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A TOUCH OF NATURE
September 1, 2002 Issue

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This newsletter is sponsored by The Herbs Place.com.
Natural Health Solutions for Adults, Children and Pets!
Newsletters, Online Classes & *Herbal Medicine Chest*

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Read or search for specific topics of previous issues.

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DONNA'S COMMENTS
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It's that time of year when birds have begun to migrate. Hawks have already headed south and in our area there's a Hawk Watch by the Blue Ridge Mountains where people gather to take counts and enjoy the event together. Here's a link in case you're in the central Virginia area.

There's something incredible about the instincts that cause birds to migrate and the unbelievable strength they portray in the great distances that they cover.

Speaking of birds, the West Nile Virus is taking a terrible toll on birds.. Biologists are worried about impacts on humans and animals as well, and are searching for ways to help protect and treat the virus. Everyone is concerned, but frustrated because there are no answers yet. It's important for you and your neighbors to be alert to standing water and make sure it's eliminated. This is where the process begins.

Till next time.....
Donna

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DEBT FREEDOM COURSE
Greg Moore is the author of "Debt Into Wealth --
Lessons from My Journey to Debt Freedom."
You can get Lesson 1 free.

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CRITTER FACTS
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FINDING A BABY SQUIRREL

Gray squirrels nest twice each year, early spring and late summer, and commonly have litters of 3-4 babies, who open their eyes at 4 weeks of age and are often out of the nest by 6 weeks. At 8-9 weeks they are on their own in the wild and no longer nurse.

If you find a baby squirrel and it's hurt, take it to the nearest wildlife vet. Wear thick leather gloves when handling since even young squirrels can have a vicious bite.

If the squirrel's tail is fully fluffed out like a bottle brush and weighs more than 6.5 ounces or 180 grams, they are own their own and don't need your help. If it runs from you, it is definitely on its own.

If the squirrel's tail is flat or not quite full, weighs between 2.6-5.3 ounces (75-150 grams), and actually seems friendly, the squirrel is probably still nursing and needs the care of the mother. If it's nearby, allow the mother to rescue the baby by carrying it by the scruff of the neck back to the nest (without you watching once the mother grabs the baby).

If the mother is not nearby, attempt to locate the nest which would be a big ball of dried leaves at the top of a tree. Once you locate it, try to get the baby to crawl up the trunk to the nest. Check back to see if the baby is still there. If it has not been fed for an entire day, contact a state licensed small mammal rehabilitator immediately.

INCREDIBLE MIGRATION FACTS

Body lengths traveled by a Rufous Hummingbird between Alaska and their winter range in central and western Mexico: 49 million

Distance traveled by an Arctic Tern in its annual round trip between Arctic breeding grounds and Antarctic seas: 22,000 miles (35,400 kilometers)

Altitude of a Rueppell's Griffon Vulture, avian record-holder for highest flight: 37,000 feet (11,300 meters) Estimated number of birds detected by radar passing over Cape cod on a single autumn night: 12 million

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LIVING WILD
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BACK TO SCHOOL: Nature Classrooms?

Wouldn't it be cool if school included hikes, digging in the mud, or creating beautiful works of art? Well it does in one middle schoo's path-beating Monogacci program. The program incorporates environmental education into all subjects from science to gym to language arts. Learn more about it at the online scrapbook by the students themselves.

GATHERING FOOD FROM THE WILD

"Long before man learned to hunt, harvested his first crop, or domesticated his first animal, he had collected an extensive body of plant lore. He knew what plants could be used as food and as medicine, and which would fill a number of his other needs including shelter, implements, and clothing. And even after he became a farmer, he continued to gather and use those plants that grew wild and needed no cultivation.....Today, the number of people [in the U.S.] who regularly gather and use wild plants has dwindled.... fortunately, the plants are still out there growing...." Alan Hall, The Wild Food Trail Guide, 1976

Here's an article about - DEAD LINK REMOVED - native plants used as food:

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GARDENING FOR WILDLIFE- Restoring the Balance
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TREES FOR HEALTH

Studies show that hospital patients with window view of trees recovered significantly faster and with fewer complications than comparable patients without access to such views. One large tree can provide a day's oxygen for up to four people.

TEACHING ABOUT TREES

Here are a few resources for teacher, homeschoolers, or children who want to know more about trees.
The National Wildlife Federation has great educational resources
Treeture - Website designed for children, with lesson plans about trees
Arbor Day Foundation provides classroom activities and games

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"GREEN" INFO- Making It a Way of Life!
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Avoid Using Throw-Away Plastics - They make up 20 percent of our waste stream, are not biodegradable, require the use of toxics in production and generate toxic waste. Many plastics are not truly recyclable, but are only reshaped into products with limited uses.

Reduce Your Volume of Waste - Recycle glass, aluminum, metal, paper, cardboard, etc. Participate in Household Hazardous Waste Clean-up days.

Start a compost pile in your backyard.

Use Safe Cleaners - Safe cleaners save money. For dishes/ use soaps rather than detergents. For dishwashers/ try using 50% washing soda and 50% borax, or a detergent with the lowest possible phosphate content.

Buy Food with Less Packaging - Many products are "over-packaged."

Microwavable items sometimes include two or three types of plastic as well as disposable paper items. While shopping, if you don't need a bag, don't take one. Bring reusable bags and, if necessary, request paper bags.

Encourage your store to use wax paper bags, rather than plastic, in your produce department.

Buy Reusable Over Disposable Products - Don't use plastic foam, - some contain CFCs which are harmful to the ozone layer. Use cloth bags over paper or plastic. If you buy plastic containers, reuse it for storing food items.

Cut up six-pack rings so they don't harm wildlife.

Use Dishtowels, Cleaning Cloths and Cloth Napkins Whenever Possible - Cloth decreases your use of paper and can be used over and over.

Use Wax Paper or Foil Over Plastic Wraps and Bags - Save and reuse bags when possible. Use wax paper in microwaves and reusable plastic containers.

Don't Put Harmful Chemicals Down Your Sink - These chemicals end up in our waterways. Decrease or limit your use of phosphates, which promote algae blooms that harm marine life. Drain cleaners are dangerous. Mix one cup baking soda, one cup of salt, one quarter cup cream of tartar; follow with boiling water, use a plunger or a pipe snake.

Question Manufacturer's "Environmental" Claims - Food manufacturers and grocery chains are starting to manipulate and mislead the public with false claims. Beware of "biodegradable" plastics which are dangerous to the environment.

Discuss These Issues With Your Family - Explain the long-term effects of environmentally-damaging practices.

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CREATION IN THE BIBLE
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For every beast of the forest is mine,
and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
I know all the fowls of the mountains;
and the wild beasts of the field are mine.
Psalm 50:10-11

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MUSINGS: POETRY & PROSE
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"The diversity of life forms,
so numerous that we have yet to identify them,
is the greatest wonder of this planet."
--Edward O. Wilson

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GOOD NEWS ABOUT OUR PLANET
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NATURAL GARDENERS REJOICE AS EPA BANS MORE PESTICIDES

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a phase-out of the pesticide Diazinon and has banned chlorpyrifos-a pesticide widely marketed under the brand name Dursban. Both of these pesticides are organophosphates, a class of chemicals linked to health risks for children. Grober, a retired high school chemistry teacher, hasn‚t used chemical pesticides such as Diazinon and Dursban in his yard or garden for decades. „I know how dangerous these chemicals can be,‰ said Grober. „I know the ingredients that will kill insects will do the same thing to people. These are not the kind of chemicals I want to use around my house. Read more of the story to learn about natural solutions to pests.

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DISCLAIMER:
The content, suggestions, and web links in this newsletter are for informational purposes only and not necessarily endorsed our sponsor "The Herbs Place.com" This is a personal publication by Donna Watkins. The ideas and information expressed in it have not been approved or authorized by anyone either explicitly or impliedly. In no event shall Donna Watkins or "The Herbs Place.com" be liable for any damages whatsoever resulting from any action arising in connection with the use of this information or its publication, including any action for infringement of copyright or defamation.

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