The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG), in partnership with Ducks Unlimited, has announced the expansion of the California Landowner Incentive Program (LIP). Landowners who participate in this program will receive grants to fund land management activities that will benefit the plant and animal life in the state.

It may not be readily apparent, but our plants and animals are disappearing. This program is just one way to help reverse this trend.

These grants will allow landowners to restore natural habitats so that California’s lush landscape is not irreparably damaged. This effort focuses on privately owned land because officials are aware that private landowners may not be able to initiate this kind of restoration on their own. Not only are they provided financial assistance, they are also providing technical assistance as well. DFG really wants to make sure that these efforts succeed, so they do not expect landowners to execute this restoration on their own.

They are turning their attention to the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. The idea is to repair and restore small parcels of marginal cropland or to rejuvenate orchards that have fallen out of use so that wildlife and return and thrive.

DFG will accept applications until January 31, 2008. Visit this website to learn more about eligibility and additional incentives.

No, not the color green as you might be thinking!

A handful of growers in the top Christmas tree producing state of Oregon have created a system in which consumers can identify which trees are grown under certain environment standards that help the environment.  Most people in the United States typically look for tree variations of size and shape.

Growers participating under this new system must adhere to certain standards for the environment and worker safety.   A farm must be inspected to check for standards in soil and water conservation measures, as well as check for standards in the nutrients, pest control and managing wetlands.

“Consumers like to do the right thing,” said Joe Sharp, managing partner of Yule Tree Farms and co-founder of the Coalition of Environmentally Conscious Growers.  “We are just helping with education.”
 
These trees are not organically grown, but the measures put forth are helping reduce the environmental dangers of Christmas tree farming.  Dangers that are minimized are erosion and the use of excessive pesticides.

Only some trees grown with these new standards will be seen in the market this year.  There will be more than 200,000 special tags hanging on certain trees.  These tags will indicate that the trees are grown according to the coalition’s standards.  Consumers who buy these trees will know that it is grown with the best intentions for the environment.

There are currently many other tree growers on a waiting list preparing for inspection.  They hope to join the three large tree growers that are part of this environmental friendly group.  The coalition is hoping to take the tag system nationwide in the near future and servicing the nearly 29 million households who bought a fresh Christmas tree in 2006.
 

Take a deep breath in…now let it out. Didn’t that feel good?

Breathing is a basic function of human life. It is what keeps us going. Unfortunately, all too often the air we breathe is not at optimal quality. So although it feels good to breathe deeply, it is possible that each breath we take could be admitting contaminants into our systems.

We are all too aware of the environmental toxins that alter air quality outside, but have you thought about how these same toxins and other factors can affect the air quality inside as well. As the weather gets cooler we spend more and more time inside. That’s more and more time breathing in air that may be less than healthy for us.

Advanced Living Solutions can help you breathe a little easier. They offer a variety of products make your indoor living environment cleaner and safer. They have air purifiers to filter air, water treatment systems to filter your water, and bedding to protect you from dust mites.

Once your inside air is cleaner, you’ll also want to ask about their wellness and skin care products to purify your body and mind.

To learn more, contact Claudia Cummings by phone at 209-966-6684 or 866-569-4446 and through e-mail at als@sti.net.