Posted in February 2007

No go zone needed

Source: Green Fingers
Wednesday 28th February 2007, 3:50pm

Pigeons and cats.....

I did venture briefly into the garden for the last couple of days, but it was to dig in some manure - yes manure not compost. I was given some by an uncle, who had gone berserk and over ordered. So, I managed to spread and dig in between the showers and then stood back to admire my handwork and feel the joys of backache too!

However, I have two problems at the moment, the first being a pair of wood pigeons looking to roost in a shrub in the corner. The trouble is that I have a evergreen clematis growing through it and last year pigeons (same pair?) damaged the clematis. I tried canes and string around the shrub, but it didn't really work.

My other problem is that next door has a new cat and they've finally began to let it out and of course it comes straight into my garden to do its' business. I've been using a type of green gel that you scatter over the garden which is good for a couple of days, then you have to repeat (not cheap). Also, they seem to suck up the rain and you end up with big green blobby lumps everywhere!. I would be grateful for any (cheaper) ideas and before anyone mentions it, lion poo is a no go!

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Going green?

Source: Green Fingers
Monday 26th February 2007, 11:37am

What are the costs involved...

I've only just noticed that a house across the road has had a wind turbine installed in the back garden, but not the one from B&Q as far as I can tell. Also, I'm sure that the B&Q version is a wall mounting, which isn't any good if you live in the middle of a row of terreced houses.

So, I thought I would have a look at the 'green' alternatives from the energy suppliers as presumably it doesn't involve any major alterations. The other consideration is whether it would result in cheap gas and electricty bills or how much the difference would be.

I started with British Gas (as I am still with them). It does state that it provides 'green electricity' and that it won't cost any more, also that it can be part of the dual fuel scheme (I think). I then searched for green energy suppliers in my region, producing a list including many companies that I hadn't heard of plus British Gas wasn't listed, which puzzled me somewhat.

However, recognised names included EDF (£0.42 extra per unit), PowerGen (£25 extra per year charge), ScottishPower (2 versions - no extra charge/£2.50 extra per quarter), Npower (no extra charge). So, apart from having to work out the costs based on current usage, the best option looks like the no extra charge options.

Has anybody else already gone down this route?

Seeing as this includes British Gas, and there are 'price reductions' due in March, I think it is a case of wait and see what happens with all the suppliers first.

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Lights off

Source: Green Fingers
Thursday 22nd February 2007, 5:04pm

Cutting costs...

Whilst the garden is still on hold... it's wet, windy and I'm still not in the mood to hump paving slabs around.

So, in the meantime, a slight whinge about street lamps. I had heard snippets on the radio about the highways agency turning off some of the motorways lights after midnight, then spotted an article in the Independent on Sunday about street lamps to get dimmer switches to save energy and cut light pollution. It goes on to say local councils are also considering the possibility of switching street lights off at midnight in some areas.

I have no problems with that, what bugs me is the street lights that are on during the day. During the late summer, when it was bright sunlight, the lights stayed on until early afternoon! These lights are also fitted with light sensor switches which are meant to automatically switch off above a certain brightness level, yet the council seems to have decided to override them. At this rate, we will end up with the lights on during the day and off during the night!!!

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Recycling

Source: Green Fingers
Monday 19th February 2007, 2:06pm

A bin too far...

Currently, we have two wheely bins, one black and one green plus a green box, and we also take glass/plastic/clothing to the local supermarket where the large recycling bins are situated.

Listening to the radio about recycling, one person came on who currently has 5 wheely bins and 2 boxes. To make matters worse, they are not allowed to leave them on the footpath directly in front of the house and have to go to the end of the row to take them round to the back of the house! Others have not had their bins emptied because it contained an 'incorrect' item for that bin.

Also, some local councils are planning to place transmitters on bins so that they can record the weight of the bins contents with a view to charging excess weight fees. So, what happens when our bin men (persons or whatever) comes along and empties the contents of other bins into one bin to reduce the number of bins to pull along to the entrance. Does the person whose bin has been 'topped up' going to be charged the excess fee?

One final thing, I'm sure others have witnessed this, when they come to empty the different glass recycling containers at the supermarket, they empty them all into the same container!!!

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Just out of interest

Source: Green Fingers
Thursday 15th February 2007, 9:14am

Who is affecting the climate most?

Sorry if this is a bit disjointed but it was just some snippets of news that I noticed in passing.

From the radio... following the 9/11 attack in the USA, all flights were suspended in/out of the country. However, scientists noted that the overall temperature rose by 1 deg C - so is air travel the root of all evil?, or a convenient way for governments to raise more stealth taxes that will more than likely never go towards global warming issues!

Elsewhere, from the internet I note with interest the comment 'that cows are responsible for huge amounts of methane emissions... one cow releases half a pound of methane gas a day. Methane is a stronger greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide (traps 20 times more heat).'

Hmm.. is it time to become a veggie?

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Time for a change

Source: Green Fingers
Tuesday 13th February 2007, 9:29am

Having to face the fact that the garden needs revamping

I'm currently thinking about a major rehaul of the garden as the external factors have changed.

The garden is still recovering from a major pipe leak (only found by accident) when looking to revamp the patio (of sorts). Lifted a slab near the back of the house and lo and behold I found a water filled void of about 3ft sq (not sure what that is in new money) all caused by a simple half inch split (in a thin plastic pipe that was all the rage when the house was built). Had it repaired and I still can't bring myself to think about how much it cost. It's interesting to note that insurance policies (including those from the water companies) cover all the pipes inside and out - except the water feed pipe into the house!

However, back to the garden, there are now 6 foot tall fences along the length of the north and south sides, with the house along the east side, so it only gets the sun from mid afternoon, except for a 3 foot strip along the south side.

So, it's out with the pen and paper and umpteen scribbles until I find something that I like and can produce without a cast of thousands!

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