A Tribute to Nature – Remembering Britain’s Romantic Era Poets & New England’s Fireside Poets!

From 1790 to 1830, six British poets – Blake, Byron, Coleridge, Keats, Shelly, Wordsworth – were busy shaping a movement known as “Romanticism” that elevated “nature” to its most poetic splendor .   Meanwhile across the pond in New England, from 1800 to 1865 five ‘fireside’ poets – Bryant, Holmes, Longfellow, Lowell, Whittier – (also known as the ‘schoolroom’ poets) – were developing the same kind of poetry but in a way which made their body of work easy to memorize and recite at school and at home.   See how well you can match their nature-themed verses (V1 thru V11) with the appropriate authors and titles (A thru K).

AUTHOR & TITLE

A. William Wordsworth (I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud)

B. James Russell Lowell (The First Snowfall)

C. Percy Bysshe Shelly (Ode to a Skylark)

D. William Cullen Bryant (The Planting of the Apple-Tree)

E. Samuel Taylor Coleridge (Frost at Midnight)

F. John Greenleaf Whittier (Snow-Bound)

G. Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. (The Last Leaf)

H. Lord Byron (Adieu, Adieu! My Native Shore)

I.  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (The Song of Hiawatha)

J. John Keats (A Draught of Sunshine)

K. William Blake (Ah Sunflower)

NATURE-THEMED VERSES

(V1) The Frost performs its secret ministry, Unhelped by any wind. The owlet’s cry Came loud–and hark, again! loud as before. The inmates of my cottage, all at rest….

(V2) Adieu, adieu! my native shore  Fades o’ver the waters blue;  The night-winds sigh, the breakers roar,  And shrieks the wild sea-mew….

(V3) And if I should live to be The last leaf upon the tree In the spring, Let them smile, as I do now, At the old forsaken bough Where I cling….

(V4) Every pine and fir and hemlock Wore ermine too dear for an earl, And the poorest twig on the elm-tree Was ridged inch deep with pearl….

(V5) Ah Sunflower, weary of time, Who countest the steps of the sun; Seeking after that sweet golden clime Where the traveller’s journey is done….

(V6) I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o’er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils….

(V7) By the shores of Gitche Gumee, By the shining Big-Sea-Water, Stood the wigwam of Nokomis, Daughter of the Moon, Nokomis….

(V8) Hence Burgundy, Claret, and Port, Away with old Hock and madeira, Too earthly ye are for my sport; There’s a beverage brighter and clearer. Instead of a piriful rummer, My wine overbrims a whole summer; My bowl is the sky, And I drink at my eye….

(V9) What plant we in this apple-tree! Fruits that shall swell in sunny June, And redden in the August noon, And drop, when gentle airs come by, That fan the blue September sky, While children come, with cries of glee, And seek them where the fragrant grass Betrays their bed to those who pass, At the foot of the apple-tree….

(V10) As zigzag wavering to and fro Crossed and recrossed the wingéd snow: And ere the early bedtime came The white drift piled the window-frame, And through the glass the clothes-line posts Looked in like tall and sheeted ghosts….

(V11) Higher still and higher From the earth thou springest, Like a cloud of fire; The blue deep thou wingest, And singing still dost soar and soaring ever singest….

Answers:

‘A’:Wordsworth (I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud)-V6

‘B’:Lowell (The First Snowfall)-V4

‘C’:Shelly (Ode to a Skylark)-V11

‘D’:Bryant (The Planting of the Apple-Tree)-V9

‘E’:Coleridge (Frost at Midnight)-V1

‘F’:Whittier (Snow-Bound)-V10

‘G’:Holmes Sr. (The Last Leaf)-V3

‘H’:Byron (Adieu, Adieu! My Native Shore)-V2

‘I’:Longfellow (The Song of Hiawatha)-V7

‘J’:Keats (A Draught of Sunshine)-V8

‘K’:Blake (Ah Sunflower)-V5

Unleash Your ‘Inner Woodcarver’ with Skiing, Windsurfing, Golfing, and Hiking Adventures!

What better way to be inspired by nature than to immerse yourself in a wood-carving class surrounded by gorgeous scenery and fantastic activities for all seasons? Here are but a few outstanding woodcarving classes to consider in your next travel vacation to Europe:

COURSE DESCRIPTION: WOOD CARVING HOLIDAY COURSES IN GREECE WITH SCUBA DIVING, SAILING, WINDSURFING, YOGA, & MOUNTAIN BIKING OPTIONS
http://www.woodcarversgreece.com/goto/page/wood_carving_courses,1104
*LOCATION – THE FISHING VILLAGE OF VASSILIKI – ON THE ISLAND OF LEFKAS IN THE IONIAN SEA – JUST OFF MAINLAND GREECE
CLASS SIZE: OPEN
SKILL LEVEL: OPEN TO ALL LEVELS
DATE: ONE WEEK COURSE – BEGINNING SEPT. 9TH & SEPT. 16TH – OR – TWO WEEK COURSE – BEGINNING SEPT. 9TH
TUITION: 850 GBP – 1,370 GBP
INSTRUCTOR(S): TUTORS SIMON CLEMENTS & STEPHEN SCOTT
CONTACT: WOODCARVERS GREECE – Tel UK 020 8673 1555 OR INT’L +44 20 8673 1555
WEBSITE: http://www.woodcarversgreece.com/goto/page/home,1101

COURSE DESCRIPTION: WOOD CARVING HOLIDAY COURSE IN TRANSYLVANIA
http://www.visit-transylvania.us/learning/carving-wood-in-transylvania.html
*LOCATION – THE NORTHWESTERN REGION OF MARAMURES IN ROMANIA – (RECOGNIZED BY UNESCO FOR ITS FAMOUS WOODEN CHURCHES & CARVED WOODEN GATES) – IN THE VILLAGE OF SACEL
CLASS SIZE: MAXIMUM OF FIVE
SKILL LEVEL: BEGINNER TO INTERMEDIATE
DATE: 3 DAY COURSE
TUITION: 499 EUROS
INSTRUCTOR: MASTER CRAFTSMAN GRIGORE TULEAN
CONTACT: TRANSYLVANIA LIVE – Tel 1-866-376-6183 OR reservations@visit-transylvania.us
WEBSITE: http://www.visit-transylvania.us/aboutus.html

COURSE DESCRIPTION: CRAFTING WOODEN CHAIRS AND STOOLS IN SWEDEN
http://www.saterglantan.se/kortakurser_en.php?kurs=19
*LOCATION – Sätergläntan COLLEGE OF HANDICRAFTS IN THE SILJAN DISTRICT OF SWEDEN (KNOWN FOR ITS SPECTACULAR HIKING, CYCLING, & GOLFING ACTIVITIES AND OUTDOOR CONCERT & MUSEUM ATTRACTIONS)
CLASS SIZE: OPEN
SKILL LEVEL: OPEN TO ALL LEVELS
DATE: 7 DAY COURSE – SEPT. 24-30, 2012
TUITION: ABOUT 7,850 – 8,850 SEK
INSTRUCTOR: FRITIOF RUNHALL-ONE OF THE BEST SPOONCARVERS IN THE WORLD
CONTACT: Tel +46 (0)247-645 70 OR info@saterglantan.
WEBSITE: http://www.saterglantan.se/om_en.php

COURSE DESCRIPTION: FIGURE CARVING COURSE FOR BEGINNERS & ADVANCED WITH SKIING, HIKING, AND OPEN-AIR CONCERT OPTIONS
http://www.schnitzschule.com/cms/website.php?id=/en/index/woodcarving.htm
*LOCATION – TYROLEAN REGION OF AUSTRIA – IN THE VILLAGE OF ELBIGENALP – SITUATED IN THE VALLEY BETWEEN THE LECHTALER AND ALLGAUER MOUNTAINS
CLASS SIZE: MAXIMUM OF EIGHT TO TEN
SKILL LEVEL: OPEN TO ALL LEVELS
DATE: 2 &1/2 DAYS TO ONE WEEK COURSE – (IN ENGLISH)
Oct 7- 14
Oct 14 – 21
Dec 23 – 30
Dec 30, 2012 – Jan 6, 2013
TUITION: MAX. OF 762 EUROS
INSTRUCTOR: CALL FOR DETAILS
CONTACT: GEISLER-MORODER AUSTRIAN WOODCARVING SCHOOL – Tel +43 (0)5634 6215 OR geisler-moroder@aon.at OR CARL G. WIGGINS IN THE USA AT Tel 1-205-979-1111 or wiggs7@aol.com
WEBSITE: http://www.schnitzschule.com/cms/website.php?id=/en/index/school.htm

Unleash Your ‘Inner Chef’ With Snorkeling, Sailing, and Horseback Riding Culinary Adventures!

What better way to be inspired by nature than to immerse yourself in an outdoor setting – cooking sensational cuisine with internationally renown chefs? Here are but a few outstanding cookery classes to sharpen your food and beverage tasting adventures.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: SNORKELING, SAILING, TOURING, RUM TASTING, & CARIBBEAN COOKING CLASSES IN BARBADOS WITH CHEF STEPHEN BELGRAVE!
http://www.limetreelane.com/hotel/barbados-little-good-harbour-and-young-island
*LOCATION – LITTLE GOOD HARBOUR, BARBADOS & YOUNG ISLAND, ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES
CLASS SIZE: OPEN
SKILL LEVEL: OPEN TO ALL LEVELS
DATE: 7 DAY COURSE
TUITION: CALL FOR DETAILS
INSTRUCTOR: CHEF STEPHEN BELGRAVE
CONTACT: LIME TREE LANE – Tel +44 (0) 843 289 2278 OR Enquiries@LimeTreeLane.com
WEBSITE: http://www.limetreelane.com/home

COURSE DESCRIPTION: KNIFE SKILLS CLASS – CHOPPING YOUR WAY TO PERFECTION WITH CHEF CAROLIANNA – – THE GRAND FINALE BEING A CLASSIC BOUILLABAISSE!
http://thefloatingchefschool.com/classes-on-the-boat/
*LOCATION – ON A 53’ HATTERAS YACHT LOCATED AT SLIP E-19 OVERLOOKING MISSION BAY IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, USA
CLASS SIZE: MAXIMUM OF 6
SKILL LEVEL: OPEN TO ALL LEVELS
DATE: SEPT. 5, 6PM – 9PM
TUITION: $125.00 USD
INSTRUCTOR: CHEF CAROLIANNA
CONTACT: THE FLOATING CHEF COOKING SCHOOL – Tel 1-858-829-9021 OR Carole.Jensen@gmail.com
WEBSITE: http://thefloatingchefschool.com/

COURSE DESCRIPTION: SWIMMING, TOURING, WORLD COFFEE TASTING, AND PACIFIC ISLAND COOKING CLASSES ON THE BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII WITH CHEF JASON VERDUN!
http://rainforestchefs.com/Culinary-Vacations–and–Instruction.php
*LOCATION – BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII, USA
CLASS SIZE: OPEN
SKILL LEVEL: OPEN TO ALL LEVELS
DATE: 5 DAY COURSE
TUITION: CALL FOR DETAILS
INSTRUCTOR: CHEF JASON VERDUN
CONTACT: RAINFOREST CHEFS – Tel 1-808-990-7525 OR Info@RainforestsChefs.com
WEBSITE: http://rainforestchefs.com/index.php

COURSE DESCRIPTION: HORSEBACK RIDING & SPA TREATMENTS, WINE TASTING, & TUSCAN COOKING CLASSES IN ITALY WITH CHEF CLAUDIO!
http://cooking-vacations.com/tour/cooking-classes-horseback-riding-spa-tuscany-rome/
*LOCATION – THE REGION OF MAREMMA, TUSCANY, ITALY
CLASS SIZE: OPEN
SKILL LEVEL: OPEN TO ALL LEVELS
DATE: 6 DAY COURSE – AVAILABILITY – AUG. 29TH TO DEC. 25TH
TUITION: $2,195.00 USD
INSTRUCTOR: CHEF CLAUDIO
CONTACT: COOKING VACATIONS – Tel 1-800-916-1152 OR 1-617-247-4112 OR info@cooking-vacations.com
WEBSITE: http://cooking-vacations.com/

Eco-Fashion: The New Standard of Cool Innovative Clothing!

Eco-fashion is now mainstream. You only have to look at some of the world’s most celebrated actresses– Meryl Streep, Cameron Diaz, Penelope Cruz, Natalie Portman, Jennifer Aniston, Emma Watson, Salma Hayek and Alicia Silverstone – to know that sustainable fashion has arrived in a big way.

But what does “eco-fashion” really mean? And what kinds of eco-friendly materials are used by today’s eco-fashion designers? To begin with, eco-friendly fashion is a type of clothing or accessory that is created and produced in such a way to minimize deleterious environmental costs, social costs, animal welfare costs, and consumer health costs throughout the total lifecycle of the product i.e. using materials that have been recycled or are biodegradable or that have been grown without the use of pesticides and ensuring employees in the fashion industry earn fair wages in healthy working conditions whilst using these materials.

Examples of these eco-friendly materials range from plant fibers such as organic cotton, jute, flax, hemp, bamboo, soy, and wood pulp cellulose – to commonly known animal fibers (or animal hair) such as wool from sheep and llamas, mohair and cashmere from goats and silk from silkworms. But can some of these newer, lesser known, eco-friendly materials such as corn-based fibers, coconut-husk fibers, yak fibers and sour milk yarns be fashioned to meet our high expectations of beauty and performance? And what of synthetically-made discarded plastic soda bottles, used truck tarps and bicycle inner tubes? Can they too be turned into high-quality items of wearable and durable sophistication?

The answer is a resounding – “Yes”. Below here is a list of my favorite eco-conscious artisans, designers, and retailers who are doing just that – taking these materials from fibers to yarns to great fabric designs and humane and energy-conscious garment manufacturing processes – and bringing these very innovative eco-friendly collections of clothing, jewelry, and bags into your own home:

(1) Ecolissa (www.ecolissa.com/) – Online USA Retailer – Based in Massachusetts and launched in 2010, Ecolissa carries fashionable eco-friendly and vegan women’s clothing and accessories featuring such popular brands as “Ecoskin”, “Toggery”, “Stewart + Brown”, “Smartglass”, “Goodsociety”, “Indigenous”, “Spun”, and “Elroy”. Popular items include Yoga Capri Pants made of bamboo, “Bottled Up Designs Teardrop Earrings” made of reclaimed remains of antique blue mason jars and antique green beer bottles and an “Indigenous Riding Coat” made of 100% organic cotton from Peru.

(2) Green Tree Jewelry (www.greentreejewelry.com/) – Online USA Retailer – Based in San Diego, California, this company offers fun and affordable jewelry from renewable sources including “Kinetic Gear Earrings”, and “Block and Tackle Pulley Heart Pendant”.

(3) Juno and Jove (www.junoandjove.com/) – Online USA Retailer with Flagship Store in Sarasota, Florida – Juno and Jove carries a fantastic array of lifestyle products, gifts, and merchandise “selected for their construction, quality, design aesthetics, durability, material content, maintenance, and practicality” including women and men’s clothing, shoes, and accessories.

(4) Mission Savvy (http://missionsavvy.com/) – Online USA Retailer with Organic Juice Bar and Café based in downtown Charleston, West Virginia – Mission Savvy not only offers a wide array of collections from ethical fashion designers who use sustainable and locally produced organic fabrics – but they offer workshops catering services, and a juice bar café and food truck featuring vegan, raw, and gluten free plates, snacks, and desserts. Five percent of their online store profits support animal rescue and wildlife conservation projects around the world.

(5) Walleska Ecochicc (http://www.ecochicc.com/) – Artisan & Online USA Retailer – Based in Dallas, Texas, Ecochicc carries an unusual array of modern luxury apparel, handbags, and accessories handcrafted from recycled aluminum can tabs melded with traditional crochet techniques and contemporary designs including their popular opera clutch and short kimono.

(6) NAUClothing (www.nau.com/) – Online USA Retailer with store outlets in 37 states across America – Based in Portland, Oregon, NAU offers sustainable urban and outdoor apparel for today’s modern mobile lifestyle including men’s and women’s clothing, bags, packs, cases, wallets, deluxe travel kits, and café luxe kits.

(7) Amour Vert (http://www.amourvert.com/) – Online USA Retailer – Based in Palo Alto, Calfiornia, Amour Vert carries sustainably chic, high-quality, high-fashion eco-apparel and accessories for women at an affordable price. Popular Items include Banago Woven Zig Zag Totes, Sprout Eco-Watches, Andean Tagua Bracelets and Necklaces, Striped Maxi Dresses, and Peacock Print Tunics.

(8) West Paw Design (http://www.westpawdesign.com/) – Online USA Retailer – Based in Bozeman, Montana, West Paw Design carries the highest quality of eco-toys, apparel, bedding, for DOGS and CATS. Best-sellers are the Reknitz Dog Sweaters and Eco Slumber Beds.

In summary, eco-fashion is a lifestyle statement about ourselves. It’s a way of defining who we are and what we do – where we shop – how we shop – how we recycle – how we maintain our clothing – our pets – and of course, how we maintain our planet.

“A Reef! A Reef! My Kingdom for a Reef!” – If Only Shakespeare’s King Richard III Could Scuba Dive!

It’s almost summer when my thoughts automatically turn to sand, surf, reefs and this year’s scuba diving venture in the Florida Keys. Yes, I am a “wreck trekker” at heart but I am also a reef enthusiast – both artificial and natural – and enjoy its many attractions for marine life and recreational fishing.

But perhaps most fascinating of all is the work that is being done in “building” and “restoring” reefs in the USA. Often called the “rainforests of the seas” and “the medicine cabinets of the 21st century”, coral reefs are now being grown in several “underwater nurseries” from Fort Lauderdale thru the Florida Keys to the U.S. Virgin Islands. And in New Jersey, a multi-talented artist/marine biologist/scuba instructor is making a 48-foot-long, 25,000-pound concrete sculpture of a horseshoe crab for use as an artificial reef off the New Jersey coast near Mantoloking. Let’s see then how well you know your reef-making trivia through the last twelve years.

1- Which state in America sponsors an artificial reef program that is the largest rigs-to-reef program in the world?
2- Which state in America is home to the “Ewa Deepwater Artificial Reef” sunk in 300-420 foot water which consists of two barges, two drydock caissons, 1073 tons of concrete pipes, a 43-foot cement structure, and 8000 tons of miscellaneous concrete pieces?
3- Which state in America is home to “Redbird Reef”, an artificial reef located in the Atlantic Ocean covering 1.3 square nautical miles of ocean floor made of 714-plus retired New York City subway cars, 86 retired tanks and armored personnel carriers, 8 tugboats and barges, and 3,000 tons of ballasted truck tires?
4- Which state is home to the largest artificial reef in the world made by the sinking of the aircraft carrier “USS Oriskany” on May 17, 2006 and now considered to be one of the top ten wreck diving sites in the world?
5- Which state is home to artificial reefs made mostly of quarry rock ideal for schools of rockfish, sand bass, and surfperches – and occasionally sunken light poles, pier pilings, concrete chimneys, and old streetcars?
6- What two endangered ‘deer-sounding’ coral species are being transplanted to degraded reefs in the waters off the coasts of Florida and the US Virgin Islands in what is the largest restoration project of its kind?
7- Can you name at least three causes of coral population decline due to either natural or man-made stresses?
8- There are three types of coral reefs around the world – atolls, barrier reefs, and fringing reefs. But how many types of coral are there in the world? A- Over 10,000 B-Over 100,000 C-Over 500,000 D-Over 1 Million
9- What combination of odd man-made objects have been sunk to create an artificial reef? A- Concrete Igloos & Cones B-Outdated Bridges & Docks C- Surplus Army Tanks & Navy Submarines D- Obsolete Airplanes & Helicopters E-All of the Above
10- Coral reefs are a source of food and shelter for a large variety of species including crabs, shrimp, oysters, clams, sponges, sea urchins, sea anemones, sea snakes, snails, jellyfish, and turtles. But what are corals? A) Plants B) Skeletons C) Minerals D) Colonial Animals with Limestone Homes

So whether its wrecks you wish to explore or the remarkable sea creatures hidden within brilliantly displayed coral reefs – you are guaranteed a dazzling show of aquatic magic like no other terrain in the world. If only Shakespeare’s King Richard III knew how to scuba dive—he might have thought differently about giving up his kingdom for a horse!

Answers: (1) Louisiana (2) Hawaii (3) Delaware (4) Florida (5) California (6) Staghorn and Elkhorn Corals (7) Hurricanes, Earthquakes, Disease, Pollution, Warmer Sea Temperatures, and Human Touch (8) C-Over 500,000 (9) E-All of the Above (10) D-Colonial Animals with Limestone Homes

Are You or Your Child Suffering From Nature-Deficit Disorder? Try a Large Dose of ‘Vitamin N’ or Green Exercise!

You’ve Heard of Spa Breaks, Spring Breaks, Coffee Breaks, and Family Fun Breaks to reduce stress and blood pressure – but are you familiar with the benefits of “Nature Breaks”? With ever increasing big-city development, population density, and not enough backyards, and too little in urban access ways to recreational parks, you or your child may be one of millions of Americans suffering today from “environmental deprivation” – a lack of exposure to nature and the outdoors. That’s right – the healing power of nature in both physically challenging activities and visually experiential observations and self-reflections – has now been proven to have scientific merit.

But before I delve into researchers’ studies and examples of “green prescriptions”, let’s determine if you are suffering from the negative effects of a Nature-Deficit Disorder.

1- How long has it been since you played in the outdoors – i.e. hiked in the mountains, swam in the ocean, paddled on a lake – AND- felt so vibrant and full of life doing it?
2- How long has it been since you planted flowers or vegetables in your own backyard garden or front-side verandah or window box –AND- felt the peaceful inner pleasure of watching something grow under your care?
3- And yes, when was the last time your child voluntarily spent time away from his or her video games, his or her television set, his or her computer monitor or  iPad, and his or her mobile phone –AND INSTEAD- happily volunteered to help out an animal shelter, set up a campsite, build a wildlife sanctuary, or become a map and compass trail instructor?

Whether you are six or 60 – without “enough” exposure to natural settings – illness and behavioral issues can suddenly erupt and spill over into your daily life and workplace. Here then is what researchers have found about the power of ‘Vitamin N’ for Nature in the last 30 years.

– During the 1980s and 1990s, a number of studies demonstrated that just looking at natural landscapes offered a wide range of benefits for post-operative hospital patients, office workers, prison inmates and car commuters: quicker recovery rates, higher work productivity, lowered blood pressure, less headaches and enhanced use of the senses.
– In 2008, University of Michigan researchers demonstrated that memory performance and attention spans were improved by 20 percent after just one hour of interaction with nature.
– University of Kansas researchers have reported a 50 percent boost in creativity for people who were immersed in nature for just a few days.
– And in Japan, Jikei and Nihon University research studies show that stress-buster sleepovers at the Enoshima Aquarium can counteract a bad day at work – specifically watching jellyfish. Apparently watching jellyfish overnight stimulates the production of a compound in the saliva associated with relaxation.
– Recent studies in the USA have also shown that bringing groups of inner city children with behavioral issues on recreational and educational field trips in nature can drastically improve their sense of self-worth and social relations with others.
– As for children brought up in rural areas, two Cornell University environmental psychologists discovered back in 2003, that the amount of green landscapes a rural child is exposed to greatly influences a child’s resilience against stress and adversity – “that life’s stressful events appear not to cause as much psychological distress in children who live in high-nature conditions compared with children who live in low-nature conditions”. Conducted by Professors Nancy Wells and Gary Evans, their innovative behavioral study of rural children and the “naturalness scale” of their residential environments assessed the degree of nature in and around the homes of 337 rural children in grades 3 through 5 (whose family’s socioeconomic status and income were the same) by the number of live indoor plants inside the family home, the amount of window view space of nature itself, and the material texture of the outdoor yard – grass versus dirt or concrete.
– In a separate study, Professor Nancy Wells also found that nature significantly boosted a child’s attention span when children were moved from poor-quality housing to better-quality housing with plenty of green spaces around.

All of this gives credence to the popular “Attention Restoration Theory” first developed by Rachel and Stephen Kaplan in their 1989 book, “The Experience of Nature: A Psychological Perspective” – which asserts that “people can concentrate better after spending time in nature, or even looking at scenes of nature.” So with the importance of this in mind, let’s take a look at how you or your child might engage with nature and enhance your physical, emotional, and spiritual capacity to live good quality lives.

1-Plant a garden or “schoolyard habitat”. The National Wildlife Federation assists schools in developing and “certifying” outdoor classrooms where educators and students learn how to attract and support wildlife. These mini-outdoor environments then become places where students not only learn about specific wildlife species and ecosystems but they allow children to hone their academic skills and nurture their innate creativity and curiosity. Thus far, the NWF’s Schoolyard Habitat program has certified 4000 schoolyards in all 50 states of the United States plus two territories.
2-Become a “Nature Mentor” to your children or grandchildren. Establish a “green hour” in your household – sanctioned time for contact with nature be it a television program on nature, a lunch-hour picnic in the park or on your own backyard deck, or perhaps even encouraging your youngster with an outdoor DIY project of their own making – building a wooden bird house, creating a ceramic waterfall fountain or crafting a wreath from acorns, pinecones, shell, leaves, and straw.
3-Plan a “Nature-themed” vacation or “Eco-weekend” trip. Whether your destination is an expensive eco-friendly island resort or an inexpensive bed-and-breakfast in the rural countryside, keep in mind the healthful benefits of having locally grown fruits, vegetables and herbs – knowing the eco-historical and cultural legacy of the region – and seeing the eco-vibrant practices, amenities, and recycling efforts being used to protect and preserve the ecological balance of the area.

So melt away all your family’s chaotic energy and rejuvenate your senses by tapping into and reconnecting with Nature! And make sure your child’s stress reduction routine and improved attention span is sprinkled with a large dose of Vitamin N treats!

Disturbing Myths or Real Eco-Phenomena? Alien Eco-Terrorists or Science-Seeking Balderdash? Like UFO’s, How Well Do You Know Your Space Alien Encounters? (Part II)

In Part I, I tested your knowledge of “eco-terrestrial” monster movie trivia over the last 60 years.  But now I am going to test your knowledge of “eco-celestial” phenomena that has appeared over thousands of years the world over – in records from ancient China to ancient Egypt – in paleolithic petroglyphs from Val Camonica in Italy to Wondjina rock art in Australia – and in sightings from WWII Europe to the 1970’s in the western states of the USA.  Let’s see then how well you know your space alien encounters.

1-You most likely have heard of China’s “Terracotta Army”, a collection of life-sized terracotta sculptures buried with the First Emperor of China around 210 BC — but have you ever heard of the “Chinese-Alien Wars” that occurred in the 30th century BC – recorded on ancient parchments of rice paper and silk? After this extraterrestrial army arrived, they enslaved the native Chinese to build what structures in order to suck some mysterious element from deep within the earth?

2-Provocative archaeological discoveries have recently been made in Guatemala and Mexico surrounding the ancient-but-advanced Mayan civilization. Surrounded by jungles, one explanation being proposed is that the Mayan people were in contact with extraterrestrials using the flat tops of their pyramids as ___ ___ for alien spacecraft. Very clever indeed, if proven to be true.

3-Discovered in 1927 and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, what is the name given for a series of geoglyphs and geometric line clearings found in Peru that depicts animals, plants, and humans in stylized forms? One theory is that this high, arid 53 mile stretch of plateau was also an alien airfield.

4-Are the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt repositories of alien technology? Ancient Egyptian pyramid texts describe a “time” when “sky gods” came down to Earth on flying boats, raised the land from mud and water, and brought laws and wisdom to the royal line of pharaohs. What is the name for this legendary time?

5-Was the destruction of the Indus River Valley Civilization around 1500 BC the result of highly advanced extraterrestrial technology? According to the ancient Indian Sanskrit text known as the “Mahabharata”, and the remains found around today’s archaeological sites of Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, an explosion of what kind is being given for an explanation for its sudden disappearance?

6-What is the name of the most controversial incident in UFO history whereby an alien spacecraft and its occupants were purported to have crashed in the desert of New Mexico?

7-Witnessed first by British RAF Pilots, and German and Japanese pilots over both the European and Pacific Theater of Operations, what was the name of the mysterious aerial phenomena later coined by an American Night Fighter Squadron during World War II?

8-What dark animal phenomena was witnessed by terrified farmers throughout New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and 10 other western states in the USA during the 1970’s?

Answers: (1) Pyramids (2) Landing Pads/Landing Zones (3) Nazca Lines (4) First Time (5) Nuclear/Atomic Bomb (6) Roswell Incident (7) Foo-Fighters (8) Cattle Mutilations

Finding “Da Vinci Innovation” in Today’s Wind and Solar Energy Designs!

When artistry is mixed with science and technology, I am at once reminded of the creative genius of Leonardo Da Vinci’s own inventions back in the 15th century – and his conceptualized drawings of helicopters, parachutes, armored tanks, revolving bridges, and yes, concentrated solar power. But what advancements have been made in today’s mixture of art and alternative energy?

First, let’s take a look at the aesthetics of solar energy.  Instead of rack-mounted, aluminum-framed solar panels, solar manufacturers are now on a race to create frameless photovoltaic systems that seamlessly blend into traditional roofing materials and appear as semi-transparent skylights, solar shingles and solar tiles.  And at Swansea University in Wales, researchers have actually developed a “solar paint” which can be brushed directly onto your roof.  But perhaps the biggest transformation has been the application of solar cells into fabrics  – better known as “smart fabrics” or “wearable technology”.  Solarmer Energy Inc. based in El Monte, California is one such company that is re-inventing the idea of recyclable solar-powered fabrics in its textile products i.e. uniforms, jackets and vests, tents, awnings, and sails, and bags, backpacks, and suitcases.

As for wind energy and the traditional three-bladed horizontal axis wind turbines that make up almost of all today’s wind farms – they are now being fashioned with an entirely new array of looks that range from an ‘inflatable high altitude wind turbine blimp’ released by Altaeros Energies, an MIT and Harvard alumni-based company in Massachusetts to a ‘versatile wind harvester with rotating horizontal aerofoils’ now being developed by the founder of Wind Power Innovations Ltd. together with Nottingham Trent University in England.

Other extraordinary wind turbine designs now revolutionizing the alternative energy sector include the following:

1-    A new wind turbine that captures wind energy and fresh water out of thin air  – Produced by the French-based eco-energy company, “Eole Water”.

2-    A wind turbine with a revolutionary blade design showcasing protuberances or ridges on the blades called “tubercle technology” (inspired by the bumps found on humpback whale flns) – Produced by Canadian-based “WhalePower Corporation” in Toronto.

3-    The world’s most advanced silent wind turbine called “Eco-Whisper Turbine”, a unique 30 blade design shaped in a cowl/ring design – Produced by “Renewable Energy Solutions Australia” based in Brisbane.

4-    A spinning spire-shaped wind turbine with vertical airfoils aptly called “Windspire Wind Turbines” – Produced by Nevada-based “Windspire Energy Inc.” in Reno.

5-    A new gracefully-bent parapet-mounted wind turbine called “Architectural Micro Wind Turbine” that both produces electricity and enhances the building structure – Produced by California-based “AeroVironment Inc”. in Monrovia  – the world leader in rooftop wind technology.

6-  Another non-traditional wind turbine, the “Honeywell Wind Turbine”, features gearless magnetic blades and stator coils surrounding its outer ring  – Produced by “Windtronics Inc.” in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

But perhaps most interesting still is the appearance of a new ‘Da Vinci-esque’  art form appropriately named “renewable energy sculpture”.  One such artist is Deedee Morrison from Birmingham, Alabama whose very public artwork “Sun-Catcher Sculpture” in downtown Clearwater, Florida combines aesthetics and solar power in its construction comprised of recycled aluminum, lemon yellow lucite panels, and solar panels.  Another fantastic artist/engineer known for his recyclable “kinetic art”, is Theo Jansen from Holland whose whimsical wind-powered sculpture, named “Strandbeest”,  a “beach beast” automaton (See http://www.strandbeest.com/) is able to strut its legs across seaside sands made only of yellow pcv piping, sails, and recycled plastic bottles and genetic algorithms.  Speaking of sands, there is tidal art for the “everyman”, where any person can create their own sculpture on the beach using the natural objects left by the last high tide.  By the way, did I mention Leonardo da Vinci invented scuba diving gear as well – on paper?

Mover Over iPad and Kindle — And Welcome to the New World of the Eco-Library!

This week (April 8-14) is National Library Week in the United States which, by the way, first started in 1958 in order to promote library use and support.  Today, in a world filled with mass-produced Apple iPads and Amazon Kindles, we at Cherlton’s Green Guide are going to kick off this week-long celebration by highlighting and showcasing the most amazing eco-libraries in both the United States and around the world and their valuable contributions to promoting a healthy society and family life.

We shall first begin by tipping our hat off to Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish-born, American-made steel tycoon and philanthropist whose foresight and funds not only incentivized the building of public libraries across the United States between 1883 and 1929 and the global establishment of public libraries throughout Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the Caribbean and Fiji – but also encouraged community development by providing an open institutionalized system of self-service access to stacks of books and various cultural and educational resources.  You might say that Andrew Carnegie was an entrepreneurial forerunner of Steve Jobs, an American-born designer, inventor, and co-founder of Apple Inc. whose pioneering participation in today’s digital revolution is predicated on Carnegie’s own belief that knowledge and information is communal property that should be universally accessible.

But in contrast to Carnegie’s architectural designs whose impressive libraries were imposing structures of Classical Revival, Scottish and Spanish Baronial, French Beaux-Arts and Italian Baroque and Renaissance, created as lanterns of enlightenment, today’s ECO-LIBRARIES are fundamentally illuminating in both DESIGN and FUNCTION!   And some even, are no bigger than a phone booth!

Such is the case with the Red Phone Box Library in the small Somerset village of Westbury-sub-Mendip in England which was recycled into one of the country’s smallest lending libraries.  With a population of only 800 people, and a collection of 100 books, villagers can use this ‘eco-library’ 24 hours a day to select books, CDs, and DVDs.  And in London, a double decker bus has been cleverly eco-renovated into a ‘Bicycle Library’ which features a showroom on the first level where Londoners can borrow or buy different bicycles, bike gear and accessories.

On the other end of the spectrum, there are the large famously designed eco-conscious libraries of the past ten years such as the Halmsted City Library in Sweden, a three-storied circular building made of concrete, glass, and Nordic larch flooring set within a parkland space overlooking the Nissan River and the town’s historic center.  Even its indoor air ventilation system is eco-energizing and symbolic – mimicking the surrounding trees outside its windows by noiselessly removing undesirable particles within the air.  Then there is the Picture Book Library in Iwaki City in Japan, a privately-owned special library built of glass, wood, and concrete designed to serve Japanese preschool children whilst offering outstanding views of the Pacific Ocean from anywhere in the building.  And closer to home is the Seattle Central Library in Washington state, a crystalline steel-and-glass structure featuring 400 computers, eleven levels and five “floating platforms” built to meet the Sustainable Building Policy of the City of Seattle which includes a water-efficient drip irrigation system and an exterior landscape containing 18 types of trees.   And closer still is the William J. Clinton Presidential Library complex in Little Rock, Arkansas which boasts a green roof topped with strawberries, switch grass, roses, and ferns and other greenery as well as solar panels and flooring made from recycled rubber tires and a parking lot that includes charging stations for electric cars.

But perhaps the best example of an eco-library design in the works is that of the pre-fab, do-it-yourself assembly of modular eco-libraries now being developed for communities along the Amazon River basin in Brazil which will incorporate composting, fish farming, and hydroponic gardens.   Hence, the democratization of libraries for the working poor has come full circle since the days of Andrew Carnegie – but for the fact that today’s eco-libraries now stand as a collective lamp post of enlightened environmental awareness.

And The Oscar Goes To ….. How Well Do You Know Your Eco-Monster Movie Trivia? (Part I)

Science fiction movies have come a long way from the 1950’s when “mutant monsters” terrorized the island of Manhattan and Japan and blighted the desert of New Mexico.  Rather today’s big screen monsters tend to be 3-D “space aliens” and “virile vampires” with complex feelings, unorthodox powers, and shrouded origins whose shadowy actions often make us wonder what they are really after…  In contrast, “eco-terrestrial-monsters” are simpler characters to understand – for the most part, they are the meddlesome by-products of toxic human activities, radioactive fallouts, biological contamination (or manipulation) and habitat destruction – – earth-bound monsters whose motivations are at once recognizable – -revenge on all humans!  Other memorable “eco-terrestrial-monsters” are the meddlesome byproducts of legendary gods found in Greek mythology and Scandinavian folklore.  Still others, are the mythical reincarnations of fossilized animals.  Let’s see then how well you know your “eco-monster” movie trivia?

1- What 1954 eco-monster movie classic featured an amphibious-looking half-fish, half-human creature living along the Amazon River?

2- Released three months later in 1954, what is the name of the American eco-monster movie that featured gigantic man-eating irradiated ants?

3- 1954 was a good year indeed!  What Japanese monster movie introduced the world to a pop culture icon known for its mutant lizard appearance and its starring role in a series of 28 sequels?

4- What American-made 1957 science fiction film featured a scientific expedition trapped in the Bikini Atoll of the Pacific Ocean by intelligent, brain-eating monsters that mutated as a result of nuclear testing on the island’s plant and sea life?

5- Filmed near Dallas, Texas, what low-budget 1959 monster film, considered to be a cult classic, featured a gargantuan 70 foot poisonous lizard attacking a train and then a town dance hall packed with teenagers before being blown up by a rigged ‘hot rod’ filled with nitroglycerin?

6- What 1963 fantasy feature film based on a mythical Greek hero and his quest for the Golden Fleece, featured half-human winged monsters on the island of Thrace and a seven-headed serpent whose sown teeth begot an army of skeletons?  What are the names of both of these legendary creatures?

7- What 1965 Japanese monster movie introduced the world to another pop culture icon – a titanic, flying turtle monster with fire-breathing capabilities, a shell strong enough to withstand missiles and other weaponry and a pair of claws and large tusks brought to life after a Soviet plane carrying nuclear bombs crashes into the arctic ice?

8- Set in Arizona, what 1972 American sci-fi horror film featured large fluffy carnivorous killer monsters that mutated as a result of an experimental hormonal serum being injected into one of these small domesticated mammals?

9- What notorious star-studded 1978 disaster film bombed at the box office but not before a killer invasion of African bees spread terror in Texas?

10- Filmed in San Marcos, Texas, what is the name of the other 1978 horror movie which featured a scientifically engineered swarm of flesh-eating monsters that were accidently released from an abandoned military research center from the Vietnam War era and escaped into the riverways feeding a children’s camp and summer resort?

11- Filmed in British Columbia, Canada, what is the name of the 1979 monster movie which featured the calamitous effects of mercury-tainted waste from a local lumber mill company in Maine and the creation of a giant man-eating bear-monster?

12- Set in an isolated ex-mining town in Nevada, what 1990 sci-fi horror comedy film featured worm-like creatures that swim under the desert sands like underground monster sharks finding and grabbing up people based on vibrations?

13- What is the name of the 1993 movie that featured a theme park populated by monster dinosaurs cloned from  DNA extracts of insects preserved in prehistoric amber?

14- What is the name of the pirate movie series and the legendary sea monster whose leviathan tentacles preyed upon specific ships at the command of Davy Jones, captain of the Flying Dutchman?

15- In what 2001 boy wizard movie does Hagrid, the Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts, give up his baby monster to be taken to a sanctuary in Romania?  What is the name and classification type of this baby monster?

Answers: (1) The Creature from the Black Lagoon (2) Them! (3) Godzilla (4) Attack of the Crab Monsters (5) The Giant Gila Monster (6) Jason and the Argonauts; Harpies; Hydra (7) Gamera (8) Night of the Lepus aka Rabbits (9) The Swarm (10) Piranha (11) Prophecy (12) Tremors (13) Jurassic Park (14)  Pirates of the Caribbean; the “Kraken” (15)  Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone; Norbert; Norwegian Ridgeback Dragon

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