Visiting a friend down the street the other day opened my eyes to something I had never thought about before; flies. More specifically was why did they have such a terrible problem with flies and I had seen so few at my house? When I told my hosts that I didn’t have the same issue they were floored! It seems that they have been battling these little pests since late spring and it was only getting worse. It was a mystery and I wanted to see if I could discover what was going on.

My first guess was it was a chemical that our bug company uses so I gave them a call. They were pretty sure that the organic chemical they used would not keep flies away like that so I was searching again. Then I found it; basil! Believe it or not, houseflies hate the smell of basil and avoid it like the plague. We grow tomatoes and I plant basil as a companion plant to keep as many bugs off of the tomatoes as possible because there are a lot of bugs that don’t like the smell either. So now you know, plant basil around your house or keep a potted plant or two in your home to keep the flies away. I just took one over to my neighbor!

One of the best ways to grow your own food on a year round basis is to build your own greenhouse. This way you get to choose the size based on the available space you have at your home. It does take planning and work and you need to make sure you read a lot about the subject because there is a lot more to it than sticking some plastic up over a frame and putting plants inside, You will need to have ventilation and circulation and there are calculators to help you figure that out OR you can call a retailer who is selling the materials and they can help you as well. Have your dimensions ready and a sketch ready to fax if need be.

One of the best covering materials is Solexx panels and rolls. It is very easy to install and has a great rating for all types of climates including very cold temperatures. You will need to get the thicker 5mm for these extreme climates and the 3.5mm for your normal climates. Since each panel has been treated twice for the effects of ultraviolet, it helps to filter out harmful rays and extends the life of the panels and rolls and is one more reason to consider them for your greenhouse.

With the state of the economy over the past couple of years, we in the construction world have wondered how environmental trends in our industry would fare. If the 2010 National American Institute of Architects Convention is any indication, the LEED trend is increasing exponentially. This year’s convention, held on June 10^th – 12^th in Miami, was a demonstration of the force that continues to propel “green” building and products with LEED requirements in the architectural markets. Most of this movement can be attributed to the inventive nature and cutting edge outlook of the architectural community as many of the exhibited products this year, as in recent years, have more integrated LEED characteristics with little to no increase in costs. I have to admit in the beginning of the LEED movement I never thought it would come to possess so much authority because of our budget oriented industry – I’m glad my initial observations were inaccurate.

It’s also inspiring to see domestic competition in deep-rooted markets. One such product exhibited this year is Formica’s Vivix, a direct competitor to Trespa. Formica will be rolling out Vivix with concealed and exposed fastener systems, both with patents pending. Final testing was to be finished by the end of June so a full roll out of the product by late summer or early fall of 2010 is likely. Vivix has a deep and attractive color pallet and I believe it will prove to be a considerable competitor to other products in the high pressure laminate market.

It’s so easy to look at what has happened in the Gulf of Mexico and blame BP for the oil spill. That’s not saying that BP was not at fault because truly they are. It’s simply saying that we have drilled in very deep water for a long time without a large incident like this and have been really lucky considering the amount of drilling that has taken place as well as the risks and shortcuts that have come to fruition.

Those who have lived on the Gulf Coast for a long time have seen evidence of oils spillage over the years. There has been oil that has been recovered on the beaches and out in the ocean just never in the amount that we see right now and of course never devastated the wildlife and fisheries like this spill has and will. But we should have known something like this would eventually happen. Even though the oil companies have a lax plan for these occasions they knew it was possible because they had a plan. But it was always worth it so they could deliver oil to the American public as cheaply as possible. It just turns out that we will be paying for this cheap oil for a long time and the bill will be higher than we ever thought.

When I married I had no idea that I had married into a family of hoarders because they called themselves “collectors”. The problem is that they collect everything! I am lucky because my spouse and one sister see this and know it is a problem. They both struggle against the compulsion to hoard some things but being aware and having each other to talk to about it has been a life and marriage saving activity. The other sister and brother as well as mother and step-father are another story.

When my mother-in-law came to our home and realized we had given away a chair, I thought she was going to cry. She asked my wife why she wasn’t called first because she would have taken the chair even though we know she has no where to put it. We just don’t tell her about anything that we throw away because she would be aghast to know the cards and letters have been recycled as well as baby clothes, etc. We simply tell her that they are stored in the shed out back as it tends to make her physically ill if we tell her we have thrown them out. I hope she never figures out that our little shed has no way of holding everything we have told her is out there.

Sometimes I think we spend more time than we should making our homes, yards and gardens beautiful while we neglect beautifying what is most important; our inner world. I know far too many people who are either burned out or close to being burned out that it’s not even close to being funny. The term “burned out” is also extremely interesting as it implies that we each have a fire that burns inside of us. So if we had a fire that needed to be tended every day for our life sustenance, would we not spend a good deal of time making sure it keeps burning?

Being able to tap into ones “fire” or lack of is not always an easy thing to do as most of us are just walking through life not paying attention to anything that comes from within. We have been told to pay attention to everyone else; the kids, your spouse, your boss, politics, news and everything else but you! However, if you continue to pay attention to everyone else at your own expense, be prepared to eventually burn out and join the throngs or other people that are oblivious to their own fire. Or make a different decision today to tend to the fire that makes you tick. May it always burn brightly!

We are always talking about growing our own food and gardening with the environment in mind but that doesn’t mean you can’t add some great items to your yard and gardens to make it inviting and beautiful. One of my favorite things to add is trellises. These can be a great addition to flower beds, raised vegetable beds and gardens. They also make smaller trellises that are great with cucumbers and squash and a number of other low growing vegetables.

Another wonderful addition to any garden is the garden arbors. Many have trellis sides so you can grow many of your favorite flowers or vegetables right up the sides of the arbor. Arbors can be show pieces in the garden and add to the flow and look. You can place a chair under the arbor or just keep it open. In some cases, it’s wonderful to allow the arbor to fill in the sides and the top creating a beautiful canopy of blooms. Just writing about it makes me want to go out into the garden right now and just take it all in!

Gardening is a fun hobby.  It can be an environmentally friendly hobby as well.  It is important to think responsibly about what happens in the garden.

One of the first thoughts about environmentally friendly gardening should be the use of safe fertilizers and pesticides.  Fertilizers should be organic in origin.  Fertilizers should not be produced by big chemical companies.  That is not organic or environmentally correct.  Pesticides should be eliminated from the garden completely.  They are dangerous nerve toxins that harm the environment and the person who applies the pesticide.  They work only in the short term and cause major long term biological damage.

Another thought that should be considered when having an environmentally friendly garden is water usage.  Only 2% of all the water on our planet is fit for drinking.  This is not only due to pollution, but only due to all the oceans.  That salt water is not appropriate for plant life either.  Wise water usage is important to make sure there is enough drinking water for our communities.  Rain barrels are a great way to safe water for plants and conserve water for people to drink.

When I was a kid, I spent every weekend at my Grandmother’s house, and every Saturday night, we would watch The Golden Girls.  It was my favorite, and remains one of my favorites today, as I bask in reruns on Lifetime.  For years, my friends would make fun of me for this dedication to what they called, “an old lady show”, to which I would reply, “do you know how many Emmys this won?”  I just knew that one day, they would come to their senses, and just look who’s laughing now!

Who would have thought that the latest Hollywood “It” girl would be the 88 year-old, comedy powerhouse, Betty White?  With a career that spans over 70 years, I would think it’s about time!  After winning the SAG Lifetime Achievement Award, and appearing in a hilarious Superbowl commercial for Snickers, a relentless Facebook campaign was launched to get her to host Saturday Night Live.  And on May 8^th, 2010, they were successful.  Betty hosted the Mother’s Day episode of SNL, garnering higher ratings than any other episode this season.

I have always been a fan of Betty White, and respected her work on The Golden Girls, Mary Tyler Moore, Mama’s Family, Password, as well as her efforts as a tireless animal advocate.  But, what I admire most about Betty is what she represents – that it’s never too late, you’re never too old, and always have a sense of humor.

It is very important that communities plant trees in an effort to beautify public spaces.  Trees are important in many ways.  The most important way trees are important is that they provide oxygen as a byproduct of their respiration.  Without that oxygen the air on Earth is not breathable for human beings.  This seems so simple, yet communities all across the nation clear land for development and never plant back in as many trees as were removed.  Our planet is not habitable without air to breathe.

The second thing trees do is provide homes for birds, insects, and lots of other animals that need shelter.  A large shade tree may be home to more than 20 species of wild animals. This biodiversity is essential for maintaining a healthy balance of life on Earth.

The third thing that trees do for us is provide some climate control.  In the spring when the leaves come out, the trees provide valuable shade from the sun.  The shade keeps us cool and reduces our sun exposure.  On the reverse side of that, during the winter, the trees loose their leaves and allow valuable sunlight and warmth to shine on us during the coldest days of the year.