Kryptic’s Thoughts

A Bald Eagle flew over the top of the house today. Of course, two crows that were not very pleased by his presence were chasing him. Now I‘ve seen wild bald eagles here in the mountains and in the very large parks, but I had never had a real live bald eagle sharing the same sky as I was watching from my back patio! When I was growing up the number of bald eagles had dropped so dramatically as to almost be extinct. This got me to thinking about all those environmental conservation measures and programs that were enacted when I was a kid. Does anyone besides me remember what a big deal the first “Earth Day” was? Do you remember when recycling was not the norm? Well, I do. And now, thirty some odd years later, I have a Bald Eagle visiting my back yard! It’s nice to know that “change” can mean an improvement and not always disaster, loss, or degradation.

The biggest environmentally friendly change I have made recently is using mostly homemade yard and garden care products. From previous posts you may have gathered that this yard has been ignored for so long and is in pretty bad shape. If I were using commercially available products of everything that needs doing, the cost would be astronomical. While watching PBS one afternoon in California, I happened to catch a program featuring, “Jerry Baker, Master Gardener”. Jerry is a funny old guy and the show kept me entertained enough to actually learn a thing or two about normal everyday household products that when combined in the correct amounts become “miracle mixes”. These mixes cover just about every need your yard will ever have. I sent off for one of Jerry’s books, “Fast Fixes and Miracle Mixes for you Lawn and Garden”, and a pair of the ever-popular “Aerating Sandals”. The results have been dramatic in only a couple of months. First, there is actually a lawn beginning to reappear. The moss in the lawn is beginning to be under control. This is Washington so it will never truly be gone, but more lawn than moss I can live with. The most impressive results have been with the roses. These roses have every disease and pest know to man. Slowly, I am seeing the diseases come under control and have already had more roses than bloomed all of last summer! Next year I should have enough disease and weed free materials to start recycling into compost. That should help just about everything in this yard.

Recycling. That brings me to my next “Odd Thought”. In this age of “green” living, when most of the planet has made recycling a habit, did you ever wonder why gas stations don’t have two sided trash/recycling receptacles like most kitchens in America? Every trip I have ever taken I have had to throw out at least two soda bottles. And having been conditioned in this “Earth Day” world, it just kills me every time I have to do it.