Tag: water
When August heat looms, plant these blooms
July 31, 2014Are you looking to add some color to your flower gardens now that other blooms are starting to fade? It can be tough to find plants that not only bloom in the heat of August, but can tolerate what is often one of the driest months of the year. While they all will need regular…
When you water the garden, don’t forget the birds
July 19, 2014We write often about alternative ways to provide plenty of water for your garden plants. But what about the birds, which help with pollination, keep destructive insects at bay and spread seeds? A recent article from Rodale’s Organic Gardening made us realize that we all can do more to keep our feathered friends happy. One of the biggest…
Proper watering is key to healthy plants, happy environment
June 22, 2014The summer heat is about to hit. Proper watering techniques will ensure your gardens don’t take the brunt of the impact — and also conserve your liquid assets. The first step, according to Rodale’s Organic Gardening, is determining the garden’s soil type: sand, loam or clay, or some combination thereof. Loamy soils are usually the…
A novel idea: This book’s pages actually purify water
May 19, 2014Talk about a good book: a collaboration between Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Virginia, the charity Water is Life and The Drinkable Book project resulted in a book that not only provides information on clean water, but can actually be used to purify up to four years worth of clean water. You read that correctly. The…
For some mothers, clean water is the best gift
May 9, 2014This inspiring video celebrates the strength of three mothers who not only changed their families’ lives, but undoubtably saved them, all because they were brave enough to fight for clean water and better sanitation. This weekend, when you wish your mom a happy Mother’s Day, remember all the things that mothers around the world do…
Study: Cigarette contaminants showing up in water
April 7, 2014Here’s one more reason to quit smoking: A study shows that contaminants from cigarettes can show up in drinking water. According to Water Online and Environmental Science & Technology, residual chemicals from cigarettes were found in both treated water and wastewater. The chemicals – all carcinogens — can also be found in rivers, oceans, lakes, and…
How much water do you really need?
March 26, 2014Could you make do with just one gallon of water a day? The Los Angeles-based nonprofit DIGDEEP Water wanted to find out, so last year they challenged Americans to use just four liters — about one gallon — of water a day, instead of the roughly 80 to 100 gallons a day used by the average…
Preparing for the worst: A disaster plan can save lives
November 27, 2013The weather outside appears to be getting more frightful every year. Tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, unexpected snow, sleet and hail events all seem to be the new normal. And that means it’s more important than ever to have a disaster plan in place. One crucial part of that plan is having enough food and water to…
A cold fact about hot water
November 6, 2013With winter weather right around the corner, we thought you’d like this quirky water fact: In many cases, hot water will freeze faster than cold water. Yes, you read that right. There’s even a name for it: The Mpemba effect. The moniker comes from a Tanzanian student, Erasto Mpemba, who, while in a cooking class…
Dry farming for a dry land
September 4, 2013There’s more than one way to grow a tomato. In arid, drought-stricken areas of the country, they’re using a technique called “dry farming,” which Merriam-Webster defines as “farming on nonirrigated land with little rainfall that relies on moisture-conserving tillage and drought-resistant crops.” According to the Oklahoma Encyclopedia of History and Culture, “Dry farming originated in the…