This week I spotted so many interesting news articles and links in the environmental/gardening world, it was difficult to choose which ones to share with you.

In the end I’ve chosen a mixture of seven links and hope that a few at least may be of interest, starting with some light reading about the shrub Sea Buckthorn.

Sea Buckthorn

www.happyfarming.com

Also known as Siberian Pineapple, this isn’t a shrub I’m overly familiar with so read with interest that the berries are full of health giving properties. It seems it’s a hardy plant and will grow easily in most places, from windy to coastal areas. If you’re thinking of growing Sea Buckthorn do bear in mind it’s very thorny (so would be great if you’re trying to deter people from climbing into your garden, but not so good if you’ve children with footballs that will be constantly punctured or if you’re trying to pick the berries!).

Al Gore Publishes New Book “The Future”

I have a lot of respect for Al Gore and his efforts to tackle the issues surrounding climate change. His first book, an Inconvenient Truth had a huge impact in my life, not least because it highlighted how people can really can make a difference once informed and motivated. When we changed our shopping habits and stopped buying aerosols containing CFCs, the hole in the ozone layer reduced. I was therefore delighted to see he’s published a new book, “The Future: Six Drivers of Global Change” which is now top of my book shopping list. Al talks about it here:

Hazardous Gene Discovered in GM Crops

I’ve written about GM in the past, raising my concerns not only about the science but also the lack of interest from the majority of the population. Alarm bells started ringing when I read this latest headline Hazardous Virus Gene Discovered in GM Crops After 20 Years. One of the main concerns for many who campaign against genetically modified food is the lack of research of long-term effects caused by genetic modification. These findings bring home those concerns. I’m always slightly wary of “news” in this field as there are a lot of contradictions around though it does appear to be substantiated if this article is anything to go by. Take a read and see what you think.

Tsunami Debris

Would you be shocked to discover that 30% of debris cleared up from Alaska beaches consisted of Styrofoam that had originated from the Japanese tsunami in 2011? I was. This polystyrene is an environmental disaster – it’s very difficult to clean up, animals and wildlife are eating it, and to cap it all it’s not biodegradable so could last forever – something to think about next time you’re arranging your flowers.

We are connected

Have you ever considered just how interconnected we are to the world we live in?  A thought-provoking post from Lindsay Abrahms writing for The Atlantic looks at the phenomena When Trees Die People Die. Lindsay finishes:

“There is something fascinatingly mysterious about the entanglement of our health with that of nature.”

Felled Trees Call For Help

Staying with the theme of trees, I was intrigued by the headline above from Mark Avery so had to give it a click. I don’t want to give the game away, just to say the story involved illegal logging and using technology we’re all very familiar with to track down the culprits – mobile phones!

photo credit: DCSL via photopin cc