Chile, Mexico, and California. The profits from these fruits have made many industries, business corporations, and investors to go to the extreme of producing and selling them on a large market scale. And the consequences are the suffering of carbon footprint, deforestation, droughts, business instability and many more.