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handiestmanboston · 2 years

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Leading Tree Management Services Boston, MA| Handyman Boston https://handymanboston.org/tree-management-near-me/

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LOCAL TREE MANAGEMENT SERVICES BOSTON, MA

Handyman Boston Tree Management provides a full range of professional tree services to residents and businesses in Boston, MA. Our goal is to keep your trees safe and a valued asset to your property. Handyman Boston professional, friendly and cost-effective tree services are performed to the highest standards as set forth by the International Society of Arboriculture. We are fully insured and committed to safety, for your protection. Have Handyman Boston do the job right the first time; the signs of improper tree work may take a few years to develop and cause irreversible damage. Your neighbors will love the tree care that we've done for your property.

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rcardamone · 4 years

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Final Part 1: Losing Touch With the Land

Agriculture is the cornerstone of civilization. Thousands of years ago, the cultivation of crops and domestication of animals allowed humanity to develop sedentary societies. Without agriculture, there would never have been art, literature, philosophy, or advanced technology. Following the Industrial Revolution, agriculture changed as the human population rapidly grew. For significant swaths of the world, food became cheaper and far less labor intensive than before with the rise of industrialized agriculture. While at present, “795 million people have health problems because they do not get enough to eat...2.1 billion people face health problems from eating too much.” 1 A time in which more than twice as many people suffered for having eaten too much as opposed to too little likely would have been unthinkable to a person living two hundred years ago.

However, the immense benefits of industrialized agriculture have come with immense costs. According to Miller and Spoolman, “[m]odern industrialized agriculture has a greater harmful impact on the environment than any other human activity.” 2 To give a sense of the scale and impact of agriculture, Miller and Spoolman cite a study conducted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) which found that agriculture “accounts for about 70% of the freshwater removed from aquifers and surface waters, worldwide... [and also] uses about 38% of the world’s ice-free land, emits about 25% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, and produces about 60% of all water pollution.” 3 These numbers are tremendous, though perhaps unsurprising when one considers that sheer scale of the task of feeding more than seven billion people. Furthermore, it is easy to make the case that industrialized agriculture’s impact has more to do with the scale of its task than its practices. There is some validity to this, and it is certainly true that any activity that takes up 38% of the earth’s ice-free land is inevitably going to have an exceptionally large environmental impact. However, the scope of agriculture is also perhaps the best argument for the urgency of its reform. Indeed, there perhaps no clearer way to maximize preservation of natural capital than to reconsider the agricultural techniques and paradigm (the superiority of the industrial model) that are currently accepted as optimal.

Figure 1, Crop Circles in Kansas as Seen From Space 4

In Chapter 12 of “Living in the Environment,” Miller and Spoolman overview numerous ways to make agriculture more sustainable. Among these is the expansion of organic agriculture. Miller and Spoolman present a list of benefits associated with organic agriculture based on a Farming Systems Trial that has been carried out by The Rodale Institute since 1981. These benefits include the following: “Organic farming builds soil organic matter...organic systems reduce erosion and water pollution...organic farming uses less fossil fuel energy...organic yields match conventional yields... organic crops compare favorably in years of drought...[and] organic farming can be more profitable.” To support the final benefit, Miller and Spoolman cite a study with an incredible finding: the “average net return for the organic systems was $558/acre/year compared with $190/acre/year for the conventional systems.” 5 This statistic should, however, immediately raise questions. If organic systems were this much more profitable than conventional systems, despite the additional costs of organic farming, it would seem likely that organic agriculture would be dominant since the industrial agricultural system prioritizes maximizing profit. Sure enough, Miller and Spoolman, after going into detail on each of these benefits, quickly concede that, “Some studies have supported the FST findings, while others have not. Some studies have indicated that yields of organic crops in more-developed countries can be as much as 20% lower than yields of conventionally raised crops.” 6 It is strange that Miller and Spoolman would place such significant emphasis on benefits of organic farming, especially profitability, based on a single study that is contradicted by others that they also reference. As is evident from the limited role of organic systems in industrialized agriculture and also from the findings of other studies (the ones indicating that yields of organic crops in more-developed countries can be as much as 20% lower), The FST results, at least as represented in the text, portray a misleading picture that is simpler than reality. This is not to discount that there are many significant environmental and health benefits to organic farming and products. Rather, it is to suggest the necessity of structuring policy encouraging the implementation of organic farming techniques from a basis in economic reality. If it is assumed that profit motive alone will drive a rapid transition to organic farming when this is not the case, the urgency of creating policy that incentivizes the transition in other ways is reduced with potentially disastrous consequence. Representing the economics of organics with uncorroborated optimism does far more harm than good.

Most importantly, it is not necessary. There are certainly ways that the incentivizing of organic farming techniques as well as other sustainable practices can be accomplished. Perhaps the most powerful is the use of government subsidies. Many governments, including that of the United States, already do this. However, as Miller and Spoolman point out, “In the United States, most subsidies go to industrialized food production, often in support of environmentally harmful practices.” 7 Leaving aside the absurdity of this, let it suffice to say that subsidies could be used differently for environmental protection. According to Miller and Spoolman, “[s]ome (analysts) have argued for levying more taxes on pesticide and fertilizer use and methane emissions. The proceeds could be used to subsidize organic farming, integrated pest management, and sustainable food production on farms.” 8 In truth, it does not take an agricultural expert to point out that such policies would help governments protect their environments and citizens from the harmful side effects of industrial agriculture. As is so often the case, the enactment of these policies is not a problem of expertise but of political will, and in system such as the United States’ where special interest money can largely control policy outcomes, there has to be a lot of it.

Figure 2, Pesticides Sprayed From an Agricultural Aircraft 9

Political will to change agricultural policy starts with education. Miller and Spoolman correctly draw attention to this, pointing out that “[p]roponents of more sustainable food production...seek to inform people, especially young consumers, about where their food really comes from, how it is produced, and what the environmentally harmful effects of food production are.” They refer to the possession of this knowledge as food literacy. 10 Miller and Spoolman also provide an example of how such education can happen at the local level. Their case study for Chapter 12 details the work of Growing Power, Inc. which is an “ecologically based farm...[and a] showcase for forms of agriculture that apply all three scientific principles of sustainability.” As a part of its work, the farm “runs an educational program in which school children visit the farm and learn about where their food comes from. Additionally, Will Allen (the founder of the farm), “trains about 1,000 people every year who want to learn who want to learn organic farming methods.” 11

Both educating children (and many adults) in where their food comes from and training individuals in organic farming methods are essential to a greater accumulation of knowledge in the general populace. The latter has been largely neglected. Americans, as well as the citizens of other wealthy nations, have lost touch with food production and the land that sustains them. Miller and Spoolman evidence this by citing a statistic, that only one percent of the US workforce are farmers. That is down from 18% in 1910. 12 While educating current and future consumers is necessary, initial pressure for change largely comes from those who witness the shortcomings of policy firsthand. In this case, if there were more farmers working on small farms, they would likely resist the subsidies given to industrialized agriculture and stand a stronger chance of shifting the political balance in the fight for environmentally conscious agricultural policy. However, it must be admitted that creating a successful business model as a small farm is not nearly as easy as it was in 1910, especially when industrial agriculture actively seeks to crush such operations. In truth, it may be unlikely that America will ever return to having nearly one-fifth of its workforce on farms, but if the next generation is instilled not only interest, but knowledge of organic farming techniques, and what they stand to gain from their use, demand and political will to bring about sustainable agriculture can certainly increase.

Word Count: 1154

Question:

Are there ongoing efforts at the university level to encourage students to pursue careers in sustainable agriculture? What do these programs look like?

1Miller, G. Tyler, and Scott Spoolman. 2018. Living in the Environment. (Boston, MA: Cengage Learning), 318

2Miller and Spoolman, 318

3 Miller and Spoolman, 295

4 https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/5772/crop-circles-in-kansas

5 Miller and Spoolman, 313

6 Miller and Spoolman, 313

7Miller and Spoolman, 316

8Miller and Spoolman, 316

9https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agricultural_aircraft#/media/File:Gehling_PLZ106AR_Kruk_OTT_2013_D7N8976_004.jpg

10Miller and Spoolman, 315

11Miller and Spoolman, 284

12Miller and Spoolman, 290

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bestpestcontrolboston-blog · 6 years

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handiestmanboston · 2 years

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Efficient Insect and Pest Control Services Boston, MA| Handyman Boston https://handymanboston.org/insect-and-pest-control-services-near-me/

If you are dealing with a termite, unwanted animals, ticks, fleas, bed bug, fire ants or other pest control need in Boston, MA you need a company like Handyman Boston that cares about you. Leading lawn care company in Boston, MA! Cost? Free estimates! Call today or book online fast! Best Lawn care service, landscaping, mowing, yard waste removal and tree removal in Boston, MA! Service area: Boston, MA

BUGS AND PEST CONTROL SERVICES IN BOSTON, MA

Handyman Boston is a locally owned business that focuses on the total removal of all your bugs, ants, spiders etc. As of today, Handyman Boston has grown to over 30 pest control technicians and over 50,000 satisfied customers all over the Boston, MA area. If you are dealing with a termite, unwanted animals, ticks, fleas, bed bug, fire ants or other pest control need in Boston, MA you need a company that cares about its customers and one that you can trust to do the job right the first time.

At Handyman Boston we pride ourselves in offering excellent customer service and doing the job right every time. If you need pest control service for your home, condo or apartment, contact Handyman Boston We have 30 years’ experience helping Edinburg residents remove bugs from their homes. Keep your customers happy by providing a pest free place of business. Handyman Boston will identify and eliminate any pest problem quickly and our services will make sure your business stays bug free. If a person or a room have a pest problem, it can travel very quickly to the other units. While it is obviously problematic for condo projects, this can be very damageable for hotel and motel operations. If you would like a free inspection and consult... Due to their warm areas loaded with food, restaurants have a unique set of pest control problems and for most food establishments monthly pest control service is a must.

SOME OF OUR MORE POPULAR LAWN CARE SERVICES:

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wub-fur-radio · 5 years

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Through a Mac, Darkly… Vol. 7: Wub-Fur Remembers 1984

Time once again for a little light time travel as the Wub-Fur Tardis briefly spins out of control and then lands squarely in the depths of the Reagan era to explore the musical landscape of the (in retrospect) not particularly Orwellian year of 1984. Nineteen vintage examples of mid-1980s proto-alternative rock from the year Steve Jobs introduced Apple’s weird new computer to the world, some by well-known bands and others from somewhat more obscure practitioners of the rock ’n’ roll arts. Featuring The Replacements, R.E.M., the Ramones, the Pretenders, the Minutemen, Tom Verlaine, Tall Dwarfs, the Dream Syndicate, Hüsker Dü, Yard Trauma, and 9 more artists who probably couldn’t afford a new Mac (the 1984 list price comes to around $6,100 in 2020 dollars).

Cover Model: The Macintosh 128k *

Apologies to George Orwell, the computer formerly known as the Apple Macintosh, and the Doctor.

More Through a Mac, Darklys: v1: 1990 | v2: 1987 | v3: 2001 | v4: 1994 | v5: 2003 | v6: 1989

Listen on Mixcloud –or– YouTube (or scroll down to use one of the embedded players below)

Running Time: 1 hour, 4 seconds

Tracklist

I Will Dare (3:15) — The Replacements | Minneapolis, MN

Amplifier (3:07) — The dB’s | New York, NY

Howling at the Moon (Sha-La-La) (4:06) — The Ramones | Queens, NY

Miss Emily (4:37) — Tom Verlaine | New York, NY

One More Step (1:32) — Sorry | Boston, MA

Pink Turns To Blue (2:39) — Hüsker Dü | Saint Paul, MN

Tesla Girls (3:49) — Orchestral Manœuvres in the Dark | Wirral, Merseyside, UK

Bridge (3:34) — Orange Juice | Gl;asgow, UK

Back on the Chain Gang (3:48) — The Pretenders | Hereford, UK

Places That Are Gone (3:28) — Tommy Keene | Bethesda, MD

Still Holding on to You (3:35) — The Dream Syndicate | Los Angeles, CA

Little America (2:54) — R.E.M. | Athens, GA

Rock 'n' Roll Pest Control (2:20) — Young Fresh Fellows | Seattle, WA

Over and Over (3:29) — Yard Trauma | Tucson, AZ

I Really Want You Right Now (3:38) — Lyres | Boston, MA

Pictures on the Floor (2:11) — Tall Dwarfs | New Zealand

Do You Want New Wave or Do You Want the Truth? (1:49) — Minutemen | San Pedro, CA

The Undertow (3:45) — The Trypes | Haledon, NJ

Sharkey's Night (2:29) — Laurie Anderson | New York, NY

All tracks released 1984 (duh).

Embedded Mixcloud Player

Embedded YouTube Player

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* Like the author of the linked article, we also fell in love with the Mac pretty much at first sight and also like him, could not afford one. Not being eligible for Apple’s hefty journalists’ discount, we had to settle for an Atari 520 ST (often referred to as "The Poor Man’s Mac," but it had a larger monitor and could display color while the Mac was still black & white only).

#alternative rock #indie rock #1980s #1984 #oldies #mac-darkly #music mixes

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pestcontrolexpertservices · 5 years

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5 BEST WAYS TO GET RID OF COCKROACHES

Not sure how to get rid of cockroaches? You’re not alone. Cockroaches are one of the most common household pests in the world.

On average, roaches can range anywhere from one-half to 3 inches long. The three most common cockroaches in the United States are the German, Oriental and American roach. Different roaches can be attracted to your home for different reasons. Knowing the type of roach you are dealing with can help when deciding how to get rid of them. For instance, the most common roach found indoors is the German roach. The German roach is attracted to water. Reducing access to water sources in your home can help reduce a roach infestation.

There are plenty of other prevention methods as well, such as daily cleaning and proper food storage, to prevent an infestation. But how do you get rid of cockroaches once they have already entered your home?

Roaches enter homes in search of food, water and shelter. Once they have infested an area, they can multiply quickly, posing a threat to your comfort and health. It is important to get rid of cockroaches before an infestation occurs. Roaches are known to carry bacteria that can result in food poisoning, diarrhea, allergies and skin rashes. In large numbers they can also produce a foul odor.

Before deciding how to kill roaches in your home, it is best to develop a plan. The most effective roach control typically requires more than one type of treatment method.

HOW TO ELIMINATE COCKROACHES

IDENTIFY PROBLEM AREAS WITH FLASHLIGHT AND GLUE STRIPS When considering what cockroach control method to use, it is best to first examine your home for possible roach infestation sites. Do this by using a flashlight to search popular roach hiding spots, including behind the refrigerator, under the sink, crevices in cabinets and shelves, closet door corners, bathroom cabinets and closets.

Use roach glue strips to locate large infestations. Based on your flashlight inspection, decide on the most strategic areas to place strips. Monitor those areas for a few days to a week. Strips in high-traffic areas will catch the most roaches, and these areas will need the most treatment.

USE CAULK TO CLOSE GAPS TO PREVENT FURTHER INFESTATION Traps can be effective in reducing existing roach populations, but they won’t get rid of roaches on the outside trying to break in. To prevent a roach infestation from expanding, use caulk to fill possible entry points, including gaps between walls or tile, small crevices and entry holes. It will also help to use weather stripping on doors and window seals.

PLACE GEL BAIT BAIT STATIONS TO EFFECTIVELY REDUCE ROACH POPULATION Gel bait can be an effective roach killer. Gel bait usually comes in the form of a tube and can be applied under baseboards, in cracks and crevices, and near areas that are most likely to attract roaches. While gel bait can be effective in getting rid of roaches, it can also result in a number of dead roaches lying around your home.

Another popular method when deciding how to kill cockroaches is the use of bait stations. Bait stations work by attracting roaches into stations to feed on poison. The poisoned roach then travels back to its home location, dies and is eaten by the other roaches, further passing on the poison. Bait stations work partially to get rid of roaches, but do not target all roaches in a home. They also pose an issue because they contain poison and look unappealing when scattered around your home. Some roach hotels only contain glue to trap the roaches, not bait and poison them.

BORIC ACID POWDER FOR ADDED EFFECTIVENESS Boric acid, a substance found in products like clothing detergent and toothpaste, can be one of the best roach killers. Unfortunately, it is also easily misapplied and subject to displacement by air currents, sending the material into areas where children and pets can come into contact with it. Made by chemically combining boron and water, boric acid is low in toxicity to people and pets but deadly to cockroaches. When used incorrectly, boric acid will lose effectiveness and is not typically recommended as the sole method for getting rid of cockroaches.

PEST MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL Hiring a Pest Control Expert to treat a roach infestation can increase safety, offer a more effective approach to getting rid of cockroaches and provide an ongoing solution to cockroach control in Boston, MA. It also eliminates the need to have traps scattered around your home.

#pest control expert #pest control professionals #pest exterminator

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vikmali-blog · 4 years

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The Fight for Biodiversity [FINAL]

It is a given fact that biodiversity matters! Although the increase in human activity caused the biodiversity on this planet to decrease at an extremely high rate. I want to demonstrate the importance of biodiversity, so that we can change our harmful daily activities before it is too late.

A species that is no longer found anywhere on Earth is known to be biologically extinct. As terrible as it may sound, extinction is a natural process that has happened way before humans have even existed. Background extinction rate is Earth’s natural extinction rate. The natural extinction rate is roughly the loss of about 1 species for every 1 million species per year (Miller 193). Mass extinction, on the other hand, is the extinction of many species in a relatively short period of time. According to geologic and fossil records, Earth has experienced about five mass extinctions. About 50% to 90% of the species went extinct during these mass extinctions. Now, there is an ongoing mass extinction, but it is not natural as in the pass. Scientists are noticing that “the earth is entering a sixth mass extinction caused primarily by human activities” (Miller 193). The human induced extinction rate has gone so bad that it is estimated that 20% to 50% of the 2 million current species will soon disappear if no actions are made (Miller 193).

What are we doing that is causing this high extinction rate and decrease of biodiversity? The acronym, HIPPCO, further explains what is causing the extinction rate to increase. HIPPCO stands for habitat destruction, degradation, and fragmentation, invasive species, population growth and increasing use of resources, pollution, climate change, and overexploitation (Miller 198). Every letter in HIPPCO is caused by us! We are the reason why there is a high extinction rate. A study done by the London Zoological Society and the World Wildlife Federation have found that the “populations of wild animals have decreased by an average of more than fifty percent over the past forty years” (Beats). The biggest reason to this loss of biodiversity is because of habitat destruction (Beats).

Figure 1. Natural capital degradation: This is a map of a range of tigers, rhinos, and elephants before and after habitat degradation (Miller 199).

The North American passenger pigeon is one of many species that suffered from habitat loss. Because of habitat loss, these pigeons became extinct in 1912 (Miller 194). Habitat loss, habitat degradation, and habitat fragmentation are the greatest threats to biodiversity. The greatest threat out of the three is the deforestation of the tropical areas, due to the ecosystem services that it provides for us. The second largest threat to biodiversity is the degradation of coastal wetlands and coral reefs, and the cutting down of grasslands for food crops (Miller 199). Without a habitat, species will not be able to survive, so they eventually die off. The death of these species means that the food chain is destroyed and there are less ecosystem services for us.

Figure 2. North American Passenger Pigeons: This is a painting of the last pair of the North American Passenger Pigeons which unfortunately went extinct due to habitat loss and overhunting (Miller 194).

There are four major reasons why we should prevent and hasten extinction. The first reason is that all of these species provide us ecosystem services. These ecosystem services include “honeybees and other insects for pollination of many food crops… certain species of birds, amphibians, and spiders for natural control of insect pest… aquatic species that live in streams to help purify flowing water… trees [that] produce oxygen that organisms need to survive…. earthworms [that] aerate topsoil, which helps improve soil health” and more (Miller 197). The second reason is that many of the species provide economic service that we rely on. There are so many plant species that are used for “food crops, wood for fuel, lumber for construction, paper from trees, and substances for medicines” (Miller 197). The third reason is that extinction can hinder speciation. It takes about 5 million to 10 million years for speciation to replace the wiped-out species. As we have learned, all species are part of a larger cycle. Removing one species would throw off the whole cycle. The last reason is that “we have an ethical responsibility to protect the earth’s species from becoming extinct because of our activities, and to prevent degradation of the world’s ecosystem services” (Miller 198). We are the reason for this drastic extinction rate; thus, it is our responsibility to clean up the mess that we started.

There are multiple ways in which we can improve in sustaining terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystem services. The easiest thing for the government to do is to establish parks and nature preserves, such as Yellowstone National Park. Preventing people from destroying a certain patch of land would help biodiversity thrive. Another thing that we can do is “identify and protect biological hotspots that are highly threatened centers of biodiversity” (Miller 238). This would help boost the population of threatened species. We could also help restore the damages ecosystems, and preserve ecosystem services that are important to us. Our issue is that what we touch, we destroy. All countries need to follow the footsteps of Costa Rica. Costa Rica has about 500,000 plant and animal species. There are two reasons to why Costa Rica is so biodiverse. The first reason is that Costa Rica is located between two oceans and has multiple mountains with different microclimates. These microclimates are habitats for various types of species. The second reason to this huge biodiversity is because of the government’s full commitment in protecting the land. Costa Rica devotes a large chunk of its land for biodiversity. In the 1970s, Costa Rica established national parks and reserves. The government manages to even pay landowners “to maintain or restore forests and manage them under 10- to 15-year agreements” in order to reduce deforestation (Miller 222). I would love to see our government do that. Because of this strategy, forest coverage in Costa Rica went from 20% to 50%. I visited Costa Rica last year, and I noticed a major difference. Costa Ricans were happy with the very little they had. They are not materialistic, and they do not care about money like New Yorkers. They care about using up the little resources that they need for survival, and giving back to Earth as much as they can. The government doesn’t even have an army. If all countries were to follow Costa Rica, we would be on the right path. Costa Rica exemplifies that we are not too late to turn things around, but if we don’t act soon “taken to conserve the earth’s biodiversity, many local and regional ecosystems that help to support human lives and livelihoods are at risk of collapsing” (Miller 222). My question is, how can all the countries come together (both wealthy and poor) to mitigate this decrease in biodiversity?

Word Count: 1,157

Works Cited:

Beats, Geo. “Global Wildlife Population Declined By 50% In Last 40 Years - Video Dailymotion.” Dailymotion. Dailymotion, September 30, 2014. https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x26ybub.

Miller, G. Tyler, and Scott Spoolman. Living in the Environment. Boston, MA: NationalGeographic Learning/Cengage Learning, 2018.

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ebrainy · 5 years

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Ming’s Supermarket closed by Boston, MA BOH for rodents, dirt & more

The Boston, MA DOH closed the following establishment for food code violations.

Mayors Food Court

Inspection History

Ming’s Supermarket

1102 Washington ST

Roxbury, MA. 02118

Letter Grade: A

Inspection date: 1/23/2020

Description Status **

(A)-(P) Person-In-Charge-Duties (Pf)

Comments: Person in charge not properly training employees in food safety and not properly cleaning establishment, ensure all

Fail *

Equipment Food-Contact Surfaces and Utensils-Frequency (C)

Comments: Spice, sauces and sugar containers with heavy encrustments and soils, clean to remove

Fail **

Using a Hand washing Sink-Operation and Maintenance (Pf)

Comments: Hand sink being used to store foods and equipment, discontinue to allow proper hand washing

Fail *

Floors, Walls and Ceilings – Cleanability (C)

Comments: 1) Floors with heavy soils, debris and old droppings, clean to remove 2) walls and hood with soils and grease build up, clean to remove

Fail *

Repairing-Premises, Structures, Attachments, and Fixtures-Methods (C)

Comments: 1) Handle at 3 bay sink broken and leaking water, repair 2) faucets at 3 bay sink leaking, repair

Fail **

Controlling Pests (Pf)

Comments: 1) Rodent droppings under hand sinks, 3 bay sink and on shelving of prep tables, clean to remove 2) Decomposed rodent under hand sink, clean to remove 3) Nesting and hole in wall found next to upright refrigerators, clean to remove an seal holes

from US Food Safety https://ift.tt/30Rc0ZB Ming’s Supermarket closed by Boston, MA BOH for rodents, dirt & more US Food Safety via 1best recipe https://ift.tt/2TWRkhw

#US Food Safety

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lefafta · 5 years

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Reasons For Hiring Home Inspectors In Boston MA

By Joyce Turner

You have now found that dream house that you have always wanted after a long, tedious process. To help you move in, there are still some requirements that you should consider. One of them is inspecting the premises. You should look to hire experts to do the job for you. Below are the significance of home inspectors in Boston MA. There might be existing leaks around the house that you may not know of. It is essential that this gets figured out as early as possible. Leaks may be on the roofs or water pipes running through the kitchen and bathrooms. It is more difficult to detect leaks if the pipes are inside the walls. A professional examiner is sure to get this done whichever the case. Living in a safe place is the number one priority for anyone. You need to be assured that there are no naked electrical wires that could cause shock to someone. It is best if the wires are inside the walls as no one can come into contact with them. Gas leaks should also be non-existence. A gas leakage could easily cause a fire that could burn down the house and anything surrounding it. Predicts the future costs you are likely to incur by owning the respective house. The greatest determining factor is the age of the house. Some old houses have a lot of repairs to be done. Old pipes which are conjugated need to be replaced by new ones. A proper paint job might be required. Rusty roofs are a problem. Taking all these and others into consideration determines your expenditure shortly. Helps in revealing illegal installations. There are a set of principles to follow during any construction. Any room that was added without the proper permit does not legally exist. This will, therefore, affect anything related to the law, such as tax levies and insurance. You could be in serious trouble due to this. The overall value of the house would not factor in these illegal installations. Having an inspector by your side is important as he or she could help you negotiate for a better deal. After inspecting the whole house, they could inform you of all the trouble that you are potentially getting into. They could also advise you to seek for a better deal or request for all repairs to be completed before agreeing to any deal. Be keen on what he or she proposes you to do. Termites can be a great nuance to any building. They may destroy anything wooden. You need to figure out if they exist and where they are coming from. The professional you hire can help you with this. They might even refer you to pest control services should you want to get rid of the termites completely. Structure of the house is the most vital factor to take note of. It does not matter what the premises look like if it is not strong enough. Problems regarding foundation are major red flags. You should not even think twice about buying it. You do not want a house that is poorly built. The inspector can check for any structural problems that may exist.

About the Author:

To make the most of the support that is offered by expert home inspectors in Boston MA, you should pay a visit to this website. Come and find out how we can help you by checking out the resources on http://bit.ly/2JHcHPL.

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rcardamone · 5 years

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Sustainable Farming for the Billions

Agriculture is the foundation of civilization. Thousands of years ago, the cultivation of crops and domestication of animals allowed humanity to develop sedentary societies. Without agriculture, there would never have been art, literature, philosophy, or advanced technology.

Following the Industrial Revolution, agriculture changed as the human population rapidly grew. For significant swaths of the world, food became cheaper and far less labor intensive with the rise of industrialized agriculture. While at present, “795 million people have health problems because they do not get enough to eat...2.1 billion people face health problems from eating too much.” 1A time in which more than twice as many people suffered for having eaten too much as opposed to too little likely would have been unthinkable to a person living even two hundred years ago.

However, the immense benefits of industrialized agriculture must be weighed against its immense costs. According to Miller and Spoolman, “[m]odern industrialized agriculture has a greater harmful impact on the environment than any other human activity.”2

To give a sense of the scale and impact of agriculture, Miller and Spoolman cite a study conducted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) which found that agriculture “accounts for about 70% of the freshwater removed from aquifers and surface waters, worldwide... [and also] uses about 38% of the world’s ice-free land, emits about 25% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, and produces about 60% of all water pollution.” 3 The numbers are stunning. While any activity that takes up 38% of the earth’s ice free land is likely to have a tremendous environmental impact, the scope of agriculture also means that changes in agricultural techniques and paradigms are among the best ways to preserve natural capital.

Figure 1, Crop Circles in Kansas as Seen From Space 4

In Chapter 12 of “Living in the Environment,” Miller and Spoolman overview numerous ways to make agriculture more sustainable. Among these is the expansion of organic agriculture. Miller and Spoolman present a list of benefits associated with organic agriculture based on a Farming Systems Trial that has been carried out by The Rodale Institute since 1981. These benefits include the following: “Organic farming builds soil organic matter...organic systems reduce erosion and water pollution...organic farming uses less fossil fuel energy...organic yields match conventional yields... organic crops compare favorably in years of drought...[and] organic farming can be more profitable.” To support the final benefit, Miller and Spoolman cite a study with an incredible finding: the “average net return for the organic systems was $558/acre/year compared with $190/acre/year for the conventional systems.” 5 This statistic should, however, immediately raise questions. If organic systems were this much more profitable than conventional systems, despite the additional costs of organic farming, it would seem likely that organic agriculture would be dominant since industrial agriculture generally prioritizes maximizing profit. Sure enough Miller and Spoolman, after going into detail on each of these benefits, quickly concede that, “Some studies have supported the FST findings, while others have not. Some studies have indicated that yields of organic crops in more-developed countries can be as much as 20% lower than yields of conventionally raised crops.” 6 It is strange that Miller and Spoolman would place such significant emphasis on benefits of organic farming, especially profitability, based on one study that is contradicted by many others. As is evident from the limited role of organic systems in industrialized agriculture and also from the findings of other studies (the ones indicating that yields of organic crops in more-developed countries can be as much as 20% lower), this is not a widely accepted finding. This is not to discount that there are many significant environmental benefits to organic farming, but rather to acknowledge that the further implementation of organic farming technique will not be incentivized by profit motive alone.

There are certainly other ways to incentivize use of organic farming techniques as well as other sustainable practices. Perhaps the most powerful is the use of government subsidies. Many governments, including that of the United States, already do this. However, as Miller and Spoolman point out, “In the United States, most subsidies go to industrialized food production, often in support of environmentally harmful practices.”7 Subsidies could be used differently. According to Miller and Spoolman, “[s]ome (analysts) have argued for levying more taxes on pesticide and fertilizer use and methane emissions. The proceeds could be used to subsidize organic farming, integrated pest management, and sustainable food production on farms.” 8 In truth, it would not take agricultural expert to point out that such policies would help governments protect their environments and citizens from the harmful side effects of industrial agriculture. However, the enactment of these policies requires political will, and in system such as the United States’ where special interest money can control policy outcomes, there has to be a lot of it.

Figure 2, Pesticides Sprayed From an Agricultural Aircraft 9

In order for there to be political pressure to change agricultural policy, there must first be education. Miller and Spoolman correctly draw attention to the importance of education in changing policy, pointing out that “[p]roponents of more sustainable food production...seek to inform people, especially young consumers, about where their food really comes from, how it is produced, and what the environmentally harmful effects of food production are.” They refer to the possession of this knowledge as food literacy. 10 Miller and Spoolman also provide an example of how such education can happen at the local level. Their case study for Chapter 12 details the work of Growing Power, Inc. which is an “ecologically based farm...[and a] showcase for forms of agriculture that apply all three scientific principles of sustainability.” As a part of its work, the farm “runs an educational program in which school children visit the farm and learn about where their food comes from. Additionally, Will Allen (the founder of the farm), “trains about 1,000 people every year who want to learn who want to learn organic farming methods.” 11

Both educating children in where their food comes from and training adults in organic farming methods are essential. The latter is underemphasized. Americans, as well as presumably the citizens of other western nations, have lost touch with food production and the land that sustains them. Miller and Spoolman display this by citing a statistic, that only one percent of the US workforce are farmers. That is down from 18% in 1910. 12 While educating current and future consumers is necessary, pressure for change largely comes from those who witness the shortcomings of policy firsthand. In this case, if there were more farmers working on small farms, they would likely resist the subsidies given to industrialized agriculture. It is unlikely that America will ever return to having nearly one-fifth of its workforce, but if the next generation brings not only interest, but knowledge of organic farming techniques, progress towards more sustainable agriculture can certainly be made.

Word Count: 1154

Question:

Are there ongoing efforts at the university level to encourage students to pursue careers in sustainable agriculture? What do these programs look like?

1Miller, G. Tyler, and Scott Spoolman. 2018. Living in the Environment. (Boston, MA: Cengage Learning), 318

2Miller and Spoolman, 318

3 Miller and Spoolman, 295

4 https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/5772/crop-circles-in-kansas

5 Miller and Spoolman, 313

6 Miller and Spoolman, 313

7Miller and Spoolman, 316

8Miller and Spoolman, 316

9https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agricultural_aircraft#/media/File:Gehling_PLZ106AR_Kruk_OTT_2013_D7N8976_004.jpg

10Miller and Spoolman, 315

11Miller and Spoolman, 284

12Miller and Spoolman, 290

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the-loving-cup-blog · 6 years

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Best wasp & bee exterminators

As annoying as bugs can be, they can also be dangerous; the earlier we call professionals to exterminate these insects, the safer our loved ones will be. Wasps and Bees are not to be toyed with, call an expert immediately you notice your environment might be plagued with these insects.

Furthermore, wasps are seen as a benefit to the environment, and they are predatory flying insects; their species are one of the sources of organic pest control on gardens, farms, and crops.

There are primarily two types of wasps, the social and the solitary wasp. Social wasp species live in large numbers. They leave their nest during autumn, late autumn. However, wasps eat meat and sweets and can be more hot-tempered than bees, and should be treated with caution especially when you have kids in the area. Fortunately, here are some of the professionals that can come to your rescue.

Sterling Pest Control, Inc.

Sterling Pest Control prides themselves on being the best control company in the area. They have created and sustained an excellent reputation for client satisfaction by offering quick quotes, great attention to detail, and competitive pricing.

Waltham Pest Control

This pest control company has been providing professional services for over thirty years all through the communities in Massachusetts. If you live in Burlington, MA Waltham Pest Control is the ideal choice. Also, they service commercial and residential customers throughout a larger portion of Boston area.

There are several different types of wasps and bees in New England, Massachusetts is home to bees, hornets, and wasps, so it is best to have highly trained pest control company exterminate and prevent them from coming to your home.

Bug Brigade, Inc.

If you are looking for credibility and professionalism with a hometown touch, this is your company. Bug Brigade is one of the best values in the pest control and termite service industries. They give their customers only the best effective and technologically advanced products and treatment techniques available today.

Biggins Exterminating Company

Biggins Exterminating Company is a family owned and operated business that provides bees, wasps, termite control, carpenter ant control, and general pest control service in Massachusetts. This company has stood the test of time; since 1982, Briggins Exterminating Company has been carrying out their duties with honesty, reliability, and professionalism. With highly trained staffs, you receive nothing but the best services from them.

CJB Pest

It is a privately owned and operated company, offers commercial and residential pest control services for the whole of Detroit Metro. This company has been around for a very long time; it was established over 85 years ago. They develop strong relationships with their clients by exceeding their expectations of service and value. CJB Pest prides itself on providing top-quality service to their customers.

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emmagreen1220-blog · 7 years

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New Post has been published on Biology Dictionary

New Post has been published on https://biologydictionary.net/mycology/

Mycology

Mycology Definition

Mycology is the study of fungi, their relationships to each other and other organisms, and the unique biochemistry which sets them apart from other groups. Fungi are eukaryotic organism which belong to their own kingdom. Until advances in DNA technology, it was assumed that fungi were an offshoot of the plant kingdom. DNA and biochemical analysis has revealed that fungi are a separate lineage of eukaryotes, distinguished by their unique cell wall made of chitin and glucans which often surrounds multinucleated cells. Mycology is a necessary branch of biology because fungi is considerably different from both plants and animals.

History of Mycology

Until the 1800’s, it was assumed that fungi were simply a different kind of plant. Mushrooms, the reproductive bodies of fungi, were eaten, used as medicine, and used for their hallucinogenic effects since antiquity. Many classic Greek philosophers and naturalists considered fungi, but still assumed they were more related to plants. By the mid-1800’s the microscope was invented, and scientists began to examine the inner workings of fungi. Microscopes revealed that fungi had distinct features, separate from both plants and animal cells. The term mycology was coined in 1836 in a paper by M.J. Berkeley, when fungi were beginning to be recognized as their own unique kingdom.

However, it was not until the advent of modern biochemistry and DNA analysis that it was fully realized how different fungi were. Instead of a cell wall made of cellulose, the wall in fungi is composed of glucans and chitin, molecules found in plants and insects, respectively. Instead of having a single nucleus, like most plants and animals, fungi are often multinucleated and contain special pores allowing the cytoplasm and nucleus to flow freely between various chambers in the fungal organism. DNA analysis revealed a closer relation to animals than plants. As scientists observed fungal lifecycles further, they realize that the majority of most fungi spends its time as a mold or ooze. This multicellular lifeform moves its way through decaying organic material, utilizing the minerals and organic molecules as it goes. Not only was fungi the major decomposing organism in the world, scientist also determined that certain fungi were responsible for events like fermentation and crop diseases.

With this, the field of mycology exploded. Agricultural mycology focuses on utilizing and controlling fungi in commercial crops. Toxicologists study mushroom and fungi for compounds which adversely affect other organisms. Pharmaceutical companies race to extract useful compounds from mushrooms. Careers in mycology are as diverse and complex as the field itself.

Careers in Mycology

Mycology first became an important science in the agricultural industry, and remains so today. A phytopathologist studies plant diseases, especially those which affect crops. Fungi are a major pest for many crops, but also serve symbiotic roles and allow plants to extract nutrients and water from the soil. Mycology is needed to distinguish between beneficial and harmful fungi, as well as to treat crops and prevent future infections. Further, certain types of fungi are used as pesticides, as they are more natural than synthetic pesticides and can kill targeted insects.

However, mycology has expanded well beyond its origins in agriculture. Once it was realized how broad and diverse the fungi kingdom is, the various roles of fungi in society were better understood. For instance, cheese is produced by various fungi. Mycology can classify and understand these organisms, leading to better and more efficiently produced cheese and dairy products. Yeast is also a form of fungi, and understanding the process of fermentation carried out by yeast is a science in itself. Fermentation science degrees can found from the bachelor level up, and graduates can work in the brewing and distilling industries, creating beer, wines and liquor. Yeast is also used in bread making, and microbiologists are required to maintain the cultures to produce enough yeast for bread production.

A specialized field of mycology is mycotoxicology, or the study of the toxins produced by mushrooms. Typically, a mycotoxicologist has a doctorate degree in biochemistry or organic chemistry, or a medical doctorate with concentrations in mycology and toxins. Fungi produce a variety of chemicals which have toxic effects on all kinds of organisms. Humans have eaten mushrooms since the earliest hunter-gatherers, but many mushrooms remain highly toxic. Other compounds found in mushrooms have potentially beneficial properties which could be used in medicine. Many mycotoxicologists work for pharmaceutical companies, trying to develop new drugs based on these compounds.

Mycology contains still more specializations, and is a continually evolving field. As more research is done, fungi are becoming a large and complex kingdom. Research is expanding and focusing on many special areas, including interesting applications for certain fungi. Some of these applications include radiotrophic fungi which appear to grow in the presence of radioactivity and could possibly alleviate radioactive wastes, and fungi which can break down complex organic substances into carbon dioxide. Many of these applications have tremendous commercial value, and researchers are needed at many institutions to explore these aspects of mycology.

Finally, an ethnomycologist is a scientist who studies the historical uses of fungi. Cultures have used mushroom as food, medicine, hallucinogens, and for a variety of other things. Ethnomycologists study these uses and inform the public and front-line researchers about which fungi have known effects and which are benign. Considering the immense size and diversity of fungi, and the relatively unorganized history of the classification of fungi, ethnomycologists provide a critical function in sorting through the dense but helpful information already gathered by past cultures and societies. The field of mycology is continually expanding as these many professions push the boundaries of knowledge and fill in the missing gaps.

References

Brusca, R. C., & Brusca, G. J. (2003). Invertebrates. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Associates, Inc. Lodish, H., Berk, A., Kaiser, C. A., Krieger, M., Scott, M. P., Bretscher, A., . . . Matsudaira, P. (2008). Molecular Cell Biology (6th ed.). New York: W.H. Freeman and Company. McMahon, M. J., Kofranek, A. M., & Rubatzky, V. E. (2011). Plant Science: Growth, Development, and Utilization of Cultivated Plants(5th ed.). Boston: Prentince Hall.

#1k #term

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