Trees with Roots - 10 Reasons to buy a Potted Christmas Tree!

This Christmas, instead of buying a plastic tree, or a cut tree. Purchase a Live, Potted Christmas Tree instead.

Here are 10 Great reasons; 

1) Although Plastic Christmas Trees are often reused for about 5-8 years. Plastic Christmas Trees use up valuable resources during manufacturing and shipping. Plastic Trees are also NOT Recyclable; despite being made of petroleum products, because they are also made of wire and lead based paints.

In the end, these Plastic Trees end up in the landfill, where they leach lead, mercury and other harmful toxins that pollute the soil as well as our oceans, lakes and rivers.

In some countries, many of these Plastic Trees get incinerated with other garbage, contributes to air pollution, and ends up causing respiratory infections, asthma, and lung disease. These toxins also go through the food chain and end up in other animals, our food, drinking water then come back to poison us through consumption and Bio-accumulation.

So for the health reasons alone; buying a real, potted Christmas Tree is a deeply rooted, sustainable choice. 

2) Real, Cut Christmas Trees are better than Plastic because they're natural, but they don't last.

Many would argue that real, cut trees, are a renewable resource because they're grown on tree farms, are replanted each year, and increase air quality while they are growing.

This is true! But, we must factor in that Over 200 Million Cut Christmas Trees are purchased around the World each year.

Out of the 200 Million Cut Tree's that are purchased every year, 150 Million of them end up in the garbage and go to Landfills.

Approximately 15 Million of the 200 Million dead Christmas trees are incinerated with other trash or used as firewood for heating, and only 15 Million are chipped and used as mulch.

The remaining 20 Million Cut Trees are dumped illegally in parks, ditches and alleys and other places, where they can contribute to senseless forest fires and residential fires.

This means that, if you decide to buy a live potted Christmas tree, you and your family will help reduce the amount resources used, increase air quality, help reduce accidental fires and the amount of trash in the landfill.

3) If you buy a Small Potted Tree, you can reuse the Tree for another 1-2 years, then replant the Tree in a larger pot for several more years use.

4) Live, potted trees are natural air fresheners and smell like Christmas. If kept inside after the holidays, the tree will continue to increase your homes air quality, and if planted outside, will help decrease air pollution.

5) Rooted Christmas Trees require less resources to produce, and if bought locally, they will also significantly decrease transportation costs.

6) Larger potted trees can then be replanted in your yard, or with permission replanted in a park, farmers field or city property. Just be sure to anticipate the full-grown size of the tree, and avoid planting near foundations or underground water, gas and sewage pipes. 

7) After the Christmas festivities, you can make it a fun, family activity by planting the tree together, thus,  giving back to nature, so the tree can continue to grow for future generations.

8) By replanting the tree, you will create long lasting memories that will help your children build a foundation of acting responsibly and feeling good about giving back to nature and preserving life.

9) Replanting Rooted Christmas trees, like all trees, will help re-mediate the soil, help guard against erosion, and filter polluted water.

10) For those living in small apartments, or people that would like a Christmas Tree for their business and don't have ability to store, or replant a live tree. You can participate by Renting a Live, potted Christmas Tree instead. 

So this Christmas, before you Buy a Christmas Tree for your business, household or family, consider these 10 Reasons! The benefits of purchasing a Live, Potted Christmas Tree are numerous.

Here are a few places where you can Buy Rooted Christmas Trees.

In the UK http://www.pinesandneedles.com/buy/christmas-trees-with-roots/

In the USA http://www.livingchristmastrees.org/

In Canada  http://wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/cambie/ 

Here are a few places where you can Rent Rooted Christmas Trees.

In Canada http://evergrowchristmastrees.ca/

In Australia http://www.ecochristmastrees.com.au/


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Y-Green's Feature Friday: Aquaponics UK - Sustainable Food Production

Aquaponics UK is a not for profit social enterprise that provides support for the development of Aquaponics. 

What is Aquaponics? Aquaponics integrates the best qualities of Aquaculture and Hydroponics to grow healthy organic food in a local, sustainable manner.

 

The fish and plants are grown in symbiotic unison to achieve a balanced, closed loop system of agriculture, where the system feeds and waters itself. Waste from the fish provide nutrients for the plants, and the plants filter the water for the fish. Crops are constantly harvested and plant trimmings are composted in a wormery to provide food for the fish. The system is then surrounded with a greenhouse, where lady bugs and other beneficial insects are added to create a sustainable Aquaponics Cycle.

In this TED Talks presentation, Charlie Price from Aquaponics UK, explains the role aquaponics can play in the future of our collective food supply. He also provides insightful information about the applications for aquaponics. But more specifically, he acknowledges aquaponics as a new approach to creating sustainable urban agriculture within any community.

My conclusion, is that aquaponics will empower thousands of people worldwide to become more self-sufficient, and grow their own food for their household, and community. I also agree with Mr. Prince that aquaponics has the potential to create more resilient communities. 

Aquaponics can be utilized as a great educational tool for schools to teach their students about sustainable food production.

Aquaponics UK, proves that we can turn waste into resources, by transforming misused urban spaces into a commercially viable, sustainable way to produce healthy, nutritious food. The examples Mr. Price shows in his presentation also proves; that by growing food with a sustainable Aquaponics system. We can protect the environment, conserve valuable resources and grow healthy abundant food locally, 365 days a year.

The future looks bright for Aquaponics UK, and I'm convinced that aquaponics is a very timely and much needed sustainable method of farming that will help End World Hunger.

"Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man how to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime."   

- Chinese Proverb

For more information about Aquaponics UK, be sure to visit their website and learn how you can implement Aquaponics in your own community. 


( Images provided by Aquaponics UK )

Make Every Day, Earth Day!

10 Things You Can Do to Reduce your Impact on the Environment & Conserve Earth's Natural Resources.


1) Reduce, Reuse and Recycle 

2) Live within your Means 

3) Respect Nature 

4) Wash your Clothes in Cold Water 

5) Turn off your Computer 

6) Go outside and Experience Nature 

7) Shop at Local, Independently owned Stores 

8) Buy your Fruits and Vegetables from Local Farmers Markets 

9) Have Fun 

10) Share 1 thing You've Learned from this List 


( Image: United States Parcel Service )

Blog Power!

Based on my findings thus far, writing a blog is a great way to express ones thoughts and interests. Blogs can also be a powerful tool that green, sustainable and renewable energy companies can utilize to help achieve their marketing goals. After all! What good is having a great product or service if no one knows you exist? Blogs are a fun and relatively inexpensive solution.

Three things I would recommend to a company attempting to incorporate their own blog are;

1) Do your research and create a plan and blogging strategy based on your companies needs.  

2) Write posts that are entertaining, informative and truthful. 

3) Utilize other sources of social media by linking your blogs content to gain exposure and find readers interested in your blogs subject.  

But, before using your new super power, remember…

With great power comes great responsibility, and what people write about on a blog has consequences. Some are positive and some are negative; so it’s good to know how to utilize your blogs power in a positive and effective manner.

TerraSphere Systems Canada - Social Media Press Release

The Future of Farming is Vertical

Contact: JLIB_HTML_CLOAKING

TerraSphere Systems Canada, Inc.

10411-173 Street
Unit #1 Surrey, BC V4N 5H3
Phone: 604.584.1678
Email:  info@terraspheresystems.comJLIB_HTML_CLOAKING

About Vertical Farming 

Vertical Farming is a concept that has the potential to be the most practical, economical and environmentally sustainable system of agriculture. This system incorporates the use of multilevel buildings to cultivate plant or animal life 365 days a year; in an enclosed environment away from pollution and the effects of climate change. 

Why Vertical Farming  

We face a variety of problems that threaten our ability to grow enough food to feed the worlds growing population. Vertical Farming is a responsible, ethical and viable solution that will help defend against starvation and malnutrition on a local and global scale. This innovative technology will also meet the growing demands for local, organically grown food at a reasonable price to the consumer. 

About TerraSphere Systems

TerraSphere is a branch of Converted Organics and is a company whose innovative Vertical Farming Technology is being implemented in the United States and in Canada. Their first Vertical Farming Facility was announced earlier this year and is located on Rhode Island. 

Mark Gildea, President and CEO of TerraSphere Systems explains; "Vertical Farming is a new concept to the majority of the population. We decided to create the 'Two Seeds, Two Stories' video to educate the general public about vertical farming and to explain the benefits of TerraSphere's vertical farming systems in an entertaining way."

Benefits of TerraSphere’s Vertical Farming Technology

• Building local facilities around the world will help eliminate harmful emissions and save money associated with extensive transportation of food to consumers.
• Has the ability to supply fresh, abundant, pesticide-free produce to urban and remote communities worldwide.
• Decreases negative impact on our planets limited resources and environment.
• Facilities can be built in most urban, city or remote wilderness environments.
• Potential to produce 100 times more Yield per square foot and Requires 4 times less water than the amount used in conventional farming methods. 

For more information about our patented Vertical Farming technology visit our website at: http://www.terraspheresystems.com/