Interview with the National Conservation Training Center
Mark Madison, historian with the NCTC interviewed me about my new book Saving the Places We Love. He wanted to find out more about my background, why I wrote the book, and about the online community that I manage to help others save the places they love, www.SavingThePlaces.com. The video will be aired at national parks across the country.
The full video can be found on YouTube.
Take-a-way: This is a good opportunity to learn much more about the book and the campaign, and about the challenges facing our country.
Saving the Future – Howard County’s Central Park
Our SavingThePlaces.com online community is not only focused on restoring and maintaining the wonderful streams, forests, lakes and mountains that were preserved for us by previous generations. We are also focused on opportunities for creating new special places or redefining ones as they change with the growth of our population. Urban and suburban redevelopment will provide us with these opportunities. All of us who desire (more…)
Great Summer Reads on Nature, Environment, and Keys to Creating a More Sustainable Future
I have listed below my recommendations for summer reading. Several of these were instrumental to me in developing my perspectives on environmental issues. Others were helpful in my research for my books (see below). Yes, of course, I would like you to read and get inspired by my two books, but don’t stop there. These other ones are classics. (more…)
Impact Investing – The Time Is Now
Well I finally did it. I put my money where my mouth is. I transferred all my assets into stock portfolios that were selected on a basis of environmental, sustainability, and good governance (ESG) criteria. The data are pretty clear that these investments not only are as good as other investments, but based on all the trends I see, they could easily (more…)
Today’s Biggest Polluters
Many of us think that pollution comes from big industry and manufacturing. This may have been true once, but over the past several decades many industries have cleaned up their operations or moved them overseas. Today much of the contamination in our neighborhoods comes from the wastes generated from everyday activities. Here are the main sources of pollution in our environment and ideas on (more…)
Signs You Can Use To Restore Your Special Places
Most signs are ignored. Their messages are obvious or they are not of interest to us. However, recently I was walking along the docks in Portland, Maine and my attention was captured by a series of signs about human’s everyday impact on the water quality in Casco Bay. The signs were attractive and provocative. They captured my interest, and more importantly they captured my wife’s interest. We stopped and read them all the way through!!
We wondered why we did not see more signs like this around the lakes where we lived. They could have the very same (more…)
Threats To Our Trees
They provide shade, purify the air, and support millions of delicate ecosystems – there’s no denying that trees are a vital part of the world we live in. When a problem strikes the forests that blanket North America, or even threatens a single tree, it’s important to identify it and mitigate it as quickly as possible to save nearby trees. If trees around your home or in a local forest aren’t as fresh and green as they should be, or you notice something looks a little off with tree growth, don’t wait to act or you could lose your trees. Here are some telltale signs you can keep an eye out for, which will help you narrow down the problem and solution: (more…)
Ten Tips on Taking Your Kids Camping
The goal of course is to get your kids outside. All the studies show that getting kids to enjoy and spend time outdoors is healthy for them, but where do you start if you have never camped before as a family? First of all start researching campgrounds nearby and get the whole family engaged in selecting a destination. There are so many places to go. Once you have picked a place to camp, here are a few other things to consider: (more…)
Top Ten, Kid-friendly, Camping Grounds in Maryland
What makes a campground kid-friendly? It often is a place that is easy to get to and has the basic, easily accessible and well maintained facilities. Some campgrounds have many more amenities, play areas, and access to trails and water bodies, but the most important aspects to me are places that are quiet and relaxed and where a family can go to explore the great outdoors.
I have camped at private and public sites all across Maryland. We are so lucky to have such a broad variety of natural habitats from the coast to the mountains. I have selected a few sites here that are spread around the state and all of which deserve your attention. Go out and explore the closest ones first and then expand out if you like. Many people just find one they like and keep going back. Do what you can to help preserve and maintain these treasures and be sure to let me know what you think. (more…)
Better Governance – Getting All the Players Together
One of the key challenges in making good decisions relative to sustainability issues is getting all the key players together. The important players often reside in a wide range of government departments, non-profits, volunteer groups, and in the business community. To be effective, they all need to meet, listen to the important issues, and work things out. This does not happen enough.
Fortunately, we are trying to take steps (more…)
Now Available
Saving The Places 