SIMPLE ACTS CAN

Simple Acts Can Change the World

by Julie Peterson

It’s easy to feel small and helpless in a world full of big problems, but there are simple, daily actions we can take to change it for the better. BE THE CHANGE. If the park needs more shade, ask permission to plant a tree. If there is trash on the sidewalk, pick it up. An eyesore building could be a community art project. The possibilities are endless. Sometimes the very things that we complain about can be turned into action items, improving conditions for everyone. Fix something. CHOOSE GRATITUDE. It’s difficult to miss the news as it pops up on phones, computers and TV. But media outlets can offer a repetitive loop of negativity and conflict. When exposed to this for hours, it can erode faith in humanity and hope for the future. To prevent feeling a sense of soul-crushing doom, we must tune out of the constant chatter. Select 30 minutes every other day to read news. We will become more positive if we spend the former news time listening to music or writing in a gratitude journal. Appreciate the good. FIND COMPASSION. When there is no shortage of road rage, angry customers and political divisiveness, don’t engage. We never know what another person has gone through in life or earlier that day. Don’t be a judge; be a vector to peace. Let the driver merge, let others be right, let our buttons get pushed without escalating the situation. Loving kindness for others involves wishing them health, happiness and safety. It doesn’t need to be outwardly expressed; it can be an internal thought. Respect everyone. BE KIND. Perhaps there is someone that would appreciate a meal or help with chores. Offer time without expectation of a reward. Random acts of kindness can be done anonymously: pay the toll for the next car, deliver a care package, donate supplies to a local nonprofit or simply smile at strangers. Give freely.

Every time we fix, appreciate, respect and give with a genuine heart, there is a ripple effect. Everyone we touch feels better. Moving forward, these people likely will be kinder to others. Envision each genuine act pouring forth like a wave of light, gathering momentum as others add their light. Imagine it can wash over the Earth, touching everyone. We can make a difference. Start now.

Julie Peterson is a Random Acts of Kindness activist (RAKtivist.com), an assistant to the Wisconsin Kindness Angel and an advisor for Kindness Bank, a nonprofit invested in improving community health and well-being.

Rethinking Fireworks

Greener Ways to Celebrate the Fourth

Synonymous with American Independence Day, fireworks have been around for thousands of years. Earliest versions originated in China, where people tossed bamboo stalks into a fire to ward off evil spirits, which exploded as the hollow areas of the stalks heated up. Later, a Chinese alchemist invented gunpowder—a mixture of potassium nitrate, sulfur and charcoal—that when poured into bamboo sticks, created the first fireworks.

Environmental and Health Impacts

Today, most fireworks are made of non-biodegradable plastics and harmful chemicals. When set ablaze, they release smoke and particulate matter, polluting the ground, air and water. Viewing fireworks poses health risks, particularly to people with preexisting ailments. It’s best to watch them from far away and upwind of the launch site or indoors through a closed window. Pet owners lament the noise pollution these pyrotechnics produce, and every year injuries and fires result when people unsafely light their own rockets at home.

Greener Fireworks

While climate-neutral fireworks don’t exist, some products are more eco-friendly. The Walt Disney Company has patented a new technology to replace gunpowder by using compressed air to launch fireworks—a potentially safer, quieter and less polluting alternative. European fireworks manufacturer WECO Feuerwerk (weco.de) is gradually replacing plastic components with compostable, plant-based fibers.

A particularly troublesome compound is perchlorate, which helps fireworks burn longer, but inhibits thyroid function after repeated exposure. A cleaner alternative is nitrogen, which produces less smoke and fewer dangerous byproducts. With less smoke, smaller amounts of toxic metal salts are needed to produce the brilliantly colored flames. For now, nitrogen-based fireworks are much more expensive and not widely used in outdoor settings. Indoor, low-smoke pyrotechnics are available through DMD Systems at AngelFire.com.

Planet-Friendly Alternatives

Drone light shows involve the launching of hundreds or even thousands of unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with powerful LEDs that light up the sky. The drones are reusable, silent and do not release chemicals. Because they are controlled digitally, an almost infinite combination of movements, colors and artistic expressions are possible.

Lasers can also paint the night sky. The most compelling displays are done professionally, but a colorful and exciting light show can be created at home with a portable projector.

To add red, white and blue charm both indoors and out, solar-powered or LED string lights or lanterns can decorate the home.

VIRTUAL Conservation Education Programs for Kids

AT MIDEWIN PRAIRIE

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service is implementing a summer schedule of virtual conservation education programs tailored especially to children of all ages. All classes begin at 11 a.m. and last from 20 to 30 minutes.

National Association of Interpretation-certified interpreter Siobhan Solkowski-Peacy has produced the curriculum and schedule, and will lead the classes, which cover a wide range of topics from how to tell the difference between a bison and a buffalo to skills and tools that are necessary to become a “prairie detective”. June 15, Bird is the Word: At Midewin NTP, volunteers and staff are working to increase and improve habitat for native Illinois grassland birds and more. Birds abound at Midewin NTP— they are in the prairies, wetlands, and woods. Learn about the birds that live at Midewin NTP including whether all birds live in the same habitats and if they eat the same foods. June 17, Croakin’ Around: Learn about the distinguishing sounds and ears of frogs and toads, how long they can hold their breath and more in this class. June 22, Fun with Fossils: Discover how fossils were formed and where we might find some. June 24, Pond Life: Uncover an amazing underwater world that exists on the prairie. Learn about the insects, amphibians and mammals that call the pond their home. June 29, Crayfish Corner: Learn all about these little crustaceans, including what they are and where they like to live including if they live near us. July 1, Just Batty: Find out how bats are some of our most helpful neighbors. These “creatures of the night” are gentle and shy, and they help us tremendously.

July 6, Buzzing about the Prairie:

Buzz with the bees—and learn their fancy dance. Discover the magical world of bees including what pollination is and why it’s important for us. July 8, Life of a Butterfly: Discover the amazing “super-heroes” of the prairies that can metamorphoAmerican Bullfrog size. Find out what butterflies do for people and when is the best time to find them and more. July 13, Prairie Detectives: Pull out the magnifying glass and sharpen those detective skills. Discover the amazing animals and plants hidden in plain sight on the prairie. July 15, Dragonflies a.k.a. Mosquito Hawks: Discover where these fearless “super-fliers” spend most of their life. Learn the best place to find them and how they love mosquitoes. July 20, Moth Quest: Marvel at the beauty of moths, these amazing creatures of the night. Find out the best way to see these shy creatures. July 22, Coyote Call: Coyotes are canines that live all around us, yet some of us may not have ever seen one. Discover why wily coyotes howl at the moon and more. July 27, Bison or Buffalo?: Find out which is the correct name for the fascinating animal. Learn how much they weigh, how fast they can run, what they eat and more. July 29, Prairie Roots: Uncover what makes prairie plants so special including the heights they can reach. Learn how prairie plants adapt to survive the weather of the Illinois prairies. August 3, Beaver Tails: Discover cool facts about some of the most interesting mammals of the waterways. Learn what makes their tail special and more.

Classes are free. For more information and to register, call 815-423 -6370 or email SM.FS.Midewin_RSVP@usda.gov.

Natural Pest Control Approaches

by Rick Moskovitz

As spring arrives, so do the ants, and for many homeowners they are a nuisance. But the ants were here first and are part of a balanced ecosystem. We don’t have to kill them, just keep them outside. Instead of purchasing a toxic insecticide spray or trap, there are safer, more humane alternatives.

Research shows that perhaps the most effective and safest product to keep ants out is natural cedar oil, usually sprayed on in a solution outside the home. It is naturally repelling and smells good, too. Mix one ounce of cedar oil in one quart of water, or four ounces per gallon. Treat the perimeter of the house three feet up and six feet out, making an effective barrier to keep them outside. Do not spray inside.

Eliminating the problem before it starts is the best way to keep ants outdoors. Make sure there are no readily available food sources to attract them, especially in kitchen and pantry areas. Then focus on deterring these beneficial insects from entering, as keeping them out of the house is one goal, while keeping our families and pets safe is another. As worker ants travel from their nest, they leave a sex hormone (pheromone) scent when foraging for food, and use it to find their way back to the queen. Some commercial products may break the scent trail, but winged ants (swarmers, or reproductives) can then become new queens and create new colonies. Commercial products also are used to kill ants, not just repel them.

A mixture of glass cleaner and dish soap will also remove the pheromone trail, but will not kill, and may also repel some ants. Soapy water, pepper, peppermint oil, tea tree oil, lemon eucalyptus oil, corn starch, cinnamon leaf essential oil, white vinegar, neem oil, garlic, powdered cinnamon and coffee grounds all have varying degrees of success as repellents. Although these products are considered natural, safer alternatives, always use caution and read label directions before using. Remember, any product that is a repellant, chemical or natural, should only be used outside for ants.

Rick Moskovitz is vice president of Plus Natural Solutions Worldwide, Inc., and former president of A-Plus Pest Control, both in Skokie. For more information, call 312-521-0466 or visit APlusNaturalEnzymes.com.

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