It is a NEW YEAR.

Good Morning Everyone!

Well it is a bright, sunny and beginning to warm morning here in Edmonton.

I can hear the geese honking in the distance.

Last night after work we took our second walk of the day.

Followed by the start of laundry and then the raking of the front lawn.

The neighbour that shares the front lawn with me did her own raking.

She has been feeding the bunnies which we have many all winter long.

So lots of bunny parcels mainly on her half but some transferred to mine.

We cleaned up most of it but I am sure that a little poop left behind would be great fertilizer.

At least it is natural.

 

I had been pondering the thought of having one of those landscaping / lawn companies, you know the ones, like GREEN DROP stop by.

Perhaps give the lawn a well deserved boost.

My neighbour gave her half some extra help and her lawn was so much healthier looking than mine.

I even watered mine some.

But after listening to Dr. Jane Goodall speak on Jimmy Fallon the other night and reading about bees and dandelions (which I usually have a few for sure).

I have decided to take the natural approach.

I will ensure that the lawn is properly hydrated (if no rain, then I will water).

I will leave the dandelions for the bees.

I will not put down any kind of “chemical” fertilizer on the lawn.

This is my pledge.

Now of course, it may be for naught if my neighbours surrounding me fertilize but I will do my best.

I am also planning a “trash/garbage” pick up day in the next couple of weeks.

This is where I take a day of vacation from work OR spend a good part of a Saturday or Sunday out in my neighbourhood picking up the trash.

Right now it is absolutely disgusting.

Might be sooner than later.

I use my own garbage bags (which reminds me I am almost out of the big ones that I usually purchase from COSTCO) and I have the garbage picker tools and disposable gloves.

So all of the necessary and safe equipment for the job.

I do this for my neighbours, for my neighbourhood, for my community and for the natural community most of all.

I constantly worry about birds and animals eating elastic bands that folks drop on the ground by the mailboxes.

I constantly worry about all the crap that people do not pick up.

So with the birds, animals and environment in mind, in my heart, I do this.

Unfortunately I do not go out as often as I used to.

Once upon a time I went out once a week now it is once or twice a season.

This is the time where it is the worst.

I would remind all of my humans out there, please pick up the trash when you see it on the ground.

You are out walking so much more now, why not slip a bag and gloves in your pocket.

Pick up that trash when you are out and about.

Why not?

Why is it that the majority of people just walk on by?

Please I am asking you.

Next time please pick up the trash no matter the size.

When you are packing up your trash to go out for pick up.

Be careful of how you pack it.

DO NOT THROW LOOSE PAPERS, CONTAINER in a BLUE BOX OR

WORSE leave BOXES stacked willy nilly to blow about.

Those are the boxes and styrofoam packing materials that I find on the street all of the time.

The styrofoam breaks down as it hits the curb and corners of the sidewalk breaking into much smaller pieces so of which are digested by birds and smaller animals.

These smaller pieces also end up going into the storm drains.

Easy to to.

PICK UP the trash.

Please.

 

I do apologize if this sounds like a rant as I would rather it sound like a public service announcement.

We all have to work together to make this planet a better place for all of the inhabitants.

We rely on the NATURAL WORLD.

Slowly and now so slowly we are disturbing, changing and destroying the natural world.

Let us come together and do some good.

There is good coming out of this pandemic.

The good is helping the natural world.

Marine life is returning in areas, the sky is clear from smog and pollution as people are staying home and some factories are closed.

This should tell us something.

It is a good reminder.

We have to stop and get things straightened out.

The next time we have a pandemic we may not be so lucky.

I am not taking away from the loss of life globally from this horrible virus.

 

Please have a good safe and happy Saturday.

Given the chance to do something great for the environment in your neighbourhood, please do so.

Do not leave what you can do, for others to do.

 

With kindness and a deep respect for our planet.

I/We remain,

As Always,

Carol & Alvin