Wednesday, April 28, 2010

What Are You Doing to Help the Environment?

© 2010 Albert A Rasch and
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
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If you were able to do one thing to help our environment and/or it's wildlife what would that one thing be?
Rick Kratzke

The environment...

What abuse we heap on it every day. Ever wonder how we manage to survive?

Rick Kratzke of Whitetail Woods asked something that we all should be contemplating consciously on a regular basis. He asked, "If you were able to do one thing to help our environment and/or it's wildlife what would that one thing be?"

What a great question. I wanted it to be something simple, doable, repeatable, practical, and shareable.

As I walk to my local Starbucks, I traverse Uelin Park and the beautiful large freshwater lake that we boat and fish in. The amount of trash strewn around isn't great, but it is enough to distract one from an otherwise idyllic view.

It struck me then, I will stop and pick up trash everyday at every opportunity!

I was already doing it. But I wasn't systematic or consistent. I would do it if it was convenient and it didn't take me too far out of my way.

Now I have made the decision that if I see it and I can get to it, I will pick it up. A plastic shopping bag doesn't take up any room in my pocket, and recycling it as a trash bag is a plus. Every piece of trash I pick up, is one less thing that may end up in the water or woods, endangering both plants and animals.

There is something else I do regularly.

I hate Brazillian Pepper trees with a passion! Every time I see a seedling I yank it out. If it's a sapling, I try to pull it out. I have gone as far as to return to my garage and grab a machete and even the hatchet, and hacked them to pieces. Invasive plant species are as bad as any other invasive, and those Pepper trees are my pet peeve!

Today's haul...

There are two pieces of PVC in that pile, those ended up in my shop, stored in a milk crate with other pieces of PVC. You never know when you might need some.

So what are you doing to help the environment?

Best Regards,
Albert A Rasch
Member:Kandahar Tent Club
Member: Hunting Sportsmen of the United States HSUS (Let 'em sue me.)
The Hunt Continues...

Though he spends most of his time writing and keeping the world safe for democracy, Albert Rasch was actually a student of biology. Really. But after a stint as a lab tech performing repetitious and mind-numbing processes that a trained capuchin monkey could do better, he never returned to the field. Rather he became a bartender. As he once said, "Hell, I was feeding mice all sorts of concoctions. At the club I did the same thing; except I got paid a lot better, and the rats where bigger." He has followed the science of QDM for many years, and fancies himself an aficionado. If you have any questions, or just want to get more information, reach him via TheRaschOutdoorChronicles(at)MSN(dot)com.



The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles

7 comments:

Zach said...

Awesome post! I pick up trash regularly but I am usually in areas where litter is not common. I'm gonna have to think this one over.

R. Gabe Davis said...

My life is dedicated to it. It is what I do for a living so I don't think about it much it is just what I do. At work I am always flabergasted by people not understanding why they shouldn't run their washing machine line in the creek. On the other hand, the other day I had my Tiger Cub Den out picking up litter as a service project. All the parents seemed disgusted by the litter and happy to pick it up. Of course they have never done it before. The key is for people to be aware of their actions. I think that if everyone took your attitude that there would be no litter to pick up.......what a wonderful world it would be. Your pal the Envirocapitalist. PS: Buy a piece of land and then lease it to hunters so you can turn a profit off keeping land wild. That is Envirocapitalism.

Anonymous said...

Albert thanks for the mention. When I did that post I forgot one thing and that was my answer for what I would do so I will leave my answer here.

What I would do try to get something through legislature that instead of these states wasting money on these big businesses that they take the money and put into these fish and game departments so that they can do the job they are suppose to do.

Holly Heyser said...

Very nice, and a great question for Rick to ask! I hate litter. I always pick up other people's trash when I'm duck hunting - try to leave the blind cleaner that it was when I found it - but I think this gives me a nudge to pick up more that I see all around me. Kudos to you and Rick for spreading the good!

Michael Spinelli said...

Albert,

Wonderful Idea! Practical, easy to do, and if everyone did it, (it is so easy!) it would make a huge difference!

Good one mate!
Mike

Doug said...

You got me thinking Albert. I, Like you, pick up random trash. but what else could I do that could make a change.

No more bottled water. Educate.

I'll be thinking.

Albert A Rasch said...

Doug,

We buy bottled water in the large 2.5 gallon jugs. Each of us has a large 1.5 liter bottle that we refill regularly from the large container. With our initials on the cap, and a piece of paracord looped around the neck, it's convenient and handy.

It saves on cleaning glasses, no water bottles in the trash stream, and everyone stays hydrated.

Best regards,
Albert
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