As you probably have noticed, Sammy and I often post LITE Initiatives events and other environmental events. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
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I am often surprised people don’t respond more to what LITE is doing. Yes, occasionally people ask for details, but rarely does anyone I don't know comment on this important work promoting simple sustainable practices that can be a source of pleasure rather than pain <o:p></o:p>
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Perhaps the posts are boring. Any ideas on how to liven them up?<o:p></o:p>
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I have a bad cold; perhaps I am just blue. Talk to me people!<o:p></o:p>
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LITE Initiatives *** Community Bikes **** Car-Lite **** Green Mentor and Green Synergy ****<o:p></o:p>
Zero Waste Sonoma County and coming soon: Eat-Lite<o:p></o:p>
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Oh yes – we are planning a May Green Events Workshop and Commute Panel Discussion.
decterlove
04-04-2008, 05:27 PM
Portia, cheer up! :Clap::Clap::Clap::Clap::Clap:
I totally appreciate your postings (of the bike events especially!) Just two minutes ago, I cut and pasted the April bike classes onto my email to do list which I sent back and forth to myself between two email addresses.
People are just too busy and distracted, perhaps lazy and even overwhelmed these days...I don't know what it is and I've stopped trying to figure it out. I have a friend I constantly discuss with how flakey people are in regard to returning just basic emails and phone messages.
There are many, many great posts on Wacco that go entirely unreplied to, certainly many of what I've thought to be my own best postings. And I've learned to be detached about it mainly because I've seen it happen so many times to others.
Community on the web is a bit of a mysterious entity...I fully appreciate and take advantage of Wacco but I've learned to drop my cyber-expectations of all forum and ad type internet sites.
And I will try to be there for at least one Sunday workshop this month even though it's a bit of a trip from Sonoma on the weekends.
I am often surprised people don’t respond more to what LITE is doing.
Perhaps the posts are boring. Any ideas on how to liven them up?<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
I have a bad cold; perhaps I am just blue. Talk to me people!<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Dark Shadows
04-04-2008, 06:16 PM
Hi Portia,
Can I suggest a topic that would be very timely and useful? Weed and insect control for home owners and renters who want to be responsible. Our front yard is overgrown with weeds. My roommate goes out there every so often and weed-whacks it. But it is quickly becoming a jungle, which wouldn't be so bad if we didn't live in such a nice neighborhood of lovely Victorian homes with well-kept gardens. I hate living in an eyesore. My rommate is threatning to use Round-up! I need to give him options! When I owned a home on an acre in Martinez, I forbade my husband to use any chemicals because my daughter has a very weak liver after chemotherapy (she's in remission, and doing great). We ended up pulling out all the rose bushes, chamelias and other hard to maintain plants and putting in a rock garden with native, draught resistant plants (and our neighbors complained!). But even that was difficult to maintain with all the weeds encroaching on our butterfly bushes and cyanothis. I don't have the money or energy to put in a rock garden, especially in a temporary rental. My yard in Washington is a forest, so nothing is required of me other than making sure the tree branches don't get too close to my roof which was replaced after the last wind storm. Any suggestions on how to maintain the yard in Petaluma? I thought about getting a couple of goats at the livestock auction to eat down the weeds. We have a large dog run and shelter where they could live quite comfortably. I'm a little reluctant to approach my landlord with this! I've heard you can spray weeds with concentrated vinegar, but I've never tried it.
Maybe a how to program is in order? I'll supply the yard and refreshments! Is this something that Lite would deal with?
Another topic is converting our vehicles to burn cooking grease. There doesn't seem to be an easy way for busy people to do this without spending thousands.
As you probably have noticed, Sammy and I often post LITE Initiatives events and other environmental events. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
I am often surprised people don’t respond more to what LITE is doing. Yes, occasionally people ask for details, but rarely does anyone I don't know comment on this important work promoting simple sustainable practices that can be a source of pleasure rather than pain <o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Perhaps the posts are boring. Any ideas on how to liven them up?<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
I have a bad cold; perhaps I am just blue. Talk to me people!<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
LITE Initiatives *** Community Bikes **** Car-Lite **** Green Mentor and Green Synergy ****<o:p></o:p>
Zero Waste Sonoma County and coming soon: Eat-Lite<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Oh yes – we are planning a May Green Events Workshop and Commute Panel Discussion.
decterlove
04-04-2008, 07:45 PM
Hi Dark Shadows,
I can suggest one simple technique for minor weed problems that is often overlooked...BOILING WATER....especially a little cheap electric tea pot that can be poured out accurately.
I've used it frequently in the past for weeds sprouting up between bricks and cracks on patios and walkways. Kills em good and quickly. Even dandelions which I hate to kill but sometimes aren't sprouting up in good places.
I saw a tv special about a machine they are using along the highways in the Southeast a while back that carries a large heated tank of hot water sprays hot water in multiple nozzles and then has a ten foot rubber mat that trails behind it to ensure the weeds are heated sufficiently to remove their essential oils. I wish I could provide a link to this....but it's been a few years since I saw the program.
That said if you're living in a house with weeds in the yard in Petaluma...I'd be happy as a tick on a Torkie...you might be the last house in the downtown neighborhood that has yet to be as manicured as a Poodle in Paree. I watched that neighborhood get so damned tidied up in the four years I lived there it was pathetic.
(One of my favorite non-toxic tricks for insects, especially black widows inside the house in corners where you can't reach them easily is simple matting spray. Gums em all up and you can smash em or vacuum them up after that. (If you vacuum up a black widow be sure to carefully remove and wrap the vacuum bag...they can survive quite well inside of them.)
Hi Portia,
Can I suggest a topic that would be very timely and useful? Weed and insect control for home owners and renters who want to be responsible.
Portia
04-09-2008, 09:27 AM
Hi Dark!
You have definitely given us some food, I mean weeds, for thought. I don't have time to process the idea right now, though I do know quite a bit about biodiesel and some about veggie oil use in diesel engines. At some point, after I catch my breath, I will post some info about that here and on the LITE website.. Until then, below are some links from Laguna Farm which is the home of the local Veggie Oil Coop. Also, here is the link to a recent Chronicle article on alternative fuels which mentions Laguna Farm.
Unfortunately, there is not enough veggie oil or biodiesel to supply even a small proportion of our county's diesel use. (Yes, this may change quickly if we can get those oil creating algae to work for us.) I see vegetable based fuels as transition or boutique fuels best used to raise awareness - but the main message needing to be promoted is: drive-less and more efficiently and carpool when ever possible even if it is a bit inconvenient. If we all drove low impact alternative vehicles the sheer numbers will still result in congestion and pollution.
Thanks!!
Portia
Hi Portia,
Can I suggest a topic that would be very timely and useful? Weed and insect control for home owners and renters who want to be responsible. Our front yard is overgrown with weeds. Maybe a how to program is in order? I'll supply the yard and refreshments! Is this something that Lite would deal with?
Another topic is converting our vehicles to burn cooking grease. There doesn't seem to be an easy way for busy people to do this without spending thousands.
FireFox
04-11-2008, 07:37 PM
I would love to meet with you
490-7962
give me a call:heart:
~smiles~
As you probably have noticed, Sammy and I often post LITE Initiatives events and other environmental events. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
I am often surprised people don’t respond more to what LITE is doing. Yes, occasionally people ask for details, but rarely does anyone I don't know comment on this important work promoting simple sustainable practices that can be a source of pleasure rather than pain <o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Perhaps the posts are boring. Any ideas on how to liven them up?<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
I have a bad cold; perhaps I am just blue. Talk to me people!<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
LITE Initiatives *** Community Bikes **** Car-Lite **** Green Mentor and Green Synergy ****<o:p></o:p>
Zero Waste Sonoma County and coming soon: Eat-Lite<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Oh yes – we are planning a May Green Events Workshop and Commute Panel Discussion.