I Keep Norfolk Beautiful!

Give Our Pollinators Some Help

The week of June 18-24, 2012 is National Pollinator Week. The U.S. Senate so designated the last week of June (the first week of summer) to increase public understanding of the importance of pollinators to agriculture and other ecosystem functions.

What is a pollinator?

Pollinators are animals that help plants reproduce, resulting in fruits, vegetables and seeds. Most people think of honeybees, but many other species of bees and animals such as butterflies, moths, ants, beetles, hummingbirds and some bats are also pollinators. Pollinators visit flowers in search of food (pollen or nectar) and then incidentally transfer the male pollen to the female part of a flower when the pollen sticks to their bodies as they move around the flower, resulting in the formation of a fruit or seed.

Why are pollinators so important?

Pollinators help pollinate over 75% of flowering plants and nearly 75% of our crops. In the U.S., bees alone undertake the astounding task of pollinating nearly $20 billion in crop value, particularly for specialty crops such as almonds and other nuts, berries, fruits, and vegetables. The value of pollination services provided by native bees and other animals is even greater, as it is estimated that honeybees (which are not native to North America) only pollinate 15% of the most common food crops worldwide. Do you like your morning coffee, a chocolate bar, or wearing cotton clothing? None of these would be possible without pollinators. Alfalfa, an important food for cattle, is pollinated by bees. And what is really cool about these pollinators is that they do their work for free!

But the vital services that pollinators provide do not come without a responsibility on our part. Natural habitats are being lost as development encroaches on forests and meadows. Most pesticides are “non-selective,” which means they kill good insects along with the bad. In the past decade, a phenomenon known as Colony Collapse Disorder has led to the disappearance or death of whole colonies of domesticated honeybees. Although scientists are still looking for solutions to this devastating problem, it appears that a combination of factors is the cause – pesticides, genetic inbreeding of domesticated honeybees, stress from moving large commercial hives around the country, and pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and mites.

What can I do to help?

There are lots of things we all can do to make sure pollinators keep up their good work.

Create a pollinator-friendly yard with flowering plants that supply pollinators with nectar, pollen, and homes. For information on what to plant in our area (using your zip code), download a free regional guide at www.pollinator.org. Any kind of mint is a great plant for attracting insect pollinators.

• Avoid the use of pesticides and accept that a little damage from plant pests is just part of nature. The Beekeepers Guild of Southeast Virginia recommends this organic recipe for use on vegetables, ornamentals, and herbs: Mix 1 tablespoon of mild, non-bacterial dish soap (such as Ivory) with 1 cup cooking oil, such as safflower, soybean, or peanut. Store this concentrated solution for use throughout the gardening season. When needed, mix 4 teaspoons of this concentrate in 2 cups of water and pour into a pump sprayer or spray bottle. Spray plants thoroughly when daytime temperatures are below 85 degrees.
• If you must use pesticides, read the label before purchasing and avoid ones that say they are highly toxic to bees. Do not apply pesticides to flowering plants. Apply pesticides in the evening when many pollinators are not active.
• If bee or wasp nests are in locations that interfere with human safety, don’t destroy them. Honeybee nests or swarms will be removed by local bee-keepers at the following telephone numbers: 285-4509; 641-5933; 816-2262. For wasps, Bee Busters, owned by George Waldenmaier on the Eastern Shore (757-787-3013; Cell: 757-710-8458), will collect wasps from either ground or hanging nests without the use of pesticides. The wasp venom is extracted by a pharmaceutical lab to make allergy medication for sting victims.

You can find lots of information on pollinators, beekeeping, and educational programs for kids and adults at the website of the Pollinator Partnership, www.pollinator.org

You can reach Karen at 757-587-1287 or by e-mail at KarenLMayne@aol.com

April 2012 – Doing Our Part for Earth Month

Are you old enough to remember the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970? If not, then you are young enough to know that now the entire month of April is designated as Earth Month. You don’t need to try to save the entire planet, though. There are lots of things we can all do at home to help keep the Earth clean and green. If each of us takes little steps during Earth Month – and every month of the year – we will truly have a greener planet!

Nothing but rain down the storm drain.

All storm drains in Norfolk empty into local waterways. So any leaves and grass clippings that get swept into the street or oil that is poured into the drains will end up in our rivers. If you see a sewer overflow in the street or a yard, call the City Department of Utilities’ emergency number at 823-1000.

Scoop the Poop!

Pet wastes are a leading source of bacterial contamination of the Lafayette River. Pick up after your dogs when you walk them, and train your pets to use one specific area of your yard so that you can clean up easily and toss it in the trash.

Kick the fertilizer habit.

Have your soil tested through the Norfolk office of the Virginia Tech Cooperative Extension Service (683-2816) to determine the health of your soil before applying fertilizer. Use compost as the preferred way to improve the soil, and let grass clippings stay on the grass. If you do fertilize, fertilize fescue grass in the fall and zoyzia/St. Augustine lawns in the summer. Follow manufacturer’s instructions for watering in, and don’t fertilize if heavy rain is in the forecast.

Don’t feed the geese and ducks.

If we don’t feed them, they will move elsewhere to look for food. If you live on the water, you can string fishing line like a fence along the waterfront to deter waterfowl from entering your yard. Better yet, let a buffer of native vegetation grow up along the shoreline to keep the waterfowl away.

Save Water.

Fix dripping and leaky faucets and toilets. Outdoors, install a rain barrel on your gutters to make use of free rainwater.

Change a Light Bulb.

Replace one incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent bulb (CFL) to save energy and reduce the amount of pollutants generated by power plants.

Can the Grease.

Don’t pour grease or greasy food wastes down the drain. Grease is a major contributor to sewer clogs in our city. Pour grease into a can and refrigerate it before putting it in the trash. Wipe off frying pans and greasy plates with a paper towel before washing.

Don’t Flush Medicines.

The chemicals in our medicines cannot be removed at the sewage treatment plant and end up in waterways where they adversely affect aquatic life and humans. Find out if your pharmacy will take back unused medicines. Or, throw your medicine bottles in the trash after crossing out your personal information and adding used coffee grounds or other material to make the pills unusable.

Reduce Plastic Bags.

Plastic bags are made out of petroleum and do not decompose. Switch to reusable cloth bags.

Become a River Star Home.

Join your neighbors and show your support for cleaning up the Elizabeth and Lafayette Rivers by displaying the River Star Home flag. Call the Elizabeth River Project at 757-399-7487 or visit their website at www.elizabethriver.org for information on joining the “home team.”

Written by Karen Mayne. You can reach Karen at KarenLMayne@aol.com

Tagged: Earth DayNorfolkstorm drainspet wastepollutionfertilizerwaterCFLmedicine disposalplastic bagsRiver StarLafayette RiverFestlitter

Save the Swarms – and Help Honeybees

Spring and summer are when honeybees swarm, causing a lot of fear. But these swarms are harmless if left alone, and are how bee colonies divide when their hives becomes too crowded. The queen bee and half of her daughters leave the hive searching for a new home. The swarm (or cluster) of bees may gather on a tree branch, bush, your mailbox, or even a picnic table while waiting for the scout bees to tell the group the location of their new home. Local beekeepers encourage citizens who see a swarm to call them so they can collect the swarm to start a new hive. By not spraying the swarm, you will be helping save this important pollinator. The following telephone numbers are local bee-keepers who will come get the bees: 285-4509; 641-5933; 816-2262. For more information on bees and beekeeping go to www.tidewaterbeekeepers.net or www.norfolkbeekeepers.net.  

Contributed by Karen Mayne

Shining Light on New Bulb Rules

The new energy efficiency rules for incandescent light bulbs (the screw-base kind we have been using since Thomas Edison invented them) go into effect January 2012.  Let’s get the facts straight about these changes.  It is not true that incandescent bulbs have been banned.  You will not be required to switch to fluorescent bulbs, and you will not have to change the bulbs in all your lamps and ceiling fixtures.

Here’s the real story.  Congress passed and President Bush signed the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, the purpose of which is to reduce energy consumption and decrease our dependence on foreign oil.  As part of that law, improvements in the energy efficiency of certain incandescent light bulbs were required.  This is because “old fashioned” incandescent bulbs convert only 10 percent of the energy they use into light – the remaining 90 percent is converted to heat.  Since lighting accounts for almost 15 percent of the electricity used in buildings in the U.S., it makes sense to improve the energy efficiency of lighting.  The law requires that common household incandescent bulbs that traditionally have used between 40 and 100 watts must become about 27% more efficient by 2014.  Manufacturers have successfully met the new standards by adding halogen gas to the incandescent bulb, which allows the same brightness of light to be produced using less energy.  By 2020, most bulbs must be 60-70% more efficient, which fluorescent bulbs meet today.  The law does not apply to many types of incandescent bulbs – such as candelabra-based, appliance, three-way 150 watt bulbs, bug lights, and several other categories.

The changes in energy efficiency of general purpose 40-100 watt bulbs are being phased in.  Starting in January 2012, if you want to buy incandescent bulbs that produce the equivalent of the old 100 watt lights, you will look for bulbs that use 72 watts.  The 75 watt bulbs will change January 2013 and 60 and 40 watt bulbs in January 2014.

Of course, you may want to switch to compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs when your current incandescent bulbs burn out since CFLs will save on your electric bill and last much longer.  The prices of CFLs have dropped dramatically over the past few years, and they now come in a covered style that looks like the old-fashioned bulb.  Some CFLs are dimmable, but require a specific kind of dimmer.  Look for CFLs with the ENERGY STAR label to make sure the bulbs are well manufactured and last as long as the label says.  The newest trend in energy efficient lighting is the LED, which stands for Light Emitting Diode.  These new kids on the block are extremely energy efficient, emit almost no heat, and can last for decades.  But LEDs are still relatively expensive and are limited in style and brightness, so you may want to wait until the prices come down and there are more choices.

Also starting in January 2012, all lighting manufacturers will use standardized labels that should make it easier to pick the right light bulb, whether it is a halogen, fluorescent, or LED.  But this new lighting language will take a while to learn.  We will no longer use the old “watt” rating to indicate a bulb’s brightness. That term is replaced by several more accurate terms, including brightness (in lumens), light appearance (how warm or cool the color of the light looks, rated in degrees Kelvin), the bulb’s life expectancy, and yearly energy use.

To learn more about the new lighting efficiency standards, a handy wattage conversion chart, and how to read the new light bulb labels, go to www.energysaver.gov and click on the tab at the top for “Your Home” then click on “Lighting and Daylighting” on the left side.  But, most of us will need to rely on the helpful salesperson at our local hardware or big box store to explain the changes and help us pick the right bulbs!

You can reach Karen at 757-587-1287 or by e-mail at KarenLMayne@aol.com

Treat Our Feathered Guests This Holiday!

The holiday season is here, so how about giving songbirds a holiday treat, too? Many bird species migrate to the Caribbean, Mexico, or South America for the winter, but a number of birds stay in the U.S. Most songbirds eat insects and spiders during the summer, but in winter they must switch to seeds and fruits. We can make sure our local songbirds “hang around” our yards by putting out birdfeeders.

Virginia is a great location for seeing winter birds, since many of the songbirds that nest in New England move to Virginia for the winter. Some of the most common winter songbirds in our area include the cardinal, blue jay, junco, tufted titmouse, and downy woodpecker, as well as several species of chickadees, wrens, nuthatches, and sparrows. One little bird, the house finch, is often confused with sparrows. If you see a sparrow-sized bird whose head looks like it’s been “dipped in raspberry jam,” you know you are looking at a male house finch.

There are many types of birdfeeders and bird seed, and a variety of both will attract the most birds. Hopper feeders hold a lot of seed, but tube type feeders are better for attracting smaller birds. Black oil sunflower seed attracts the most variety of birds. Be careful of cheap mixed bird feed since it contains milo, a seed that few birds will eat. Suet feeders are wire baskets that can be hung from trees or poles to attract woodpeckers. Even peanut butter can be smeared on a tree trunk or put on a pinecone to hang from a tree limb. Clean feeders regularly by emptying debris and washing them to prevent mold and bacteria from sickening the birds. Birds need water all winter, so keeping a freeze-proof container on the ground is important.

Feeding and watching birds is a great way to introduce kids and grandkids to the natural world. All they need to get started are a bird identification book and a cheap pair of binoculars (did I mention it’s the holiday season?). The Celebrate Urban Birds program (607-254-2123 or www.CelebrateUrbanBirds.org) is a good place to learn about bird feeding and watching (and what to do about those pesky squirrels). This website has links to two other “citizen scientist” programs that enlist adults, kids, and groups like scouts and schools to help scientists learn more about urban birds. Project Feeder Watch (www.FeederWatch.org) runs until April 6, 2012 and lets citizens enter data on the birds they see at their birdfeeders. The Great Backyard Bird Count (www.birdsource.org/gbbc) will be February 17 – 20, 2012, and will use citizen’s observations to take a “snap shot” of where birds are across the continent.

If you really want to help urban birds and other wildlife, the National Wildlife Federation’s Certified Wildlife Habitat program (www.nwf.org/backyard) provides homeowners with information on how to make your property inviting to wildlife by providing sources of food, water, and shelter. Many of our native trees, such as dogwood, American holly, serviceberry, oaks, and Eastern red cedar are good sources of food for birds and other wildlife. So brighten the dreary days of winter by looking out your windows to a feast for the eyes – our beautiful winter birds!

Contributed by Karen Mayne

Fall Leaves = Fall Yard Maintenance

Late fall is a good time to put your yard “away” for the winter.  Doing these chores before the busy holiday season will ensure that you have a nice looking and safe property throughout the winter and into the spring.  The cool weather of November makes tackling these projects a little easier.

We all like to look at the well maintained yards in our neighborhood.  Nicely landscaped yards help maintain the appearance of the neighborhood, improve security, and keep home values up.  In fact, studies show that nice landscaping can increase the value of a home when it comes time to sell.

Here are some things to do to get your yard and house ready for the winter:

Prune back overgrown shrubs around doors and windows.  Light pruning of bushes too close to the house or blocking windows will improve security and give a tidy, lived in look to your house during the dark days of winter.

Edge the grass along sidewalks.  This will prevent tripping hazards for neighbors and guests (and our postal carriers), and will make it easier to clear snow during the winter.  Property owners are responsible for maintaining the sidewalk and grassy area between the sidewalk and the street in front of their property.  If street trees have low limbs that are dangerous to walkers or block views at stop signs, the City is responsible for fixing these problems.  Call the Norfolk Cares Assistance Center at 757-664-6510 (or use their on-line reporting form at www.Norfolk.gov/311CallCenter) to report the problem.  You can also call the Cares Center to report sidewalk cracks and tree root lifting or pothole problems.

Mulch fallen leaves back into the grass with your lawn mower for a free fertilizer boost.  Alternatively, you can bag leaves with your lawn mower attachment to use as mulch in flower beds or add to your compost pile.  Never put leaves in the street – the leaves will clog storm drains, causing street flooding and polluting the Lafayette River.

Clean leaves and pine straw out of gutters and off roofs.  With winter rains approaching, free flowing gutters will ensure no rainwater back-ups, which could lead to leaks around your lower roof and potential ice dam problems in freezing weather.  Heavy accumulations of pine straw can weigh down roofs and contribute to roof leaks.

Caulk and paint windows, doors, and trim.  This will stop air leaks into the house and will ensure that wood trim remains solid and strong and doesn’t rot.

While many of us can do these chores ourselves, other folks may not have the time or ability to tackle them.  What to do?  Often, neighborhood teens are looking for odd jobs and may be able to do these projects for you.  Or ask neighbors who they use for their lawn care service.  Some churches, military units, and social organizations have programs to help out members with handyman services.

Contributed by Karen Mayne

Got That Late-night Urge to Purge?

Some of us are truly most productive in the middle of the night - the house is quiet, nothing good is on television, the phone isn’t ringing, and friends are asleep so Facebook can wait until morning. This free time is when I get a pile of work, and purging, done. I can sort through my son’s old clothes and toys, recycle old magazines, answer mail, and clean out my files.

And now the City of Norfolk is offering to help with those all-nighters. They are offering 24/7 document shredding services to all Norfolk residents at the City’s Division of Towing (1195 Lance Rd.). Here are some of the guidelines for us night owls and soon-to-be ex-pack rats:

·               Non secure shredding – All paper brought to be shredded will be destroyed while you wait and observe, if requested.

-          While-you-wait service for those bringing in up to 100 sheets.

-          Those amounts larger than a shoebox and can fit within one shopping bag may be dropped off for shredding.

·               Residents may make up to two trips per week.

·               Remove any plastic or metal bindings, covers or large staples.

·               Hard cover books, telephone books or other oversized materials will not be accepted.

·               Paper should generally be of the office document type, up to 8 ½” x 14”.

·               Documents will be shredded into .25 inch wide strips.

·               Shredded paper will be delivered to the City’s contracted recycling handling facility in Chesapeake.

Detailed information and map to 1195 Lance Road can be found here.