Let’s reduce our Dependence on Plastics
At the heart of the debate on how to address the climate crisis is oil, and the oil derivative, plastic. Over 10 million tonnes of plastic are dumped into the oceans each year, and researchers from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, have found microplastics raining down on Antarctica, in the form of snow.…
Bats and White-nose Syndrome
Although bats are not the favourite mammal of many, they are a vital part of the chain of life, and can benefit man. According to the Nature Conservancy a single bat can eat over 1,000 insects in an hour. Bats eat insects like mosquitoes who carry disease, dispense seeds, and are fruit bats considered pollinators.…
What is Cinquefoil?
In Ireland, the Bog Cinquefoil or Barren Strawberry plant is reputed to be enchanted. It is also considered a harbinger of spring. The Sidhe (or fairies) often thought that plants deep in marshes belonged to them. Herbalists, however, might disturb fairies when gathering the plant in order to treat skin infections, rheumatism, and gout. It…