What’s spookier than zombie mold devouring your aging jack-o-lantern from the inside out? When it happens in a landfill, and does nothing but contribute to our collective methane problem. So, why waste good decomposing pumpkin when you could instead make like a OneGreenThing pro and… Recycle your pumpkin! Here are some ways to do that: … Read more
What does a true wildlife conservation rockstar think will make a difference in our quest to save the world? Hint: It’s simpler than you might think. Stuart Strahl poses with a seal! He may have the coolest job ever… (Brookfield Zoo/CZS) I had the amazing opportunity to find out how/why at the 2015 International Wildlife … Read more
Do You Need Four Wheels and an Engine to Get to Nature? City is often pitted against nature: Concrete jungle vs. forest or prairie. Civilization vs. wilderness. Shops and museums vs. prairie. But are cities as disconnected from nature as they seem? Must city-dwellers with an itch to experience wilderness rely on four-wheeled motorized vehicles to … Read more
You may *think* you need a car to get from city streets to wide open space, but, it’s often easier to access than people think, encourage a pair of expert guests in the latest EcoMyths segment on Worldview. How so? 8-80 Cities and Openlands pros dish on the exciting ways many cities are prioritizing access … Read more
— by Jessica B. Turner, PhD candidate, West Virginia University Mary, Mary, quite contrary…how does your garden’s plant diversity grow? As we recently explored in Myth form, preserving seeds is critical to ensuring we don’t lose entire species to threats like disease spread and climate change. Seeds are super cool when you think about it—especially … Read more
Date Check: Do Seeds Last Forever? — by Jessica B. Turner, PhD candidate, West Virginia University It’s a classic blind date story…in the garden. You find a packet of mystery seeds in the back of a drawer, unmarked, no expiration, and you think, I’ll plant these next year, no problem! Come summertime, you’re swooning over … Read more
While some seeds appear immortal, most seeds don’t last forever—unless they’re carefully stored in seed banks or, in some cases, preserved in liquid nitrogen or as part of living collections. This is huge because many plants are under threat of disappearing forever—about 68 percent of evaluated plant species, to be exact. Take a crash course … Read more
Bringing Home Your Best Friend—Eco-friendly Edition —by Jessica B. Turner, PhD candidate, West Virginia University Dogs are (hu)man’s best friend, but getting one means you have to be ready for a fun, exhausting, and crazy transition…and if you’re like me, that includes keeping things earth-lovin’, too. Having recently done the homework to prep for my … Read more
Is It Passe to Care About the Environment? In the world of trendy “isms,” one day you’re in, the next, you’re out. Take environmentalism, for one. In the ’90s, everyone wanted to be an environmentalist; the trend was so palpable that in early 1990, Fortune magazine declared it “the Earth Decade.” Fast forward to today, … Read more
—by Beth Kosson, EcoMyths Education and Outreach Director I had some moments of transformative understanding this past weekend at the International Wildlife Conservation Expo. Moments that blew my mind, brought tears to my eyes and above all, changed what I thought I knew about wildlife conservation. Hosted by the Chicago Zoological Society/Brookfield Zoo (CZS), the … Read more
