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Going True Green Blog:

Please use our SEARCH BOX above to find a specific subject. Also use our ​Membership link to receive access to valued benefits.  This GTG Blog started on Earth Day 2013. Also see our "blog" style postings dating back to 1995 from our original two websites, as well as articles written and published since 1982 at our link Yesteryear Articles & Blogs.

See the Back Story - Blog Preface

GTG Weed Cooker

6/25/2013

3 Comments

 
weed, weeds, weed killer, weed remover, Fiskars, Hasta La Vista, DandelionWeeds in the open are easy to extract, root and all, with this tool
My recent posting on the Going True Green blog (Weedkiller vs Drinking Water; 6/21/2013) received a great deal of interest through many emails such as the one from Sal, and comments  from BSB.

Thank you for your voice and input, this is great communication and team work. Because of your interest, I went to work over the weekend to test and try additional solutions for doing away with weeds. Two important factors for any solution must be: no chemicals and without backache.

My goal: To collect enough data to conclude what works best on weeds and grass between bricks, along edges, or throughout a patio.

"Two important factors for any solution must be: no chemicals and without backache."
Under comments, BSB asked about using Vinegar and PAL reported mixed results. Over the weekend, I ran a scientific approach to the situation while keeping cost in mind and knowing that vinegar would dry out the blades on a weed or grass if the vinegar can infiltrate successfully. My average knowledge in Botany had me believing that weeds have a protective layer or coating on the blades, perhaps in the oil family. So the following mixture was tested and received success:

Mix 80 percent organic vinegar, 15 percent sea salt, 5 percent dishwashing liquid. You can try using a spray bottle to apply, but keep spray away from all other flowers and plants. (We poured our mixture onto the weeds and grass.)
weed killer, vinegar to kill weeds, natural ways to kill weeds, chemical free weed killer, Shriveled up grass and weeds within hours
My results: Within a few hours, the grass and weeds between stones and a weed blocking tarp, shriveled up. We video taped the test for an upcoming Going True Green video.

The dishwashing liquid cut through the weed's protective coating, thus allowing the salty vinegar to be absorbed better.

I also have another way that works well on a long hot sunny day. I came up with this idea many years ago when I cleaned our patio table's clear plastic top for the summer days ahead. The table top had a wagon wheel design and the clear top remained a few inches above my grass where I left the table top to dry. After doing a few repairs around the house, I had lunch and then remembered about the table top. The day was hot and sunny, no clouds and within 2 hours, my grass was dead. I had a wagon wheel pattern on the back lawn for seven weeks.

Nature provided a scientific answer: Evaporation, Condensation, and wipe it dry so you don't have Precipitation back onto the weed. You can accomplish this by putting a clear plastic bowl upside down over the weed or building your own Weed Cooker like the one I made in the photo. 
weed, weeds, weed killer, weed remover, Fiskars, Hasta La Vista, Dandelion, Going True Green, GTG
Weedy culprit in test run
weed, weeds, weed killer, weed remover, Fiskars, Hasta La Vista, Dandelion, GTG, GoingTrueGreen
Applied Weed Cooker fogged up in seconds
We want to have all the moisture in and around the weed evaporating and condensing on the bowl or the clear plexiglass attached to a wood frame. Please note that you may have to wipe the inside dry once or twice. You are basically dehydrating the weed until it burns out.

However, you need a hot cloudless day to kill tough weeds and crabgrass. They take four times longer to dry out than grass. By the end of the day you can do a whole patio with several bowls if the sun cooks them all afternoon long. The best part about a Weed Cooker, they have no smell and are reusable!

Bill Lauto, GTG
3 Comments

Weedkiller vs Drinking Water

6/21/2013

9 Comments

 
weed, weeds, weed killer, weed remover, FiskarsDandelion weeds
Today is the first day of Summer 2013 and weeds are everywhere! Along the roads, around the house and in the front lawn. Weeds are not particularly admired, so we go through great lengths to eliminate them.
However, what we must ask ourself is: How do we dispose of the weeds in our lawn?


A) Do you whack them with a noisy gasoline and oil operated weed whacker?
B) Do you spray them with one of the many weed killers on the market?
C) Do you pull them out manually?
D) Do you use an electric operated cutter or edger?

Now don't assume that I pull my weeds out by getting down on the ground
and pulling each one out with my hand or some fork style tool.

weed, weeds, weed killer, weed remover, FiskarsMy weed puller
I refuse to use my hands to pull out weeds, just as much as I refuse to use a noisy electric or gasoline and oil operated weed whacker and poisonous weed killer sprays or liquids.

The studies on weed killer sprays show one of the three worst toxic chemicals in weed killer sprays is being found in many groundwater locations. In New York, the DEC stated 124 detections of atrazine in 51 locations of groundwater, just on Long Island, New York. Our groundwater is our "Drinking" water!

Atrazine is dangerous and is an unacceptable risk to our health and our environment. After being banned in the European Union back in 2004, the United States is just starting to follow with banning the product in the spring of 2014. Does the fear of lost business have such a strong grip on America that we have to wait ten years longer to do what the rest of the world already knows? This chemical has the largest use, 76 million pounds dumped on our soil each year. Scientific studies proved atrazine is an endocrine disruptor. The New York Times ran a story in August 2009 about the potential for birth defects or low birth weights with an atrazine intake well below federal standards. The other two pesticides used in weed killers are metalaxyl and imidacloprid. Neither have been addressed as of yet. Only God knows how much time will be needed to ban them.

weed, weeds, weed killer, weed remover, Fiskars, Hasta La Vista, DandelionHasta La Vista Dandelion
As for using electricity, gas, oil and noise to pull out weeds, well to me, that is ludicrous. I have a piece of equipment, that is an "all in one" and pulls out weeds by the root with ease. Not to mention, without noise, gasoline, electrical consumption, oil and gasoline mixtures, spillages of such mixtures onto our soil and without any poisons chemicals.

I don't own stock in the manufacturer, I don't even know if they are listed. Also I do not get any kickback. This ingeniously designed piece of equipment is amazing. Research this for yourself: Read the info, Watch the video and this equipment is affordable... 37 dollars and some change. Oh yeah, plus any sales tax and shipping. Nothing new there.

Fiskars Gardening and Yard Care Products

Last Note: After you pull out all your weeds... Compost them with your town's program. 

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
Contribute your comments!​

9 Comments

Green-Collar Job

6/19/2013

0 Comments

 
Speaking Greenish: Part nine
Picture
This Green-Collar Job phrase, is mostly used at the time of a political election. The term makes reference to any service or product that deals with our environment or Clean Energy.
For more details on Clean Energy see my May 7, 2013 Blog post, Speaking Greenish: Part three.
The title is: Renewable Energy, Clean Energy and Sustainability
The main definition for a green-collar worker is someone employed in the environmental sectors of the economy. This will range from environmental consultants to waste management and recycling. From green minded architects to nuclear engineers. From organic farmers to environmental lawyers and from workers installing solar attic fans to  ecology educators.
Solar, solar power, attic fan, solar attic fan, solar exhaust fan, going greeSolar power exhaust fan
A politician may use the phrase to tell her or his position on an environmental issue or on an energy policy, but not necessarily how to create more "green-collar" jobs effectively.

Bill Lauto, GTG

0 Comments

Human Spirit

6/13/2013

2 Comments

 
Earth, earth from space, our home planet

Earth, our only home planet. Humankind's stewardship can accomplish great good on earth, within our life time.

The "Key Ingredient" is human spirit working together as a team. 

You will read, hear and see me speak a great deal about every American applying the above to save energy and our planet's future for our children's children. This blog and our opening Welcome video and Introduction video will exemplify these very topics.

There was a time some humans said we will never fly and in the midst of the Apollo 13 crisis, when the odd shape crippled Command Module struggled back to earth, Jim Lovell's elderly mother said, "If they could get a washing machine to fly, my Jimmy could land it." ( I am trusting Ron Howard for that quote to be correct.)

Below this short video demonstrates how the human spirit will always prevail. These young people, living in the midst of great poverty, have somehow been able to grasp their human ingenuity to syphon items from a landfill and create an orchestra. All the items they used, should have been recycled and the video makes a strong point about recycling. It makes us question our own carelessness in the disposal of items that can be recycled or re-used. But more importantly, it opens our eyes, (and ears), to the greatness that we are capable of as human beings.  I hope you are inspired...
Bill Lauto, GTG
2 Comments

Land Conservation

6/11/2013

2 Comments

 
Speaking Greenish: Part eight
Millennium Park, Land Conservation, Green Roof, ChicagoMillennium Park, Photographer J. Crocker
America has some of the most beautiful natural lands on earth. However, we must continue to take steps that protect land as parks or as open space. Under measures known as land conservation, we can protect land and sometimes create land that also supports local economies and communities.

The Millennium Park in Chicago provides open space, has pavilions that use solar electric panels and beautiful architecture blending with nature within Grant Park that is known as the "front lawn" of downtown Chicago. 

The best part of Millennium Park is that many consider the grounds one of the largest "Green" roofs in the world. Yes, Millennium Park was constructed on top of Chicago's railroad yard and many parking garages. An excellent trade from viewing railroad cars, tracks, cement, blacktop and cars to beautiful green trees, grass and efficient architecture.

Bill Lauto, GTG

2 Comments

Stewardship for God's Green Earth

6/4/2013

0 Comments

 
No matter what your point of view is or your faith, when one looks upon an image such as the one below, we cannot deny that we must be good stewards of our planet. In several ways we are providing good stewardship toward Earth and the image below is one way. NASA's Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the satellite called Terra is a watchful eye in space. This satellite allows us to see if nature and humankind are producing problems or accomplishments.

On May 29, 2013, dust from North Africa can be seen swirling over the Mediterranean Sea. If you click on the image a larger version should open...
NASA, Earth, Terra satellite, dust over Mediterranean, Mediterranean Sea, God's Green Earth, Stewardship
NASA's image from Terra satellite
There is valuable information in this image and we can learn about several topics. Soil erosion, air quality and water quality to name just three. The event in this image shows stories about crops and sea life being effected, thus in turn, the lives of humans are also affected.

We are all connected. If anyone continues to think otherwise, they are just fooling themselves. We have to recognize data like this for what it is, a window giving us sight from above, so that we can take steps now to prevent these occurrences and situations from deteriorating into drastic issues.

Bill Lauto, GTG
0 Comments

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