Eco Alley

Living Green with Connie Pumphrey

Only once or twice did we question the wisdom of renovating our 1940’s waterfront cottage instead of tearing it down. It was a solid structure that allowed us to live in it and postpone decisions which had two benefits; first, we were able to pace our spending and, second, it afforded us the opportunity to think about how… read more

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Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 09/01/10 at 09:32 PM

Cleaning products aren’t so clean

I found myself searching the AACo Dept of Public Works site recently because my husband found a bottle of something floating in the Severn River and, being a good guy, he picked it up. We are not sure what it is but we are treating it like plutonium until we get it to a facility for proper disposal. … read more

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Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 08/26/10 at 03:39 PM

What’s in your backyard?

I was raised to believe that every living thing inhabits Earth for a reason. Scavengers like ants, roaches, mice and buzzards eat garbage and animal carcasses that would otherwise pile up to rot and decay; worms, spiders and birds thin out the bugs; snakes and foxes eat mice, moles & voles to contain their populations. In a perfect… read more

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Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 08/18/10 at 08:33 PM

Queen of the road

I love wildflowers. My home state has hundreds of species but, of course, I didn’t notice while I lived there. Maryland has its share of them too and I am in full sensory mode this year. I became enthralled with artscapes created from pressed flowers after viewing incredible works at the Philadelphia Flower Show. Entries come from around… read more

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Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 08/12/10 at 07:44 PM

My aunt owned an Elvis ironing board cover

Laundry is a repetitive task that historically used significant energy and water plus toxic products so I worked hard to improve the process. (Recall that I do laundry for 2 people plus the cat’s binkies. For larger families, keeping everyone in clean clothes is a miracle; any eco-steps might lead to sainthood.)

A front loading washing… read more

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Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 08/03/10 at 08:35 PM

Gloom & Doom Reports

Weather observation has been with me forever. My father, a retired railroad foreman, has kept meticulous weather records for 50 years in regions where few people ventured. The National Weather Service (“NWS”) coveted (and copied) his records and he still reports local weather to them. My family gathered weather statistics using a thermometer, ruler and mason jar but… read more

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Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/29/10 at 07:41 PM

Liar, Liar! Water on Fire.

It is alarming how many reports I come across about water contamination. According to the AACo Water Quality Report for 2009, however, our drinking water is just fine. The AACo DoH website tells a different story about surface water contamination. ALL of our beaches “are under a no swimming/no direct water contact advisory for 48 hours” after it… read more

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Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/23/10 at 02:45 PM

What would Dilbert do?

Remaining civil with our peer groups is a daunting task. I am thinking of my co-workers now, that group of people we see daily and with whom we MUST interact.

It was important to me that our offices become environmentally friendly, and I knew that handling it correctly was a key component. It was my effort. I owned… read more

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Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/14/10 at 08:24 PM

What’s on your roof?

I married well - I am the first to admit it. My zealous enthusiasm is tempered by his common sense. I want it done, he wants to save money by doing it himself. He listens patiently and allows me to come to his conclusion without angering me. The area that creates “debate” between us concerns my efforts to… read more

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Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/07/10 at 08:08 PM

Green Acres (I hope)

Convincing farmers to minimize their use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, a serious runoff problem for our Bay, can be done simply by not buying their products. We can ensure healthier farming practices by requiring food source disclosure and buying organic, locally grown products - the market driven economy doing its job. I am somewhat uncomfortable with this… read more

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Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 06/29/10 at 07:50 PM