There is something deeply exotic about the olive plant, with its beautiful pale green leaves and versatile fruit. Grown in the Mediterranean for thousands of years, it is strongly associated with warm sun, gentle breezes, as well as ancient cultures rich in history and myth. Yet the olive tree can be grown successfully in Britain, if given the right conditions and care and has, over the years, become increasingly popular. It is a small tree with attractive flowers and fruit, making it ideal for those with limited space. An olive tree grown in the south of Britain will be able to survive most winters outside. However, it would be wise to ensure it is placed in a sunny spot, sheltered from the cold, winter winds. A patio, safe from the elements, or a south or south-west facing wall are the ideal situations. Further north conditions can be much harsher in the winter. Because of these northern extremes, an olive tree is best grown in a container because this means it can be moved into a covered area for protection. Keep an eye on young olive trees which tend to be more vulnerable than older, more well-established trees. Olive trees can be bought at varying heights, and the larger ones can be quite pricey. If economy is a factor, start out with a small tree in a plant pot as pictured above, and watch it grow (instructions below).
Basic Conditions for Growing Olive Trees
When planting a tree you can either buy a tree that has already started growing or you can plant it from seed. Planting from a seed is usually harder and will require more maintenance to get it to grow. However, most people would agree it is a lot more rewarding in the end. The first thing to remember is that you won't want to plant your tree directly in the ground outside. This is one of the biggest mistakes when planting new plants. By planting directly outside the seed would be subject to the weather, predators (such as birds and squirrels), and bad soil. The best thing to do is to plant your seed in a small pot and repot it as the plant gets bigger. Some of the supplies you will need for planting are: When watering your seed remember to keep it moist but not overly wet. If you keep too much water in the pot you have a chance of "drowning" your seed. Good ways to keep the container moist include a mister system or for a cheaper alternative you can put a piece of plastic over the pot. Remember, if you use plastic you need to put some holes in it for air to get through to the seed.
Seed. You will of course need the seed to plant. Make sure you find a tree that will thrive in your area.
Pots. As the seed grows you will need bigger and bigger pots to transplant it in. If your pot doesn't have any holes on the bottom it's a good idea to drill some so water will be able to drain out of the pot.
Water. You will need to remember to water your tree as it grows and matures.
Sunlight. Find a spot where you can give your tree some daily sunlight without putting it in any harm.
In order to understand thunder, one needs to know about lightning. Well! Lightning is electricity discharged during a thunderstorm. It is caused due to the build-up and discharge of electrical energy in the thunderstorm clouds, which are about 15,000 to 25,000 feet above sea level. Lightning usually occurs within clouds, between the cloud and air or between the ground and cloud. Based on the nature of lightning, there are various types such as in-cloud lightning, cloud-to-ground lightning, cloud-to-cloud lightning, sheet lightning, bead lightning, ribbon lightning, ball lightning and bolt from the blue.
What Causes Thunder
The cause of thunder has been a subject of discussion for a long time. In the third century BC, it was believed that thunder is caused due to collision of clouds. However, the most accepted theory was developed in the 20th century. According to this theory, the bolts of lightning are very hot, much hotter than the surface of the sun. It is estimated that the bolt has a temperature of 30,000 to 50,000 degrees F (28,000 degrees C). When this high temperature bolt hits the surrounding air, there is an instant expansion of the air, sending out a shock wave or vibration, which we hear as a sound of explosion. Thus, in short, thunder is caused due to rapid heating and cooling of the air, near the stroke of lightning.
The sound intensity of thunder varies, depending upon the nature of lightning and the distance of the hearer from the origin of the sound. You can estimate the distance (miles) from the strike; first count the interval between the flash of lightning and the sound of thunder in seconds and then divide the interval by five. In case, you are near to the flash of lightning, you will hear thunder as a sharp crack; whereas, if you are far from the lightning stroke, then the sound will seem a low rumble. The rumbling sound is because of the echo, occurring due to the reflection of sound waves from the buildings, trees and hillsides.
Thunder can be dangerous, depending on how close we are from the stroke of lightning. If the sound is very loud, it can hurt our ears. However, it is to be noted that it is lightning, which is more dangerous. On an average, about one hundred people die every year in the United States and several people suffer from lifelong disability due to lightning. Most of the lightning casualties occur, when people are caught outdoors during rainy weather. In case, you are outside during a thunderstorm, it is advisable to avoid open fields, beaches and lakes and also stay away from tall trees. The safest way is to get inside your home or stay in the car. In the latter situation, you should not touch metal, as it is a good conductor of electricity.
By Lana Christian
Today’s conveniences and technology are often touted as ways to simplify our lives or make former luxuries available to more people. The ugly flip side is that the products or technologies for making them harm our environment.
Industries and regulatory bodies are taking steps in the right direction. But don’t wait for them to come up with all the answers. You can help the environmental healing process. How? By using green technology.
Green technology is a broad term for more environmentally friendly solutions—whether it’s manufacturing carpeting that produces zero landfill, developing a planned community, turning radioactive cesium into glass, or creating less packaging for frozen foods. You don’t need to be a chemist to understand or use green technology. You can seek out and demand products that support it. And you can use its principles yourself.
Let’s see how this works. You go grocery shopping. Instead of using the store’s paper or plastic bags, buy your own reusable bags. Strong, durable, washable bags made of cotton, hemp, or nylon can handle the weight of groceries and can "stand up" just like paper bags. As you stroll down the aisles, pick organic produce, eggs, and other items.
When you think about your kids’ lunches, skip the prepackaged single-serve items. Sure, they look convenient. But they contribute a lot of waste that could end up in a landfill. Instead, make your own sandwiches and pack them in your child’s lunchbox. An important side benefit is that a home-packed lunch will be much healthier because of fewer preservatives and artificial ingredients, and will probably save money as well. That doesn’t mean you have to make everything from scratch, you can still buy ingredients (like a box of cookies) and pack what a kid-sized meal needs.
The proliferation of cleaning products available today is dizzying. You really need just a couple of all-purpose products to keep your house sparkling. Vinegar and baking soda are inexpensive, effective cleaning products that don’t harm the environment. Most commercially popular laundry detergents are made using a petrochemical process (similar to that used in making gasoline). But if you buy one 50-ounce jug of laundry detergent made by using vegetable oils instead of petrochemicals, you can save the world 130,000 barrels of oil consumption—enough to heat and cool 7,500 homes for a year. Now that’s energy efficiency!
All synthetic fragrances are made using petrochemicals. That includes fragrances in your shampoo, soap, shaving cream, hairspray, so-called "air fresheners," carpet cleaner, and anything else that simply lists "fragrance" as an ingredient. Make more eco-friendly choices that include no fragrance or only a natural fragrance, such as an essential oil. You’ll save on oil consumption every time you do.
If you’re thinking about remodeling, incorporate green technology into your plans. Many construction materials release dangerous chemical gases that deplete the environment. Pick materials that are made from sustainable products and "green chemistry." Green chemistry (a subset of green technology) purposely develops products and processes to reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances.
Say that you want built-in cabinets for the family room. Many ready-made cabinets are a thin wood veneer, covering a construction of wood shavings pressed together with a lot of glue—a concoction that can silently give off formaldehyde gases for years. Instead, consider cabinets made from solid wood, such as a hard pine cut from sustainable forests. Choose stains and finishes that contain no VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Ditto for wall paint.
When selecting carpeting, choose from "green minded" companies. Such companies consciously use green technology in the manufacturing, shipping, and installation of their products. Products are made with minimal wastage and materials that preserve indoor air quality (as opposed to offgasing harmful chemicals). Furniture companies that use organic fibers and shun synthetic glues, dyes, or finishing sprays during production are also worth serious consideration. The cost be a little more, but the resulting benefit to the environment, including the environment in your own home, is worth it.
Walk outdoors. Does a lawn service spray your yard? If you are on a yearly maintenance plan and you own an acre of land, you are putting 5 to 7 pounds of pesticides on your lawn every year. That’s as much (often more) than farmers put on their crops. Switch to a service that uses all-natural lawn care. Within a year, your lawn could be greener and healthier than your neighbors’ lawns. And you won’t have to worry about what you track into the house when you walk across your yard.
Everything we do impacts the environment. What matters is how big a footprint we leave on it. We need to look through "green lenses" to minimize that footprint. It starts with you.
A forest product is any material derived from a forest for commercial use, such as lumber, paper, or forage for livestock. Wood, by far the dominant commercial forest product, is used for many industrial purposes, such as the finished structural materials used for the construction of buildings, or as a raw material, in the form of wood pulp, that is used in the production of paper. All other non-wood products derived from forest resources, comprising a broad variety of other forest products, are collectively described as non-timber forest products.
