Below are photos submitted by YOU.

The Car is Fine - Photo Credit Carrie Boris

Photo Credit Carrie Boris

Beachway & Duff Dr - Photo Credit Carrie Boris

Photo Credit Josi Hillary

Photo Credit Josi Hillary

Beach 3 Trail - Photo Credit George McLennan

Anyone up for a Picnic at Beach 3? Photo Credit George McLennan

Steve & Peggy Veroneau - Photo Credit George McLennan

George McLennan & Debra Lee - Photo Credit George McLennan

Crosswoods Dr - Photo Credit George McLennan

Beach 1 - Photo Credit Christopher Buehler

What Pink Flamingo? Photo Credit Christopher Buehler

Photo Credit - Christopher Buehler

Not even close. It's a double-wide driveway - Photo Credit Jill Anderson

Photo Credit - Jill Anderson

Photo Credit - Virginia Martinez

Photo Credit - Virginia Martinez

Photo Credit - Virginia Martinez

Photo Credit - Virginia Martinez

View from Potterton Bridge - Photo Credit Dian Kaputa

Photo Credit Dian Kaputa

Photo Credit - Dian Kaputa

Photo Credit - Frank Dalton

Photo Credit - Frank Dalton

Photo Credit - Frank Dalton

Photo Credit - Frank Dalton

Thank you for your photo submissions! These are terrific.

Apologies to Dottie Bennett as I wasn’t able to download her photos from Snapfish and I want to get this posted. But, perhaps, we’ll have a Part 2 of your photos — after Tuesday’s expected storm.

Mostly Native Plants in Wildlife Friendly Backyard - Photo Credit Betsy Washington

Native plants support much more wildlife than plants from other areas of the world, especially to insects which are the base of the entire food web. This creates a balanced system with beneficial insects and birds that control pests, thus reducing or eliminating pesticide use, even builds resistance to stress and disease, it naturally enriches the soil thus reducing or eliminating fertilizer needs, retains groundwater levels and moisture for plants thus reducing watering needs, and reduces gas consumption and energy.

Native Plants and Rain Barrel- Photo Credit Betsy Washington

By planting large evergreen screening plants on the north side of your house, you can save heating and energy costs by protecting your plants and house from cold winter winds, and by planting large, deciduous overstory trees on the hot southern and western sides of your house, you can reduce cooling costs in the summer by 20% or more. Try and manage and retain your storm water on your own property so that it does not run off into storm drains and ultimately into the lake and our watershed, carrying sediments and pollutants.

Rain barrels or cisterns can be installed under your downspouts to capture the runoff from your roofs and then stored and used to water gardens or be directed into rain gardens or swales. This can greatly reduce water use, and renew our groundwater reservoirs, and preventing pollution and storm water runoff into the lake and watershed.

And if you are adventurous, you might even consider installing a green roof, which can save heating and cooling costs, increase the life expectancy of your roof, and absorb significant amounts of precipitation, greatly reducing stormwater runoff.

Green Roof on Pump House at River Farm - Photo credit Betsy Washington

And finally everyone should try composting their garden and lawn wastes, instead of spending money to haul them to the streets for collection by the large county trucks. Even if you just pile your lawn clippings and leaves in an out of the way place, in one two years, you will have a free supply of dark, crumbly compost, the best soil amendment and natural fertilizer free for the taking. Shred fallen leaves and/or rake your leaves into in your shrub and tree borders where they will form a natural mulch, and slowly decompose and enrich your soil and feed a diversity of beneficial wildlife.

These are just a few tips that are easy to incorporate into our yards, and they can make a big difference.

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I heard back from several of you but was really impressed when Roxanna Douglas told me that not only does she already save these for recycle she also brings them home from her office trashcans. And, just the week prior, we had learned via The Washington Post that Nolan & Kathy Stokes had installed a Geothermal Heat Pump in their yard and are officially climate pilots.

It occurred to me that we have a big enough community here in Lake Barcroft that perhaps by sharing what we each do to help the environment that we could learn from each other. I know that what I personally do only scratches the surface.

So, I again went to Lakelink and asked if you would submit the things that you do to help – big and small.

While doing some research last night on this story I stumbled upon a website called Every Day Activist. I am really inspired by their tagline – “Little Things Everyone Can Do to Save the Environment and Reduce Pollution”.

From Every Day Activist Website:

“But I don’t consider myself an activist”

Imagine yourself in a silent auditorium filled with people. When one person begins clapping, the sound is small and it echos throughout the room. Sooner or later, everyone in the whole auditorium is clapping, and the sound is so loud, it almost hurts yours ears. The small choices we make every day do have an impact.”

Photo Credit djwudi - Flickr Creative Commons

Without further ado ….Below is a summary view of things that you are doing to make a difference. Some will be obvious while others may not.

Recycling:

• Recyles everything that Fairfax County accepts
• Recyles every scrap of paper; no matter how small
• Brings home TP and Paper towel rolls, plastic bottles, soda cans, plastic bags from her office to recycle at home

Reusing:

• Reuses junk mail and paper for all of their personal printing needs
• Reuses business reply envelopes by placing a sticker over the address on the front &/or using them to write grocery lists, to-do lists, etc.
• Not buying wrapping paper – instead re-using gift boxes and gift bags received and if all else fails, I use the kids’ artwork or the Sunday comics to wrap gifts
• Uses the back of ALL 8.5 x 11 paper including junk mail that has a clean reverse side
• Refusing plastic bags and asking for paper bags if reusable bag was left at home
• Uses refillable water bottles – each family member has their own plus a few extras for when they go missing
• Uses Newspaper plastic sleeves for picking up after animals
• Reuses plastic ware from parties and at the office. Washes them in the dishwasher but removes them prior to the drying cycle
• Re-circulate moving boxes for reuse

Shopping:

• Avoids buying products packaged in styrofoam
• Uses Freecycle.org and Craigslist to make purchases before buying something new
• Buying and wearing primarily hand-me down clothes; especially for the kids
• Buys in bulk as much as possible
• Shops at MOM’s Organic Market – especially for cleaning materials and detergents

Food Consumption:

• Eating at least one fewer meat meal per week
• Saving leftover food to be used as dog treats rather than purchasing dog treats
• Vegetarian

More Efficient Home:

• Replacing antiquated heating system with newer more efficient system
• Replacing windows with less porous ones
• Replacing old appliances with Energy Star high efficient
  Installing low-flow showers and toilets; even removing bathtubs altogether
• Using only low VOC paints to re-paint the outside of the house
• Using old rags to clean rather than paper towels
• Using only energy-efficient light bulbs
• Turning off all lights when leaving the room
• Unplugging electronics when not using them; including cell phone chargers & electric toothbrushes
• Keeps thermostats low
• Replace large single-pane windows with ones that open to reduce the need for air conditioning in early summer months
• Improved insulation in attic
• Added Front Storm door to improve efficiency
• Placed blankets in TV rooms and lowered thermostat
• Use baking soda &/or vinegar for cleaning most everything (sinks, floors, showers, windows) to avoid dangerous chemicals

Yard/Garden:

• Growing their own herbs and planted a small vegetable garden
• Composting all vegetable and fruit scraps as well as coffee grinds, egg shells, and tea bags
• Composting all lawn and garden waste to reduce the need for county pickup
• New Patio/Backyard with native plants and permeable surface and reduced outflow system
• Routing Rain runoff to creek bed
• Rake leaves rather than blowing with power blower
• Take household compost materials to place of work where they have a large composter
• Reduced the size of lawn by adding native plants in rich layers; mimicking nature
• Planted Evergreen screening plants on north side of house to save energy during cold winter months
• Planted large, deciduous trees on south side of house to reduce cooling costs in the summer months
• Set up rain barrels to catch rain water to use to water the garden
• Shred leaves into leaf mulch and use it throughout my yard (garden, tree and shrub borders)

Transportation:

• Rides bike to work; if possible also to the grocery store.
• Walks or Bike Rides with kids to school as much as possible
• Saves up errands to make one car trip rather than multiple ones
• Takes bus/metro to work most days
• Hybrid cars
• Carpooling

A few extra things shared by our neighbors:

Home Star “Cash for Caulkers” Program a newly proposed Federal program is intended to help homeowners increase their home’s energy efficiency with direct incentives. It will pay homeowners up to half the cost (max $4,000) to retrofit a house with eco-friendly attributes.You can read more HERE – shared by Anne Cullather

Photo Credit Thomas Merton - Flickr Creative Commons

The Energy Detective which measures and displays energy used for the whole house. According to a 2009 study, a whole house display produces on average a 9% savings while highly motivated groups could save as much as 30%. This unit does require skilled installation perhaps by a professional electrician. Sold online at www.theenergydetective.com/store ~$200 – shared by Kay Cooper

The Energy Detective

Kill A Watt Plus Monitor tells you how much it matters to turn something off. Just plug Kill A Watt into an outlet and plug any device into Kill A Watt. The display shows instantaneous watts (W) or total electricity used (kwh) and number of hours since Kill A Watt was plugged in. Sold through Amazon (~$21) – shared by Kay Cooper

Kill-A-Watt

Lark Lovering sent me detailed instructions on how to Make Your Own Composter. I will (with her permission) post her directions as a separate follow-up post.

Betsy Washington provided me with an excellent write-up of things one can do in their yard to reduce pollution and energy waste. I included some of her items as bullet points above but am also going to post her summary with her permission as a separate follow-up post.

Wildlife Friendly Backyard - Photo Credit Betsy Washington

Rashne Green loves Chico Bags. They are inexpensive, lightweight cloth bags that available in many fun colors. They often participate in school fundraisers where they donate 30-50% of their revenue back to the schools – shared by Rashne Green

Trader Joe’s sells inexpensive reusable bags including wine bottle carriers (up to 6 bottles) and insulated cooler bags – shared by Kay Cooper

This post is by no means a comprehensive list of things you could do.

It is my hope that the list will perhaps point out a few things that you aren’t already doing but could be doing and inspire you to take more notice daily of additional ways that you could help reduce pollution and help the environment.

For me, this story has inspired me to consider doing the following:
a) Remove plastic liquid soap dispensers from my bathrooms; replacing them with only bar soap.
b) Purchase biodegradable dog poop bags as I don’t have newspaper sleeves to re-use.
c) Purchase sets of re-usable dinnerware from To-Go Ware so my family can stop using plastic silverware at fast food restaurants and ice cream shops.

Reusuable Bamboo Dinnerware from To-Go Ware

Additional Resources:
Green Living Tips – consider signing up for their email newsletter
Tiny Choices – terrific blog
The Real Cost of Plastic Bags
Zero Waste America – outlines three factors (no effective Federal Plan, Foreign Waste Imports and Domestic Waste Exports as well as Over-population) on why recycling efforts struggle and provide three legislative steps that would help support Zero Waste.

I would like to extend a big thank you to all of you that sent me your Green Initiatives; without them this blog post wouldn’t have been possible. If you missed out on sending me your green initiatives feel free to add ones that you do in the comments section below.

I leave you with a photo of my son’s favorite t-shirt:

There will be food, games, music and prizes which of course don’t come cheap.

YOU can support the graduates and get mulch for your yard!

Here are more details:

• 3 Cubic Foot Bag of Double-Shredded Hardwood Mulch for only $4.50 per bag
• FREE pick-up available from 9am – 3pm at the school parking lot.
• FREE DELIVERY on orders of 30 to 100 bags
• Low $25.00 fee for delivery of less than 30 bags
• Special Handling fee of $50 for orders of more than 100 bags
• All orders with payment preferred by March 30th.
• Pick-up or Delivery (within Stuart District) Saturday, April 10, 2010.

  Thank You for Supporting Our 2010 Graduates.

  Order form is available at : http://www.stuartptsa.org. Please print and mail by March 30th.

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The Broiler - 3601 Columbia Pike, Arlington VA

I love their steak & cheese sandwich which is made with juicy steak, melted cheese, grilled onions, mayonnaise and topped with lettuce & tomato.

Actually, I ask for no lettuce or tomatoes on my version as I’m not a fan of cold salad things on my hot sandwiches. I know it’s crazy but that’s just me…..

Steak & Cheese Sandwich

Ohhh I love gooey cheese

They also serve other grilled sandwiches (Ham & Cheese, Hamburgers, Turkey & Cheese, Meatball Sub, etc…) as well as Whole Pizzas.

And, their prices are very reasonable:

• Regular Size Cheese Steak – $5.15
• Jumbo Hamburger – $4.20
• Meatball Sub – $5.05
• Ham & Cheese Sub – $5.15
• Side order of Fries- $1.85
• Kids Meal includes Cheeseburger or Hot Ham & Cheese, Sm. Fries and small drink – $3.75

It’s a great place for lunch or for a quick dinner on a busy night.

I haven’t tried their pizzas yet….have you?

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Buds on a Tulip Magnolia Tree

Tulip Magnolia tree with buds

Crocus (I believe) on their way

Today’s Forecast from AccuWeather.com:
CLOUDY
Temperature: 61°F
Humidity: 86%
Pressure: 29.28 in
RealFeel®: 56 °F
Winds: S at 14 mph
Gusts: 14 mph

Woo hoo – 61 degrees.

Did you know that the Fairfax County Library Foundation has setup a program where YOU buy bestsellers from their Amazon Wish List and then are notified so that you get to read it first before it becoming a donation to the Library? And, the book(s) are tax deductible!

I just learned about this terrific service and yet it launched back in May 2009. Wow.

From the Fairfax County Library Foundation Website:

Do you want to be the first to read a book on some tasty treats created exclusively from Martha Stewart’s collection? How about brushing up on the latest antics of a childhood favorite, Curious George, in “The Complete Adventures of Curious George”? You can be the first to read high-demand books by purchasing them through a special Amazon.com Wish List First Loan program than donating them to library through the Fairfax Library Foundation!

Thousands of readers are on library waiting lists to check out popular books and bestsellers and Fairfax County Public Library is not always in a position to buy enough copies to satisfy demand. Fairfax Library Foundation invites you to help shorten the library’s waiting lists for yourself and your fellow library patrons through the Library Foundation’s First Loan program and get books in the hands of avid readers.

When books are purchased through on the library foundation’s Amazon.com Wish List, they will be mailed directly to the library’s book processing center. You will receive an acknowledgement letter that your generous donation is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

Here’s how it works:

1. Go to the Fairfax County Library Foundation homepage
2. Click on “Donate Books Through the Amazon.com Wish List”
3. Select book(s) you want to add to the Library’s collection, click on “Add to Cart”
4. Once selections are complete, click “Proceed to Checkout”
5. At bottom of “Shipping Details” page check box for “Ordering a Gift”
6. Enter the following on your free gift note: “First Loan/(name of library branch where you wish to pickup/your e-mail address” in the text box
7. Enter payment information to complete the order

“The Library Foundation’s Amazon.com Wish List First Loan program supports readers of all ages in Fairfax County and Fairfax City,” says Roberta Longworth, Executive Director of the Fairfax Library Foundation. For more information about the Library Foundation or the First Loan program, call (703) 324-8300 or e-mail info@fairfaxlibraryfoundation.org.

I am so excited about this program. Will you please share the info with your friends & family too?

“I was out on the frozen lake Sunday and it was one of the best day’s of my life. Never skated on a pond before. Amazing. Any chance anybody has any photos they could put up on the blog of all the people out on the ice?”

So I asked YOU on Lakelink to email me your photos from Sunday, Jan 10. And, boy did you…..some really great shots!

Pickup Hockey Game - Photo credit Maxine Silverman

All Bundled Up - Photo credit Jody McKitrick

Kids on Sled - Photo Credit Jody McKitrick

Oh what fun! - Photo credit Jody McKitrick

Ice Skates - Photo credit Jody McKitrick

Photo credit Jody McKitrick

Hockey - Photo credit Michelle Jafari

Hockey!! - Photo credit Michelle Jafari

So Sweet - Photo credit Michelle Jafari

Hockey - Photo credit Sam Martinez

Hockey - Photo credit Sam Martinez

Tracks - Photo credit Josi Hillary

Hockey - Photo credit Josi Hillary

Photo Credit Neil Simon

Below are photos taken at Beach 4 on Saturday, Jan 9th – just before Sunset:

Sunset at Beach 4 - Photo credit Sara Larbi

Sunset at Beach 4 - Photo credit Sara Larbi

Sunset at Beach 4 - Photo credit Sara Larbi

Thank you Neil for prompting a great photo collage. It really does look like an amazing day on the lake. I’m sorry that I missed it. Thank you to all of you for for sharing your photos.
___________________

Important Side Bar Message from Cindy Waters; President LBA: “Last February, I wrote an article for the LB Newsletter concerning skating on the lake. Most, if not all, of my predecessors have written similar items for the newsletter and Lakelink. I’m posting it below as a reminder to all neighbors”.

“Portions of the lake are now frozen over, prompting the annual questions concerning skating on the lake. The LBA rule when the lake is frozen is simple: ‘Persons using frozen portions of the lake for any purpose do so at their own risk.’ It would be wise for everyone to remember that there is still a lake under that ice with flowing water and currents. This can result in areas of thin ice being close to areas where the ice seems thicker. … Be aware that the LBA and the WID do not measure the thickness of the ice, nor do they otherwise assess the condition of the ice for skating. …there could still be some weeks left of freezing temperatures creating ice in certain areas of the lake. If you still feel that you must go onto the ice, remember that you are doing so at your own risk. Use extreme caution.”

Cindy Waters
LBA President
___________________

If you have an idea (story tip) for the blog please submit to me at blog(at)lakebarcroft(dot)org.

Birds

Wouldn't it be Great if this was in Northern Virginia??

How can you help make this a reality?

Volunteer

• Become a Community Ambassador – organize “spread the word” events within your network of friends/schools/organization/churches/Mom’s groups/etc…
• Help staff the booths at local events where they promote the “museum without walls” program.
• Are you a Marketing Communication Wiz? They need volunteers to write Press Releases &/or other marketing materials.
• Do you have experience with Grant writing? They could use your talents now!
• Volunteer your Webmaster skills
• Sign up to be their volunteer coordinator

  To get involved, just send an email Volunteers@TheChildrensScienceCenter.org

  Visit their website at www.TheChildrensScienceCenter.org to learn more. Be sure to sign up to receive their weekly newsletter while you’re there.