Environment & Outdoors
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Solebury Township Gets to the Root of Its Erosion Problem; Now Its a ‘Tree City’
Solebury Township was lauded with laurels last week, as the Arbor Day Foundation of Lincoln, Neb., recognized it as an official “Tree City.” The honor cites the area’s commitment to growing and maintaining its community forests, while ensuring plentiful habitat for wildlife and native flora. Strengthening the township’s arboreal commitment were the after-effects of last…
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Phila. Region Exits Top-25 List of Smoggiest Metros, But the News Is No Sigh of Relief
The Philadelphia region has finally dropped off the list of the 25 worst metro areas for ozone smog. But the American Lung Association’s State of the Air report shows that the levels of air pollution are still worrisome. Sophia Schmidt hacked through the data for The Philadelphia Tribune. The report looked at both ozone and…
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World-Renowned Climate Scientist to Speak at Penn State Great Valley on Wednesday
Climate scientist and science communicator Michael Mann will discuss his latest book, The New Climate War: The Fight to Take Back Our Planet, on Wednesday, May 4 at Penn State Great Valley. The New Climate War shows how fossil fuel companies have waged a 30-year campaign to deflect responsibility and delay action on climate change…
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‘There Are a Lot of Stories Out Here’: West Chester Man’s Volunteerism Preserves the Past at Abandoned Cemetery
After the owners of Mount Moriah Cemetery in southwest Philadelphia abandoned it in 2011, volunteers like West Chester resident Ken Smith have taken its care into their own hands by tending the land where 180,000 people rest, writes Kevin Riordan for The Philadelphia Inquirer. As a certified arboretum, its plants and trees, like a 140-year-old…
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‘Perfect Blend of Science, Nature’: Suburban Apiary Uses Eco-Friendly Methods to Create Bee-Licious Products
Bryer Apiary, a honey-supplying business run by Jeff Bryer, uses eco-friendly methods to make bee-licious products available in Chester County, writes Ed Williams for Main Line Today. Bryer, who is a licensed psychologist, started working with bees in 2000, taking after his father who owned and maintained many hives. His daughter retains an interest in beekeeping as…
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Talk About Overkill: Pennsylvania Residents Are Incinerating a Seasonal Pesky Pest with Propane Torches
Lanternflies. Yes, they’re annoying. And yes, they affect agribusinesses. But some mitigation techniques against them are getting a bit extreme, writes Abigail Gruskin for The Atlantic. In fact, the entire issue of the need to actively eliminate the critters is being questioned. Spotted lanternflies were predicted to decimate local trees, farms, and vineyards since they…
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Newlin Township Land — the Only Native American Burial Ground in Chesco — Returned to ‘Rightful Owners’ for … $1
A half-acre Native American burial site in Newlin Township is returning to its “rightful owners” after previous owner Carol McCloskey closed a $1 deal with the Delaware Nation in Anadarko, Okla., writes Frank Kummer for The Philadelphia Inquirer. McCloskey first purchased the land in 1987. As the only officially recognized Native American burial ground in Chester County,…
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Bucks County’s Cultural Atmosphere May Rate A+, But Its Ozone Pollution Rating Earns an F
The American Lung Association’s annual State of the Air report cards are an ongoing assessment of regional air pollution levels, granularized by county. The 2021 edition contained troubling news for Bucks County residents. Cassie Miller aired the reasons for the concern in the Pennsylvania Capital-Star. The report compiles and analyzes air-quality ratings from the U.S.…
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Hay! What a Good Idea! Quakertown Inventor Harvests Abundant Savings on Heating Oil Costs
A Quakertown mechanical engineer has reconfigured a biomass boiler — a natural-burning, hot-water producer for home heating — to run on hay fed to it automatically. Tom Venesky harvested this story in Lancaster Farming. Michael Kramer wanted to get the high cost of home heating oil off his back. His ah-ha moment came from a…
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Bird Flu Found in East Marlborough Township
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus, otherwise known as bird flu, has been detected in a wild bald eagle found dead in East Marlborough Township. This marks the first detection of HPAI H5N1 in birds within the commonwealth since the virus was first identified in North America in December 2021. HPAI has impacted domestic or…
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Suburban Philadelphia Nonprofit Finds Itself in Spotlight Amidst Investigation into Trump’s ‘Fraudulent’ Schemes
North American Land Trust, a nonprofit based in Pennsbury Township, has found itself in the spotlight amidst the New York Attorney General’s investigation into Donald Trump’s dealings, writes Jacob Adelman for The Philadelphia Inquirer. The investigation has labeled Trump’s $21 million tax deduction for preserving his Seven Springs Estate a part of a pattern of…
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Kona Compost Co., Yardley, Wins Environmental Stewardship Award, Pays It Forward to Local Garden
In an act of one-good-turn-deserves-another, the Kona Compost Co. in Yardley took a monetary award and turned it over to another Bucks County nonprofit. Chris English covered the doubled-up windfall in the Bucks County Herald. Kona Compost Co. was named the 2021 recipient of the Lower Makefield Township Advisory Council Environmental Stewardship award. The honor…
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Bucks County’s Unpaved Roads: Great for Recreation, Vital Environmentally as Well
Bucks County is home to approximately 68 miles of unpaved roads. These pathways, which often started as deer trails, are excellent sources of recreation, but they also serve an important environmental need. Jason Nark trod through the particulars for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Unpaved roads often run parallel to rivers and streams. There, the rocky surfaces…
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Local Waterways — Including Bucks County’s — Are Unhealthy for Fishing, Drinking, and Recreating
According to a new report by the state’s Department of Environmental Protection, Bucks County waterways — along with the majority of those in Southeastern Pennsylvania — are filthy. Frank Kummer waded through the particulars for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Overall, 2,398 more miles of the state’s streams have been designated as impaired over the past two…
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Conshohocken-based IKEA Plans to Restore 3,000 Acres of Florida Land Damaged by Hurricane
IKEA recently purchased over 3,000 acres of land in Florida that was damaged by Hurricane Michael, with plans to plant a forest on the damaged land, writes Sophie Hirsh for Green Matters. The two plots of land that were purchased by Ingka Group, the company that controls most of IKEA stores, is called Tupelo Honey…
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December 2021: The Second-Warmest Holiday Season in Phila.’s 147 Years of Weather Records
If December 2021 felt like Santa needed Bermuda shorts and Frosty could have used an iced tea, there’s a reason: It was the second-warmest final month of a Philadelphia year in 147 years of record keeping. Frank Kummer simmered the particulars for The Philadelphia Inquirer. December 31 registered an average daily temperature of 51 degrees,…
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Six Bucks County Outdoor Sites Get a Slice of Harrisburg’s $70 Million Revitalization Pie
Pa. Governor Tom Wolf has announced an investment of $70 million for 317 projects statewide, including support for the revitalization of six Bucks County public sites. The funding is intended to revive communities, create new recreational opportunities, and conserve natural spaces. “Our outdoor places are among the things that tie us all together — a…
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Residents Still in Ida-Recovery Mode Gain Extension for Federal Aid Requests
Bucks County residents still needing to file an Ida-related property claim to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have a little more time to do so. Jennifer Sheehan reported the extension for The Morning Call. Applications for federal relief are now due Jan. 10, 2022. The damage must have occurred to homeowners and renters between…
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