Recycle your Christmas Tree

White House Christmas Tree/Msnbc

Christmas has come and gone, It's time to take down your tree and all the trimmings.

If your like us you have a real tree. Do like we do and recycle it.

Feeling guilty about having a real tree?  Missing that aroma that fills the house when you enter?  Here's some Christmas tree facts that you may find as interesting as we did.

This is from the National Christmas Tree Association:

"North American Real Christmas Trees are grown in all 50 states and Canada. Eighty percent (80%) of artificial trees worldwide are manufactured in China, according to the U.S. Commerce Department."
"Most artificial Christmas trees are made of metals and plastics. The plastic material, typically PVC, can be a potential source of hazardous lead. Read a warning about them from the Children's Health Environmental Coalition."

"There are close to 15,000 farms growing Christmas Trees in the U.S., and over 100,000 people are employed full or part-time in the industry." 

"For every Real Christmas Tree harvested, 1 to 3 seedlings are planted the following spring."

Things that make you go ummm!!!

Not knocking artificial trees, for some it's a cost saver real trees are not cheap.

There's is no needles to clean up. You may want to wear gloves while handling. If you have one, enjoy it.

We learned some things about trees that we thought might interest you.

We grew up with fake trees, from silver to green.

But as adults we always have had a real tree.
OK we're biased.

To recycle your tree if your community doesn't have curbside pick up, click here for Earth911.com to find a location near you. A lot of home improvements stores have a recycle day just for trees.

Some communities like ours mulch them and give out free compost.

In the spring a lot of lakes will use them as natural fish habitats.

Before you place a tree in a lake or pond, please check the regulations for your area.

So don't feel guilty about your tree which stands so magnificently adorned with all your precious ornaments.

Recycle reuse and regenerate.


The Camping Consultants

It’s winter again.

What if I don’t have indoor storage for my RV?

We, like many RVers, have a somewhat large travel trailer without a pole barn or large garage in which to park it for the winter. Many find storage in their area in which they can place their RVs like a local RV park or campground offering the camper a respite from the cold winds and snow of December, January and February – and sometimes earlier and later months, depending on where you live.

But for others, there is no available inside storage. Either they got there too late – I’m guilty of this one – to obtain space inside, or there just isn’t any place nearby or the fees are too expensive for their budget.

But don’t fear, RVs are rugged and can stand up to the cold, if you do the right things by them. So, if you are one of the many RVers who can’t break away from home for the winter and enjoy some less frigid temperatures in the south or southwest, or even international warm spots, then here are some suggestions for getting your RV through the winter, so it is ready for you and your family in the spring, when you will jump to the chance for camping during warmer days, sometimes cool nights and the undoubted campfire.

If your RV stays outdoors for the winter, make sure you’ve winterized it in detail. Winterizing the RVs water system is one of the most important items on the list. This is normally done using RV antifreeze, which can be found in most RV parts stores, including those inside some general merchandise stores. The instructions should be in your RV owner information, but if you don’t have these, try locating your brand online to see if you can find the guide. If you’re still having trouble locating the instructions, check with your local RV parts store. In addition, removing your battery for the winter will help to save battery life.

For those of us who store our RVs outdoors, there are additional considerations. You may want to use wheel covers – again these can be found at RV parts stores to fit neatly over the wheels. Parking on pad can also be helpful. And, if you want to cover your RV to protect it and slideouts from the winter weather, consider a breathable cover to avoid condensation from forming.
So, remember, your RV needs some tender care to prepare it for the winter months when you and it may be separated, but to ensure that come warm weather in the spring, you’ll be once again on the road and into the park.

Happy winter leads to happy camping!

Increase in vision problems among African Americans

We came across this medical news today, and feel that it ties right into what we've been saying about African American children and the outdoors. 
Too many video games, 
Too much TV and not enough outdoor life.
There is a increase in myopia or distance vision, as published by researchers at the National Eye Institute and published in the Archives of Ophthalmology.  This is a quote from Susan Vitale, PhD, of the National Eye Institute in Bethesda, Md.  
"People are using computers and handheld devices much more, and they're spending less time outdoors. There are a lot of possible changes that are reasonable guesses as to why the prevalence of myopia has increased." 
Among blacks, estimates of myopia prevalence grew faster over the period than it did among whites, more than doubling -- from 13% to 33.%.   
You can also check out this article from the Los Angeles Times," A study finds that 17% more Americans have myopia than 30 years ago. Close-up computer work could be a reason".
The Camping Consultants wonder, can camping be part of the solution? 

Let us know what you think.

The Camping Consultants

No If's ands or Butts

 Photo from Discovery news

Have you ever gone camping and arrived on your site to find it littered with cigarette butts?

The same applies to all plastics, fishing line,and worm containers etc.

This post is not about knocking people who smoke. Some people who smoke are very responsible with the butts. 

We just wanted to bring some facts to those who are not so responsible. 
New studies show that cigarette butts can kill fish.

This is a excerpt from the website Cigarettelitter.org 

 Fact:

"[Cigarette butts] also present a threat to wildlife. Cigarette filters have been found in the stomachs of fish, birds, whales and other marine creatures who mistake them for food ... Composed of cellulose acetate, a form of plastic, cigarette butts can persist in the environment as long as other forms of plastic."
--Clean Virginia Waterways

You can also check out this article in the NY times, Cigarette Butts: Tiny Trash That Piles Up.

Our point is: Please dispose of trash properly!!!

The Camping Consultants

 

A Gift for the Holidays

As you begin to shop for holiday gifts, Why not give the gift of the outdoors.

Recreation.gov is a great place to start, this is where we book most of our trips.

At this site you will find National parks, Army corp of engineers campgrounds and other Federal sites.

One of the things I like about this site is, Let's say you want to go to the Smithsonian. All you have to do is pick the museum of your choice, and on the same page you can also make reservations for near by campgrounds.

It may be difficult to book a date for someone else, so a great thing to do is make your own gift certificate on your computer, or get a youngster to do it for you.

Now is a great time to book for the spring to get the best sites.

The Camping Consultants