ecotip


Tweet Treats Trim a Tree, Feed the Birds


Bamboo Bamboozle ‘Green’ Clothing Made with Toxic Chemicals


Bamboo is rapidly renewable and requires few pesticides to grow. How- ever, bamboo fabric manufacturing is a chemically intensive process that doesn’t provide clear and legitimate product labeling. Misleadingly using the terms eco-friendly and green be- comes greenwashing when applied to items such as bamboo clothing. As the Fair Trade Commission


describes the overall process, “Most bamboo textile products, if not all, are actually rayon, which typically is made using environmentally toxic chemicals. While different plants, including bam- boo, can be used as a source material to create rayon, there’s no trace of the origi- nal plant in the finished rayon product.” This example points out the public vigilance required to secure more sus- tainable, environmentally friendly prod- ucts. Third-party verification of all claims is recommended. Products made of the bamboo stalk itself, such as poles for furniture or planks for flooring, remain true to their naturally sustainable source.


Source: Tinyurl.com/Organic BambooFraud


From December 14 through January 5, citi- zen scientists of all ages will participate in the National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count (Tinyurl.com/AudubonChristmas Count), the country’s longest-running wildlife census. Audubon and other orga- nizations use the data collected by volunteers to monitor population trends and guide conservation efforts.


Whether or not families plan to help Audubon volunteers keep track of feathered visitors, they might consider providing backyard birds with gifts of food during the winter, when natural food sources can be scarce. Adorning outdoor trees with edible decorations can also help brighten landscapes, reduce kitchen scraps, creatively involve children in nature and make yards more bird-friendly. Salvage citrus rinds for feeders. Poke holes along the edge of hollowed halves


of grapefruit and orange peels and run twine through them so they can hang from a branch. Fill with bird seed or suet.


Create ornaments from bread heels or stale loaves. After cutting out shapes with a cookie cutter, spread them with unsalted nut butter and cover with bird- seed. Bagels, rice cakes and pinecones can be frosted and sprinkled in the same way. Avoid using anything moldy. For more colorful ornaments, hang orange and apple slices. Drape edible garland around tree branches. Thread unsalted popcorn (stale popcorn strings more easily), fresh cranberries, citrus slices, unshelled peanuts, dried apples or grapes into a garland. Use natural string, wool or raffia for hanging decorations. Wild Birds Unlimited suggests selecting these materials so they can be used by birds as nesting materials in the spring.


Collect seed heads and berries to tuck among the branches. According to the


National Wildlife Federation, good food sources include seed heads from flowers such as goldenrod, sunflower, coneflower, sumac and mullein; seed heads from grasses such as millet, wheat, foxtail and switchgrass; and berries on sprigs of hol- ly, juniper, cedar, hawthorn and mountain ash. Make sure decorations are hung on a tree or shrub near a window so the whole family can enjoy watching the wildlife they attract.


Contributing source: The Humane Society


I long to see you so that I may impart unto


you some spiritual gift. ~St. Paul


The Intuitive and Energy Healing Fair Saturday December 13th from 9am to 3pm. www.metamorphosis.cc


1301 EAST CLIFF ROAD, BURNSVILLE | 612-730-2250 | LAURA@METAMORPHOSIS.CC natural awakenings December 2014 11


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