Category Archives: Guest Post

Camping and Food Safety

One of the most enjoyable things about camping is getting to enjoy the great food that can be prepared over a campfire. Many people also use their portable grills to supplement their cooking methods and there’s nothing like the taste of a juicy BBQ in the middle of the woods. But cooking while camping is definitely not like cooking in your home kitchen and as such, there are extra precautions you have to keep in mind to keep your food safe.

Your most essential piece of camping gear when it comes to food safety will be your cooler. You want to have a nice big one that you can use to store all your uncooked meats. Also think about bringing a smaller cooler just for drinks so that you don’t have to constantly open and close the lid of the larger cooler. Any meat you have should be firmly wrapped and packed tightly with lots of ice. Remember that block ice is generally better for camping than ice shavings, so use that if you can. You can also freeze certain things like prepared soups or stews ahead of time and these will also help to keep your cooler properly refrigerated. And if something has thawed you should cook it right away since there is no way to refreeze it properly without risk of germs developing.

Always make sure to cook your food properly as its better to over-cook something than to undercook. The wilderness is not the place you want to get food poisoning so keep a constant eye on your food to make sure it hasn’t gone bad. Camping tents are the perfect place to keep your cooler if you have set up in shade, so use your shelter for storage when appropriate. When in doubt, you should never eat anything that looks or smells suspect, so always bring an array of canned foods in case your meats go bad. Never sacrifice safety for hunger, and if you prepare properly by bringing adequate supplies, you won’t have to.

What to Look for in Tree Services

Most people enjoy the trees on their property. Unfortunately, trees can cause problems  like everything else. The good news is, its easy to protect your safety by hiring a quality tree services to deal with your trees.

These professionals can do all kinds of things, from cosmetic trimming, pruning, and if necessary the removal of a whole tree. Some companies are better than others. You could just go with the first choice you find, but you’re more likely to get the best when you look at different options. Different service companies have different qualifications and practices. Here is what you need to take into account.

Warning Signs

You should always investigate a company before you hire them. Dealing with trees requires a lot of responsibility. Stay away from unprofessional businesses or people, such as the local neighborhood handyman. A company that knows what its doing will examine your property and give you a free price estimate of the service before you hire them. If they want you to pay without providing this, grab your wallet and run in the opposite direction!

Trained Employees

Working high up with trees requires a lot of training to do right. In many areas, tree service employees need to go through a training program and be licensed. This generally requires many hours of both experience (with an apprenticeship) and classroom time. Make sure the company has licensed employees.

Legal Concerns

You do not want to be held liable if the company you trusted your trees to made a mistake that caused your old pine to fall on the neighbor’s house. If a company is legitimate, they will have liability insurance. This is way of saying “trust us, we know what we’re doing, and will take full responsibility for doing it right”. A good choice should have at least $1,000,000 of liability insurance. Workers compensation is a similar issue.

Without a good compensation program, an employee who injured himself working on your property might be inclined to hit you with a lawsuit! So make sure that the company also has compensation for injured employees.

Examine Multiple Options

To be sure you receive the quality if service you deserve, make sure to look at multiple options. Find at least three local companies that meet all these standards, and compare the prices. See how satisfied previous customers have been by searching for reviews on the internet.

Most of us would rather avoid thinking about the worst case tree scenario, but accidents do happen, so you need to be prepared for the possibility. Its better to take care of potential dangers now, than when they fall through your roof at 12:00 AM. There are plenty of companies out there who do know what they are doing. So as long as you do your homework, everything will turn out fine.

For more great information about all sorts of nature topics, you can check out The Nature Walk. Whether it be fast growing trees, lawn turf, or plant stands, we can tell you about it!

Benefits to Owning Tent Trailers

Everybody can use a much needed vacation whether it is to get away from the routines of life or the stress of work.  Unfortunately, vacations can put more stress on us because of the amount it costs to take them!  For many it just isn’t reasonable to go on a vacation every month or weekend.  The costs of hotels and airfare aren’t budget friendly.  Owning a trailer tent can make a weekend trip much more reasonable.

Most of us live pretty close to a wilderness area of some sort whether it’s the beach or the mountains or even the desert.  The possibilities are endless.  On the other hand, not all of us are meant to be serious campers.  We like the comforts our homes and lives offer.  Tent trailers offer a nice compromise.  Although they aren’t made as luxurious or as spacious as a RV they offer a nice in between.

First, they are much more affordable than a motorhome or RV.  Some RV’s can be more than a home mortgage.  You can get a tent trailer for a few thousand dollars or less making it much easier to fit into the budget.  Ok, you might be cringing when you think about a few thousand dollars.  The fact is even going on a big vacation once or twice a year can cost close to that but you will be able to enjoy this for many years to come.

Second, they are much smaller.  They are designed to be compact and easy to transport.  Many even are made to be stacked on their sides so you can store them easier when they are at home.
Third, they are a better option than a traditional camping tent especially if you aren’t such an outdoor enthusiast.  Camping with tents is great if you love sleeping on the hard ground and waking up with condensation built up all around you.  While a tent trailer is still just a tent it has a few extra perks along with it.  It is raised up off the ground so you aren’t going to wake up with a rock lodged in your back.  Also, because it’s up higher off the ground you don’t have to worry about accidentally pitching it where all the water runs off when it rains.  You also won’t have to worry about getting a ground covering either.

Lastly, it gives you a great excuse to get away even if it is just for the weekend.  Pack up a bunch of those non perishables you have in the house, grab some clothes and a few basic camping supplies and hook up the tent trailer.  It is that easy. We all could use more excuses to relax and have a little fun.  Enjoying the outdoors is a great way to do so.

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Local Mason OH environmental project scheduled to save tributary

Mason, a successful city in Warren County, Ohio, has ignored the impact of development along Muddy Creek, a tributary of Little Miami River, with a length of around 1400 feet. The Mason OH housing market has seen expansive growth, especially since last year it was voted Cincinnati’s Best Suburb, and because of development the stream is subject to higher erosion levels. Ohio’s Environmental Protection Agency has observed this and granted $258,000 for its restoration.

Apart from this funding source, the $430,000 project has received additional funds from local people. The goal of the project is to enhance the stream banks and restore the creek’s natural flow and habitat. Restoration is planned to start in 2011. Owing to the length of the creek, certain locations like the stretch near St. Susanna Church and to south of intersection of Hanover Drive and Reading Road have been chosen for focused work since the creek bends are more liable to erosion than the straight sections.

The project also includes the planting of more shrubs and trees in these areas since they can hold  the soil in place and help remove any pollutants from entering the creek. In addition, this will shore up banks and decrease silt deposits in the river.

Muddy Creek will also enjoy full sunlight penetration, which is necessary for the survival of the aquatic insects and organisms, sustaining a healthier aquatic ecosystem. Alternatively, this can result in algal bloom formation and lowered oxygen levels that can completely destroy the aquatic lives.

In addition to environmental improvements, recreational benefits will result from this project. The city has already built a few bike trails around the river and has planned more to be built in 2011-2012. Mason is the largest local contributor to the project with $103,130 and St. Susanna Church is the second largest with its contribution of $53,850.

Water Conservation – An Important Job For Everyone

Water conservation isn’t just a job for special interest groups and the government.  Everybody can do a little something to make a difference to preserve out most precious resource – water.  If even 1 out of every 10 people would understand the importance of water conservation, it could make a huge impact on how much water we use and how we use it.

Did you know that even the most minor water drip can waste thousands of gallons of water every year?  That’s right – 1 drop of water every second adds up to over 30 gallons a day.  Multiply that by 365 days a year, and you’re wasting over a thousand gallons of water every year, all for the inconvenience of fixing that faucet.  Go ahead and learn how to fix that leaky faucet, or call someone to do it.  You’ll see a difference in your water bill, and you’re going to help the Earth.

You may think that’s a bit overstated, and you probably think that the Earth has plenty of water.  This is partially true; the Earth will be covered with water long after we’re through with it.  The thing is though, that water needs to be clean in order for the us to grow and prosper.  More importantly, people need extremely clean water to live hygienically and in a healthy way.  Now, while we may not run out of water any time soon, making water potable requires an extensive amount of resources and fossil fuels.  Every ounce of water we preserve, and use properly, rather than wasting, helps preserve other natural resources that are more likely to run out in the near future.

The importance of water in human life, and in the world, really can’t be overstated.  It’s contribution to our use of energy and other natural resources can’t be ignored either.  The example above is only one of many ways that most households are wasting water.  If you are a little more observant, and cautious with how you use water on a daily basis, it can really make quite an impact in preserving multiple natural resources, including our precious water.