No phosphorus for us!

There are things we can do now, in the middle of winter, to ensure everyone's outdoor spaces are healthier come spring. I'm not talking about grand gestures here, but simple things that have the potential to make a big impact.

Topping my list is switching laundry detergent. Yes, that's what I said: laundry detergent. Now what, you may wonder, does laundry detergent have to do with healthy landscapes? Let me explain.

Followers of my blog know about the issue of phosphates in laundry detergent. It's called sodium triphosphate, or STPP, a compound that softens hard water. Problem is, when mixing with waterways, phosphorus encourages algae blooms and low oxygen levels, which kill aquatic life--and ultimately make their way into our human lives. Of course, this is a well-known issue, first brought to public attention 40 years ago, when lakes and rivers turned bright green with algae. In addition, phosphates sourcing has been linked with higher greenhouse gas emissions--not good for our global-warming situation.

 In the past thirty or so years, states--and some European countries--have passed regulations significantly reducing their use. In our country, Seventh Generation has been offering phosphate-free laundry detergent since it began in the 1980s--it's even packaged in a recycled paperboard container. I don't know many people who use it because it doesn't have the name recognition of the heavily marketed products. It also doesn't have dyes, whiteners and fragrances, which can contain phthalates, also known to harm environmental and human health.

A possible game changer: Enter Proctor and Gamble with their latest Tide laundry detergent called Pur Clean. Marketed as "The first bio-based detergent with the cleaning power of Tide," it's unscented, perfume- and dye-free, made with renewable wind power electricity, packaged in a recyclable bottle constructed of post-consumer recycled plastic, and claims to be made in a "zero-manufacturing waste-to-landfill site." My research indicates this means there is no little or no byproduct from its manufacture.

My concern: this product is only 65% bio-based, meaning the water and plant-based surfactants and solvents, pH adjusters, etc. make up that amount. What's in the rest of it? Still, this is a newsworthy development because P & G claims the largest share of the North American market and 25% of the global market share. Having tried the product myself, I can attest it cleans just fine.

Also note: this product is slightly more expensive. Go onto the product website, www.tide.com, and check out coupon sites to claim valuable savings. And if you have to pay a few bucks more, consider the tradeoff: cleaner water for generations to come.

Ultimately, this is a simple step each of us can take to help ourselves. Yet as C. G. Jung so eloquently stated, "Simple things are always the most difficult. In actual life, it requires the greatest discipline to be simple." Make the commitment. Great strides begin with that first, simple step.

All-natural ways to melt road ice

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As winter shifts into high gear in the Northeast, our roads and driveways would clog with ice if not for the rock salt commonly spread on driving surfaces. Yet the traditional salt, sodium chloride, is effective only above 15-degrees Fahrenheit, and has a host of other drawbacks. Not only does it corrode metal, cars, concrete and our leather shoes, but it can harm vegetation- and even aquatic life if it mixes into waterways.

I've discovered a few all-natural ingredients that melt ice more effectively when added to salt--or even on their own. I've listed some of the most promising findings:

Organic sugar beet juice is environmentally friendly and can be used at 100% concentration (though it's actually most effective when mixed 50-50 with brine--a simple salt solution). This juice is especially good for colder temps because sugar lowers the freezing point of ice. When sugar is added to salt, the salt is able to melt at colder temperatures. My husband pointed out that beet juice on clothing stains, yet my research indicates the juice is really more brown than red, and is not supposed to stain. Still, I'll test a small patch of my brick driveway before I spread it all over. Also, make sure the beet juice you use is organic, as certain additives could compromise its effectiveness.

Pickle brine. Don't discard the salty solution once you've scarfed down all those dills and baby gherkins! The leftover pickle juice will work wonders on walkways, melting ice at temps as low as -6-degrees F. Even better: pre-wet driveways and sidewalks with it before a snowstorm to prevent snow and ice from bonding with pavement, making it easier to remove. Put the brine in a spray bottle and spritz slick surfaces. Another plus: your driveway will have the odiferous appeal of a kosher deli.

Cheese brine. Prefer the smell of a dairy to a deli? You may want to spread cheese brine around your walkways. If you make your own mozzarella cheese like my super-talented husband, you'll have plenty of salty waste product to repurpose as a road-salt substitute. Used extensively in our nation's cheese capital--Wisconsin--this solution melts salt down to -21-degrees F! Warning: this is by far the smelliest solution.

Get creative! When you combine salt with pickle brine or beet juice, add a bit of molasses, which provides "stick factor," ensuring ingredients adhere together and on sprayed surfaces. Mix really well before pouring into your spray bottle, then spritz those slick spots for a gentler de-icing, which will help protect your plants.

Seeing green all winter long

Wintergreen is a plant I've always associated with this season--probably due to the word "winter" in it's name, though retaining its lush greenery when most plants don't certainly adds to the impression. The creeping stems of this evergreen native produce branches that reach up to six inches high, and display nodding white flowers from May to September.  Although the delicate blossoms aren't showy, they do offer long- lasting flowering throughout the growing season.

Occurring naturally in woodland areas from south central and southeastern Canada to the north central and northeastern U.S., this plant prefers part sun and cooler spots in the garden--a perfect bloomer for shadier areas.

Historically, oil of wintergreen was used to treat aches and pains, much like aspirin. That's because the methyl salicylate in it is a chemical related to our preferred pain reliever. It's also used topically, in a tea used to treat sore throat or mouth, and can even soothe skin sores and irritations.

Of course, anyone who loves Wintergreen Lifesavers knows the oil is a natural flavoring in candies and gum, though pure, undiluted wintergreen oil is an irritant. Best not to apply it full-strength, unless you plan on spicing up a flowerbed with this perennial. Order it by its botanical name--Gaultheria procumbens--to ensure you get the right plant. That sparse corner of your garden will thank you all year long.

Nature at its coolest

By now readers of my blog are used to my first post of each new year. It always involves describing my family's New Year's Day antics at the annual Lake George Polar Plunge in Shepherd's Park. On the snow-strewn beach beside the frigid water, about a thousand intrepid souls carry on a 44-year tradition, kicking off the new year quite literally, by kicking off their shoes and plunging into the frigid depths of the upstate lake.

I include details of this ritual each January because to me it epitomizes a number of enticing ideas. First and foremost, my family is insane. Let's face it, ya gotta have a little crazy in your DNA to hop from snow pile to thirty-five-degree water, even though the proceeds from the sponsored event benefit worthwhile charities.

Yet when I really think about this craziness, a lot of other words come to mind, too: challenge and fearlessness, camaraderie, tradition--and fun. My family looks forward to "taking the plunge" each year. It's become a way to stretch the holiday season a little longer, giving us all reason to be once again in each other's company, engaged in a group project. Since the process involves dressing up, family members and friends start casting about for the next year's "theme" about 10 minutes after completing the existing year's event. Much bantering and joking goes into deciding what the following year's costumes will be. The final decision isn't usually reached until around Thanksgiving.

In a world that seems to be becoming increasingly colder--with polarizing politics, cyber-bullying, computer hackers and terrorists dominating each day's news cycle-- perhaps a sub-zero outing celebrating togetherness, sharing, giving back and the beauty of nature, is just the thing we need to warm our hearts.

New Year's resolutions

2017 is nearly here! It's a great time to do what people do this time of year: make resolutions. Since an ecofriendly lifestyle is something I feel strongly about, my resolutions involve devising new ways to think about environmental problems. I've come up with three "eco-challenges," for myself, which all involve little more than a shift in mindset. I've kept it simple because, as we all know, intricate plans become difficult to sustain as the months wear on. Here, ways I plan to enrich myself, and disseminate helpful info to the larger landscape:

1. Keep an open mind

As we get older, I think there's a tendency to think we "know it all." We find it easy to discount unfamiliar notions, especially from those younger than we are. I've been bumping up against new ideas recently, and feeling myself getting cranky. One of those ideas is about veganism. I have to admit, up until a few years ago, I hardly knew any vegetarians, but nowadays many folks are touting the personal and environmental benefits of not only a meat-free lifestyle, but an existence of non-exploitive animal practices. Translation: living without ingesting or utilizing things like red meat, fish, fowl, dairy, honey, leather or wool. Seemed harsh to me. I kept wondering how fruits and vegetables could possibly cover daily nutritional requirements of those who became vegan. I'm not gonna lie: I still wonder about this. That's why I've been making an effort to learn about what it means to be vegan. Among my environmental discoveries: To produce one pound of animal protein vs. one pound of soy protein, it takes about 12 times as much land and fossil fuel, and 15 times as much water. I'm not sure a vegan lifestyle is for me--or even a vegetarian one, if I'm honest--but I certainly can cut back on my meat intake. These are issues that need our attention.

2. Read more

I'm a big reader. Always have been. I've realized lately, though, I'm not devoting enough of my "reading time" to environmental issues and practices. An eco-related question will pop into my head--and then exit just as quickly, without adequate exploration. An example: I found myself wondering about the state of the ozone layer. I've caught snippets of conversations and news reports recently chatting up the issue, but I had no idea if the initiatives begun in the late 1980's to reduce ozone-destroying chlorofluorocarbon emissions have reaped any benefits. I remember the debates back then--my first real exposure to man vs. environment issues. I recall the culprits--things like aerosol propellants (hairspray comes to mind) and old-school refrigerants which spit vast amounts of the toxic chlorine cocktail into the air. Most of all, I remember the worldwide ban, a unique partnership between developed countries to safeguard the fragile layer of ozone shielding us from the sun's most harmful rays. Time to head to the Internet and catch up on some reading. Three credible sources--National Geographic magazine, Popular Mechanics, and NASA itself--all report good news: the hole in the ozone layer above the Antarctic appears to be shrinking. Apparently, the once 29.9-million-mile hole has shrunk to 24.1 million miles. While it's still a gaping wound 30 years after the initiative went into effect (the news sources report those chlorine particles have a shelf life of up to 100 years!) we seem to be headed in the right direction. Glad I read about it.

3. Disperse

Like sowing seeds into fertile soil, it's vital to share environmental news and ideas with others. Social media has made our very large world unbelievably accessible. With all the platforms available, we have no difficulty spreading information. Let's make sure it's the well-meaning, thoughtful--and thought-provoking--information that will benefit us all.

Winter begins

There's something magical about that first snowfall of the season, isn't there? Coating the ground in a shimmer of white, and concealing those last vestiges of fall: the stubborn leaves that refused to be corralled. It's a relief, really, to be on to something new--a new world outside, a blank slate, if you will. At our house, it means the pristine, snowy groundcover is prime real estate, ready to be marked up by eager puppies excited to play in the white stuff (note the paw prints scattered along the ground in the photo, above).

Ours first big snowfall conveniently arrived just before the first official day of winter. With temperatures diving, sending northeasterners running for cover, there's something timeless and wonderful about glancing out an ice-trimmed window just as our joyous holidays approach, and feeling the warmth lit from within. There's a reason so many Christmas songs tout the virtues of snow. It's tied up in our minds with peace, warmth, silent nights, decked halls and friendly gatherings. Many of us find ourselves wishing for snow and all it stands for: cookie-making, traditional Christmas songs, a flurry of shopping and decorating, and the universal wish to celebrate with family and friends. Gone is last winter's focus on slick roads and hazardous driving conditions, dingy gray mid-February snowbanks along the roads, bitter winds and the endless ache of cold fingers and toes. There's no room in our brains for negative thoughts among our Currier-and-Ives images and holiday dreams of "the most wonderful time of the year". If only we could be so optimistic during the other eleven months!

Whatever traditions and religious rituals you celebrate, may the cheer of this holiday season surround you like the new-fallen snow. May it cover over the old disappointments and inspire you to focus on all the good, fresh and wondrous things in your lives.

The Christmas flower

Like most plant enthusiasts in the northeast, I bemoan the fact that I can't enjoy my flower garden in the cold-weather months. I miss the cheery blooms and sweet aroma of growing things all around me. Luckily, I get a quick "flower fix" during the holiday season, when a bevy of Poinsettia cultivars pop up around the shops in town. Each year I'm fascinated by the new hybrids of the Christmas staple.

This go-to holiday plant, indigenous to Mexico, has made its way into Christmas floral displays since 1825, when it was first introduced to our country by Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett, the very first U.S. minister to Mexico. It's been dazzling us ever since.

The actual plant itself is fascinating. The "flowers" are the tiny yellow specks in the center of the colored bracts--a bract being sort of a modified leaf, if you will. The plant, Euphorbia pulcherrima, is widely considered the horticultural symbol of Christmas, but how it actually came to be so is up for debate.

Many think it's because of the deep red-hue of the first well-known poinsettia bracts. Of course, there is such variety in this plant nowadays, that the poinsettia you choose for your holiday decorating can be white, pink, coral--even spray-painted "fantasy" poinsettias (like deep purple or shocking blue), which can match any color scheme or mood.

Some say the plant's growing habit shaped it's destiny. The traditional star-shaped bracts were thought to echo the form of the Star of Bethlehem. Once again, that's not necessarily the norm for modern-day poinsettia lovers. Nowadays, this plant comes in many shapes and sizes. The Winter Rose poinsettia (pictured in foreground, above) looks like, well, a rose. Note the deep green leaves, which surround this beauty in rich, velvety foliage. Some cultivars have speckled colored bracts, others have variegated lower leaves (see photo, below). As far as this plant is concerned, anything goes! And isn't that what the Season is about: not only accepting all our differences, but embracing the variety--and reveling in it!

Season's Greetings, my friends.