GREEN LIFE
2 SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 2013
THE NORTH PLATTE TELEGRAPH
A cleaner school, a
greener earth Cody Elementary 4th-grader starts group to pick up litter near school By DIANE WETZEL dwetzel@nptelegraph.com
Colton Anderson didn’t like seeing the mess on his playground. So the fourthgrade student at Cody Elementary School in North Platte decided to take action. “One day I was coming to school and saw so much trash that I thought maybe I could do something about it,” Anderson said. He went to Principal Kim Flanders and asked if he could start a club to pick up debris. “He came to me and said he wanted to help take care of his school,” Flanders said. Flanders enthusiastically approved the idea, Anderson put up posters in his classroom asking for volunteers
and the Fourth Grade Earth Club was born. “My friends all said they thought it was a cool idea,” he said. It didn’t take long for them to sign up and on the first Wednesday of every month, the members meet in the school library for lunch and then use their recess time to pick up trash around the school. “That first time, we filled huge black trash bags with litter,” Anderson said. “There were a lot of cigarettes and plastic bottles.” There are between 10-12 members of the club, Flanders said. At a recent special luncheon with Mayor Dwight Livingston to kick off the annual Great American Clean Up, they talked about why they joined and what it means. “I wanted to help the world,” said Elijah McIntosh. Nearly all of them said they recycle at home and they pick up trash wherever then find it, not just at school.
Diane Wetzel / The North Platte Telegraph
Colton Anderson (second from right, bottom row) poses with Mayor Dwight Livingston (center) and members of the Cody Elementary School Fourth Grade Earth Club. “You shouldn’t litter,” said Ethan McKinzie. “It could get so bad we can’t live in the world. I don’t necessarily want to live in filth.” The fourth-grade students are not the only students at Cody who are working to make a better world. After
participating in the annual Region 5 Leadership Day and hearing presentations by Keep North Platte and Lincoln County Beautiful, the fifth-graders starting an aluminum can recycling program at the school. The money they raise from recycling
will be used to help pay for air conditioning in the school gym. “They came back from the conference and brainstormed and came up with this program,” Flanders said. “They have been very enthusiastic about it.”
Clean Up keeps city beautiful By DIANE WETZEL dwetzel@nptelegraph.com
Sage Merritt / The North Platte Telegraph
Community recycle bins are available at First Christian Church, 220 North Vine St. (seen above), North Platte Community College South Campus, Westfield Shopping Center, Adams Middle School and the Senior Center, 900 East 10th St.
Keep America Beautiful’s Great American Clean Up is the country’s largest annual community improvement program. It harnesses the power of more than 4 million volunteers. Every year, KAB’s 1,200 affiliates and participating organizations take action in communities by focusing on waste reduction, recycling, beautification and
community greening. The KAP affiliate in North Platte, Keep North Platte and Lincoln County Beautiful, is the oldest active affiliate in Nebraska, celebrating 35 years in 2013. Sara Morris has been involved from the beginning. “I’ve always had an interest in the environment,” Morris said. “Way back, my Extension Club first collected newspapers for recycling and we had to send them to Omaha for recy-
cling. We used to put up notices at local truck stops asking if anyone was deadheading to Omaha and could take our papers.” When the city of North Platte became interested in recycling, Morris and others attended KAB workshops and applied for membership. That was in 1978. Morris served on the board and also as program director. Today she is on the state board of Keep Nebras-
ka Beautiful. Promoting recycling is a major aspect of KNPLCB’s work. The first of the community recycle bins was purchased in 1985. Today there are bins at First Christian Church, 220 North Vine St., North Platte Community College South Campus, Westfield Shopping Center, Adams Middle School and the Senior Center, 900 East 10th St. In 2011, North Platte Please see CLEAN, Page 3
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CLEAN from Page 2
received $246,810 for a curbside recycling program. The city will provide the yellowtopped bins o residents free of charge. While recycling is something people have come to expect, Morris said, only one-fourth of North Platte residents currently have curbside recycling bins, she said. “I don’t think people realize they are free,” she said. “Recycling doesn’t work unless people buy in to it. They need to take the time to order a bin.” Organizing Great American Clean Up events is also a big part of KNPLCB’s work. From April 1 through May 31, they help local organizations and volunteers organize events in the community. “As events being around town, we would like to call the community to action to help clean up parking lots, alley ways, street and yards to prevent blowing litter,” said Mona Anderson, director of KNPLCB. “So as part of our clean up events, we would love to see full community support in keeping our streets clean.” Local Great American Clean Up events will include a special tree planting at Parkade Plaza on Arbor Day, April 24. This year, the tree is planted in honor of tree advocate Mary Shimmin. The ceremony begins at 5:30 p.m. The annual Downtown Clean up will be Tuesday, May 14, starting at 8 a.m. at NebraskaLand National Bank, 121 North Dewey St. Breakfast will be serve3d after a
brief kick off ceremony. There will be a sign up table located at the Espresso Shoppe, 419 North Dewey St. On May 16, the Original Town Association annual clean up will begin at 8 a.m. at Cody Park with breakfast. Volunteers are welcome to come anytime during the say and stay as long as they wish. The Original Town Association will join KNPLCB in hosting the first E-cycle event on May 18, to collect electronic devices for disposal and recycling. This innovative new program will allow businesses and individuals to drop off electronic and electric devices at 1402 North Jeffers Street, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. This location is just west of Cody Park on U.S. Highway 83. Computer monitors and televisions can be dropped off for $10 each. All other peripheral electronic equipment, devices, electric tools, cell phones and toner cartridges will be accepted for a free will donation. Computers, PDA’s and cell phones should have all confidential information removed before being dropped off for recycling. Items not accepted include air conditioners, dehumidifiers, household appliances, lead acid batteries, electric fixtures, fluorescent light bulbs and broken glass, CD’s and tapes, software disks, paint, pesticides and liquid or chemical waster. Organizers are inviting other groups, clubs, schools and individuals interested in participating to contact the Original Town Association at (308) 534-3648.
GREEN LIFE
SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 2013
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Radiant barriers can be a boost By HEATHER JOHNSON hjohnson@nptelegraph.com
Is a radiant barrier a good choice for a home? It could depend on where the home is located and what the owner’s ultimate goal is. Steve Walker, energy efficiency consultant for the Nebraska Public Power District, said he doesn’t see the products used much in Nebraska, but that’s not to say they can’t be. “If the goal is to reduce the cooling load for the summer season, radiant barriers are a good option,” Walker said. “Basically, they work by reflecting heat away from buildings. They really make sense when you’re down south, say in Texas, where cooling is the big part of the whole year.” On warm days, roofs absorb solar energy, which heats the sheathing and causes the underside of the sheathing and roof frame to become hot. Walker said those surfaces then radiate heat downward into the home. Radiant barriers minimize that energy flow and keep heat from building up in attics. Likewise, they can reduce indoor heat losses through the ceiling — especially beneficial during winter nights when the roof surface is the coldest. “The effect can be either positive or negative depending on what you want to accomplish,” Walker said. “In the north, heating has more of a benefit to us because we have more cold months than warm months. The best bet is to keep the attic ventilated and let the heat build up.” According to the
Courtesy photo
Radiant barriers such as this bubble foil are an option for reflecting solar heat in buildings. Experts say they are best suited to warm climates. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Nebraskans can see energy savings of up to three cents per square foot by installing radiant barriers. The lab’s research shows a standard 1,540-square foot attic could yield a savings of up to $61.60 during the first year of radiant barrier use. However, the research also indicates that installation could cost more than $2,000, meaning it could take over 30 years for the energy savings to pay for the improvement. Those who opt for radiant barriers anyway have a variety of kinds to choose from. Sheet versions, the most com-
mon on the market, are made of reflective metallic foil attached to a layer of reinforced film, bubble film or foam. According to the NPPD, barriers in Nebraska are often laid atop the home’s existing attic insulation, with the reflective side up. It’s the simplest installation method, but there are several disadvantages to it. “Unfortunately, the reflective barriers are only effective as long as they stay shiny,” Walker said. “Over time, they can become dusty, which decreases effectiveness.” If attics are used for storage, traffic through the area can also dam-
age radiant barriers. Walker said moisture could also become trapped around barriers where it will soak into insulation and could lead to mold problems. The NPPD discourages against covering kitchen and bathroom vents and recessed lights with radiant barriers. It also recommends making sure the product installed has an appropriate permeability rating to allow any moisture to “travel” through the barrier and vent out of the home. More information about making homes energy efficient is available at www.nppd.com.
GREEN LIFE
4 SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 2013
THE NORTH PLATTE TELEGRAPH
Program cycles forward in Flat Rock Despite serious challenges, new city recycling program continues in North Platte By ANDREW BOTTRELL abottrell@nptelegraph.com
North Platte’s curbside recycling program is still facing some challenges, though about a quarter of the city’s residents are participating. “Participating has been pretty good,” Brad Borges, owner of the Regional Recycling Center, said. “The city program, in and of itself, has a lot of challenges. There are a lot of challenges that need to be worked out in that scenario.” Borges said his biggest concern is the uncertainty in the markets for recyclables, which have declined in the middle of April. “The market had been improving until this latest situation with China coming out and saying how bad their economy is,” Borges said. China is the largest importer of recyclable goods, especially cardboard. “Now the market is in an unknown state right now,” he said. “The metals market has been dropping substantially. In the last week, that’s taken a real hit.” Borges said that in late March, the market, which bottomed out last year, was recovering well. The North
Platte City Council granted a $66,000 Quality Growth Fund in November 2012 to assist with the market prices. That grant provides $6,000 per month through November 2013 for operating capitol. Keep North Platte Lincoln County Beautiful has helped spearhead the city’s curbside recycling program. Mona Anderson, executive director, said she believes the city’s curbside program is going “really well.” “We have about a quarter of the residents participating in the curbside,” she said. “The amount that’s coming in has stagnated. We don’t have a lot of new people calling to get bins.” However, Borges said he is still seeing a lot of trash in the bins that come in, and he needs participants to break down cardboard boxes. “We’re doing several tons of trash in every drop off the city does,” Borges said. “The biggest problem in what is going in there is the trash. It’s clearly posted on the cans of what can and can’t go in there. I’m still having a lot of issues with cardboard. That kind of clogs the system up. They need to be cut down to 18 to 24 inch size.”
Recycling guidelines Plastic, types one and two, steel, tin, aluminum, cardboard and paper are all allowable in North Platte’s curbside recycling bins, though all items need to be small enough to fit into the bin.
Andrew Bottrell / The North Platte Telegraph
Above: Used plastic water bottles adorn the fence at the Regional Recycling Center in North Platte. The center partners with the city of North Platte for the curbside recycling program. Left: The city offers a curbside recycling program. The bins are designated with a yellow top, and the city asks that only plastics, types one and two, steel, tin, aluminum, cardboard and paper be thrown into them.
GREEN LIFE
THE NORTH PLATTE TELEGRAPH
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NEWS AT A GLANCE Sturgeon group in Michigan to watch for poachers CHEBOYGAN, Mich. (AP) — A northern Michigan group dedicated to sturgeon is looking for volunteers to protect the fish. This is the time of year when sturgeon leave Black Lake in Cheboygan County to spawn in the Upper Black River. The fish typically spawn on shallow rock beds, making them vulnerable to poachers. The Black Lake Chapter of Sturgeon for Tomorrow needs people to stand guard at the river and report any suspicious activity, through May. Coordinator Ann Feldhauser says it’s rewarding to see fish swimming up the Black River. She says sturgeon can live up to 100 years and weigh more than 200 pounds. For more information, call (906) 346-9511.
Time and Temperature 532-6007
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Niobrara River on endangered list LINCOLN (AP) — Sediment problems have put the Niobrara River on a list of the nation’s most endangered waterways. The American Rivers conservation group announced Wednesday that the nearly 570-mile-long river was 10th on the 2013 list. The Colorado River led the list. The Niobrara has been on the list three times. Proposed dam projects were cited in listings in 1987 and 1989. The Niobrara was threatened by irrigation diversions in 2008, American Rivers spokeswoman Eileen Fretz said. “This is the first time that the Niobrara has made the list for sediment,” Fretz said. The Niobrara begins in Wyoming and flows through northern Nebraska. It joins the Missouri River near the top of Lewis and Clark Lake, the reservoir formed by Gavins Point Dam near Yankton, S.D. American Rivers said much of the problem stems from Missouri River sediment that backs up in Lewis and Clark Lake. The buildup is so extreme at the confluence of the two rivers that the local water table has increased substantially, which American Rivers said can cause flooded farmland and affects boating and other recreation. As the sediment builds within the system, American Rivers said, the lower Niobrara loses the
The Associated Press
An Oct. 13, 2010, photo shows the Niobrara River near Mills, Neb. Officials say sediment problems have put the Niobrara River on a list of the nation’s most endangered rivers. The American Rivers conservation group announced April 17 that the nearly 570-mile-long river was listed 10th on the 2013 list. seeps, springs, riparian forests, prairies, and canyons that characterize it as a nationally designated “wild and scenic river.” Hydraulic engineer Paul Boyd told the Lincoln Journal Star that the Niobrara contributes a little more than half the sediment deposited near the confluence.
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Bill would drop river wildlife focus KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Four members of Missouri’s congressional delegation have filed legislation aimed at dropping the wildlife focus on the Missouri River. The bill would remove “fish and wildlife” from the list of authorized river management endeavors the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can undertake on the river. It’s backed by Republican U.S. Reps. Sam Graves, Blaine Luetkemeyer, Vicky Hartzler and Billy Long.
Graves said in a news release that it’s important to re-examine the management of the river after the massive 2011 flooding. The release said the legislation would refocus the corps on navigations and flood management. Tom Ball of the Sierra Club called the legislation a “terrible idea.” He says the corps has a legal obligation to mitigate the negative effects caused by damming the Missouri River and narrowing its channel.
“Certainly, the mouth of the Niobrara is a concern,” said Boyd, who works for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Omaha. “Over the last 50 years, the riverbed has been coming up due to sediment depositing from the confluence down to Lewis and Clark Lake. “If we didn’t have the Nio-
brara we would be in a very, very different situation. We wouldn’t have as much sand,” he said. Various studies have looked at ways to control sediment, and the corps is finishing one that looks at using water from Missouri River dams to flush sediment in the region, Boyd said.
GREEN LIFE
6 SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 2013
THE NORTH PLATTE TELEGRAPH
Organizing locally to make impact globally City leaders aim to keep electronics out of area landfill By ANDREW BOTTRELL abottrell@nptelegraph.com
Heather Johnson / The North Platte Telegraph
Cell phones, batteries and ink cartridges are just a few of the items that can be recycled by mail. A variety of mail recycle programs exist, and some even offer rewards.
Mail-in programs make recycling easier than ever By HEATHER JOHNSON hjohnson@nptelegraph.com
Recycling items could be as easy as putting them in a mailbox. Earth911, an organization dedicated to providing the public with information about recycling, has compiled a list of 10 things that can be recycled by mail. They are: n Batteries n Cell phones and small electronics n Electronic media n Household miscellaneous items n Inkjet and toner cartridges n Large electronics n Light bulbs n Medical supplies n Paper n Plastic Mona Anderson, executive director of Keep North Platte and Lincoln County Beautiful, said the drawback to mailing items is that sometimes there is an associated shipping charge. There may also be special packaging requirements or
instructions to follow. Still, Anderson said it’s better than sending stuff off to a landfill. “If people have the option to recycle locally, it’s easier and more cost-effective for them to do that,” Anderson said. “For things such as needles and other medical sharps, sending them off by mail might be the only option. Needles are not recyclable around North Platte, but they do show up at the recycling center from time to time.” KNPLCB collects printer cartridges and cell phones and mails them in bulk so individuals don’t have to. She said Cell Phones for Soldiers is also a good option. According to its website, the organization sells donated cell phones to Mindful eCycling. The proceeds are used to purchase calling cards and other communication tools for active duty military personnel and to assist veterans transitioning into postcombat life. Those who
have three phones or less to donate can print out prepaid mailing labels at w w w. c e l l p h o n e s f o r s o l diers.com. “Another resource is TerraCycle,” Anderson said. “It rewards people for sending stuff in.” According to its website, TerraCycle converts collected waste into a wide variety of products and materials available at major retailers ranging from Walmart to Whole Foods Market. Those who submit waste can earn points redeemable for gifts or a payment of one cent per point to any non-profit organization or school they choose. TerraCycle offers collection programs for everything from Scotch tape dispensers and red Solo cups to Lunchable packages and cigarette waste. A complete list is available at www.terracycle.com. Links to other recycling agencies who accept items by mail can be found at http://earth911.com.
By this time next year, that iPhone 5 or your latest laptop might be obsolete. AS you acquire more and more technology gadgets, what can you do with the old ones? The Original Town Association and Keep North Platte Lincoln County Beautiful in North Platte have a solution. On May 18, the two organizations will host an E-Cycle Collection Event from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1402 N. Jeffers, west of Cody Park. “People can bring their electronic items to be recycled at the event,” said Mona Anderson, executive director of Keep North Platte Lincoln County Beautiful. “Mostly anything that has a plug in, except for appliances.” Dave Harrold, the president of the Original Town Association, said the group thought that a technology recycling event would benefit both individuals and businesses in North Platte, because there isn’t an electronic recycling center in the area. He said it also speaks to the mission of the Original Town Association, which is bettering the community. “The e-cycle, versus traditional recycle, is a little more sophisticated and a little more unique,” he said. “The disposal of the electronic devices, that has to be done properly. It has to be done by someone who is certified in that process, so those metals are separated properly and kept out of the waste stream and water systems.” The groups are partnering
with Vintage Tech, a Missouri company certified in properly recycling electronics. The collection is also partially funded by WasteCap Nebraska and the Nebraska Environmental Trust. Mostly, both Harrold and Anderson said they want to make sure these items stay out of the city’s landfill. “North Platte has to get over the notion that we’re a small town,” Harrold said. “If you bring in a lot of the businesses, technologically we are not a small town. We think this is a good, innovative approach. We’ll see how it goes.” Computer monitors and televisions may be dropped off on that day for a charge of $10 each. All other electronic equipment they are taking for a free will donation. They are accepting electronic devices, electric tools, cell phones and toner cartridges will be accepted. Please remove all personal information from any devices. Air conditioners, humidifiers, household appliances, lead acid batteries, electric fixtures, fluorescent light bulbs and broken glass, CDs and tapes, software disks, paints, pesticides, liquids and chemical waste, will not be accepted. Organizers are encouraging the community to get involved. You can find out more information by contacting the Original Town Association at 308-534-3648. Anderson said this event can particularly be a benefit for local businesses with old electronics laying around. “They don’t have an outlet to get rid of those items, unless they pay someone,” she said. “This gives those businesses an outlet to get rid of their electronic equipment that they are no longer in need of.”
Gardeners make plans with no certainty in the forecast
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MILWAUKEE (AP) — There’s no question that Eric Ciula picked a bad year to get into a competition for growing the biggest tomato. The worst U.S. drought in decades was gripping two-thirds of the nation, and many gardeners were spending hours watering just to keep their plants alive. But Ciula won his family’s 2012 contest with an heirloom tomato that was just shy of 2 pounds. He credits his soil preparation and some experimental growing techniques, but he admits it was largely “dumb luck.” “I didn’t know we were going to have a drought, I was just trying something new,” Ciula said. April is a planning month for gardeners throughout the middle of the country, and many are trying to figure out what to do amid rapidly shifting weather conditions. Ciula himself spent a recent rainy day going through his notes, researching tomato and pepper varieties and combing gardening blogs for new ideas. A cold spring and recent rain helped break the drought in parts of Wisconsin and to the
The Associated Press
This Aug. 18, 2012, photo provided by Eric Ciula shows his wife Joni with their two children, Montgomery and Maximus, left, with tomato plants in the garden at their home in Cottage Grove, Wis. April is a planning month for gardeners throughout the middle of the country. east, but areas west remain dry. More rain than usual is expected this spring, said Brian Fuchs, a climatologist with the National Drought Mitigation Center. But he noted last year’s drought sneaked up on everyone, emerging over a couple of weeks in June. With nothing certain, one expert said there a few things gardeners can do to foster success — regardless of weather conditions. Mulch works wonders, according to Tim Johnson, director of horticulture at the
Chicago Botanic Garden. It helps keep moisture in the soil, protects plants from extreme temperature, helps control weeds and, as it breaks down, improves the soil. Johnson said shredded hardwood bark mulch is commonly used for flower gardens where he lives, but for vegetable gardens, he would use leaf mulch or apply compost. Many gardeners water each day, but Johnson recommends saving time by doing it once a week with a big drink. Please see FORECAST, Page 8
NEWS AT A GLANCE
Nominee Moniz backs natural gas ‘revolution’ WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama’s choice to lead the Energy Department pledged to increase use of natural gas Tuesday as a way to combat climate change even as the nation seeks to boost domestic energy production. Ernest Moniz, a physics professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said “a stunning increase” in
production of domestic natural gas in recent years was nothing less than a “revolution” that has led to reduced emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases that cause global warming. The natural gas boom also has led to a dramatic expansion of manufacturing and job creation, Moniz told the Senate Energy Committee. Even so, Moniz stopped short of endorsing widespread exports of natural gas, saying he wanted to study the issue further.
GREEN LIFE
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FORECAST from Page 7
Perennials, trees and shrubs can be starved of water a bit without permanent damage, but gardeners need to watch for drooping or discolored leaves. “If you have a perennial garden or a shrub garden, and things are starting to brown up, you probably should water to save them,” Johnson said. Jean Roach, a 71-year-old retiree from Joliet, Ill., took that approach last summer with her perennials. She gave extra water to a few new plants she was trying to get established, but unless the older ones started wilting, she left them alone. “They survived,” she said, noting that her Lenten roses have already bloomed. “Thank God. Perennials are just so hardy.” Vegetable gardens, however, are another story. Johnson
The Associated Press
This Sept. 3, 2012, photo provided by Eric Ciula shows shows tomatoes from his garden in Cottage Grove, Wis. April is a planning month for gardeners throughout the middle of the country, and many are trying to figure out what to do amid rapidly shifting weather conditions. said those need more water and on a regular basis. To help, till in compost to add nutrients and break up the soil so roots can more easily push down to moisture below the surface. Ciula, a 40-year-old civil en-
gineer, said he put peat moss into his 12-by-22-foot garden in Cottage Grove, Wis., and then layered mulch and straw on top to help hold in moisture. He let his tomatoes — the focus of the family competition — get 6 or 7 feet
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tall, but only caged them to 4 feet. The tops flowed over and created a canopy that he believes also helped hold in moisture. Despite the drought and an abnormal number of days over 90 degrees, Ciula got 100 pounds of tomatoes from seven plants. He said he’s not sure he would try the canopy in a wetter year, but he plans to stick with the layering, as it helped reduce weeds. Alison Hess, a 35-year-old graphic designer from Columbus, Ohio, largely gave up last year. A number of her tomato plants didn’t blossom, and then an animal began eating the fruit that did grow. The one bit of success she did have was laying four tomato plants out in a Japanese ring. She shaped a trellis into a square, placed burlap inside and then filled it with compost. Then, she planted the tomato plants around the outside of the trellis. She would pour water into the middle of the trellis, allowing
it to flow through the compost before spreading out to the plants. “I think the idea is that the plants are getting a constant drip of nutrition,” Hess said, adding, “It worked, and I got a lot of tomatoes off of those four plants.” She plans to do the same thing again this year. The best water, however, is always stormwater. Rain cools down the atmosphere, washes dust from leaves and helps clear the air of pollutants — three things that foster photosynthesis, said Boyce Tankersley, the director of living plant documentation at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Tankersley, who monitors the garden’s plants and growing conditions, said thunderstorms are even more beneficial because lightning gives off some nitrogen. “The nitrogen is dissolved in the rain water, and ... you also get a small amount of fertilization,” he said.