Environmental Science

   In our recent discussions in class we have been talking about invasive species and the destruction of habitat and their effects. I found a recent article and report about how both of these factors have come up  and really hurt the current crop market.

   Pollinators, mainly bees, birds, and bats, have recently been negatively effected and are dropping in numbers. Mainly, the honeybee, has been effected by a new parasitic mite and the destruction of the pollinator’s habitats. This has resulted in much less pollintaors, who are necessary for the growth and richness of plants and crops. Honeybees, “which pollinate more than 90 commercially grown crops, are one of the most affected pollinators.” It was also said that ”honeybees had to be imported from outside North America last year for the first time since 1922″ due to the decline in numbers.

    Farmers have now had to resort to “leasing colonies of bees” and must be taught ways to keep their crops and land area more bee-friendly. The best way to do this is to grow only native species, which should cut back on the number of invasive species.

    Although not many Fenwick students have farming families so we are not directly affected, we may see in the future a major decline in the quantity and quality of the foods we eat.

(Picture Credit: Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Apis_mellifera_2_Luc_Viatour.JPG)

• http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061018/ap_on_sc/birds_and_bees;_ylt=AoU5KFtHWK5YLVwZ76zBl_Ebr7sF;_ylu=X3oDMTA0cDJlYmhvBHNlYwM
• http://www.thedenverchannel.com/money/10103900/detail.htmlrss=den&psp=money
• http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061018/sc_nm/environment_pollinators_dc;_ylt=AlVluV7xe0dmszQljWyjaEYbr7sF;_ylu=X3oDMTA0cDJlYmhvBHNlYwM

    Recently it has been said that worms in the work place are a great way to cut back on food garbage and an easy way to make fertilizer. Some people have started leaving a box of worms at work and will throw most types of food in the bin of worms instead of the garbage. The worms then finish the partially eaten food and eventually produce compost/fertilizer.

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/Vuilnis.JPG)    

    The average U.S. citizen is said to produce from 3.5 to 7 pounds of garbage per day. Having wormsa to consume the majority of that food wast will really cut the amount of waste that is needed to be disposed in landfills and other environmental areas.

    California has jumped right on this idea and is hoping most businesses will start keeping bins of worms in the workplace. Websites have been created, which give the specific type anf location of the “red worms” which are best for this situation. The California state Waste Management Board recently created the “Top Ten Ways to Recycle on the Job” and this idea of worms was number 2.     Although the idea of a bin of worms next to your desk is a pretty gross idea, supporters have said they eventually get over it and dont even notice it.    

    Apple cores and coffee grounds are said to be the favorite meal for the worms and certain types of deli meat begin to rot and smell so they are not recommended.    

    This new idea is rising in the West and I expect soon enough we will hear about “worms in the workplace” in the Chicago area.

• http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15224793/