EcoHearth: Come Home to the Earth

The massive BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a reminder of the toxic substances that continue to threaten our oceans, sea creatures and us. As engineers achieve success at containing the leak, the public has begun to contemplate the disaster’s long-term effects. Besides the future of the area’s ecosystem and economy, many wonder about the advisability of consuming animals from the Gulf. Sadly, oil contamination is just one of many pollutants fouling our sea-based food supply. There are many others. Read on…

Prior to 2005, the women of the Iridimi refugee camp in Chad, Africa, had to walk long distances through dangerous terrain to collect wood for cooking. Utilizing a traditional three-stone fire, they inhaled unsafe amounts of smoke as they prepared daily meals and were on a fast track to severely deplete an already limited wood supply. Then solar cookers were introduced to the camp. Read on…

Your outdoor space, whether an urban balcony or a large-acreage tract, is a balanced ecosystem that at times can shift, resulting in an invasion of insect pests. As we have seen, natural planting practices can help reduce the likelihood of an infestation, and organic pesticide products can help control one. An even better option is to modulate your ecosystem to attract beneficial organisms that will kill and feed on insect pests for you. Read on…

No matter how well you apply planting practices that reduce pest invasion, some pests will likely still get through to your plants. Fortunately, other organisms have been battling the same culprits much longer than we have—and they’ve developed methods to control them that we can learn from. Organic pesticides utilize these naturally occurring compounds; thus, they are prime weapons in the arsenal of pest-control solutions. Read on…

As long as humans have lived in houses and cultivated plants, they have had to deal with a variety of insect and fungal pests. Synthetic pesticides are very effective at killing these invaders, but they also harm beneficial organisms and persist in the environment contaminating food crops and water sources. Instead of spraying toxic chemicals at the first sign of a problem, employ a natural, systematic approach to pest control using organic pesticides only as a last resort. The first step is to use proper planting practices and maintenance to reduce the numbers of invasive pests. Read on…